Surviving & Thriving In A Recession

The full title of this book by Stan Peake is

Now What?: 50 Ways to Build Your Business in a Crisis

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a 3 Stars rating. This means it is Worth Reading.

Here is my book review.

Worth reading

My feelings about this book were a bit like a yo-yo.

I was worried at first. The author tells the story of how he grew his coaching business after breaking his back. I thought it was a bit over long and boastful. The point was that you can turn adversity into something positive. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Jason Schenker is “Recession-Proof: How to Survive and Thrive in an Economic Downturn“.

In my review at Amazon.co.uk. I gave it Four Stars. This means I consider it to be good to very good.

Here is my review.

A personal guide to surviving a recession

I was attracted by the title of the book and assumed it was targeted at small business owners but I was wrong. It’s a personal guide for individuals – people in work, students and parents.

It presents six strategies: [continue reading…]

In my review of

Surviving the (Never-Ending) Downturn

by Tom Peters posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it Two Stars. This means it is Disappointing.

Here is my book review.

A series of bullet points

This isn’t a book as much as a slide presentation with 46 bullet points of wisdom.

The problem is there isn’t much special or insightful here. It’s just a pep talk to get your act together, to work hard and to do your best. And finally, if all else fails, to pray.

I expected much more from such a well known business guru.

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Get To Know Me

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[6Steps]

The full title of this book by David Borgenicht & Mark Joyner is

The Worst-case Scenario Business Survival Guide: How To Survive The Recession, Handle Layoffs, Raise Emergency Cash, Thwart An Employee Coup and Avoid Other Potential Disasters!

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Three Stars. This means Worthwhile.

Here is my review.

A helpful guide for any business owner with a business in trouble

David Borgenicht has written a series of Worst Case books and, in the introduction to this one, admits that the others are written more for entertainment than practice. This book is different and is intended as a serious guide for a business owner with a business in trouble.

It is split into five main sections:
Financial emergencies
HR emergencies
Productivity emergencies
Sales and marketing emergencies
Executive emergencies

In each section, the two author have asked various business experts on their tips before writing what they call Basic Training. These are practical but sometimes easier to say than do. At the back of the book are suggested”what to say guides” for various situations.

I have a few concerns.

First, a company in trouble needs to be aware of its legal obligations. There are different levels of trouble but, if insolvency is threatened, you must know where you are. There are serious penalties for trading beyond the point of no return. If you need to reduce your employees, it must be done in the right way.

What you do to get out of trouble depends on what caused the problems. The book is tactical, looking at how to reduce the impact of the symptoms rather than strategic, which involves looking at and fixing the underlying problems.

The book also ignores financial control. You need to understand what it will take to get you back above the break even level and you need to be forecasting your cash flow, probably for at least 3 months to make sure you’re not digging a deeper hole in a few weeks time.

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Get To Know Me

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[6Steps]

In my review of the book

Resisting Pricing Pressure in Recession & Recovery

by Rupert M Hart posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it Three Stars.

Here is my review.

An important topic but the book could be better

Pricing policy is often made without much thought at the best of times. It becomes critical in a recession when volumes are down, customers are very price conscious and want reductions and competitors are a hair trigger away from starting a price war. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Patrick Forsyth is

Tough Tactics for Tough Times: How to Maintain Business Success in Difficult Economic Conditions

In my review on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it Three Stars. This means Worthwhile.

Here is my review.

Sensible ideas of good management

This book has 52 ideas that are explained in two or three pages each. It’s hard to argue with what’s written here because it’s common sense management advice. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Nicholas Bate is

Beat the Recession: A Blueprint for Business Survival

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Two Stars.

Here is my review.

A worthy aim but it fails to deliver anything of substance

This is a book of 176 tips to help you to improve your business so that it survives the recession.

That’s a worthy aim but this book fails to deliver anything of substance. [continue reading…]

In my review of

Harvard Business Review On Managing Through a Downturn

posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Three Stars.

Here is my review.

A collection of articles for downturns and turnarounds

The Harvard Business Review is the pre-eminent monthly business magazine for new ideas about improving business and its contributors are the top academics and practitioners.

Inevitably this means a bias towards big businesses rather than small businesses but, unlike many academic periodicals, these articles are very readable. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by KE Hall is

Kick This Recession In The Butt, Turnaround Your Small Business Today

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it One Star.

Here is my review.

Don’t waste your time

This is more of a pamphlet than a book on business turnaround as it is incredibly skimpy.

There are two purposes for its publication: [continue reading…]