"Know this - nothing great, nothing transformative, nothing that ever shaped the common good and inspired others has ever happened except by thinking big." The Think Big Manifesto

Over the past ten years, Patrick Lencioni has been a prolific writer on a number of business topics near and dear to the hearts of small business owners. His past books have included "Five Dysfunctions of a Team", "Death by Meeting", and "Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars". Each book tells a fable with a critical business prescription embedded into the story.

Have you ever had a book that you have not read before but you have heard so much about it that you feel that you have read it? This was the case for me with this month’s book, "The Discipline of Market Leaders". For many years I heard many people refer to this book and read many articles that referenced the book. I felt like I had already read it myself. I finally decided to read the book this month and am very glad that I did. I believe that this book is one of the business management classics of our time.

This is my favorite all-time book written on customer service. Ken Blanchard is the co-author of the best-selling book The One Minute Manager and a host of other One Minute books. Like he does in his other books, in Raving Fans Blanchard tells a story to get across his powerful message about customer service. It is a story about an Area Manager with a rotten service problem and Charlie, his golf-playing Good Fairy, who teaches him how to turn customers into Raving Fans.

As a young entrepreneur fresh out of college I was focused on one goal in managing my small business: growth. Growth in revenues. Growth in profits. Growth in employee headcount. Growth in market share. It felt like I was in some kind of race. Who was I racing against? Competitors? Insolvency?

Every once in a while I would stop to catch a breath and ask myself, 'Why growth?' Seemed like a reasonable question. I could never reach a good answer, and hence would resume my race for growth not ever sure of my ultimate destination.

Book Review, by Tim Fulton

This is the fourth book (Death by Meeting, Five Dysfunctions of a Team, The Five Temptations of a CEO) I have read and reviewed by best-selling author Patrick Lencioni. Each book is written as a management fable with a powerful leadership message embedded into the story. His books are favorites of my CEO clients as they are short, easy to read, and very prescriptive in nature.

Book Review, by Therese Padilla

I eagerly awaited the delivery of my pre-ordered copy of "Tough Choices” by Carly Fiorina. Within moments of its arrival, I was reading the memoir of what will arguably be a very hot topic in the coming weeks. I wasn't disappointed. This book is her turn to talk, and from my perspective she does a fine job of framing the past and the effect she had on HP. Even more importantly she shows the importance of being earnest.

Book Review, by Therese Padilla

Linda Gorchels has released the third edition of "The Product Manager's Handbook." The first chapter is revelatory of the significant changes between this edition and the previous version. I was cheering from my seat as I read the opening chapter and the comparison of product managers to superheros with blue capes. The parallel between the caped superhero and a product manager is remarkable. Both have amazing abilities and powers beyond that of mere mortal managers, both come from humble origins, both stand up for truth and justice (or some form of competitive justice), both are considered a menace to authority, and both do battle with their company's archenemies.

Book Review, by Tim Fulton

One of the most common issues I discuss with my TEC members is how much financial information they should share with their employees. Some members are very hesitant to share any financial data with their people and others are very open and share just about everything they know with their team. Most small business owners, I believe, are somewhere in between and share certain numbers with their employees and choose not to expose them to all of their financial records.

Book Review, by Tim Fulton

Growing a small business is no small task. Small business owners face enormous pressure from customers, employees, bankers, and other key stakeholders. As a result, it is easy for the business owner or manager to succumb to these pressures and make decisions that do not and will not contribute to the success of the small business enterprise. These decisions may eventually bankrupt the business and cause great pain for the individual(s).

Book Review, by Tim Fulton

The most talked about book among small business owners and in the business trade magazines this month seems to be Malcolm Gladwell's new book "Blink". Gladwell's most recent bestseller was "The Tipping Point" which received much critical acclaim and is quoted quite often by many business gurus.

I have just finished reading ?Blink? and found it to be very interesting. Here is the book review from the TEC Library:

Review by Tim Fulton, Publisher SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS

Where has this book been for the last thirty years of my life? If I had a dime for every time someone has recommended this book to me I would be a wealthy man. When I finished reading the book I was reminded of the saying: ?When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.?

?How to Win Friends & Influence People? is a business classic and an international best-seller. First published in 1937, the book has over 15 millions copies sold. The author, Dale Carnegie, wrote the book to be used as a textbook for the courses he taught in public speaking and human relations. Never did he realize that the book would have such a profound impact on so many people.