By: Cathy Green
An interesting thing happened as I was reading a book yesterday. It was titled, People are Idiots and I can Prove it! – The 10 ways you are sabotaging yourself and how you can overcome them by Larry Winget
About 3 paragraphs into the book, I realized that the most that was about to happen was that the author was going to offer me further confirmation of information I already know.
Sure enough, that’s all that happened. I finished the book because I paid for it. I’m not one to borrow library books.
I’m actually happy for that experience because it showed me that I need to change the types of books I purchase. I already have a successful business. I already have my business plan on paper. My vision is established. The business is on a solid foundation. All that is in place so I no longer need advice on the the obvious.
What I need now are books on branding, marketing, advertising. And so I’m about to start reading a book called The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Marketing – 2nd Edition, by Sarah White
When I look at my needs, I can always use more marketing or even branding tips. Fresh ideas are useful.
Where are you in your development? Have you outgrown basic business books? If not, then keep buying them.
In fact, I’d definitely advise you to read the E-Myth by Michael Gerber. Read that if you don’t read anything else. It’s actually the only business book you will ever need—-as long as you do what he suggests! But another good one is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. I’ve been using the Franklin-Covey planners for over 10 years now and those planners are the best for organization.
Of course, I’ve read many other business books but won’t list them all here because I actually don’t advise you to spend all your time reading tons of books when in fact the authors will all tell you the same thing, in different ways, of course.
DO be certain to search out and read books specifically on the house cleaning industry. I read Start and Run a Home Cleaning Business by Susan Bewsey and I read How to Start a Home-Based Housecleaning Business by Laura Jorstad and Melinda Morse. Those were the first two books I read when I was starting my company.
Engage in a self examination. Where are you in business development? Perhaphs you now need to read some books on book keeping or organization. Do continue to educate yourself but be certain that you choose your books based on need. If your business is up and running, you no longer need books to tell you how to get started.
And that’s my tip for today. Continue to read but monitor what you read, based on where you are.
