Combined Snippets 2

As indicated in my earlier post I’m re-shuffling my order of recommended books to read once again, after reading several other good and lesser books since December last year (time flies when you’re having fun, it’s February already!) I’m sure it will not be the last time, many more books on my wish list.

I’m basing the ‘new order’ on a different idea now: foundation blocks and building blocks.
With foundation I mean those essential blocks (i.e. knowledge, facts, principles, attitudes) in starting, growing any business you can’t go without (or end up on that big pile where 4 out of 5 start-ups find themselves within the first 5 years of trading).

• Still my ‘old-time’ best is "Good to Great" - Jim Collins and Co
• Followed hot on the heels by: "Hard Facts, Half-Truths and Total Nonsense" – Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert I. Sutton
• Then read “First break all the rules” - Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman to enhance some of the practices preached in the two above.
• Followed by “Kick Start Your Business” – Robert Craven (*1) for more essential business blocks
• And finish your foundation works with “The Goal” - Eliyahu Goldratt for hard facts on logistics and systems.

Building blocks I consider those ideas, principles that once your foundation is firm helps you to grow your business in this modern time with its modern marketing facts and new media.

• "The Long Tail" – Chris Anderson will tell you that you don’t have to be a block-buster to be successful, there are niche-markets a plenty.
• "The Secrets of Word-of-Mouth Marketing" – George Silverman includes the importance of shortening the decision cycle for your prospects.
• "Citizen Marketers" - Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba teaches you the increasing power of individuals and to embrace these 1%-ers into your marketing strategy.
• Then you can take your pick from
• "The Tipping Point" – Malcolm Gladwell
• "Unleashing the Ideavirus" – Seth Godin
• "Permission Marketing" – Seth Godin
• in no particular order.

Visualised brings the following structure:

(*1 There you go Robert, in my top 4 now ;-))