Business Management Book Store > Business Management books beginning with B
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Be the Elephant: Build a Bigger, Better Business |
Author: Steve Kaplan
Published: 2007-02-01 |
List price: $19.95
Our price: $5.49
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As of: January 08th, 2009 09:44:03 PM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 Dissenting Opinion: Not what it advertises
After reading the other reviews, I must wholeheartedly disagree with the consensus. I own a small business and this book is just so elementary and without substance, that I could never recommend it to anyone that is already running a decent sized small business. Kaplan's use of examples is extremely limited and hardly worth the effort. While I'm sure that Kaplan is a very good businessman and knows his stuff, his ability to focus anyone into a thought provoking analysis is woefully inept.
I think that the book goes wrong in trying to be everything to all business owners. This is clearly a book for the beginner that has absolutely zero business experience. It would be a nice introduction to what can go wrong for an individual that is "thinking" of going into business for themselves. He mentions that you need to learn how to read the "numbers" of your business, but then there is absolutely zero explanation of what they mean. One could never look at a balance sheet and determine the next step for that business. Kaplan is all at the 50,000 foot level with no breakdown into any detail whatsoever.
However, this is not what the jacket or back cover portray. They give the impression that the statement (whether) "you run a $5 million consulting business or a three person bakery" then this book will help you. It will not. If you are running a $5 million business, you are so far past what this book has to offer that it is a waste of your time. I would not be so negative if the target market for the book would not have been portrayed as just about everyone with a small business.
If you are just beginning to look at maybe running a business or if you are contemplating joining someone in their business, then this book might give you something to think about on the negative side. However, if you are looking for help on next steps or trying to understand what to do help your current business, this will not help you in the least. You will not become the "elephant" by reading this book.
 Sharply written guide to helping your business grow
Steve Kaplan communicates his vast business-development experience in focused, easily understandable prose. His writing is punchy and filled with illustrative vignettes to illustrate his points in an easy, entertaining way. While you must have frontline experience to build your organization, the basics Kaplan provides are a sound, necessary complement. He explains these core principles compactly and keeps the technical aspects fairly light. This sales and business growth manual is not directed to the sophisticated strategist, but to the bullet-point level entrepreneur who wants the how-to-expand formula without a lot of if-this-then-that discussion. getAbstract can report from experience that informative reading on nurturing your business that is also this entertaining and accessible is hard to find.
Grow to be an Elephant!
This is another book, which inspired the title for my book "Elephants Can't Change but Leopards Can!!!" I love this book and it's pundits.
Adding this one to my FAVORITES list
For the life of me, I cannot understand why this book has been remaindered. It is a wonderful guide to understanding the nuts and bolts of your business or more specifically, your finances. This is the nitty gritty stuff that the other books don't cover. Maybe it's due to the fact that business owners don't want to do the work necessary to grow? I think this is a fantastic book and it's a perfect companion to The E-Myth because it offers specific steps you can take to get a handle on your numbers and grow your business. Scoop up your copy now--you won't be sorry!
Recommendation
Steve Kaplan gives great advice on how to grow a business and be successful at it! It is always critical to have a plan in place and to assess risks by avoiding deadly mistakes. I give it 5 stars and recommend it to those entrepreneurs starting a business or have the desire one day start their own company.
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