Recommended Reading
Books We Like
There's a bewildering amount of data available these days in various media and on the web. The problem is not access to knowledge so much as how to recognize, select, and absorb information that's worthwhile -- providing new learning that will enrich our lives. At KJA we always have some book reading in progress because we value continuous learning. Here we offer references we've found much more than worth the time, effort, and cost it takes to absorb them. We're quite selective, only recommend titles and resources that are decidedly worth the effort. This list can help you zero in to make your precious learning time pay off. Before committing your precious time, though, don't just take our word for it -- consider looking for reader reviews on Amazon.com and other places.
In the area of business, and especially in marketing, there's a stupefying array of content available but much of it is based on empty, unfounded opinions without much grounding in valid experience, fact, or sound theory. This page is where we share information sources we've found well grounded in practical realities, believable, useful, applicable to our business and lives, and helpful to us and our clients. These are high standards and only a trickle of resources meet our criteria. In short, these are books that will help you succeed in business.
It seems much valuable and profound learning still comes in book form. Maybe this is because the easier it is to publish content the less likely the content will be to provide valuable meaning. Conversely, if a medium presents barriers (as book publishing surely does) it's more likely the content may be worthwhile. The internet is great for fast reference lookups and surface familiarization. We like to keep on reading authors who take the time and expend the effort to produce high grade content in books, though that's no guarantee of quality or even validity -- just a coarse filter.
We expect you'll find any of this material applicable and highly useful for continuously creating the business you want.
Marketing Your Services, by Anthony Putman -- A detailed guide for setting up a workable marketing business process for a small to medium sized service business. It's somewhat dated but remarkably still quite useful because it gives the reader a design for systems and processes they can create and apply on their own. A useful but not sufficient remedy for anyone who thinks all they have to do is provide a great service and the world will beat a path to their door.
The Next Evolution of Marketing, by Bob Gilbreath -- What's a big, fat advertising agency doing these days to connect with customers when there are so many ways we can filter out ads and ignore sales messages? This author chronicles what has worked and points the way to the future while grounding us in more current principles we need to follow to market effectively. This book made me realize meaningful brand articulation can (and should) replace most advertising. Making meaning makes money.
The Art of the Start, by Guy Kawasaki -- Now a classic guide to startup efforts, this book will ground you in practical wisdom you can apply to getting a business operational and keeping it going. Particularly useful if you intend to seek venture funding. It's also entertaining in the off-beat viewpoint the highly applauded author is famous for.
Duct Tape Marketing, by John Jantsch -- The subtitle seems accurate -- "The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide." De-mystifies marketing completely and helps you know what to do to bring in more business.
The Referral Engine, by John Jantsch -- The next stage of success-building guidance from one of today's most popular small business marketing gurus. If you can implement just a fraction of what's in this book (and you may need some help) you'll can achieve a marketing system that brings in all the business you'll ever need.
Professional Services Marketing, by Mike Schultz and John E. Doerr -- Quite helpful for setting up an approach that brings in leads and then works your sales pipeline to convert those leads to tangible income. When your sale is complex and your services are varied and not easily described, these authors have an approach that makes sense and helps. New hope for those who didn't know they were going to have to sell what they wanted to offer when they started up.
The Knack, by Norm Brodsky and Bo Burlingham -- Recommended for those who will enjoy a long reverie on many interesting business subjects and lessons learned from an old master. Brodsky has 'been there and done that' as a real entrepreneur so authentically that even his admissions of mistakes seem heroic. Will help you focus on what really matters and forget the small stuff.
There's a bewildering amount of data available these days in various media and on the web. The problem is not access to knowledge so much as how to recognize, select, and absorb information that's worthwhile -- providing new learning that will enrich our lives. At KJA we always have some book reading in progress because we value continuous learning. Here we offer references we've found much more than worth the time, effort, and cost it takes to absorb them. We're quite selective, only recommend titles and resources that are decidedly worth the effort. This list can help you zero in to make your precious learning time pay off. Before committing your precious time, though, don't just take our word for it -- consider looking for reader reviews on Amazon.com and other places.
In the area of business, and especially in marketing, there's a stupefying array of content available but much of it is based on empty, unfounded opinions without much grounding in valid experience, fact, or sound theory. This page is where we share information sources we've found well grounded in practical realities, believable, useful, applicable to our business and lives, and helpful to us and our clients. These are high standards and only a trickle of resources meet our criteria. In short, these are books that will help you succeed in business.
It seems much valuable and profound learning still comes in book form. Maybe this is because the easier it is to publish content the less likely the content will be to provide valuable meaning. Conversely, if a medium presents barriers (as book publishing surely does) it's more likely the content may be worthwhile. The internet is great for fast reference lookups and surface familiarization. We like to keep on reading authors who take the time and expend the effort to produce high grade content in books, though that's no guarantee of quality or even validity -- just a coarse filter.
We expect you'll find any of this material applicable and highly useful for continuously creating the business you want.
All of these titles are probably available at Amazon.com. Powells.com may also be a good source.
Marketing Your Services, by Anthony Putman -- A detailed guide for setting up a workable marketing business process for a small to medium sized service business. It's somewhat dated but remarkably still quite useful because it gives the reader a design for systems and processes they can create and apply on their own. A useful but not sufficient remedy for anyone who thinks all they have to do is provide a great service and the world will beat a path to their door.
The Next Evolution of Marketing, by Bob Gilbreath -- What's a big, fat advertising agency doing these days to connect with customers when there are so many ways we can filter out ads and ignore sales messages? This author chronicles what has worked and points the way to the future while grounding us in more current principles we need to follow to market effectively. This book made me realize meaningful brand articulation can (and should) replace most advertising. Making meaning makes money.
The Art of the Start, by Guy Kawasaki -- Now a classic guide to startup efforts, this book will ground you in practical wisdom you can apply to getting a business operational and keeping it going. Particularly useful if you intend to seek venture funding. It's also entertaining in the off-beat viewpoint the highly applauded author is famous for.
Duct Tape Marketing, by John Jantsch -- The subtitle seems accurate -- "The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide." De-mystifies marketing completely and helps you know what to do to bring in more business.
The Referral Engine, by John Jantsch -- The next stage of success-building guidance from one of today's most popular small business marketing gurus. If you can implement just a fraction of what's in this book (and you may need some help) you'll can achieve a marketing system that brings in all the business you'll ever need.
Professional Services Marketing, by Mike Schultz and John E. Doerr -- Quite helpful for setting up an approach that brings in leads and then works your sales pipeline to convert those leads to tangible income. When your sale is complex and your services are varied and not easily described, these authors have an approach that makes sense and helps. New hope for those who didn't know they were going to have to sell what they wanted to offer when they started up.
The Knack, by Norm Brodsky and Bo Burlingham -- Recommended for those who will enjoy a long reverie on many interesting business subjects and lessons learned from an old master. Brodsky has 'been there and done that' as a real entrepreneur so authentically that even his admissions of mistakes seem heroic. Will help you focus on what really matters and forget the small stuff.