Blog Archives
Build a Solid Business
The Freelancer’s Compass provides both aspiring and experienced freelancers with the tools needed for navigating the intricacies of becoming self-employed. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Many people go from a corporate career into freelancing or consulting but give up a few months later. I believe part of their challenge is the lack of understanding how working for a business is different from running your own business. Freelancers and consultants are business owners, and they need business tools and systems in place to be successful.
Great books have been written on the subject of freelancing, but many focus on things like marketing and getting clients. While those are very important aspects, you also need to organize your business in a way that will ensure its longevity. So, I wanted to share what I’ve learned in my 25 years of business about the “back end” — operations — and provide a step-by-step guide on how to set up a solopreneur business for long-term success.
I work with clients in the technology sector primarily and I’ve watched many of my corporate colleagues lose their jobs in the past year or two. Which is why originally, I set out to write the book for knowledge workers (especially those in marketing and technology) who may be considering going solo. However, most of the advice is also relevant for less experienced or struggling freelancers who want to figure out how to level up their game and build a solid business.
Independent, or gig, work continues to be a growing trend — the number of full-time independent workers has grown exponentially between 2020 and 2024, according to data from MBO Partners. That’s why I believe that this book is especially timely now.
How much and what kind of research went into putting together this guide?
The Freelancer’s Compass is based on best practices I’ve learned from running my business, other successful freelancers in my extensive network, my coaches and mentors, and knowledge I’ve gained over the years from books, workshops, and trainings. That said, I spent a good amount of time researching current freelance trends and looking for resources to include. I also interviewed several successful peers who have run successful businesses for many years and included those interviews for additional insights.
What is one misconception you believe many people have about freelance work?
I actually list three myths about the self-employment life in my book: that you can do whatever you want, that you have a flexible schedule, and that “feast or famine” is the way of life. These are all true in some ways, but there are nuances and caveats — and if you don’t have tools and processes in places, they become pitfalls.
If I had to pick just one misconception, I would say it’s that you can work whenever you want. Sure, you’re your own boss and clients can’t tell you when to work. But that doesn’t mean you can just show up to your office or desk whenever you feel like.
Oftentimes, you’re at the whim of client deadlines, have to plan days off around project cycles, and possibly even cancel plans at the last minute. Of course, you can avoid a lot of these issues by understanding your priorities, setting boundaries, and managing client expectations. And even if you don’t have any projects in flight, you still have to show up during your business hours so you can work on your business. But many new and inexperienced freelancers don’t realize that even if they don’t have to “clock in,” running an independent business is still like a job in this regard— especially since they don’t have a boss or a traditional paycheck compelling them to show up every day.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
I hope it helps them build a good foundation for their business if they’re just starting out, or uplevel their game if they’ve been freelancing for a while and are struggling to grow their business.
I focus on four aspects — infrastructure, processes, tools and support systems, and roadmapping — and lay them out in three tiers (“must have,” “nice to have,” and “highly recommended if you want to uplevel.”) This way, readers will find something helpful regardless of where they are in their business.
I also tried to not take myself too seriously when I wrote the book, and my tone is borderline snarky — so if nothing else, I hope it’s mildly entertaining.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Second-Place Winner, The BookFest, Fall 2024, Business – Entrepreneurship
Did you embrace the freelance life by choice, to escape the corporate grind? Or was it by necessity, after being swept away by a corporate “pivot”? Either way, congrats on boldly going where so many other daredevils have gone before. Now, buckle up. You’re not just a freelancer — you’re a business owner. And running a business is a roller-coaster ride.
Making the transition from being a cog in the corporate machine to being the machine takes more than a mindset adjustment and a sweatpants shopping spree. Starting a freelance business successfully requires business processes, support systems, and tools — contracts, bookkeeping, standard operating procedures, and other mundane stuff that was somebody else’s problem before (and will most certainly make your eyes gloss over). You probably didn’t know these were included in the price of your newfound “freedom” — and, like many other solopreneurs, you’d happily trade them for a root canal.
The Freelancer’s Compass takes you through the fundamentals of launching and managing a freelance business that thrives. You’ll discover all the less-glamorous steps of building your back-end operations — from someone who got the T-shirt and lived to tell the story.
Transforming Business with AI: Sustainable Innovation and Growth
Yashwant Aditya’s Transforming Business with AI is a compelling and insightful exploration of artificial intelligence and its transformative impact on modern life, particularly within the realm of business. The book masterfully combines technical depth, contextual understanding, and practical applications to showcase how AI has reshaped industries and continues to drive innovation. By breaking down AI into its foundational components, Aditya provides a clear explanation of how these technologies work together to create intelligent systems capable of learning and making decisions.
The book’s progression is both logical and engaging. Aditya begins by tracing AI’s evolution from its theoretical origins with Alan Turing to its widespread applications in fields such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. This historical narrative is seamlessly interwoven with discussions of groundbreaking innovations, including generative AI and explainable AI (XAI). The author’s meticulous approach extends to critical topics like ethical considerations, equity in AI development, governance frameworks, and the pivotal role of leadership in integrating AI into strategic business visions.
Aditya’s writing is a standout feature of the book. His engaging and methodical style ensures that even complex AI concepts are accessible without being oversimplified. The use of straightforward language and richly descriptive prose allows readers with varying levels of technical expertise to grasp the subject matter. Historical anecdotes and contemporary case studies—such as IBM’s AIF360 toolkit—are thoughtfully included, enhancing both the narrative and the book’s practical relevance. These examples not only illustrate AI’s immense potential but also highlight the challenges it poses.
The breadth of content covered is impressive. Each chapter builds upon the last, creating a cohesive and comprehensive guide to AI’s role in business. Aditya explores critical issues such as algorithmic bias, data privacy, and workforce displacement, providing readers with a balanced perspective on the ethical implications of AI. His emphasis on equitable AI development and ethical considerations is particularly commendable, as it underscores the need for responsible innovation in this rapidly advancing field.
Transforming Business with AI is an indispensable resource for leaders, technologists, and policymakers seeking to navigate the complexities of AI and leverage its capabilities for sustainable growth and innovation. Aditya’s thorough analysis and clear explanations make the book both informative and engaging, ensuring that readers come away with a deep understanding of AI’s profound impact on the business world and the tools needed to navigate its challenges responsibly.
Pages: 152
The Win-Win Workplace: How Thriving Employees Drive Bottom-Line Success
Angela Jackson’s The Win-Win Workplace is an insightful exploration of what it takes to balance employee well-being with organizational success. Tackling the complexities of modern workplaces, Jackson redefines the employer-employee dynamic, presenting a blueprint for creating thriving, collaborative environments. Her work not only addresses the challenges of today’s workforce but also provides actionable strategies designed to foster mutual growth and sustainable success.
The book dives deep into core areas such as operationalizing employee feedback, empowering middle management, skills-based hiring, and long-term talent development. It emphasizes workplace culture as a values-driven ecosystem, highlighting the necessity of inclusivity and adaptability in a diverse and ever-evolving work environment. With a focus on data-driven decision-making and scalability, Jackson offers readers a rich, meticulously researched guide for optimizing workplaces. Her strategies are both practical and deeply rooted in evidence, making this book a powerful resource for leaders and HR professionals alike.
Jackson’s methodical approach shines through in every chapter. She meticulously deconstructs organizational structures, moving from frontline employees to senior leadership, and builds each concept upon the last. Her integration of case studies, such as Ekow’s Inside Voices and Buffer’s radical transparency model, brings abstract theories to life, offering readers tangible examples of her principles in action. Tools like the six-step ROI framework add further depth, demonstrating how her strategies can be applied in real-world scenarios with measurable results.
The writing is authoritative yet accessible, striking a careful balance between technical rigor and relatability. Jackson’s articulate style ensures the material is digestible without oversimplifying the complex dynamics of workplace systems. Her ability to weave research-driven insights with engaging anecdotes creates a compelling narrative that appeals to professionals across industries. The thoughtful structure of the book fosters a seamless reading experience, allowing readers to build their understanding progressively and apply the concepts effectively in their own contexts. Jackson highlights timely themes such as diversity, transparency, and the evolving workforce, supported by examples like Kanarys’ data-driven DEI initiatives. Her commitment to reimagining workplace paradigms underscores the idea that prioritizing employee well-being and achieving organizational success are not contradictory goals but mutually reinforcing pursuits.
The Win-Win Workplace is a must-read for business leaders, HR professionals, and anyone invested in creating equitable and productive workplaces. Jackson challenges outdated workplace norms and inspires readers to drive meaningful change. Comprehensive, methodical, and visionary, The Win-Win Workplace is a testament to Angela Jackson’s dedication to building better, more inclusive work environments. It is an essential guide for anyone seeking to adapt and lead in the modern world of work.
Pages: 240 | ASIN : B0D6V6B4TN
Understand the Process and Journey
The 80/20 CEO: Take Command of Your Business in 100 Days teaches readers about the Profitable Growth Operating System (PGOS), featuring 80/20. Why did you feel compelled to write this book, and what was your hope that readers take away from it?
The journey of getting to the point where I could write this book has taken over 30 years. I have spent my career as a global business executive in various industries and markets focused on industrial and consumer products and services. Much of my experience has been rapidly turning around and then profitably growing a company. Throughout all of this, I have been repeatedly asked by my teams if is there a book that they can refer to help them understand the process and journey.
The 80/20 CEO: Take Command of your Business in 100 Days is the result of all of the hard work my team put into delivering superior results in both good markets and bad. As my friend Mitch Aiello said, “The book stands as a great step-by-step guide to identify the highest performing quadrant of a business, reduce unnecessary complexity, and redirect valuable resources to accelerate innovation, operational efficiency, and most importantly, profitable growth. The pages are full of fun and interesting historical references as well as humor and real-life case studies of businesses that were course-corrected through the 80/20 process.” I think Mitch is a bit of a genius.
What were some of the key ideas that you wanted to convey through your book?
The 80/20 Management Practice, also known as the Pareto principle, 80/20 is a management concept based on a natural law: 80% of results come from 20% of causes. It is a tool used to prioritize and manage resources, focusing on the most important and impactful activities that generate the majority of results. The principle suggests that organizations can achieve significant improvement by focusing their efforts on the 20% of activities that generate 80% of their results, rather than spreading their resources non-strategically across all activities.
The 80/20 principle can be applied in various ways, including time management, problem-solving, decision-making, and resource allocation. For example, in time management, individuals can use the 80/20 principle to identify the 20% of tasks that generate 80% of desired results and prioritize these activities. In problem-solving, the principle can be used to identify the root causes of issues and focus on solving the most impactful problems.
The 80/20 principle is a useful tool for organizations to achieve more with limited resources, but it is important to remember that it is an approximation and not a strict rule. It is a useful guideline that can help organizations focus their efforts and resources more effectively.
What do you think is the most common misconception people have about business growth, and how does your book address it?
The reason that 80/20 is so valuable is that it is counterintuitive. We tend to expect that all causes will have roughly the same significance, that all customers are equally valuable, or that every bit of business, every product, and every dollar of sales revenue is as good as another.
What is the next book you are writing, and when will that be published?
I am currently writing Earn the Right to Grow. It should be available in the Fall of 2024.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
PGOS is based on the five management practices 80/20, strategy, talent, M&A, and lean. It is for all senior-level executives, established, rising, or aspiring, who want to lead their organization in strategic growth. PGOS was born in the intensely growth-focused environment of middle-market companies held by private equity, but it applies to virtually any business intent on improving and growing.
The middle market is a powerhouse for the U.S. economy. Yet many of these companies are little known to the general public. PGOS will help them break through with a proven process to double the company’s sales in three to five years.
Excerpt from the book:
EVEN GOOD COMPANIES lose their way.
When that happens, what do you need?
Profitable growth on demand. Now, in fact.
But who yuh gonna call?
The guy who’s got the operating system. And since I’m that guy—me—you now have access to the profitable growth operating system (PGOS) playbook that will show you how to turn your business around in 100 days, use the 80/20 principle to earn the right to grow and position it for long-term profitable growth. This book will walk you through all the strategic actions needed to prioritize everything possible on the 20 percent of investments, processes, products, and customers that generate 80 percent of your revenue. (80/20—that’s a thing. And not just a thing; it’s a natural law. Just 20 percent of what you do or spend generates 80 percent of your revenue. Don’t get too happy, though, because the other 80 percent of what you spend generates just 20 percent of your revenue.
About the Author:
Bill Canady has been leading companies to profitable growth for over 30 years. Working in a variety of industries and markets focused on industrial as well as consumer products and services, he brings to the table a unique Operating System and uses it in a 100-day campaign to position the company for profitable growth. Combining vision and process, Canady aligns leadership and other critical stakeholders to earn the right to grow and then to claim that right with a 3-to-5-year business plan for targeted strategic growth. He believes in bringing the right tools to the job and developing strong leaders and management teams to use them. His experience encompasses global public, private, and sponsor-owned firms.
LITERARY TITAN 