Blog Archives
RISE ABOVE – Overcoming the challenges of small business
Rise Above by Nicola Ward is an insightful exploration of the challenges faced in entrepreneurship, skillfully intertwining personal experiences with broader business wisdom. Ward offers a compelling narrative that draws from her own journey and interactions with various individuals, shaping a guide that resonates with both seasoned entrepreneurs and novices. The book emphasizes the indispensable role of strategic planning in business, akin to its necessity in life. Ward revisits the often-quoted maxim ‘Failing to plan is planning to fail,’ reinforcing its truth with practical examples. She extends this principle to the concept of positioning, cleverly arguing that being in the right place can invite repeated opportunities. The author delves into familiar tools such as business plans and SWOT analysis, shedding light on their profound impact beyond their surface-level simplicity.
Ward’s fusion of theoretical frameworks with real-world scenarios adds a layer of authenticity to her narrative. Her openness about past mistakes lends the book a relatable quality, illustrating that errors are inevitable and invaluable learning opportunities. Ward emerges as a mentor figure, balancing firm guidance with empathetic understanding. Her powerful and engaging delivery equips the reader to face diverse challenges. Ward navigates through topics like sales, marketing, customer behavior, and decision-making with clarity and focus, avoiding tangents yet remaining thorough. Her approach is detailed but accessible, avoiding jargon without underestimating the reader’s intellect. The personal anecdotes included are tastefully shared, enhancing the narrative without oversharing.
Describing Rise Above as an enriching experience parallels the satisfaction of the captivation of a final, riveting lecture or the delight of a first bite after hours of cooking. This book is not just a collection of advice and anecdotes; it’s a journey through the art of entrepreneurship, offering a nuanced understanding that extends beyond business into the realms of personal growth and resilience.
Pages: 170 | ISBN : 0646891596
View Challenges As Opportunities
Starting a Business in the United States: Navigating the Entrepreneurial Landscape is a step-by-step guide for entrepreneurs looking to start or build their business in the US. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Starting a Business in the United States is a culmination of my experiences as an organizational leader and entrepreneur. Having witnessed the challenges and opportunities in the entrepreneurial landscape, I felt compelled to share insights that could guide and empower fellow entrepreneurs embarking on their journey in the US. The book serves as a practical, step-by-step guide, aiming to demystify the complexities of starting and building a business in this dynamic environment.
How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
The research for this book was extensive, drawing from my own experiences, industry knowledge, and a deep dive into the regulatory and business landscape of the United States. It took a substantial amount of time to compile the information, ensuring accuracy and relevance for entrepreneurs. The dedication to thorough research and attention to detail spanned 11 months, resulting in a comprehensive guide for those navigating the entrepreneurial path.
What is your background and experience in writing, and how did it help you write this book?
My journey as an organizational leader, entrepreneur, and researcher has equipped me with a unique perspective on the intricacies of business. My prior works, including “Restoration and Renovation of Abandoned Historical Places,” provided a foundation for effective communication and storytelling. My academic pursuits, including a Ph.D. in business administration, further honed my research and writing skills. This diverse background facilitated the synthesis of practical advice and theoretical insights in crafting a resourceful guide for aspiring entrepreneurs.
What is one thing that you hope the readers take away from “Starting a Business in the United States: Navigating the Entrepreneurial Landscape”?
I hope readers gain a profound understanding that success in the US entrepreneurial landscape is attainable with the right knowledge and strategic approach. The book aims to instill confidence by offering actionable steps, fostering a mindset of resilience, and emphasizing the importance of adaptability. Ultimately, I aspire for readers to view challenges as opportunities and embark on their entrepreneurial journey with informed confidence.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Start Right: How to Pick a Winning Business Idea and Make it Successful
Sangeeta Mulchandani’s Start Right: How to Pick a Winning Business Idea and Make It Successful offers a structured and insightful approach to entrepreneurship, neatly divided into three core sections: “Mindset,” “Strategy,” and “Execution.” This clear segmentation allows the author to delve deeply into each topic, offering comprehensive guidance to the reader. The book’s charm lies in Mulchandani’s ability to simplify complex concepts, making it accessible to a wide range of entrepreneurs, from novices to more experienced business owners.
Mulchandani begins with the fundamentals, gradually building up to more intricate aspects of running a business, such as client management, organization, and addressing common entrepreneurial pitfalls. Her writing style is approachable, characterized by straightforward language and an engaging use of business terminology. This makes the book not only a practical guide but also an educational tool for readers unfamiliar with business jargon.
A notable strength of the book is the incorporation of Mulchandani’s personal journey in the world of business. By sharing her own experiences, the author adds a relatable and human dimension to the narrative. This personal touch provides readers with practical business insights alongside valuable life lessons. The anecdotes about her experiences in business, education, and family life are particularly effective, making complex concepts more understandable through her direct and candid storytelling. Start Right is enriched with various lessons that extend beyond the business realm, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, such as the concept of unlearning to relearn. Mulchandani effectively uses relatable scenarios to illustrate these points. The discussions on customer understanding and marketing are bolstered by coherent text, clear diagrams, and tables, which aid in comprehension.
The blend of business advice and narrative makes Start Right: How to Pick a Winning Business Idea and Make it Successful an ideal resource not only for startups, small and medium enterprise owners but also for anyone aspiring to step into the entrepreneurial world. One of the most impactful quotes from the book, “Planning for profit is one of the most valuable things you can do,” encapsulates Mulchandani’s practical and forward-thinking approach to business.
Pages: 180 | ASIN: B0CK4QLBRK
Curiosity Killed the Nine to Five
Curiosity Killed the 9-5 serves as an enlightening guide, offering a glimpse into the lives of remarkable female entrepreneurs and their journeys. This collection of stories sheds light on the integral roles of curiosity, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams in the business realm. Highlighting the varied backgrounds and industries these women have navigated, the book provides valuable insights and reflections, celebrating their achievements and inspiring others to embrace entrepreneurial challenges.
The narrative is engaging and relatable, marked by personal storytelling and motivational elements. It maintains a celebratory and empowering tone throughout, applauding the extraordinary accomplishments and the spirit of courage, resilience, and curiosity that propels these women into business. Departing from the typical formal style of business literature, it adopts an informal, enthusiastic approach, making the content more accessible and lively.
The book’s language is diverse and engaging, effectively conveying ideas and adding a unique flair to the writing. The contributors’ voices are assertive and encouraging, designed to inspire confidence in readers. A mix of sentence structures, from concise and impactful to more descriptive and illustrative, paints a vivid picture of these women’s experiences, demonstrating a mastery of narrative style.
Targeting an audience interested in business and personal growth, Curiosity Killed the 9-5 is particularly empowering for women. It encourages readers to embrace risk-taking and pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations. The personal anecdotes and insights from the author and featured entrepreneurs inspire those eager to overcome barriers and leave a mark in the business world.
The book skillfully blends storytelling with practical insights, creating a narrative that resonates with a wide readership. Particularly commendable is the author’s ability to intertwine personal experiences with broader themes of entrepreneurship and empowerment. Each chapter includes self-coaching reflections, allowing readers to engage deeply with the content and extract personal and professional growth lessons.
Curiosity Killed the 9-5 stands out as a compelling and motivational read, offering a unique perspective on the entrepreneurial journey, especially for women seeking inspiration and guidance in the business world.
Pages: 360 | ASIN : B0CPHLQK4B
Resilience
Once Upon a Startup: How to Start Your E-Commerce Business and Thrive offers new entrepreneurs a roadmap to success based on the lessons learned you have had personally and while helping others. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book was important for me to write to help fellow business owners embarking on their journey, shed light and answer so many of the questions we did not know we needed to even ask when starting out. These knocks in the journey can be hard and I want individuals to understand they are not alone and if you have a limited budget you have a dedicated book with keys learners to support and guide them along their path.
What is the first thing anyone considering starting up their own business should do in order to ensure the best chance of success?
Starting out there is so much to think about and having a well documented plan with detail across, the financials, operations, marketing, sales and team is extremely important. This will enable people who are starting up have a clear understanding of what they know, need to learn along with identifying gaps where they need to seek guidance to move to the next steps in their business. It wont be perfect but will be clear and allow them to research and build on this with each step.
Is there any one personality trait you feel is necessary for becoming a successful e-commerce business owner?
Resilience is a large one, which aligns with your mindset, this will impact your greatly if you allow it, so knowing that you are able to bounce back and rebuild / keep going when this don’t go to plan, as it will. I always like to compare it to when you cook with love people can taste it and your business is no different, when you are not feeling great and not able to bring that love and positive energy to your business this flows through.
Do you have plans for any future books that you are working on, and if so, when will they be published?
I currently have a few ideas floating around, but they are in the ideas stages so you will have to stay tuned for this in the coming 12 months. 😊
Author Links: Facebook | Website | Instagram
If the prospect of being an entrepreneur is a constant nagging dream, this guide is the perfect book for you.
Danielle Sady has created not one, but two e-commerce start-ups in the space of a few short years, with a career spanning over twenty years in some of Australia’s biggest wholesale, retail, and franchise businesses, she struggled to find the answers to the questions she did not even know needed to be asked. Now Danielle is a freelance business consultant and coach based in Melbourne, passionate about guiding those who are in all the different stages of their business journeys, just like she was.
This book shares real life experiences of Danielle’s journey to starting her business, providing a checklist to success, for your own start up experience. Written in cleverly organised, highly informative chapters, you can devour the entire thing or jump in and out for the vital information you need.
Danielle brings an innately human approach to the emotionally treacherous path of start-ups, incorporating mental wellbeing checks, some activities to propel you into action, a little bit of needed humour, some enticing personal analogies and some incredibly helpful life advice, in this invaluable guide to not only thriving in, but enjoying the world of ecommerce business.
Once Upon a Startup
In Once Upon a Startup, Danielle Sady takes us on an enlightening journey from her early dreams of entrepreneurship to her ultimate success as a businesswoman. Blending personal anecdotes with tangible advice, Sady offers a rich tapestry of lessons learned, mistakes made, and victories won.
This work seamlessly intertwines Sady’s biographical snippets with actionable insights for budding entrepreneurs. The essence of passion, determination, and a forward-thinking mindset is poignantly emphasized as pivotal in pursuing entrepreneurial ambitions. The candid discussions about her trials and errors give readers a genuine understanding of the intricacies of building a thriving business.
Beyond sharing her story, Sady equips her readers with tools for their own ventures. Including practical tips, reflective questions, and tasks is a roadmap for those eager to carve their own path. Moreover, she underscores the indispensable nature of seeking guidance from seasoned mentors or like-minded peers and the necessity of adaptability in the ever-evolving business world.
One of the book’s standout features is its universal appeal. Sady’s writing embodies a conversational warmth that resonates with both business novices and seasoned professionals. While she occasionally opts for an informal tone, it lends a personal touch, making the narrative even more engaging. The real-life examples peppered throughout the text enrich the content and inspire and uplift.
Intended for those on the cusp of, or early in, their entrepreneurial voyage, Once Upon a Startup is more than just a guide; it’s a source of motivation. Sady’s infectious enthusiasm and her transparent account of entrepreneurship’s highs and lows create an invaluable resource.
Once Upon a Startup is a compelling testament to the power of tenacity and self-belief in the world of business. Danielle Sady’s passion for entrepreneurship shines through, making it an engaging read for anyone harboring business aspirations. A shining five-star recommendation, this book would be a cherished gift for any budding entrepreneur ready to take the leap.
Pages: 226 | ASIN : B0C3J37L4B
Understanding Finance Is Key
The Startup Checklist for Success is a comprehensive guidebook that distills the complex world of entrepreneurship into practical insights, blending essential business principles and real-world wisdom to empower entrepreneurs. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I have worked in various industries since 1989 at the senior level in large public and private companies, and as an entrepreneur in companies I set up and ran, so I want to impart valuable nuggets of knowledge learned in a way that I know will help aspiring entrepreneurs. Too many startups fail because entrepreneurs don’t have the knowledge or skills, and I am encouraging women entrepreneurs to understand what they don’t know and arm themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills so that they will succeed.
What is one common misconception you feel people have about entrepreneurship?
Misconceptions are that they will be their boss and earn more money working for themselves, that it is easy, and that anyone can be an entrepreneur because they don’t know what they don’t know. Even if they have a great idea, some don’t have the skills or leadership ability to run a business. I have spoken to several entrepreneurs who thought their idea was worth much money, did not need cofounders to make the business happen, and were looking for funding without business plans. Ideas are cheap without the ability and funds to make the idea into a profitable business, and that takes pure grit, hard grind, courage, resilience, self-belief, and the willingness to take some risks. Getting to the point where you can fundraise involves many steps covered in Start-up Checklist for Success– the essentials you need to know. Because of our combined experiences as entrepreneurs and mentors, we have learned a lot about why start-ups succeed and fail.
Another misconception is that entrepreneurs do not realize the importance of managing cash from the get-go because it disappears quickly if you don’t control it daily. Many businesses fail because of cash shortages and insufficient time to raise more funding. When cash is tight and bills cannot be paid, it diverts energy from getting a business up and running.
What is one hurdle you often see new entrepreneurs face, and how can they overcome it?
In my experience, the biggest hurdle for entrepreneurs is raising finance and managing cash flows; the statistics will bear this out. There are also other hurdles, including, at the beginning having to become a jack of all trades, including bookkeeping, sourcing services, employing people, sourcing office space, and paying bills, but this is temporary.
In many cases, entrepreneurs need help understanding finances or financial jargon. They check their bank account and think it’s okay, but they have yet to learn of the commitments entered into that must be met on specified dates or the accruals in the accounts relating to expenses incurred that still have to be paid. The concept of accrual accounting is not understood, and they don’t prepare forecast cashflows which helps them to look ahead and see when cash will run low. It can take over six months to raise funds, from preparing a business plan to getting the cash into your bank.
CB Insights, in a report dated 3rd August 21, cited the top reasons startups fail, and the number one reason was “Ran out of cash/ failed to raise new capital. “These are critical issues entrepreneurs need to pay attention to be successful. Ref: Why startups fail: Top 12 reasons L CB insights. (2022, December 1). CB Insights Research. https://www.cbinsights.com/research/report/startup-failure-reasons-top/
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Statistics show that there are few women entrepreneurs globally. Things are improving due to the efforts of many countries targeting support for women entrepreneurs. According to The World Bank’s Gender Data Portal, “Globally only 1 in 3 small, medium and Large businesses are owned by women. This rate varies across regions from as low as 18% to a high of 50% in Latin America and the Caribbean. “ref: Women entrepreneurs needed—stat! (n.d.). World Bank Blogs. https://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/women-entrepreneurs-needed-stat
There are many biases that women have to overcome, significantly when raising finances. I explain the biases they may encounter during their entrepreneurial journey and how they can overcome them. I am writing my next book to encourage women to start their new businesses armed with the knowledge they need to succeed and give themselves time to prepare rather than rushing in head first and failing. I am also encouraging women to learn what technologies they can use, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud-based systems, encouraging them to work smart to make their startups more efficient, enabling them to focus on what is essential such as leading their teams to success.
I cover subjects such as leadership, preparing business plans, raising cash and pitching to investors and how to source funding through other sources such as government support and tax-based funding, managing cash, managing risks, environmental, social, and governance matters, building a great team, building resilience and agility and balancing work and personal life. I also encourage women to think big because most women entrepreneurs start small businesses and don’t go global, and perhaps that’s because they fear going big due to a lack of confidence. The Title will be She’s Got This- Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs to Overcome the Odds and Achieve Success.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
This book shows you how to communicate with professional experts, including lawyers, accountants, and engineering and design consultants, and when to get in touch with them. It demystifies financial matters and explains financial and corporate finance jargon. If you’re ready to take the big step, bring this book with you as your intelligent companion.
Start-up Checklist for Success is a bible of valuable information you need to succeed with your start-up and could be a game changer for you and your new start-up.
LITERARY TITAN 