Company Library

Why a "Company Library"?

The Company Library is a system for communication. The primary job of the CEO/business owner is to communicate. Not just the goals of the business, but also how the organization is to work.

The most effective, and efficient, way to do this is with the "Company Library" that contains books, audios, and links to online resources that are usually created by outside experts on the most important aspects of the company's philosophy and operations.

Some of these volumes are to be consumed by everyone in the organization. Others are for just the members of a particular department, such as Sales or R & D. It should be determined by each business owner those volumes that are to be consumed prior to employment, and after, and even how many times per year these volumes are to be reviewed. Repetition is important.

The purpose is to have everyone in the organization be crystal clear when it comes to the basic philosophies of the company, the corporate culture, the goals, and what is required for continued participation in the adventure.

The books listed below are an example of a typical Company Library. Your Company Library may be different. We invite you to let us know of your success with these resources, as well as to inform us of others that you have found helpful.

The Startup Library

Personal Goals, Priorities

First Things First by Stephen R. Covey

Business Thinking

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael Gerber

Sales, individual

What Great Salespeople Do: The Science of Selling Through Emotional Connection and the Power of Story by Michael Bosworth

Sales, as a system

The Ultimate Sales Machine: Turbocharge Your Business with Relentless Focus on 12 Key Strategies by Chet Holmes

Business Process Documentation

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande

Product Development

The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries


Expanded Company Library

Personal Goal Setting

First Things First by Stephen R. Covey
The On-Purpose Person: Making Your Life Make Sense by Kevin McCarthy
Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design by Laurence G. Boldt

Business Philosophy

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael Gerber
The Law of Success In Sixteen Lessons by Napoleon Hill by Napoleon Hill
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Collins Business Essentials) by Robert B. Cialdini
The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg

Management

High Output Management by Andy Grove
The E-Myth Manager: Why Management Doesn't Work - and What to Do About It by Michael Gerber

Communication

Words that Sell: More than 6000 Entries to Help You Promote Your Products, Services, and Ideas by Richard Bayan
What You Say Is What You Get : How to Master Power Talking, the Language of Success by George Walther
Write to the Point! by Fruehling and Oldham
The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr.

Marketing

The Discipline of Market Leaders: Choose Your Customers, Narrow Your Focus, Dominate Your Market by Treacy & Wiersema
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing: Violate Them at Your Own Risk! by Ries & Trout
Ogilvy on Advertising by Ogilvy, of course :)

Sales

The Ultimate Sales Machine: Turbocharge Your Business with Relentless Focus on 12 Key Strategies by Chet Holmes
SPIN Selling by Neil Rackham
Sandler Success Principles : 11 Insights that will change the way you Think and Sell by Mattson and Seidman
The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
The New Strategic Selling: The Unique Sales System Proven Successful by the World's Best Companies by Miller & Heiman

Negotiation

Deal-Breakers & Break-Throughs by John Ilich
You Can Negotiate Anything: The World's Best Negotiator Tells You How To Get What You Want by Herb Cohen,

Customer Service

The Only Thing That Matters: Bringing the Power of the Customer into the Center of Your Business by Karl Albrecht

TeleMarketing

Phone Power: How to Make the Telephone Your Most Profitable Business Tool by George Walther

Manufacturing

The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Eliyahu M. Goldratt

Research and Development

Developing Products in Half the Time: New Rules, New Tools, 2nd Edition by Smith & Reinertsen


Current Books and Best Sellers

Business and Money