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Ask HN: Blogs/Books with an impact on a small business' success?
I'm just starting my small business (SaaS) and being a software engineer by nature I yet have a lot to learn about the business side (e.g. marketing, PR, customer service, branding etc.).
What blogs and books with the potential to have a noticeable impact on a small business' success do you recommend ?
PS: This is not about creating a "complete" list - time is scarce: quality over quantity!
- tswartz 13y agoI found the Lean Startup by Eric Ries to be useful in helping me focus my efforts. Also, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, by Chip and Dan Heath. This helped create more effective and compelling content. It's very high-level though.
- stephanos2k 13y agoGreat suggestions, I read both already. Indeed, very high-level.
- hbien 13y agoStart Small Stay Small is packed with great advice: http://www.startupbook.net/ http://www.startupbook.net/
- stephanos2k 13y agoThis sounds perfect, thanks for the suggestion :)
- draugadrotten 13y agoTwo great books: http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/book http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/book http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ocean_Strategy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ocean_Strategy
- stephanos2k 13y agoThanks for the tips! Blue Ocean Strategy sounds very interesting.
- tobinharris 13y agoI was in a similar position 4 years ago, before my first startup. On reflection, the books I got the most out of that actually shaped my behaviour are... THE PERSONAL MBA, JOSH KAUFMAN Was blown away by this. Couldn't believe how much stuff I didn't know about. It covers everything you've asked about and more... It's also written a bit like a Software Patterns/Recipes book, which I love. I've read the MBA book about 5 times. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Personal-MBA-World-Class-Business-Education/dp/0670919535 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Personal-MBA-World-Class-Business-Ed... PITCH ANYTHING, OREN KLAFF You'll hate reading it. It will make you cringe. It's uncomfortable. But it changed my attitude to business, my products, and deals a LOT. Which is REALLY important. Applying some of these techniques had amazing results in any dealings with 3rd parties (sales, partnerships, deals). That's because I'm a softie engineer, not a battle-hardened business man. I still read this before attending any significant meeting. http://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Anything-Innovative-Presenting-Persuading/dp/0071752854 http://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Anything-Innovative-Presenting-P... HOW TO BE THE LUCKIEST PERSON ALIVE, JAMES ALTUCHER Covers everything in one way or another... I keep coming back to the epic rule list in this book. I keep ignoring them in business, then learning the hard way that the list is right. He shares his failures and successes in a humerous way. It's a real down-to-earth, eye opening book. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1461120705 http://www.amazon.com/dp/1461120705 OTHER I'm reading Lean Startup, and have read Made to Stick, Letting go of the words, Ignore Everybody, Spin Selling, and tons more. All good books, but the 3 above were the biggest impact for me on all levels.
- stephanos2k 13y agoThat's a great list, never head of any of the 3 books. Thanks you a lot for taking the time to write, I appreciate it a lot!
- mcintyre1994 13y agoYou can't go wrong reading anything from Patrick McKenzie (www.kalzumeus.com) Obvious starting points are http://www.kalzumeus.com/start-here-if-youre-new/ http://www.kalzumeus.com/start-here-if-youre-new/ and http://www.kalzumeus.com/greatest-hits/ http://www.kalzumeus.com/greatest-hits/ I'd definitely suggest signing up for his Email list too at the top of that site.
- stephanos2k 13y agoThanks! I recently read a lot about him, must be because of his famous MicroConf presentations.