My Inspiration for Entrepreneurs, and Others' Recommendations

Inspiration for Entrepreneurs

Podcasts, Books and Articles To keep Business Owners Growing

I keep myself busy. Every now and then a friend suggests a book or a podcast and I think, gosh, if only I had more time, I could really learn something! There are great resources out there to inspire entrepreneurs and fuel a growth mindset. More are created every day. Here is where I am going to keep track of the recommendations. welcome your feedback, and your own sources for determination.

PODCAST

Millionaire Intervews #75

Austin Peek is a Jacksonville commercial mortgage guy. And podcaster. Looking for a different angle, and likely a little inspiration himself, he set up a podcast so that he could interview millionaire’s – any entrepreneur who was “making it” or at least making $1 million. His questions can be quite granular on how an entrepreneur got started, as it he’s tracing a road map. He can be blunt when his intuitive understanding of money vs. time wants to call an interviewee out on puffery or revisionist recollection. But by the end of hour or so, you have a unique understanding of another entrepreneur’s journey that is, indeed, inspiring, and comforting too. Plus, the tips are awesome!

My marketing person recommended episode – #75 – the story of Sticker Giant‘s John Fisher

His story is compelling, as is his frank recounting of the events that would have sunk a company (and did, in the case of 9/11 – when some companies in New York City never returned) but that Fisher turned into pivot points that he leveraged into massive growth and success.

Over the course of his interview, Fisher mentions 2 items that I had not heard of before and find fascinating. Read on to see what they are.

Reads

Inspiration For Entrepreneurs … in print

12 Natural Laws of Business

John Fisher discovered Zingerman when he needed to up the company’s customer service skillset. From them he discovered Zingerman’s 12 Natural Laws of Business.

You know the laws, they sound logical and natural. But not all of us live them in our business life, every day. When compiled into a single business philosophy, they take on a power and structure that drives results. Zingerman’s is actually a deli in Ann Arbor, MI co-founded by Ari Weinzweig. Joining with 8 other specialized Ann Arbor businesses Winzweig created the unorthodox Zingerman’s Business Collective where decision-making is collective between the 18 partners.

Fundamentally, they are committed to treating employees well, fostering ownership of the work product and a line in the sand on quality. There is a book “A Lapsed Anarchist’s Approach to Building a Great Business” that further details these laws and their application.

The Great Game of Business

Inspiration for Enterpreneurs from Jacksonville Busines Broker

Jack Stack

Founder-CEO of SRC Holdings Corp, a 100% Employee-Owned Company employing over 1200 people, with sales of over $450,000,000. SRC Holdings Corporation operates 31 business units including Joint Ventures with John Deere, Case New Holland and Navistar, and maintains two venture capital incubator funds.

If ever there were an appropriate source of inspiration for entrepreneurs to be consistent, as focused on their team as their customers and growth-minded leadership than Jack Stack, let me know. He is the pioneer of Open Book Management, a risky way to run a company for a CEO’s ego, but one that rewards courage by giving employees a stake in their own outcome. It is as inspiring as it is impressive.

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My Inspiration for Entrepreneurs, and Others’ Recommendations