Here are a few books that have come across my desk over the past couple of months that may be of interest for your summer reading list:
Careers
Penelope Trunk, a columnist at the Boston Globe, has written an intriguing book for those of you still early in your careers called the Brazen Careerist. It captures the true nature of those who are what some call the Entrepreneurial Generation. If you are one of them, this book gives some interesting career strategies. If you are one of those wracking your brains on how to hire and retain young workers today, you really better read this one!
Stuart Skorman shares what he has learned through his career in Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur.
Entrepreneur Stuart Skorman--the founder of Elephant Pharmacy, Hungryminds.com, Reel.com, and Empire Video--grew up in a retailing family in Ohio. He worked every kind of job, from cab driver to professional poker player to CEO. In this entertaining, personal account of his coming-of- age in the business world, Skorman gives an insider's view of what it takes to start a business from the ground up.
Marketing
John Bradley Jackson has put together an interesting little reference book on niche marketing titled First, Best, or Different. This book packs over one hundred short chapters into a two hundred page book. For those of you who are math challenged, that makes each chapter about two pages long. But, each chapter is targeted to offer concise and useful ideas on a variety of critical topics for any entrepreneur striving to create a niche market for their business.
Berenbaum and Larkin offer their thoughts on How to Talk to Customers.
Filled with case studies and anecdotes, How to Talk to Customers demystifies the most critical aspect of customer service: conversations employees have every day with customers.... Diane Berenbaum and Tom Larkin outline a proven system based on their MAGIC customer service training program. MAGIC, which stands for Make A Great Impression on the Customer, can help anyone become the type of communicator that makes their customers feel special.
Leadership and Innovation
Justin Menkes looks at leadership in Executive Intelligence. While not written specifically for entrepreneurs, this book offers insight into a skill that every executive should have -- whether they work for a Fortune 500 or are the owner of a small business.
Finally, if you want to transform and grow your business through innovation, Erich Joachimsthaler's Hidden in Plain Sight is a good read.
