Customer Reviews

The Girls' Guide to Building a Million-Dollar Business

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was a wonderful book to read. I'm not exactly sure why it is a "Girl's Guide" except for the fact that it is written by a woman based on her own personal experiences. But it's a great book for a woman to read regarding the ins-and-outs of starting a business. Furthermore, it emphasizes that significant companies with $1 million in annual gross revenues are something MORE women should strive to create. And this book should help motivate a woman to do just that - build a big one.

The book is pretty straightforward in its approach regarding how to start a business and then grow it. It is broken into 3 sections as follows:

1. Laying the groundwork for a Million-Dollar business (1-3)
2. Using the 4 strategic keys to growing your business (4-7)
3. Accelerating your business growth (8-10)

The chapters included are as follows:

1. Start the Million-Dollar journey
2. Think big and bold
3. Get ready, get set, grow
4. Create the vision
5. Develop the right team
6. Implement key marketing strategies
7. Fund your business growth
8. Develop growth strategies
9. The rest of the story
10. Great resources

I was particularly impressed with the coverage of business plans. The author definitely believes in them and that they are very important to a business owner and or manager. The importance of business plans, the elements of business plans, and key questions for business plans were all discussed. But this book does not go into too much depth on how to actually write a business plan.

According to this book less than 3% of all businesses are women-owned. And compared to the 6% figure for men-owned business, there is clearly a need for the instant book. It is well written and fun to read. 5 stars!

This is one of the best books I have read on the subject of women and business and how women wanting to become successful entrepreneurs should proceed.

On page 4 she makes the excellent point that unlike men, women as a rule do not flaunt their style or success because as women we haven't been taught to do so. But we should. She also tells how women can better network with others to find information that one may not have considered that could well make ones journey less bumpy and much more pleasurable as well as successful.

Chapter 2 page 19, she writes: 'There are three perceptions about successful women you absolutely need to dispel if you are going to become a million dollar business success: 1 Ambitious women are selfish 2 Women who want to make a lot of money are greedy 3 Powerful women are bad'. I wish more women would listen to the author and dispel as she does these myths.

Chapter 3 for me was an important chapter because she writes about things one may just assume but not really thought about seriously enough. Get your house in order. Make sure your family and friends are behind you. Alas she then writes how relationships may change. Marriages may fail, kids and friends my become distant, because your work needs so much of your time. This is why I think her advise about making sure your family and friends are on board, can help a woman make wise choices and have better priorities.

The author covers everything from beginning a business to how to evolve and make the business grow as times change. This is really important since choosing the right business can mean success for years and not simply a few years. I say this because I have seen friends get involved in businesses based on a passing fad, and after a couple years when interest in the fad product has waned or passed they feel lost and dont know where to go next.

The only change I would have made to this thoughtful and well thought out and written book would have been to change the title from Girl to Woman.

The author was a TV journalist and the stories and ideas are from her previous interviews with people in business fields.
70% of the content fills with encouraging stores and guidelines.
Some highlights are:
1. executive summary
2. market analysis
3. organization and management
4. company description
5. marketing and sales strategies
6. services or product line
7. funding request
8. financial
9. set up the role of CEO
10. develop the right team/ growth strategies
11. think globally from growth
12. think franchising

Cons: her information is basically 2nd or 3rd hand, not the root if you want more real juicy stuffs, not from concentrate.

I'm sure that the information in this book is solid. But if you have an idea and are just starting out, you will be frustrated. This book is targeted for women who already have achieved a measure of success, and actually HAVE their own company and want to make it grow. I bought this book looking for mentoring advice on how to get started. It is encouraging to know that there are successful women out there making it and I wish them the best.

While women have outpaced men in opening small businesses over the last years, it's surprising to note that less than three percent of women-owned businesses in the U.S. gross a million or more than revenue - and less than eight percent gross over, $200,000. That makes The Girls' Guide to Building a Million-Dollar Business an essential guide to both business libraries and women's studies collections alike: it offers lessons on how to make good business decisions, hire right, and avoid common obstacles to building that bigger business. The keys to a million dollar business are right here for any businesswoman to consider.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I saw this book mentioned in Entrepreneur magazine and since I'm thinking of starting my business after six years in corporate America, I thought this would be a good help.

I like how she organizes her thoughts and charts out the way to get yourself into another level of your professional life. It's interesting to me how certain books have to be categorized for women, since I think it has good advice for all sexes.

It's a good book to add to your how to bookshelf.

the review is here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23521168/

The other book I bought and reviewed from that recommendation was Career and Corporate Cool. The books both have a lot of great advice, this was more serious and like a much older mentor was telling you what to do while career and corporate cool was like you were talking business over coffee with a best friend. Both books work very well though and I'm glad that I bought and read both.

A third of the book is basically a pep talk on starting a business. Most of the remaining information presented can be found online for free. If you want to read this book, I suggest picking up a copy at the library. Don't waste your money on buying your own.

I really enjoyed this book and it's insight. It's an easy read and provides encouraging guidence on different aspects encountered when starting and growing your business. Although slanted more towards a woman's exposure in business versus a man's, the subject matter and intent applies to both sexes. The content is well organized and oriented towards segments of business we all deal with as startups. I would recommend this book to other entrepreneurs as it provides an execellent perspective on the business world and it's challenges. It also provides insight to both sexes on how the business world may recieve your product or service and how to respond to the more difficult situations we face.

I had the pleasure of meeting the author at a recent event where she was the keynote speaker. She autographed my book and I must say, it is a MUST read! Ms. Solovic is smart, savvy and communicates an "if I can do it, you can do it!!" attitude on every page. She is an innovator (founder of SBTV.com) an entrepreneur and a great support for anyone, girl or guy, who is looking to be a REAL success in business without sacrificing fun and enjoyment!

Phyllis Hyde

Susan Solovic walks the the talk. That should be the first criteria for any author. Read this book, (not just for girls!) and find a way to meet Susan on the air or in person, you'll be glad you did.

John Jantsch, author of Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide