Customer Reviews

9 Lies That Are Holding Your Business Back...: And the Truth That Will Set It Free

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The thing that attracted my attention first about this little book is the story in the introduction. The author says that he was trying to borrow money. His previous five businesses had failed, he was driving an old Honda with 200,000 miles on it. And no, the bank wouldn't loan him money.

When I started by current business, I also had been through about five failed businesses, I was driving an old Ford pickup with a quarter million miles on it. I didn't even go ask the bank.

Now there's money in the bank, I don't need a loan. (I don't mind loans, it's paying them back that I don't like.) But I still have the old Ford. It runs well, and I couldn't just sell it, it might not go to a good home.

As for the nine lies in his book. Yup! He's dead right. And furthermore, these are points that you should review about your business periodically just to make sure that you aren't falling into one of these traps.

I think that I'd just add two points.

1. Reduce your nut, your minimum monthly expenses that have to be paid as absolutely far as you can. How big a house do you really need? A luxury car, my old pickup gets me around and is really handy when I need to carry something. There are no payments, taxes and insurance are absolutely minimal.

2. In the advertising section -- Lie #3, first I have to agree with him, name recognition ads work really well at the Superbowl if your name is Budweiser. In a small business nobody cares about your name, they care about the product or service. Go get a book or two on mail order advertising. These people really understand how to get people to act. But second, he didn't mention it, but don't forget the web. If your business lends itself, the web is basically free, it covers the whole world, and brings a whole new concept to expand your business nation- or world wide.

This book is packed with great concepts that the authors have learned the hard way. It is nice of them to offer their experiences for us to learn from. Here are few that I would like to remember.

"Nothing great was ever created without enthusiasm." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The word enthusiasm comes from the Greek "en theos" which means "the god within" which is the level you need to play at to win big"

"The whole concept of succeeding versus not succeeding is a result of thinking versus not thinking. Anything that stops you from thinking and gives you a vacation from creative thought and innovative ideas is going to harm your business."

This is a concept I always try to remember, and it is very very hard:

"Ask yourself this question about all your daily efforts: Is this something that leads me to greater profits?"

In other words, it's more important to work smart than to work hard. The authors explain how most business owners operate at the, "busy is better" level, while they may be working really hard their way be way more productive ways to spend their time.

Another great concept is, "Time is the new money". They talk about how important it is to "work on your business rather than working in it" going as far as saying that victims work in their businesses while owners work on it.

And some quotes on time management that I would like to remember:

"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly your doing the impossible." - St. Francis of Assisi

"Learn to use ten minutes intelligently. It will pay you huge dividends." - William A. Irwin

"You will never `find' time for anything, if you want time you must make it." - Charles Buxton

"You have more to do than you can possibly do. You just need to feel good about your choices." - David Allen

By Kevin Kingston, author of: A 20,000% Gain in Real Estate: A True Story About the Ups and Downs From Wall Street to Real Estate Leading to Phenomenal Returns

My Blog: The Real Estate Investors Blog

This book is an exceptional book for all small business owners. Steve and Sam hit the nail on the head. I have owned my business for 13 years and can't believe how much I learned about my own business by reading this book. I am motivated to make some changes and take their wonderful knowledge and insight and make it work for my business. I am a HUGE fan of all of Steve Chandler's books and have attended his seminars. He has inspired me in so many ways!! Sam Beckford is my hero. He has helped me build my business in many ways.

I am a CPA and bought numerous copies of this book to give to my clients. It is easy reading, and has lots of practical business advice.

Just like Steve Chandler's other books, this one cuts through the fog and debunks the myths about life and business. It was also great to learn Sam Beckford's self-made millionaire secrets. Lie #3 will help you avoid expenditures for promoting your company that just don't pay off. I wish I'd read this 10 years ago. Lie #5 is the biggest breakthrough idea in my 20 years in business. Quite frankly, most of us small business owner/operators sell ourselves short. Chandler and Beckford paint the pictures in living color with so many cool illustrations and real-life stories about what works and what doesn't.

What a refreshing change, a book that actually tells it like it is for small business owners, motivational and yet VERY practical. Some of the lies mentioned certainly hit close to home and had me realize that I had fallen into some of the lies. I have some work to do. Sam and Steve provide great real life examples of other business owners to bring the point home. One very practical idea I took away is the open hand concept. I have found myself more than a few times opening my hand to remind myself. Thanks Sam and Steve. Great book!

For the record I have used Steve and Sam's consulting services for a couple of years already. I have also read all of Steve's books and many articles that Sam has written. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book.
Steve shares the knowledge and wisdom to help people take full responsibiliy for their lives as well as their businesses. Sam shares proven small business strategies that often fly in the face of conventional wisdom. "9 Lies" melds the "ownership" mindset that Steve teaches with the "proven strategies" that Sam has built his businesses on into one easy-to-read, business-growing package. Following their advice has helped triple my business.
I'm optimistic for anyone that reads this book with an open mind and employs even just a few of the suggestions inside.

If you don't read any other book this year, READ THIS BOOK!

Imagine going home at the end of the day with a feeling of contentment that your business is actually working "for" you instead of you working for your business. That dream can come true if you apply the concepts in this easy to read book.

Lee Manns, MA, MBA
Executive Coach

I know, I know; you are downtrodden and are frustrated with your business. You try everything, lowering your prices, advertising and nothing seems to work. I tell you, I'm in that same spot, but I am climbing out of that hole and I'm going to make a difference thanks to this book.

I was wandering aimlessly through a bookstore, a bit down about my failing business. I randomly came across this book, "9 Lies...". Since I like to know the truth, I figured knowing what the lies are would be helpful to me.

Boy, was I right.

I sat down in the store and read the first chapter. I was completely humiliated and deeply offended by the first chapter: "I just need to know how to do this." I thought, honestly, that it was right on, that it wasn't a lie. Steve and Sam basically tell you, point blank, that it isn't that simple. It's not about the "how". It is about the "want". We as small business owners have to be OWNERS. We have to WANT to make it succeed. That means putting aside any ego or pride and putting our greatest talents forward.

I left the book at the store, to punish it of course, for offending me. As I mulled it over, I knew it was right. I also knew these crazy authors might be able to help me. It was worth a try; what I had been doing up to that point wasn't working.

This book is worth every penny. You will be embarrassed reading it, but do not worry, so were all of us brave enough to read it. I truly believe if we apply these techniques to our businesses, there is no stopping us. But, you have to do everything DIFFERENTLY. Probably everything you've learned? Unlearn it. NOW. I'm already seeing a difference in my business and I just did a few changes. I need to give this 150% and see what happens. You do too. We all deserve to have successful, thriving businesses.

Thanks Steve and Sam.

Annie Bathgate

I like this book. I mean it. It's motivational and thought provoking. Then why do I just rate it a four star? It's because I think this book can be better, with less stories of losers/clients anonymous, and more management/marketing/critical thinking tools and techniques for the target readers/buyers' consideration, or simply more tools and techniques. Anyway, the book is a good beginning, but far from an end for business owners who seek for help or improvement. Certainly, there's no holy grail for running a business, big or small, but relentless effort for improvement day by day.

p.s. Below please find some of my favorite messages for your reference.

"I'll open this place and see what happens." That's an intention, of sorts, but it is not enough. You have to want to succeed. If you want to badly enough, you'll always find the how to. And once you've got your want to tuned up and ready to operate, outside forces (such as the economy) wont be an issue. pg 20

Throwing more money into the business does not save it. In fact, it makes things worse. Money may postpone the collapse, but it will also deepen the collapse. Think of giving a heroin addict a large dose of heroin as he or she passes through the final stages ofa painful detox. pg 41

The purpose of advertising is not to build awareness or increase your name ID. The purpose of your advertising is to create a sale!.....Advertising is salesmanship in print! pg 55-6

All purchases are emotional, anyway, although your customer may put up a good show of talking price with you......And please dont have this be your slogan: "The best quality, the best service, the best prices!" pg 98

Your greatest asset is your mental energy.....If you put your mental energy into worry and doubt and fighting fires all day, then you will get more and more fires. If....into understanding your customer, then you will get more and more customers. pg 124

"The Customer's Always Right." That's a huge lie...downright dangerous to you.... the boost in morale if you have employees or partners or coworkers, and they witness that you have declined the business of a customer because that customer just does not treat people correctly, and you will not subject your employees to it. pg138

Rather than focusing on yourself and whether you've got what it takes to succeed, you want to focus on what it takes to succeed, you want to focus on the result you want. It's a matter of priorities. You have to put the success of your business ahead of false pride. You have to put the success of your business ahead of whether you might lose face or look weak. pg 143