Customer Reviews

Your Business Brickyard: Getting back to the basics to make your business more fun to run.

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

 

 

This is a 63-page gem of a business book, for many reasons...

1. It's easy to read in one sitting (don't you love business books you can read - and reread - in 90 minutes?).

2. It hits the key fundamentals ("bricks") of running an effective business but includes the non-obvious - e.g. "lose your nemesis" (forget your competition), "pay fast" (and you'll be paid faster).

3. There are practical to do's at the end of each chapter ("Practice Drills") that would not have occurred to me to try - e.g. "rank your clients."

4. The size, look, and feel of the book makes it exceptionally reader-friendly (why can't all books be designed this way?).

I might have enjoyed a longer treatment of each business "brick," but at the same time I might have postponed reading it if it were not so attractively presented as a fast-read. It definitely leaves me ready for the sequel.

Fantastic book by my friend Howard Mann! This isn't some fluffy business fable as one might judge by its slim storybook size and hardcover. The business insights contained within were heard-earned by the author himself via his own experiences in running a successful (but stressful) freight and logistics company.

The content is broken into core components that benefit everyone from the seasoned CEO to the first-time entrepreneur. The book is beautifully designed and packs a visual punch for the reader; from the chapter headings to the "two-minute drill" summaries, all the way down to the representation of "football-as-brick" icon.

The 12 lessons (my favorites are: Reconnect with Your Purpose, Lose Your Nemesis, Singles and Doubles, Relationships Not Sales, Accelerate Through The Finish Line, and Escape Desk Gravity) are succinct and to the point -- the author knows you don't have time to waste, you have a business to run!

Part of the legend of Benjamin Franklin is that he spent quite a bit of time improving himself. He selected 13 virtues (Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity and Humility) and set about improving himself in those areas. But he didn't try to do it all at once. He took one virtue at a time and specifically focused on trying to improve himself in that area for one week. I recommend that you do the same with this book. Choose one lesson and focus your attention on in improving (even just a little bit) in that single area for one week. Pick another area for the following week. And another. And another. And another. And another. And then go back and do it all over again.

It's time to go back to the brickyard, baby!

I found this read informative excellent and to the point

David Murphy

I read this entire book on a short one-hour flight; I was blown away. So much value in so few pages. Almost a contradiction in terms when it comes to business books. I'd say any manager would enjoy it, but I'd have to say that most value will be had by people that have owned businesses for 5 or so years.