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

~ (Author), Sam Beckford (Author) "I'm sorry, but we can't lend your business $7,000," the 30-something loan officer said as he shook his head sadly..." (more)
Key Phrases: small business truth, small business millionaire, unearned money, Sam Beckford, Yellow Pages, Hertz Gold (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

As an exciting sequel to his smash business bestseller 100 Ways to Motivate Others, Steve Chandler has teamed with Sam Beckford to write an astonishing wake-up call to the more than 20 million people in the United States and Canada who now own small businesses but don't know how to make them really pay off.

By exposing the nine most common (and often fatal) myths in business, Chandler and Beckford offer simple and inspired solutions to the self-induced problems created by small business owners every day. The surprising truths countering each lie – lies such as "It Takes Money to Make Money," "I Am A Victim of Circumstance," and "I Can Do This On My Own"—have been battle-tested for years by Sam Beckford and his hundreds of successful small business coaching clients.

Now, these same truths are delivered to millions of eager readers with the added kick of Chandler's trademark lively and entertaining writing style and powerful self-motivational tools. This book tells you not only how to guarantee that your business will be profitable, but also how to motivate yourself each day to do it!

Steve Chandler is one of America's best-selling authors whose eight books—including the bestsellers 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself and Reinventing Yourself—have been translated into more than 11 languages. Chandler is also a world-famous public speaker who was described by four-time Emmy-award winning PBS screen writer Fred Knipe as "an insane combination of Anthony Robbins and Jerry Seinfeld." Chandler was recently named to the faculty at the University of Santa Monica where he teaches in the graduate program of soul-centered leadership.

Sam Beckford is known throughout the United States and Canada as the "Small Business Millionaire." A five-time business failure who became a millionaire on attempt number six, his story has been told in books, on radio and television, and used in seminars across North America to help other business owners convert their own failures into successes. Beckford has successfully coached and been consulted by hundreds of business owners on how to get extraordinary results from ordinary small businesses, based on lessons from his own real-life experience.

About the Author

Steve Chandler is one of America's bestselling authors whose eight books - including 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself, 100 Ways to Motivate Others, and Reinventing Yourself - have been translated into more than 11 languages. Chandler is also a world-famous public speaker who was described by four-time Emmy-award winning PBS screenwriter Fred Knipe as ''an insane combination of Anthony Robbins and Jerry Seinfeld.'' --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: Career Press (November 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156414836X
• ISBN-13: 978-1564148360
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #168,214 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 9 Good Points, and Some Very Good Business Stories, January 19, 2006

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Whole Bunch of Great Business Concepts Boiled down to a few Hundred Pages, July 29, 2006

By	Kevin Kingston (ny) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Book for Small Business Owners, December 31, 2005

By	Pamela Simpson "P. Simpson" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.