The Small Business Millionaire: A Novel Of Heartbreak And Prosperity (Paperback)

~ (Author), Sam Beckford (Author)
Key Phrases: Steve Chandler, The Small Business Millionaire, Sunshine Inn (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This riveting story about heartbreak and prosperity holds plenty of drama and suspense. Frank Mills and his daughter Jennifer are deeply in debt and struggling to make ends meet when a robbery occurs at their little restaurant in the sleepy town of Royal Oak, Michigan. Fortunately a bright young millionaire named Jonathan Berkley is available to advise them. Jonathan shows them time and again that he is a powerful coach who knows how to empower people in business and give them the faith and strength they need to make it on their own. Frank and Jennifer’s restaurant goes from being the cause of suicidal depression to a surprising success, using some of the same secrets revealed in Chandler and Beckford's bestselling non-fiction book 9 Lies That Are Holding Your Business Back.

Chandler and Beckford draw on their experience in business consulting and the arts to craft an entertaining, enlightening, and informative business-related novel. Readers will gain insights and discover simple truths about how to be successful in business, and in all areas of life.

* This fast-paced, dramatic story is filled with suspense.

* The Small Business Millionaire is based on the expertise of the authors in coaching small business owners.

* This story illustrates the potential conflicts and uncertainties in owning a small business, and how success can be reached using simple strategies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 122 pages
• Publisher: Robert D. Reed Publishers (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931741735
• ISBN-13: 978-1931741736
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #224,897 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cheaper to learn from others mistakes, August 29, 2007

By	Ralph Leseberg (San Jose) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Yesterday was a long day. Up at 4:30AM for a flight down to LA. A day of meetings then back on a plane to get home by 10:30PM. Too wired to sleep and nothing on TV but people talking about Michael Vick. Time to grab a book.

I figured that I would read a couple of chapters then off to bed. A couple of hours later and the book was finished. It is not a surprise that it only took a couple of hours, the book is barely over 120 pages. The surprise is I finished it before going to bed. I was that tired and it was that good.

This is an easy book to read, and it is a good story, but at 120 pages, I do not think it will teach you how to run a business. It does make you think about the business side of business.

There are two really good things in this book, you have to love business nearly as much as you love the business you are in and don't waste money on advertising.

The author's depiction of advertising sales people is classic. "Of course this Ad will help your business, you just have to keep advertising until people recognize your name." Right, but do you guarantee this will bring in customers? "We can't do that, of course. How do we know why someone came in? But, just keep running the ad and I'm sure it will work." I have been there often.

The danger after reading it is that you may conclude that you should never advertise. Not true. Advertising may or may not be great for your business. Maybe the kind of advertising you are doing is not right.

I ran a business where we were spending $15,000 a month on ads. How did we know what ads worked? We asked. We kept track of which ads worked and which didn't. We changed what the ads said. We changed where they ran. We changed when they ran. And, we asked customers how they found us and noted how much they spent. All of this data helped show that the $5000 we were spending a month in yellow page ads was wasting lots of money and the $3000 a month we spent in Val Pak coupons was bringing in 50% of our business. The other 50% came from repeat, word of mouth, and the rest of the $15000 we spent on other types of ads.

Because we asked, we started running much smaller ads in Yellow Pages and moving that money to send out more Val Pak ads. Sales increased. We then set aside some of the budget to experiment with. We used it to try all kinds of things. Those that worked earned the right to continue, those that didn't, well let's just say Edison had a lot of failures too.

There are many good books on advertising out there, Much thicker than this wonderful novel. I like Dan Kennedy's stuff for how to test and write copy. The guerrilla marketing series is also very good.

So why 5 stars? Because this book does a great job at what it does. It is not trying to be a complete business book. It does a great job in showing you that there is a difference between having a hobby that you are good at and turning it into a business. The difference is you have to spend as much or more time doing the business stuff, as you spend on the fun stuff. And if you do not excel at the business side, there will be a lot of pain.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On the Brink - A Heartwarming Story Commitment to a Dream, April 27, 2006

By	Richard R. Blake (Bridgman, Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Steve Chandler and Sam Beckford have joined forces to combine a unique blend of entertainment, suspense, drama, and innovative insight in this moving business novel. It is the story of rebounding from failure and disappointment to success and fulfillment using basic business tactics.

The story is based on Frank, a gifted cook, and his daughter Jennifer, a business major at City College. Frank's family restaurant is on the brink of bankruptcy. Frank is offered thought provoking business coaching from a young customer, Jonathan Berkley.

Jonathan subtly refutes basic misconceptions Frank has adopted on finance, advertising, marketing, and employment practices to replace them with principles of commitment in building a staff, choosing a customer base, a new marketing strategy, and providing a quality product and service for success in building the business of his dreams.

The authors have drawn from their experience in industry and consulting to instill good business practices to motivate, inspire, and encourage the reader to succeed.

I found the book heartwarming and touching on the personal side and practical and enlightening on business principles.

I highly recommend this book to all business owners, whether at the bottom on the brink of failure, or at the pinnacle of success. This book is a reminder of the importance of finding a work that brings joy and fulfillment in the process of attaining goals and dreams.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource, Pleasant to Read, September 18, 2006

By	Ann Bathgate "Return To Harmony.com" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I stumbled across Steve Chandler's writings as I was meandering one day through the local bookstore. I was frustrated and disillusioned by my small business and wondering if I should continue it. I accidentally (if you believe in accidents) found his book, "9 Lies That are Holding Your Business Back...", co-authored by Sam Beckford. The first chapter deeply offended me; so I knew that I needed to buy it. These guys knew way more than I did about business and I wanted to learn every bit.

This discovery led me to other Steve Chandler treasures and I promptly purchased this book, The Small Business Millionaire. First of all, we meet our hero, Jonathan. I was shocked to discover his obsession with the hit show Magnum P.I., because I currently am watching the entire series via DVD with my husband.

Jonathan's character obviously has a 'wealth mentality' and he assists his friends, Jennifer and her father Frank in their restaurant business. Anyone who has ever owned a business will see their thoughts mirrored in Frank's comments throughout the book. Anyone who hasn't lost hope in their business will eat up every word uttered by Jonathan. Jonathan obviously has a good heart with an excellent business mind; the challenge for us is not only to listen, but to be brave enough to follow his advice.

My small business has improved dramatically in the short timespan that I have read this book. I'd like to see where I am in a year from now, as I apply these techniques to my everyday life. This book is worth every penny, along with "9 Lies" and "Reinventing Yourself". Thanks Steve:)

Annie Bathgate