Books of Knowledge

About This Book

Your shoes are charred from stomping out brush fires. You have nightmares about UFOs--Unreachable Financial Objectives. All-star interviewees turn into duds. Meetings cause more problems than they solve. The office is a ghost town at 5:01 p.m. Does this sound familiar?

Tom Gegax knows what that is like. Years after running his Tires Plus franchise by the seat of his pants, blissfully unaware of how little he knew about getting the most out of people and managing a world-class organization, Tom was faced with a cancer diagnosis and a business at the brink of disaster. Resolved to change things around, he improved his mental clarity, health, and relationships and noticed that the more he profited on a personal level, the more his company profited. Tires Plus grew into a $200 million business with 150 upscale locations. He had learned the first lesson in Enlightened Leadership 101: Focus on the well-being of your employees and customers--as well as your own--and success will follow naturally.

In The Big Book of Small Business, Tom shares his hard-earned lessons on how to become an enlightened, effective leader, and on how to do the small things right so the big decisions work. This all-in-one toolbox for small businesses is jammed with warm-hearted, tough-minded practices and street-smart tips, covering every aspect of a growing business:

• Starting, funding, and getting your new business off the ground
• Crafting a mission and growing a corporate culture that works
• Hiring the best people and maximizing their potential
• Communicating and negotiating with your employees, customers, and suppliers
• Creating processes for continuous innovation and growth
• Protecting your business from unforeseen dangers
• Planning for growth
• And much more . . .

As thorough as a textbook and as lively as a news magazine, The Big Book of Small Business is the most comprehensive and practical book on how to take a small business to the next level, and an indispensable slingshot for the millions of scrappy Davids taking on corporate Goliaths.

The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants
	Price Disclaimer Amazon.com Price: $19.79 (as of 2010-07-31 10:23:10 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Manufacturer: HarperBusiness Customer Rating:   Sale Price: $19.79 Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours Free Shipping Available Buy Now
Customer Reviews
Excellent wisdom and inspiration for the entrepreneur   Review Date: March 31, 2008 Reviewer: CryptKicker, 12'under As a new small business owner, I've devoured several books written on the topic of starting a business. Most have a few good kernels of knowledge in them somewhere, but none are as consistently helpful as this book. The author, Tom Gegax, has a great deal of personal experience starting and growing companies, most of which seem to be in the tire industry. If you're business is not merchandise-based, but service-based, this book is still very pertinent. Topics like vision and values are discussed, as well as some interesting marketing ideas. Adapting the information into a business plan for a Web company was easy and enjoyable. Be prepared for Mr. Gegax's very zealous approach to business. It borders on fanatical at times. If you shy away from corporate structures due to their "you must believe" mindset, you'll flinch a few times while reading, but it's still excellent counsel. From a tactile standpoint, this book is great. The binding is well constructed, and the print is slightly large and easy to read. I cannot recommend this book enough if you're starting your own business. Double that recommendation if you own your own business and need a shot of inspiration. I also recommend Joe Kennedy's Small Business Owner's Manual available on Amazon. Maynard Howe, PhD, Chief Executive Officer   Review Date: March 17, 2007 Reviewer: Maynard Howe, PhD, Solana Beach, CA USA The principles set forth in Tom Gegax's book, The Big Book of Small Business, are sound and if applied to your business will have a significant impact on your bottom line - I know, because I have used them. Where most books on business are heavy on theory, this book provides practical solutions based on real-life experiences - solutions that can be applied to any business - solutions that will result in an immediate payoff. This book is for every leader interested in improving their personal performance and that of their company. It truly is a decision maker's guide to best practices. MUST READ   Review Date: March 19, 2007 Reviewer: Paul A. Streitz, MPLS, MN Have you ever been stuck on an important issue and did not know where to turn?, did you ever wonder what would an expert do in this situation?, from employee reviews, Strategic Planning, Building your Brand, creating a atmosphere that is positive and fun for everyone to be in, Tom's book is your reference. This is the book (business bible) I keep closest to me while sitting at my desk. When a little question comes up in my mind what would Tom do? I simply turn you my Business Bible and read the simple outline Tom has created for me and that's it. In minutes I have an answer. "The Big Book of Small Business" is a must read for all management. I purchased this book for all my team members and we have 30 minute meetings each week and go over a chapter it not only keeps all of us thinking as a team but opens us up to better communication and role playing. Tom I thank you so much for writing this and sharing your experience with us it has made a big difference in the Success at ALSI. The first "Cliff Notes" for how to run a business.   Review Date: May 17, 2007 Reviewer: Brian B. Brasch, Fargo, ND United States If you could take all the best practices of business today and consolidate them into one manual, you would have an invaluable book but it would be about the size of the average American house. I believe "The Big Book for Small Business" by Tom Gegax is the "Cliff Notes" version of these best practices, I found this guide to be extremely valuable as an entrepreneur who owns four businesses and have made it required reading for all my employees. Since one of my businesses is in an emerging market, I have done the unthinkable. I have sent my competitors CEO's copies of the book as well because I also believe in what Tom so eloquently stated, "A rising tide raises all boats". If we as industry can all utilize the advice contained in this book, our industry will grow to its incredible potential. This is the best business book I have ever read and find myself coming back to it time and time again for strategy and execution ideas. This is 100% meat and zero fluff. My sincere congratulations to the author for delivering a business book masterpiece. Best Regards, Brian Brasch, President Branick Industries Inc. Roadmap to Business Success   Review Date: March 19, 2007 Reviewer: Donald M. Gullett, I was with Tom at Tires Plus for over 25 years. Tom was always a strong advocate for education, and is now sharing this talent with small businesses that seek his help. The Big Book of Small Business is a "must read" for any individual starting a new business or for those who are already involved in one. This book offers a quick business overview and is also an excellent reference tool. Don Gullett, Co-Founder Tires Plus Small business aide   Review Date: March 25, 2007 Reviewer: Patricia Neal, Minneapolis, MN USA As our business continues to grow, continuous improvement and better systems are critical to our sustained success. I decided to start with me and looked for allies/mentors to tap. The Big Book is one of my in-house, at-hand resources that begins with personal development as precursor to leadership development. Next, there are step-by-step guides to help me define and create a work environment that motivates and engages our team to fulfill our vision. Lots of best practices, lots of practical wisdom. Much appreciation to Tom for caring enough to share his learnings.