Robin Johnstone Consulting
Good Books
The books listed below are books in no particular order that I have found helpful, inspiring or both. Some are about specific aspects of business, some are more general, and some are not about business at all, but are what I call “mind-widening”. Check back from time to time -- more to come.
To make entry simpler, I’ve included only the title and author(s). Enjoy!
Open-Book Management: Ivanic and Bado
Simple, practical and down-to-earth. Combination of persuasive reasons for OBM, how-to get going on it, and a workbook.
The Paradox of Choice: Barry Schwartz
Managing choice to reduce anxiety, increase productivity, clarify decision-making. It might make you want to review your products and services and how you present them.
Establishing a System of Policies and Procedures: Stephen B. Page
Written by the guru of policies and procedures; practical, no-nonsense and easy to follow for setting up your own policies and procedures manual.
Risk Intelligence: David Apgar
Best-case scenario? Worst-case scenario? Which of the risks involved are random, which are learnable? How can you tell them apart and how can you manage them? That’s what this book is about.
Topgrading: Bradford D. Smart
Hiring, coaching and keeping the best people. How to separate the good from the average, the better from the good and the best from everyone else.
The Number: Lee Eisenberg
Retirement planning that gets you thinking not just about how much, but about how you want to live your life after you’ve retired.
Satisfaction: Chris DeNove and James D. Power IV
Customer service is not just about making nice. It can have substantial and measurable impact on the bottom line.
Angel Customers and Demon Customers: Larry Selden and Geoffrey Colvin
Weeding out and getting rid of unprofitable customers (!) and focusing on profitable ones.
Small Giants: Bo Burlingham
Inspiring book of 18 companies with strong company cultures that stem directly from the owners’ conscious choices of what kind of company to have.
SPIN Selling: Neil Rackham
Unfortunate title; it’s not about “spin” at all. It’s about setting up, managing and closing the sales process, especially when the process requires lots of thought and decision-making on the part of the customer.
The Goal: Eliyahu M. Goldratt
In the form of a novel, this book is a fascinating examination of detecting and dealing with bottlenecks in the production process. And it’s not just about manufacturing....
Good to Great: Jim Collins
Emphasizes the importance of figuring out just what it is that your company is good at and then concentrating on it.
Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping: Paco Underhill
Even if the only contact you have with your customers is your lobby and a receptionist, this book will make you re-think the act of shopping and what your customers are thinking about you and your products while they’re in your location.
Robin Johnstone Consulting, LLC
Offices in Albuquerque and Santa Fe