A Practical, Inspirational, and Innovative Guide to Becoming Successful

The Affluent Entrepreneur by Patrick Snow more than lives up to its title in multiple ways. While "affluent" is generally used to mean "wealthy" in terms of money, Snow expands that title by showing how all aspects of our lives can be affluent when we follow our passions, remain focused upon our families, and use practical steps to create businesses that will provide us with the money, security, and happiness we need to thrive in life. Snow also quotes the Bible to make it clear there is nothing wrong with being prosperous, and we should not let self-limiting beliefs hold us back from making the world a better place-in fact, true Affluent Entrepreneurs not only enjoy their success but share their prosperity with others through giving both time and money and by setting an example of hope for others.

Snow breaks down his book into "20 Proven Principles for Achieving Prosperity" and those principles are definitely proven. There is not a bad principle in the list. Just a few of the principles include "Building Income Security," "Participating in Mastermind Groups," "Getting Your Family's Support," and "Developing a 'No Matter What' Mentality." While many of these principles are basic common sense, or they have been discussed in other books, what is so valuable about The Affluent Entrepreneur is that Patrick Snow is a creative genius when it comes to being an entrepreneur. He takes these principles and provides personal and creative examples of how to use each principle to achieve prosperity and success. I've read many other self-help and business books, but Snow's presentation and stories of how he achieved success often kept me on the edge of my seat and ready to cheer for him, whether he was landing a publishing contract or being hired as a public speaker for a major corporation's annual conference.

An added benefit of The Affluent Entrepreneur is that Patrick Snow does not only tell his story, but he provides in each chapter the profile of another Affluent Entrepreneur who successfully, through hard work, determination, and creativity, not only made millions or even billions of dollars, but also revolutionized his or her industry. Examples range from nineteenth century legends like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, to twentieth century legends like Henry Ford and Sam Walton, and to people today living the lives of Affluent Entrepreneurs including Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart, Donald Trump, and Ralph Lauren. With the examples of these twenty Affluent Entrepreneurs and Patrick Snow included, any reader will be sure to find the information necessary to achieve all his or her dreams of prosperity-because the Affluent Entrepreneur of the title is, after all, not Patrick Snow but the reader.

Finally, I wish to testify here that I myself have Patrick Snow to thank for leading me down the road to becoming an Affluent Entrepreneur. I first met Patrick Snow in April 2007. After spending just one evening together, we came up with a business plan that resulted in my starting my own business as an independent book reviewer, freelance editor, proofreader, and writer, which ultimately became Superior Book Promotions. Within a month, I was working for myself while still keeping my day job. By January 2009, I had created such a demand for my services that I made the frightening, risky decision to quit my job and work full-time doing the work I love to do and being my own boss.

Since that time, my annual income has more than surpassed what I earned at my day job. I am my own boss, set my own hours, love my work, and best of all, I am helping other people succeed in their dreams to become published authors. I like to think I would have gone down this path regardless, but meeting Patrick Snow kick-started me in the right direction by making me realize it was time I got a return on my investment of hard work and higher education. And it should be noted that I accomplished this goal despite the United States being in its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

I am a living example that Patrick Snow can teach you how to build a business that is recession-proof because it is your own and your vision is the guiding force behind it. It is not an exaggeration to say that Patrick Snow has been one of the most important influences in my life, and I am confident that multitudes of his readers-many of whom have already learned to follow their dreams from reading his first book, the international bestseller Creating Your Own Destiny-with dedication and the courage to apply the principles he teaches in The Affluent Entrepreneur, are bound to become equally impressive success stories.

The most inspiring and practical business book I've read since The Four-Hour Work Week, Patrick Snow's The Affluent Entrepreneur is filled with stories to make you laugh-and Patrick Snow isn't above laughing at himself-but after the laughter fades, you will be left with shrewd advice that will keep the brains in your head spinning until you succeed in becoming the Affluent Entrepreneur and living the affluent lifestyle you deserve.

Tyler R. Tichelaar holds a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from Northern Michigan University and a Ph.D. from Western Michigan University. His family's long relationship with Upper Michigan and his avid interest in genealogy inspired Dr. Tichelaar to write his Marquette Trilogy: Iron Pioneers, The Queen City, and Superior Heritage. Dr. Tichelaar is also a professional book reviewer and editor. For more information about Tyler R. Tichelaar, his writing, and his author services, visit:

http://www.marquettefiction.com/

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A Practical Guide to Starting a Successful Personal History Business

Jennifer Campbell was one of five women profiled in the February, 2011 issue of More magazine as an entrepreneur who started her business for only $150.00. As a collector of women's success stories, I was immediately intrigued and decided to investigate how she had done this. My research was pretty easy because Campbell had written a book about her undertaking called "Start & Run A Personal History Business - Get Paid to Research Family Ancestry and Write Memoirs".

I ordered the book through Amazon and sat back to wait for its arrival. Less than 10 days later, I held her book in my hands.

Campbell explains. " This is a 'hot' profession: a young industry with vast potential for income and growth. When I started Heritage Memoirs in 2002, I just wanted a creative outlet for my interviewing, writing, and editing skills. Through my father's death and my mother's dementia, I had lost my own family stories and thought there could possibly be a business helping other people avoid that loss." (page 2)

And, as her fledgling business grew, it became obvious to Campbell that the next step was to write a how-to book that covered every aspect of start up for a memoir writing business.

An unexpected bonus is the CD-ROM included on the inside back cover of the book that includes additional resources and templates you can download. Think of this book as your own personal workbook. Each page has lots of white space for note taking.

Chapter one lays the foundation by defining what a personal historian is and does and then broadening the scope of the profession by describing the "why" of this business. This chapter, like all of the others, is clearly arranged with sub-topics and bullet points for easy reading.

One of the features of the book that I like is the quiz Campbell includes on page 13. She lists 25 characteristics that she believes someone should have if they are considering becoming a personal historian. Should you come up on the short end of this list, rather than discourage you from moving forward, Campbell suggests that you simply "...start planning to work on those areas you identified as ones in which you need help." (page 13)

Chapters 3 - 5

As I read further, I found myself thinking that Campbell's book should be required reading for everyone who has ever thought about having a home-based business.

Why? Everything that she covers in these three chapters can be easily applied to any new start up business.

Campbell examines what makes for any good business owner. She distinguishes between two personality types: someone who she describes as a "pair of hands" (page 18) versus that dynamic individual who wants to control their professional/financial destiny - an entrepreneurial spirit.

What is it that separates these two types? "It's mainly one of attitude." (page 18) Some of us know this as the difference between being an employee and being an owner. The former are content to go to their job every day, following the directions of someone else. Their job has a beginning and an end to it.

The owner is someone who has a "...vision of what the business could be in a year or two or five, and they accept that they'll have to do a lot of grunt work and learn all aspects of running a business. They tend to be leaders. They have enough confidence in their abilities and their products to patiently but assertively build a clientele, and carve out a lucrative niche for themselves in the marketplace." (page 18)

Knowing which category you fit can go a long way to helping you be successful. There are happy, productive employees and there are happy, productive business owners. Taking time to figure out which category you want to fit into can save a lot of heartache.

Chapters 6 - 16

The day-to-day action steps, to-do lists, and practical applications for how to get started as a personal historian are clearly laid out in the rest of this book. Campbell leaves no stone unturned as she walks you through start up. If you're researching possible business opportunities for yourself and think that helping people to write their memoirs might be something you'd like to do, you will find no better road map for success than this book.

Kathy H Porter (aka Mrs BizWhiz) blogs about baby boomer women seeking to re-invent themselves either personally or professionally. She invites you to visit: http://www.mrsbizwhizconnects.com/ to join the conversation.

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The Wall Street Journal Essential Guide To Management by Alan Murray

Alan Murray, Deputy Managing Editor of "The Wall Street Journal" has written an excellent guide to management ideas and practices with his book "The Wall Street Journal Essential Guide to Management." What makes this book so good is the research Murray put into it. The guide contains some of the best and brightest ideas and strategies from many different sources, as well as case study examples from recent times and what can be learned from them. It is an easy read, full of clear and useful knowledge for anyone in the management field.

The book has twelve chapters that each focus on one area of management. These include: management, leadership, motivation, people, strategy, execution, teams, change, financial literacy, going global, ethics, and managing yourself. There is also a short conclusion that wraps things up well.

What I really liked about this book was how Murry discusses both good and bad about certain leaders and companies, and what can be learned from both. For instance, Jack Welch's leadership at the helm of General Electric is looked at, and both good and bad about Welch is pointed out. I also like that he brought up Peter Drucker's view of business ethics in that he didn't believe in them because he thought the phrase suggested those in business should live by different rules than everyone else. Drucker wrote that executives should not cheat, steal, lie, bribe, or take bribes. But nor should anyone else. These are just two small examples out of many, where Murry shares the wisdom and lessons from some of the best leadership minds of our time. It really is a well researched book.

This book is aimed at those in corporate management positions. It is not really for the small business owner, even though many of the concepts and ideas are applicable in that setting, and elsewhere, it really is designed to help those in management positions of larger corporations and organizations. And it addresses the changes that have been brought on by the recent period of economic disruption caused by the unprecedented financial crisis that led to the deepest economic downturn since the 1930s, because it was during this time that the book was written. I think the recent examples contained within these pages are extremely important for managers wanting to go forward and lead their respective organizations toward success. Murray set out to research and provide a navigation guide for managers who are drifting in uncharted waters. I think he did just that, and I highly recommend this book to anyone in the management field.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a writer, speaker, and mediator who teaches how to live, take action, and get things done through the Warrior's Edge. He is an expert on conflict and mediates and teaches conflict resolution and negotiation. Additionally, he teaches physical conflict skills in his Hapkido and Self-Defense courses, lectures, and seminars. Alain is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks, the DVDs Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking series, and numerous articles and reviews. You can read more articles and reviews and see clips of his DVDs as well as much more at http://www.burrese.com/ and http://www.yourwarriorsedge.com/.

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The Small Business Survival Guide by Jason Reid

I was very impressed with "The Small Business Survival Guide" by Jason Reid. The book is a fantastic reference for the small business owner or manager, and contains a wealth of information on a large variety of business topics. Included in this information is an abundant amount of other resources available, and I found it very convenient to have all of this contained in one volume. I really think this book will benefit anyone running a small business.

First of all, the book is practical and pragmatic. It's not a bunch of theory, but rather straight forward advice on the things a small business owner faces on a regular basis. There are tips, strategies, suggestions, and lists that guide you through a plethora of topics.

Chapter topics include: branding; marketing; when things go very bad; leads; sales, sales, sales; sales management; employees, hire slow, fire fast; it's your turn, use it wisely; customers; technology; business intelligence; back to school; expense management, running a lean business; estimating and pricing; big opportunities; management; meetings, communication is key; dream management or whole life management; goals; protect yourself, your company, and your employees; and business planning.

This book really is a hands-on tool for running a successful small business. Reid doesn't pull punches and lays it out the way he's experienced it. For instance, in the chapter titled "Big Opportunities," he discusses making deals with big box retailers. Rather than provide some motivating rah rah talk, such as, "work at getting your product onto the shelves of a big box retailer, and watch your profits soar," he tells it like it is. He provides some straight forward advice that shines a light on the many small businesses that have been chewed up and spit out by these big corporations.

In some chapters, Reid has specific advice for specific businesses. If yours falls into one of these categories, so much the better. If not, you can still learn from the advice and look to ways it will apply to your own situation. Throughout the book there are side boxes with questions to assist you in figuring out how to apply the information to your business. Of course, to get the most value from these, you'll have to take the time to think about the questions and come up with the best answers and solutions to them.

Because Reid covers so many topics in this book, he can't go into great depth on them, but I was pleasantly surprises at how much depth he did provide. This book has more practical ready to use business advice than I've seen in one volume in quite a while. I guarantee if you are a small business owner, this book can help you run your business better and more efficiently. This survival guide will show you the way toward success.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a writer, speaker, and mediator who teaches how to live, take action, and get things done through the Warrior's Edge. He is an expert on conflict and mediates and teaches conflict resolution and negotiation. Additionally, he teaches physical conflict skills in his Hapkido and Self-Defense courses, lectures, and seminars. Alain is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks, the DVDs Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking series, and numerous articles and reviews. You can read more articles and reviews and see clips of his DVDs as well as much more at http://www.burrese.com/ and http://www.yourwarriorsedge.com/

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