Följa John

I guess some people are a little surprised at what I read. As you will notice here, I will give short reviews of three books about marketing. Maybe it is strange with my major focus on leadership and education to read so much about marketing, but I do run a small business and I do have to think a lot about marketing my services, books and ideas. And you should too!

Who isn’t in the marketing and influencing business these days? Is there a teacher, a principal, a leader, a receptionist, a plumber or a nurse that’s shouldn’t think about how their actions attract students, clients or customers – or how they can win over colleagues with their ideas?

Beställ: Profits Aren’t Everything, They’re the Only Thing

George Cloutier’s book, Profits Aren’t Everything, They’re the Only Thing gave me a good kick in the pants. What works? What generates profit? Am I aware of what expenses lead to which income? Do I really focus on what gives the best effects? I am noticing, as are many small business people in these turbulent times, that old solutions are not working. So what to do? The least one can do is to figure out what IS working and not apologize for the fact that a business does have to turn a profit. In my own case I need profits to finance my writing. I am not an Astrid Lindgren, a Håkan Lindqvist nor even a John Steinbeck. I am a John Steinberg writing for a rather limited audience in Swedish!

While you can’t and shouldn’t just think about the money and profits, surely it is wise to give yourself a reminder that it is important to have a good understanding of what brings profits and how you do this most effectively.