Description
Book SynopsisCreating a Thriving Business is the definitive guide to achieving your hopes and dreams for your business.
Good business owners and leaders have expectations for today, hopes for tomorrow and dreams for their business down the road. They've asked themselves - ""If this is the business I have and that is the business I want, how do I get from here to there?”
Utilizing a unique methodology built upon his experience with over 1,200 businesses over the past 17 years, George Horrigan shows how to accomplish these dreams. Employing this straightforward and extremely effective process will help entrepreneurs and business leaders achieve the goals for their businesses in record time.
Creating a Thriving Business explains how to create a successful and immensely profitable business by providing a systematic, structured approach to beat the competition. It guides you step by step, using specific strategies and proven, practical tools to solve real world problems and get the desired results including:
1. Defining specific goals for your business
2. Creating a concrete and comprehensive strategy for your business
3. Developing and following through with an explicit execution plan
4. Obtaining or providing sufficient capital for your business
Trade Review“I can highly recommend this book to anyone starting a business, or who wants to spur their business growth.
Creating a Thriving Business shows you how to systematically eliminate the guesswork and uncertainty associated with trying to grow a business.”
—Bob Bare
author of
More Power! An Entrepreneur’s Roadmap to Success, founder of Best Selling Experts
“George Horrigan is obviously an author you can trust. He gently takes you by the hand and leads you to success as a business owner. He does not make it sound easy. But he does make it sound possible. He does not regale you with tales of how quickly it will happen. But he proves to you that it will happen eventually. Even God had to wait. For you, as for Him, it will be worth the wait.”
—Jay Conrad Levinson
Author of the
Guerrilla Marketing series
“In
Creating a Thriving Business, George Horrigan has weaved together his experience in starting and growing seven businesses, extensive research performed over the past 25 years, and consulting with over 1,200 businesses in order to give the reader an easy, step by step methodology to create a successful, thriving business.”
-Rick Frishman
Founder Planned TV Arts/Media Connect, www.rickfrishman.com
Table of ContentsChapter Summaries
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter One—Choosing A Business
Looking Inside: Ideas From Within
Looking Outward: Ideas From The World Around You
Inside And Out: Combining Both Approaches
Idea Sources: An Endless Well
Tough Choices: Product Or Customer First?
Major Factors: Narrowing Your Choices
Naming Your Business
Timing Issues
Tyranny Of The Urgent
The Business Choice Chicken-And-Egg Syndrome
Chapter Two—Recipe For A Thriving Business
Recipe For A Thriving Business
Components Of A Thriving Business
Why This Structure Matters
A Unique Methodology
A Traditional Business Plan Versus The Structure Of Profitability
Chapter Three—Step #1: Vision
Why You Need A Vision For Your Business
Vision: What Does It Really Mean?
Four Benefits Of Having A Compelling Vision
The Importance Of A Compelling Vision
Sources Of A Vision
Developing A Vision
Three Steps To Creating A Compelling Vision
What Does A Compelling Vision Look Like?
The Importance Of A Win/Win Experience
Mission Statement Versus Slogan Versus Vision
Incubating Your Vision
Three Problems
Chapter Four—Step #2: Critical Success Factors And Strategy
What Is A Critical Success Factor For A Business?
Your Critical Success Factors
Critical Success Factor Analysis: The Foundation
What Will This Analysis Accomplish?
Synchronizing Vision And Critical Success Factors
Making Implementation Measurable
Your Strategic Plan: The Road Map For Achieving Your Vision
Creating A Sustainable Competitive Advantage
Chapter 5 — Step #3: Marketing
Where Do Marketing And Sales Fit In?
The Importance Of Your Marketing And Sales Area
Overview Of Your Marketing And Sales Area
Your Number Of Potential Buyers
Awareness Of A Need For Your Product Or Service
Understanding Your Customer
Attractiveness Of Your Solution
Create Experiences Worth Repeating
Their Awareness Of Your Solution
Updating Your Critical Success Factors
Chapter 6—Step #4: Sales And Related Areas
Your Delivery Channels
Effectiveness Of Your Sales Processes
Sales Is An Ongoing Process
Meeting And Exceeding Your Customer’s Expectations
Assessing Your Competition
Updating Your Critical Success Factors
Chapter 7—Step #5: Producing Your Product Or Service
What Production Means
The Production Chicken-And-Egg Syndrome
Overview Of Your Production Area
The Five Elements Of Your Strategic Advantage
Exceptional Versus Great Versus Good Versus Average
Product Cost Advantage
Product Quality
Delivery Time Or Convenience
Customer Service
The Uniqueness Of Your Product
Developing Your Strategic Advantage
Updating Your Critical Success Factors
Chapter Eight—Step #6: Financing Your Business
Why The Funding Of A Business Is So Important
Your Overall Financing Needs
Evaluating Your Financing Needs
Tools For Calculating Your Financing Needs
Types Of Financing
Sources Of Financing
Evaluation Of Financing Criteria
Obtaining Funding
Updating Your Critical Success Factors
Chapter 9—Step #7: Execution—Innovating And Systematizing
Business Planning Activities
Developing A Game-Changing Vision
Recrafting And Recasting Your Vision
Innovation
Fruit Stands Versus Factories
Systems
Your Daily Role In Your Business
Updating Your Critical Success Factors
Chapter Ten—In Conclusion
About The Author
Free Special Bonuses
Additional Resources
