Read a Good Book Lately?

Take one of these books on your vacation, and you may discover ways for business improvement you never dreamed of.
July 21, 2008

By Steven Batts

As we enter the summer months, many of you will head to the beach or other spots for relaxation. And while on vacation, you may enjoy picking up a good book to read. If you are going to be reading, you might as well read something that will improve your business. For this issue of the Impressions Newsletter, I thought I would share with you my summer reading plan since you may find some of these books useful for your business.

Michael Gerber, The E-Myth Revisited (New York: Harper Collins, 1995)
I've just finished re-reading this book, which is a must-read for small businesses owners. The “E” doesn’t stand for electronic but for entrepreneurial. The entrepreneurial myth is: “Just because you are good at something, you can be successful in a business doing that same thing.” As Gerber emphasizes, to be successful in business, you have to be good at business, not necessarily good at whatever it is you are good at doing.

This book goes on to explain the necessity of not working in your business, but rather working on your business. It also spells out the steps necessary to accomplish this transition. In this latest edition, The E-Myth Revisited, Gerber not only describes the principles in each chapter, he also provides real-world scenarios to help explain them. This book will change your outlook on your business and prepare you for growth.

Jay Conrad Levinson, Guerilla Marketing (New York: Houghton-Mifflin, 2007)
I'm currently reading this book, which is about marketing strategies for the small guy written by the person who helped bring us the Marlboro man, one of the most effective marketing campaigns of all time. Levinson knows a little bit about grabbing people's attention.

Although large companies also employ Levinson's strategies, this book is for those of us who don’t have millions or even thousands of dollars to invest in marketing. It has lots of great marketing ideas that don’t cost a lot of money.

Levinson walks you through the reasons why a marketing plan is important and the necessity of looking at marketing as a long-term investment. The core of the book focuses on developing and implementing a marketing plan. It's full of ideas that will help you figure out the most effective and creative marketing strategies for your business.

Zig Ziglar, Better than Good (Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 2006)
This book is next on my reading list. Zig Ziglar is one of the most well-known motivational speakers in the world. He has authored numerous books and other publications. Even after more than 25 years of this type of work, he still has some words of encouragement to impart. I was motivated to read this book after watching a video series of his on goal setting. It was excellent and very helpful.

In this book, Ziglar sums up the key points for personal success: Passion, Peak Performance and Purpose. His ability to boil down broad topics into bite-size bullet points and use those for motivation should make for a great read.

Of course, if you know me, you know I will spend time reading my favorite book. It is the all-time best seller, the Bible. I find its insights on business, particularly in Proverbs, most helpful.

Have a great summer and happy reading.

Steven Batts, a 14-year veteran of the embroidery industry, is a regular speaker at the Imprinted Sportswear Shows. He owns Righteous Threads Embroidery, Greensboro, N.C., which offers digitizing, embroidery, machine maintenance and repair, and consulting. Call him at (336) 379-9380, e-mail righteousthreads@gmail.com or hear him speak at ISS Schaumburg in August on the following topics:

•    Conquering Caps: Tips and Techniques for Embroidering Conventional and Specialty Caps
•    Embroidery Essentials: Backings, Needles and Threads
•    Embroidery Fixes & Garment-saving Repairs
•    How to Create Special Embroidery Effects

Have you read a good business book lately? Why not share the title with other Impressions readers. Send an email with the author and title of the book and what you liked about it to rlebovitz@impressionsmag.com.

Tips for Improving Embroidery Productivity
Modern stabilizers and hooping systems aren't necessarily time-saving, profit-boosting conveniences. Sometimes, conventional practices yield the greatest results.

As we continue to look at the differences between a home hobbyist and a commercial embroiderer, let me reiterate that the difference between the two is not just a matter of location. I am a commercial embroiderer who works from home. The difference is mainly a matter of mindset. We can get technical and try to classify embroiders by their equipment, but the reality is that a commercial embroiderer is in business for profit and the other in it for fun.
September 15, 2008

Boost Profits by Streamlining Embroidery Production
Eliminate time-wasting practices.
Earlier, we looked at the differences between home embroidery machines and commercial machines, and found the biggest difference, besides durability, is that commercial machines are designed around production; it’s about getting work on and off the machine as quickly as possible.
August 29, 2008

Why a Consumer Embroidery Machine Is Not Cut Out for Commercial Work
When starting an embroidery business, one of the first steps is choosing your machine. Make sure you know what to expect before deciding between a consumer-grade or commercial embroidery machine.
Recently, I received a phone call from a woman who is considering opening an embroidery business and wanted some advice. One of the questions I asked regarded the type of machine she wanted to purchase. She told me that it was a sewing machine with an embroidery attachment and that she could get the whole package for about $600.
August 18, 2008

How to Make the Leap from Hobbyist to Commercial Embroiderer
Many hobbyist embroiderers make the transition to commercial embroidery. But there are a few basics to know before venturing out into the commercial world.
Something interesting has happened during the past decade. Home sewing machines with embroidery attachments have increased in popularity, creating a new generation of embroiderers. A love of embroidery is driving this new segment, and many are realizing the possibility of a career doing what they love.
August 04, 2008

Read a Good Book Lately?
Take one of these books on your vacation, and you may discover ways for business improvement you never dreamed of.
As we enter the summer months, many of you will head to the beach or other spots for relaxation. And while on vacation, you may enjoy picking up a good book to read. If you are going to be reading, you might as well read something that will improve your business. For this issue of the Impressions Newsletter, I thought I would share with you my summer reading plan since you may find some of these books useful for your business.
July 21, 2008