OurColony.net

Why blow bubbles when you can grow a company?

Customer Rating:
"Growing a Business" is pretty old, from 1988, so there is no mention of the Internet, little about software, and nothing at all about startups. In fact, I was struck when the author mentioned the computer for the company. Not a, but the.

Even so, the book is a must-read for anyone who actually wants to build a business that makes money, contributes to society, and does something useful. Hawken doesn't go into a ton of specifics about finding an idea or market, but here are some examples of thoughts you'll find in the book:

* Address problems that money alone cannot solve.
* Money goes where it causes the least embarrassment.
* Focus on a niche instead of developing a new market.

Also discussed are building a good culture, focusing on customers, funding, and lots of other great insights. The lack of technology talk produces a list of business lessons and people skills necessary for those who want to create a business instead of just raising funding or boosting egos.

A timeless piece of gold

Customer Rating:
Published 20 years ago, this book's advice couldn't be more superbly useful today. In fact, over the past 20 years, the polluting tripe that we are fed in terms of advertising became even worse, and so Hawken's call for refreshingly honest, clear and crisp communication with the customer (not consumer) which makes a business stand out from the crowd is more relevant than ever.

The book cuts through the regular business cliches and hogwash, and gives you sound advice for organically growing a business in which you, your employees and your customers are as satisfied and fulfilled as possible. Highly recommended.

great book

Customer Rating:
good book for the people who are already in to business or planning to start

Works for any serious (and serial) entrepreneur

Customer Rating:
Form any startup, the founding team must commit to a getting it right - for it is not easy to getting your market and product right - what you need is likely what I needed for my latest startup - Pay Parade [...] - author and entrepreneur Paul Hawken provides an insightful tale of how to farm your newly seeded company - whereas I thought of this book to help me with marketing, I ended up learning that it often takes more of a cultivated farming sensibility than any hard marketing science. Go ahead and treat yourself to a gift that keeps on giving - purchase yourself a copy of Growing Your Business.

Absolutely Wonderful

Customer Rating:
What a spectacular little business bible for a world that has forgotten that business and people are one and the same. Read this book.