My son just gave me a book about business. It is "Rework" by Jason Freid & David Heinemier Hansson, founders of 37signals. (We use one of their products, Basecamp, all the time here at SIGNWarehouse.) The book is a really great read, and helps you to think about your business in a new light.
For instance, big is not better, it's just big. Simplification is better. But here's what the dust cover says: "... the truth is, you need less than you think. You don't need to be a workaholic. You don't need to staff up. You don't need to waste time on paperwork or meetings. You don't even need an office. These are just excuses." And this is just the dust cover! Here's an excerpt from the book:
Meetings are Toxic The worst interruptions of all are meetings. Here’s why:It’s also unfortunate that meetings are typically scheduled like TV shows. You set aside thirty minutes or an hour because that’s how scheduling software works (you’ll never see anyone schedule a seven- minute meeting with Outlook). Too bad. If it only takes seven minutes to accomplish a meeting’s goal, then that’s all the time you should spend. Don’t stretch seven into thirty.
- They’re usually about words and abstract concepts, not real things.
- They usually convey an abysmally small amount of information per minute.
- They drift off-subject easier than a Chicago cab in a snowstorm.
- They require thorough preparation that most people don’t have time for.
- They frequently have agendas so vague that nobody is really sure of the goal.
- They often include at least one moron who inevitably gets his turn to waste everyone’s time with nonsense.
- Meetings procreate. One meeting leads to another meeting leads to another . . .
I highly recommend that you buy the book "ReWork".
