New York Times Business Bestsellers April 2013

1		LEAN IN, by Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell. (Knopf) The chief operating officer of Facebook urges women to pursue their careers without ambivalence.  (Downloadable eBook or AudioBook)
2		SALT SUGAR FAT, by Michael Moss. (Random House) A New York Times reporter reveals how food companies use science to encourage us to consume more of their products.  (Downloadable eBook)
3		SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE, by Clive Davis with Anthony DeCurtis. (Simon & Schuster) A memoir by the powerful music company executive.
4		EARN THE RIGHT TO WIN, by Tom Coughlin with David Fisher. (Portfolio/Penguin, $25.95.) The N.F.L. veteran’s views on preparation and toughness in the face of adversity. (†)
5		THE DUCK COMMANDER FAMILY, by Willie & Korie Robertson with Mark Schlabach. (Howard Books, $23.99.) Behind the scenes at the A&E show “Duck Dynasty.”  (Not available at EPL, but a Hold can be placed to obtain this from another library.)
6		DECISIVE, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. (Crown Business, $26.) Strategies for making better choices in life and work. (†)
7	*	DETROIT, by Charlie LeDuff. (Penguin Press, $27.95.) A television journalist (once a staff writer for The Times) investigates the reasons for the decline of his hometown.
8		FRANCONA, by Terry Francona and Dan Shaughnessy. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $28.) The manager’s Red Sox years. (Not available at EPL, but a Hold can be placed to obtain this from another library.)
9		THE POWER OF HABIT, by Charles Duhigg. (Random House, $28.) A Times reporter’s account of the science behind how we form, and break, habits.  (Downloadable eBook or AudioBook; AudioBook on CD)
10	*	LEAN ENTREPRENEUR, by Brant Cooper and Patrick Vlaskovits. (Wiley, $37.95.) Steps for becoming an entrepreneurial visionary. (†)
11		POWER OF CONSISTENCY, by Weldon Long. (Wiley, $24.95.) Prosperity mindset training for sales and business professionals. (†)  (Not available at EPL, but a Hold can be placed to obtain this from another library.)
12		TO SELL IS HUMAN, by Daniel H. Pink. (Riverhead, $26.95.) Insights from social science about how to move others.
13		PATIENTS COME SECOND, by Paul Spiegelman and Britt Berrett. (Greenleaf, $24.95.) An argument that a hospital’s success depends on how it treats it employees. (†) (Not available at EPL, but a Hold can be placed to obtain this from another library.)
14		BIG DATA, by Viktor Mayer-Schonberger and Kenneth Cukier. (Eamon Dolan/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $27.) The science of making sense of vast collections of information to change the way we think about business, health, politics and more.
15	*	TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER, by Dave Ramsey. (Thomas Nelson, $24.99.) Debt reduction and fiscal fitness for families, by the radio talk-show host. (†)

New York Times Business Best Sellers February 2013

New York Times Business Best Sellers

1. TO SELL IS HUMAN, by Daniel H. Pink. (Riverhead) Insights from social science about how to move others.  
2. FRANCONA, by Terry Francona and Dan Shaughnessy. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) The manager’s Red Sox years.
3. NINJA INNOVATION, by Gary Shapiro. (Morrow/HarperCollins) Ten strategies observed at the world’s most successful businesses. (†)
4. THE POWER OF HABIT, by Charles Duhigg. (Random House) A Times reporter’s account of the science behind how we form, and break, habits.  (Also available as a downloadable eBook, and as a downloadable AudioBook.)
5. ANTIFRAGILE, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. (Random House) The philosophical essayist and author of “The Black Swan” identifies things that not only gain from chaos but need it in order to survive and flourish.  (Also available as a downloadable eBook, and as a downloadable AudioBook.)
6. TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER, by Dave Ramsey. (Thomas Nelson) Debt reduction and fiscal fitness for families, by the radio talk-show host. (†)
7. *GREAT BY CHOICE, by Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen. (Harper Business/HarperCollins) The characteristics of companies that succeed in hard times. (†)

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Tax Time Resources for Small Business Owners

The Evanston Library has some resources to help Small Business Owners during this tax season.  Check out some of the following resources:

 475 Tax Deductions for Businesses and Self-employed Individuals,  Kamoroff, Bernard B.  c2013. (
Updated to reflect changes in tax law, this not only lists the individual items that are deductible--from Internet domain name costs to theft losses--but also explains where to list them on your income tax form.

Deduct It!  Lower Your Small Business Taxes.  Fishman, Stephen.  c2012 (343.05268 Fishm.S 2012)
This book is also available as a downloadable eBook.  
Maximize your business deductions-quickly, easily and legally. Easy to read and full of real-world examples.

Home Business Tax Deductions: Keep What You Earn.  Fishman, Stephen. c2013. 
(343.73052 HOM 2013)
If you're running a home business, it's essential that you claim 100% of the tax deductions you're entitled to. 

Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide.  Fishman, Stephen. c2010.  (343.0523 Every 2010)
Provides everything you need to maximize your deductions and put extra dollars in your pocket. 

J. K. Lasser's 1001 Deductions and Tax Breaks.  c2013.  (343.0523 Jklasse 2012).
Completely revised to reflect important changes in this year′s tax laws. 

Do you want to work at home?

AARP published a great article last year about the best work-at-home jobs for retirees.  But there's no reason these jobs couldn't work for younger workers as well.  Customer service reps no longer have to be centrally located in a corporate call center.  Online tutors help kids do their math, or English, or history homework.  Virtual office assistants do payroll, make travel plans and arrange meetings.  See what other work-at-home opportunities AARP suggests in this article, and in this additional article about home based businesses.

Starting Your Own Business--For Teens!

Saturday, December 1, 3-4 pm, Small Meeting Room, Main Library
 
This program is for teens who have always wanted to have their own business. Learn the basics of getting a business started, from budgeting to marketing, and everything in between, to get your dream off the ground. Please register online, in person, or by calling 847-448-8625
For grades 6-12.

ReferenceUSA Workshop

Thursday, November 15, 1 pm, Community Meeting Room, Main Library

Learn how to use this valuable reference tool to create mailing lists, identify prospective employers, find lifestyle demographics, and more. Registration is requested, but not required. Walk-ins are always welcome. Register online, or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.

New Business Titles

Breakthrough Branding: How Smart Entrepreneurs and Intrapreneurs Transform A Small Idea into A Big Brand Kaputa, Catherine, c2012. [On order by EPL]
A "how-to-brand" book, in which the author points out that the small idea is best. She describes simple approaches to the brand promise, positioning, verbal and visual identities, and marketing, all of which can help a small business owner position his or her enterprise.

By Invitation Only : How We Built Gilt Groupe and Changed the Way Millions Shop.

Maybank, Alexis and Alexandra Wilkis, c2012  [381.142 Mayba.A]
Maybank and Wilson started the online business, Gilt.com.  In this book, they discuss how they solved practical and strategic problems, including choosing the right new hires for their growing business and appealing to male consumers. The authors provide helpful checklists, as well as concise overviews of their respective leadership styles. Their combined expertise can help any budding entrepreneur launch a new business.

Entrepreneurship Quizzes: 12 Easy tests to Help You Become Successfully Self-Employed.  Liptak, John J., c2012.   [658.1141 Lipta.J]
The book takes readers through a four-step self-reflection process assessing readiness, determining a business type, overcoming barriers, and maintaining momentum designed to help readers find their own path to self-employment success. The appendix includes an extensive list of self-employment resources for readers to explore that are tied to their responses. (Amazon.com)

The Loyalty Leap Turning Customer Information into Customer Intimacy.  Pearson, Bryan, c2012. [ 658.8343 Pears.B]
The author discusses components of the loyalty bond, how to engender it, and the roadblocks one may encounter in the process. Additionally, he outlines tactics to avoid--such as the creepy and the invasive--since data acquisition and mining are such crucial elements of loyalty development.

Language skills for business owners and others

If you do business in or need to communicate with other countries, you will be interested in Mango Languages, a language learning tool that you can access with your Evanston Public Library card.  The interactive software allows you to practice speaking another language in the comfort and privacy of your own home or office.  Choose from Spanish, French, German, Arabic and many other languages.  Mango uses real-life situations and actual conversations to teach a new language more effectively .  Or, if you or your employees are non-native English speakers, you can take advantage of the "English as a Second Language" options that Mango offers.  English courses for speakers of French, Chinese, Polish, Spanish and a number of other languages are also available.

New titles for Small Business

All Business is Local: Why Place Matters More than Ever in a Global, Virtual World, Quelch, John A. and Katherine E. Jocz.  c2012. (658.8 Quelc.J)
The authors examine how and why place should be an important part of strategic decision making, and how even global businesses are often the leading local brand.


Creating a Bu$iness You'll Love: Top entrepreneurs share their secrets.  Chimsky-Lustig, Mark, ed.  c 2011. (658.421 Creatin)
27 entrepreneurs, including Howard Schultz of Starbucks, and Craig Newmark, of craigslist, reveal decisions, and sometimes, the mistakes, they have made that helped them to start and grow successful businesses.

The First-Time Manager, Belker, Loren B., Jim McCormick, and Gary S. Topchik.  c2012. (658.302 Belke.L)
The sixth edition of this management classic includes new material on increasing employee engagement, encouraging innovation and initiative, improving outcomes, and more.


Guide to Successful Consulting, Stryker, Steven C.  c2012.  (658.46 Stryk.S)
This book provides an essential introduction  to the fundamental concepts of consulting, and contains a number of valuable tools, such as checklists, forms and letters

Recent Small Business Financing Titles

The Evanston Public Library has a number of books about financing and managing the cash flow of a small business.  Here are some recently added titles:

Accounting Savvy for Business Owners: A guide to the bare essentials.  Goodman, Philip B., c2010.  Easy to understand information about tracking business finances.  Also available as an audiobook.

Cash Flow for Dummies  Tracy, Tage C., c2012.  Valuable tips, techniques, and information on the fundamentals of cash management to maximize cash flow.

Locavesting: The Revolution in Local Investing and How to Profit from It.  Cortese, Amy, 2011.  Various types of funding methods are discussed, including cooperatives, credit unions, local stock exchanges, community development funds, public venture capital, and raising money through social networking.

The 30 Day MBA in Business Finance.   Barrow, Colin, 2011.
Covers the fundamentals of business finance; analyzing financial reports; corporate capital structures; business tax and reporting procedures; and more.

JVS Small Business Workshops

Jewish Vocational Service Chicago is offering the following workshops in February and March.  All events will be held at JVS Chicago, 216 W. Jackson,Chicago, 2nd Floor Training Room.

CORE FOUR® Small Business Planning Boot Camp
Tuesday, February 21st, Thursday, February 23rd, Tuesday, February 28th and Thursday, March 1st 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m
This 10-hour business planning course will give you the information and skills that you need in the four "CORE" elements of planning and sustaining a business: Plan for business success; Plan your business to meet the needs of the market place; Plan for your business cash flow needs; and Plan how your business will operate.  $50. Please contact Steve Bob at stevebob@jvschicago.org or 312-673-3429.

STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS IN ILLINOIS
Tuesday, March 13, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m
This workshop will acquaint you with the basic procedures for opening a business in Illinois. You will also receive information designed to answer your questions about the legalities, regulations, and requirements of operating a small business.   FREE. Register online.


SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING METHODS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Thursday, March 15, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. 
This workshop will address topics in marketing and social media and differentiate between the two. This workshop will combine traditional methods to formulate new social media and marketing methods.  FREE. Register online

FRANCHISING OPTIONS FOR ENTREPRENEURS
Thursday, March 20, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
There are over 3,000 franchises is the United States and in this workshop you will learn how to find and finance the franchise that meets your lifestyle and financial goals. Presented by John McLellan, President of FranNet Chicago.  FREE. Register online.

HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN
Tuesday, March 27, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Planning is the roadmap to success in the business world. A business plan is essential for anyone starting or buying a business, financing or refinancing a business, or raising debt or equity capital. A business plan helps you find hidden business flaws and makes you think carefully about each phase of your business. Receive help on development of your business plan from our skilled and knowledgeable instructors.   FREE. Register online.

Customer Feedback

Getting customer feedback is an important part of running a business.  But where to start??  Caron Beesley, of the Small Business Administration, has a few suggestions for the best way to get feedback in her post, "Going Beyond the Transaction – 5 Tips for Getting Customer Feedback Online."  She includes reasons to use social networking tools, online surveys and online polls.  Carol Tice, of Entrepreneur Magazine, builds on Ms. Beesley's suggestions, and adds a few of her own, in "Seven Simple Tips to Get Honest Customer Feedback." 

You may also pick up some tips from books on consumer satisfaction that we have here at the library.  Three to try:  Users, Not Customers, by Aaron Shapiro, c2011; Satisfied Customers Tell Three Friends, Angry Customers Tell 3,000, by Pete Blackshaw, c2008; and Satisfaction, by Chris Denove, c2006

Women in Business

If you are a woman in business, either on your own or as a corporate player, here are some books that will interest you:

Birthing the Elephant: The Woman's Go-for-it! Guide to Overcoming the Big Challenges of Launching A Business, Abarbanel, Karin.

Goes beyond logistics to prepare women for the emotional challenges they will face, with expert advice on reshaping one's business identity, giving up the paycheck mentality, anticipating problems, and avoiding costly mistakes.

Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking That Block Women's Paths to Power, Flynn, Jill.

Reveals what it really takes for any woman to succeed at the highest levels This hands-on guide is for women who are ready to transform their assumptions and join the senior ranks of American business.

Read more »

Crain's Small Business Week

Crain's Chicago Business has designated October 3-7, 2011 as Small Business Week.  Dozens of events are taking place, primarily in downtown Chicago.  Events still to come this week include Alternative Financing, Managing Cash Flow, and City Treasurer's Office Small Business Expo.  Check it out!

Small Business workshops by Jewish Vocation Service--Chicago

BUSINESS WORKSHOPS


August 1, 2, 3 and 4

Core 4® Small Business Planning Boot Camp:This 10-hour business planning course will give you the information and skills that you need in the four “CORE” elements of planning and sustaining a business: Plan for business success; Plan your business to meet the needs of the market place; Plan for your business cash flow needs; and Plan how your business will operate. JVS Chicago, 216 W. Jackson, Suite 700, Chicago. Cost $50 which includes all 4 sessions, textbook and a Certificate of Completion. 3:30p.m.- 6:00p.m. To RSVP call: Kim Valente (312) 673-3429 or email sbdcdumancenter@jvschicago.org.

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New titles at Evanston Public Library

Check out these new titles to jumpstart the creative process where you work:

Brainsteering: A Better Approach to Breakthrough Ideas, by Kevin Coyne, c2011. (650.1 Coyne.K)  The concept underlying "brainsteering" is to encourage users to focus, to look into an idea deeply rather than ricocheting around it, brainstorming-style. 

Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity, by Josh Linkner, c2011.  (650.1 Linkn.J)  A 5-part process that will transform your organization or your career into a non-stop creativity juggernaut.  It shows even the stuffiest corporate bureaucracies how to cultivate creativity in order to become more competitive in today's shifting marketplace.

Tell to Win: Connect, Persuade, and Triumph with the Hidden Power of Story, by Peter Guber, c2011. (658.45 Grube.P)  "Former chairman of Sony Pictures and current CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group, Guber illustrates how powerful storytelling-about yourself or your product-can be the ultimate tool to get the meeting, engage the listener, and close the deal." (PW)

Ten Steps Ahead: What Separates Successful Business Visionaries from the Rest of Us, by Erik Calonius, c2011. (658.409 Calon.E)  Drawing on recent insights from neuroscience about the roles that intuition, emotional intelligence, and courage can play, Calonius reveals what makes visionaries tick and how they develop and use their extraordinary powers.

Invest Evanston to provide low-interest loans

Lending for Evanston and Northwestern Development, (LEND), is a non-profit student group at Northwestern University that is applying the principles of microfinance to help alleviate poverty within the Evanston community. On Monday, they launched a campaign, Invest Evanston, which will allow the group to use those same principles to finance entrepreneurs in the Evanston community. Donations from Northwestern students will be used to fund these low-interest loans for small business owners.  In the next two weeks, Invest Evanston hopes to raise at least $5,000, according to co-founder Sahil Mehta, a McCormick junior.  The full story can be found in North by Northwestern.  LEND is part of the Kellog Venture Community, 2169 Campus Drive Evanston IL 60201-2927; Phone: 866.867.3820, Email: info@kelloggventurecommunity.com

BizyDeal offers local small businesses great deals

Now that Groupon has become a household name, it's time for a "hot deals" website that targets Chicago area small businesses.  That website is Bizydeal.com, which launced on March 28.  The owners are planning to showcase “provocative” deals to drive attention to BizyDeal over its first two weeks (Ford Motor Co. offered a discount for its Transit Connect light van on opening day), and then will eventually settle into more traditional offerings like online payroll and janitorial services.

Find great deals for your business, and find out how your small business can offer great deals on Bizydeal.com.

Doing Business with the City of Evanston

The City of Evanston invites Evanston businesses to attend a seminar on how to do business with the city on Thursday, April 28, 2011 from 6-9 p.m. at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave. 

This is a great opportunity for local businesses to see what other larger-scale and smaller purchase opportunities there are available with the city. Don't miss out on this opportunity on learning how to do business with the City of Evanston

SCORE Chicago

SCORE Chicago, the local chapter of America's Counselors to Small Business, has made a series of videos available for the benefit of small business owners.  Check them out now, and find tips on business planning, naming your business, marketing your company, managing your social networking tools, and  much more.

How a Small Business Becomes a Big Business

A nice write up for long-time north suburban company, Abt Electronics, appeared in the New York Times blog on December 22.  Some of the reasons for their success, according to the author, include moderate, but sustained annual growth, customer service, and continuing to have only one physical location. 

Better Business Blogging in 2011

Download a free, 24-page ebook, Better Business Blogging in 2011, and learn the following: how to market your blog in 35 different ways; how to blog with search engines in mind; how to use social media to find new readers; and how to recruit guest blogging for your business blog.  This ebook also contains several case studies of social-media-savvy organizations, offering real life examples that you can apply to your own blog. 

The volume is edited by Jeff Ente from Who's Blogging What,  and contains contributions from marketing and social media professionals who have launched successful blogs of their own, such as Joe Pulizzi of Junta42 Content Marketing, Ann Smarty of SEO Smarty, and others.

Free Small Business Counseling at the Evanston Public Library

SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Business, will provide free counseling every Friday, from 2 to 5 p.m, in the Small Community Meeting Room at the Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Avenue.  Sessions begin on December 3, 2010.  Appointments are required and can be made by visiting SCORE's website, or by calling 312-353-7724.

SCORE counselors are executives and business owners who have achieved success in their fields and now, as volunteers, want to help you do the same.  Take advantage of this great opportunity to get help devising fresh marketing ideas to adapt your business to changing circumstances; fixing cash flow problems; reviewing business plan and startup activities, and so much more.

For the YOUNG entrepreneur...

Is it true that you can be too young to start a small business of your own?  Here are some books whose authors would definitely say you're never too young!.  So whether you're a kid, a teen, or a parent of a budding entrepreneur, check these out!

Beyond the Lemonade Stand, by Bill Rancic, one of the winners of television's The Apprentice, and Karen Soenen.  This title includes 20 ideas for your own, or your kid's, kid business, a build-your-own-business worksheet to help get you started, stories and advice from Rencic and from other celebrities. 

Better than a Lemonade $tand, by fifteen-year-old Daryl Bernstein, describes fifty-one of Daryl's favorite small businesses.  He gives tips on supplies, time needed, how to advertise, and even what to charge. 

Starting a Business: Have Fun and Make Money,  by Carla Mooney.  In this book you will learn the basics of starting a small business, including writing business plans, doing market analysis, setting up a budget, and figuring out taxes. 

Be Your Own Boss: Small Businesses, by Ernestine Giesecke.  Part of the Know It: Everyday Economics series, in this book you will learn some of the reasons people start small businesses and how they choose what business to start.  You'll also learn the value of keeping good records, and writing a good business plan.

Web design for your small business

In the 2010 Small Business Technology Survey, the National Small Business Association (NSBA) found that while 86% of small businesses have a website, only 26% of those surveyed actually sell their goods or services via the internet.  If you need ideas about building or improving your website, Small Business Trends ran a great article in August about free website builders for small businesses.  Sites they mention include Doodlekit, Wix, Moonfruit and more.  The criteria Small Business Trends used in selecting their favorite website builders are whether the tool lets you build a site, for free, in less than an hour, and publish it to create at least a basic presence online.


You can also find books in the Evanston Public Library collection that will help you build an effective website for your small business.  Some titles you may want to try are Lori Culwell's Million Dollar Website, John Heartfield's Make Your Small Business Website Work, and Poor Richard's Web Site Marketing Makeover, by Marcia Yudkin.