bizthreads.net: Business Information for Entrepreneurs by an Entrepreneur

I'm not going to make a lot of friends by saying this, but I'm not a big fan of Kenneth Blanchard's One Minute Manager series.

In my defense, I like Blanchard's work and I've read Gung Ho, High Five, The One Minute Manager, Raving Fans, and The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey. Most of them are good books and I know he has a lot of good things to say. (Especially with Raving Fans… it's a must read!). I just happen to prefer one kind of business book to another and The One Minute Manager isn't my style.

However, out of that series of books I would like to recommend The One Minute $ales Person. (Yes, that's a dollar sign in the title. I'm not going to tell you why; you'll have to read the book to find out). Although I steer clear of business “parables” (again, just a preference thing) I did enjoy the point of The One Minute $ales Person. The principles you'll learn can really help improve your sales. It's a short read, which sometimes makes it a good book to bring if you'll be waiting somewhere for a while. I also like the flowchart in the back. Most importantly, it's a good “back-to-basics” book that helps remind the reader why they're in a sales job (note to all entrepreneurs: that's you).

Of Blanchard's books, I own Raving Fans and The One Minute $ales Person. If you're going to read one good sales book this quarter (and you should) I recommend The One Minute $ales Person.

I love talking about business so much it makes me crazy. Well, that's what people tell me sometimes.

It's true, I can spend a lot of time on the phone or at the office and it's only when I take some time away that I gain some perspective and can return with zeal and purpose.

A colleague of mine flew to another state to do some consulting. Just before leaving we spoke and he appeared to be fairly stressed about the amount of work that he had to get done. During his consultation he was able to take a few hours to himself — time he wouldn't normally take if he were in his office — and it rejuvenated him. So much so, that when he returned, we spoke on the phone briefly and he said he was feeling more focused than before he left… what's more, he was far more productive with his time.

Being an entrepreneur is hard work. It's demanding and requires almost all of our time and effort. But don't give 100% all of the time. Be sure to schedule some time off. Spend it with family and friends. Get away from the office. Surprisingly, you'll get more done.

On that note, I think I'm going to go book a weekend getaway…

There's something in the water in Arizona. According to Entrepreneur's poll, Arizona ranked the number one state for entrepreneurs.

The article tells how Arizona is well-positioned to be the number one spot for entrepreneurs. With lower-cost real estate and a good small business support structure, Arizona's 12,350 start-ups represent a large portion of the state's businesses.

Following behind in second place is New Jersey, with Delaware in third. The study also looked at large, midsize, and small cities as well as counties.

Does that mean it's time to move? No. The beauty of the Internet is that you can be successful in business anywhere you live. But if you look at the factors that make these states more conducive to business, you'll see that it has to do with people, proximity (to other places or to other markets), and a progressive mindset that embraces business. What can you do in your city or state to put your locale on the list?