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Business success possible from just reading books?

Have you or do you know anyone who has had success in business by starting their initiatives by teaching themselves thru books? I am beginning to realize that I may have missed out by not taking more business management/operations classes while I was in college, as I am recognizing my entrepreneurial spirit more everyday. (I will be receiving my first bachelors in May tho.) My plan is to learn some business basics and ideas from some serious summer reading on topics like small business for dummies and randall picketts book about the college entrepreneur. I've always heard that all the worlds knowledge is in books and that you can learn anything as long as you apply yourself to learning it.

Public Comments

1. It's not just about reading books -- it is how YOU apply what you read from the books. It is always best to go into business knowing what it is you are getting yourself into. I have seen many entrepreneurs fail because they went into the business without knowing what a business actually entails. You may also want to check the following books: - What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business: Real Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1574101129/ref=nosim/powerhomebizguid - If You're Clueless About Starting Your Own Business and Want to Know More http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1574100939/ref=nosim/powerhomebizguid - Start Your Own Business : The Only Start-Up Book You'll Ever Need http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891984217/ref=nosim/powerhomebizguid -Steps to Small Business Start-Up : Everything You Need to Know to Turn Your Idea into a Successful Business http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1574101323/ref=nosim/powerhomebizguid You can also get a lot of information from success stories of people, actual case studies that you can find in magazine publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine or Inc Magazine. I also suggest that you check out SBA's Small Business Training Network (SBTN), http://www.sba.gov/services/training/onlinecourses/index.html which offers FREE online courses on various aspects of entrepreneurship -- from general information on starting a business to writing a business plan to how to raise capital funds to identifying your target market. I highly recommend that you take a look at these free online courses -- and if there is anything that you want more clarification or more information, then go for a short business course.
2. While the real learning comes in doing, reading books will be huge in helping make you a success. Here is my suggested reading list: Permission Marketing: Seth Godin Selling the Invisible and What Clients Love: Harry Beckwith The Power of Nice: Shapiro Essays of Warren Buffett: Buffett Made to Stick: chip and Dan Heath Purple Cow: Seth Godin The Long Tail: Chris Anderson It is about adaptability to change, that is far and away the most important trait. Sticktoitativeness is next. Good Luck!