Feedback to the author

Just purchased the book on the 27th November. Amazed at how much the first few days or weeks have been just like ours, and it is nice to read that we have been doing, and obviously, now we have the book will be doing things correctly in the future. Am hoping with the information in the book will fill in a few gaps in our business. Loks like this was possibly one of the best buys we have made for our business to date!!!

Hi Steve !

Got your book as I was travelling back from London and "stumbled" across it at the airport bookstore. I'm not thinking of starting up a business (just yet), but I was extremely interested in what type of advice you'd be giving. Well, after reading only the first three chapters I must say that you have a lot of sound advice and I love the structured approach. More feedback as I get further into the book. It's superb to be able to contact you and give you feedback ... this is certainly a big plus.

I have a question: Have you thought about having a foreign version of your book ?, E.g. in German (I live in Switzerland), or French ? Of course, you'd need to tailor it to the local legal and business requirements etc. Perhaps I can be of help if you are thinking of expanding your horizons ... just a thought.

Anyway, thanks for raising my inquisitive mind and attention to your book.

Ted K. Ling

P.S. Not Chinese, but British !!

Have started a log and think your book is exactly right for me. I have just decided to set up a business as a Virtual Assistant and I want to do things properly, not just see if I can get a few clients via friends or family. I was looking for a "guidebook" and considered about half a dozen on the shelves. The cover design is a winner and the layout and clear format for using the book decided me within about 5 mins of studying what was available.

Am up to week 5 tonight - had already done most of the to do's up to this point. I will be recording how I get on with the book and my business in my log.

Congratulations.

First of all thank you Steve.

I bought your book yesterday and read it in one go last night. I have been thinking about launching a business for the last year or so and now with your help I feel I can do it.

The structure is great, and although I know I can complete the tasks in less than 6 months (having read many books previously, being experienced in my field and having started the prep already) the simple realisation that starting a business is a process rather than an action was worth the cover price alone.

The other "Start your own business" books I have seen and read are AWFUL, with the exception of the Prentice Hall book on business plans (the big expensive weighty one!) and the Beermat Entrepreneur (or Beermat Business Plan - I forget which).

You deserve to feel pretty smug and make a lot of cash!

I would like to echo the feedback above however, there is no decision grid as promised in the book and sample cash flow sheets would be helpful as the text explanation whilst thorough, is not as easy to understand as would be an example.

I shall keep you posted on progress...do you hold any non-exec directorships and would you be interested in this?

Hi Steve

I attended the Business Startup exhib. London's Excel last Nov. looking for inspiration, advice and a decent 'what the hell do I do now book' to take home.

I left with your book because it was only book I could find that wasn't dry or American self-help style. BUT most importantly the magic words 'Week by Week' on the front cover leapt out at me and I thought 'thank God someone's had the intelligence to write down how to start up businesses in recipe style, WONDERFUL! it makes so much sense'. Inside the cover the book is written in very acessible way, the content is well organised, it's full of useful de-mystifying information, and is nicely peppered with stories and anecdotes to keep you going through the darker hours. It is going to have a heavy hand in making my idea come to life. I am going to sell petite women's clothing.

Oh and I also bought your book because of all the people I spoke to at the fair (and there were many) about my idea you were the most personable, helpful, and positive. You gave me some really sound advice, cheers for that!

Will start a log V soon.

Lisa Lam

Happy New Year Everyone

Steve,

I have found your book incredibly helpful. For the past year I have read several books about starting businesses, as well as life stories about entrepreneurs. Although I found these books to be very uplifting and inspiring, I didn't find them very helpful in regards to directing me towards achieving my own business leanings. It was by accident that I found your book, and I am incredibly thankful that I did. The book has helped to put order into a complex system. I like the homework bits at the end of the chapters, as it has helped me to focus on specific tasks. Starting a business can be quite daunting. I found that breaking things up into smaller chunks of information and action ideal for my situation and my very scattered mind! The website has also been a boost, as I have gotten lots of comments and feedback from my ideas. I have been raving about the book and the website to my friends and even today, I bought the book for a like-minded friend. She will surely benefit from it as much as I have.
Thanks again...
Cassandra

..but I put it on now and then..

:D

The image looks much better now. Dunno why imagemagick would muck it up like that.. probably a raft of command line options required :D

Thanks for taking note.

Got the book this morning, and felt the need to check out the website. Already read first three chapters - don't worry I will do all the tasks - promise! Just a little keen that I've found a book that's really helping me out. The Emma thing is an absolutely genius idea - well done to you! Been wanting to start my own business for ages and this year is the year to do it.

Thanks Again for a fantastic book.

I'll keep you posted

Kelly

I will have a look at that asap
The book is really good anyway!!

I have been away for several weeks on a project and I come back to tons of people on this website - we all know a good thing when we see one.

Vicmiester :)

Dear Steve,

I am in week 2 but I already browsed the book here and there.

Once, someone mentioned me that, more important than the business plan, is the "marketing plan": getting to know your prospect's needs, interview them (or set up a survey) and eventually mend your services/products according to the received feedbacks.

This is supposed to be fundamental for the bank interviews in particular.

I wonder if all this is implied in week 7. If this is the case, in my perception, one week is a bit too short for setting up the market research and waiting for the prospects feedback.

Many thanks.

Cheers,
Irena

Thankyou very much for a great read, I rarely read books but have recently been pondering starting my own venture.

I found the book on Amazon.com and it had some great reviews, bought it and two mornings later was reading it.

I took the advise of reading a chapter or two infront so as to know what was coming, and found myself on the last page of the book that night, I found a brilliant read, easy yet thoroughly interesting and informative.

Obviously I have plenty of work left to do on venture, this book has made more all the more confident of my own abilities and taught me those final bits that I was missing.

As to constructive criticism, I found the book very easy to read, but lots of the checklists I found to be under-detailed, maybe a few more examples here and there would've made things easier.

I loved the quotes from successful entrepreneurs, some amusing and intelligent quotes you found there.

I'm going to re-read the book as it was supposed to be read now, starting my work around University time.

Can't wait to post more on this website.

Cheers,

Jimmy

Just read the book after another night with no sleep! I started a domestic cleaning business called Stretton Domestic 12 months ago while working as a kitchen salesman. The kitchen business I worked for has gone into administration after 2 years of poor sales so now I'm on day 2 of running my own fitted kitchen business,Stretton Kitchens, hence no sleep!

Thought the book was great, very easy to read with the right emphasis on sales, sales and sales. Liked the idea of added love with a product which has helped me come up with what I can add to a fitted kitchen to make it different to one of my competitors. I can make sure I give each customer exactly what they want by putting myself in their shoes and looking at buying a kitchen from their point of view. Hopefully this will give me an edge over the "big boys" who just look at people as numbers.

The discussion forums look great, going to have a look around the site but I suppose every one's asleep at the moment (Does this insomnia stage pass?, it isn't mentioned in the book!.

Hi Steve,
I've been trying to get in touch with you to ask you something but I'm not having much luck. I've been on your personal website and used the contact form, but it said there were errors so I don't think the message went through. Is there any other way I can contact you?
Regards,
Caroline

Just want to ask Steve, will there be a way for you to customize these books for a specific country? Say like the Philippines? Are you open to that sort of thing?

I'm talking about your first book, Start Your Business Week by Week. It's really cool!!

Thanks :-)

Hi Steve,
I have read your book Start Your Businee Week By Week.Its different to all the other "Start Your Own Business" books that tend to groan the shelves of Bookshops.
What I liked about it?
1.The Quotes and Tips from successful self-made entrepreneurs!!!
2.The fact that all the qualities and skills required to start your own business are clearly spelt out!!!
3.Its a book you can also dip in and out of
What I think could be improved on?
1.Dealing with Bank Managers!!! they seem to be breed apart!!! I would like more detailed information!!!
2.More Information on Cash-Flow,Profit and Loss,Accounts and Business Plans
I am considering getting your new book "How To Be an Entrepreneur" and the CD as well
Regards
Rajesh Malhotra
R.M.Consultants/ClubEntrepreneur
PS I have posted advice for other entrepreneurs and self-employed

I have just received your book, and have had a quick browse through it. I immediately checked out the website and although I have not read all the posts and advice, I could not resist making a comment. I am blown away by the friendly community spirit, the helpfulness and advice that is being offered. I am really looking forward to reading the book and applying the methods suggested. I have just moved to France...and although I do not know what exactly it is I want to do (I have a few ideas), I am sure that I will pick up many ideas and good advice from both the book and the website. "Inspiring", many thanks....Tony

Hello Steve!

i live in bucharest (romania) and i started to think about my own business two years ago. At first i obtained some money from my grandmother to register my company and it was wonderful. But after that, i did not know what to do with it until a very good idea came into my mind: a mobile car wash. The idea is that i have no experience. I tried to sell my service for more than one year but no deal was closed. After reading part of your book (i am still reading it) i figured out that i had worked without any rule and plan. Now i am very determined to star the hard work again and to close deals. :) Your book made me start over which is great. Now i feel that i am alive again and that i have a life. I can hardly wait to quit my miserable job, where my boss treats me like a piece of garbage and to pay back the loan taken from my granny.

Thank you very much for writing the book.

A question i have for you is where can i find all the resources about time, finance and other, here on the website?

raluxia