Mine is by Craig Garber, "How to make maximum money with minimum customers." This books is simply fantastic. I learned so much about upselling, continuity, and will soon have a system in place to keep money coming in from past birthday party customers every month (like a trick a month club for kids).

I am really interested in reading and absorbing as much information as possible. What are the books you've read that changed the way you do business?

Josh

The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino.
You have to let it sink in.

4-hour work week (many will disagree with the value of this book but it changed everything about how I work)

Sctt, that is one of the next books on my list. Now I'll really check it out. How did it help you?

4 hour work week is excellent!

I just came back from a 1-month vacation to Arizona and Disneyland with my wife and kids (we live in Canada) and we both my wife and I kept making money with our businesses at the same time. That's just the start! Have fun!

The idea is to change how you think of work.

Forgive the spelling error, SCOTT. My apologies.

That seems like a book I need. Thank you Scott.

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber
http://www.amazon.ca/Myth-Revisited-Smal......87307280

Marketing Outrageously by Jon Spoelstra. A great book from the very successful sports marketer. Inside the book are also case studies on AOL and how they decided to use direct mail and give away their software, when everyone else was charging for it(remember Prodigy).

His story on the Sacramento Kings and his Don't Fowl Out campaign with a rubber chicken stuffed in a FedEx tube and how $12K generated $2.5 million. The underlying theme is Never use bland marketing. It’s not memorable – rise above bland.

We did just that when we did a direct mail campaign for our stunt show. We mailed out customized & personalized movie clapperboards to the top 120 businesses we wanted to work with. It was very well received and 2012 will be our best year for our stunt show.

Sorry to go on and on...but this book truly can change your entire outlook on how to market yourself DIFFERENTLY.

The War Of ART. (Not Art of War.) It is a book will change your life.

The Cult Of The Customer by Shep Hyken. Excellent book on providing extraordinary customer service and maintaining customer loyalty.

Thank you all so much for the suggestions.

Seth, I'd like to add that your trade show book is excellent! I've never done a trade show, but wan to get into them.

"Think and Grow Rich".

Fast Lane Millionaire by MJ Demarco - key point is that financial freedom for most is based on time and hope. Rather than time being plentiful and money being scarce, MJ illustrates how in reality it is money that is plentiful and time that is scarce. It sounds like the "4- hour work week" may share some of the same concepts. I think I will read that book next.

It's a toss-up between two:

-- "Business by the Book"
by Larry Burkett

-- "There's No Such Thing As 'Business' Ethics"
by John C. Maxwell

I'd have to say for Childrens Entertainment so far it's been John Breeds' - Create Kid's Magic And Triple Your Income!
Also a good DVD for some marketing tips and promotional magic is The Business by Martin Sanderson

Excuse the plug, but I currently have it for sale on eBay (check the sig)

Thanks! Shep is always an inspiration and he definitely practices what he preaches as he is one of the busiest speakers/performers I know.

I really enjoyed the book "Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind" by Al Ries and Jack Trout. It's a small publication that I've re-read numerous times. (If I like a book, I'll often read it again just to make sure I didn't miss anything.)

Gerry

Great thread! I've added quite a few books to my reading list now.