Book Description
What's the secret to a company's continued growth and prosperity? Internationally known marketing expert
Al Ries has the answer: focus. His commonsense approach to business management is founded on the premise that long-lasting success depends on focusing on core products and eschewing the temptation to diversify into unrelated enterprises.
Using real-world examples, Ries shows that in industry after industry, it is the companies that resist diversification, and focus instead on owning a category in consumers' minds, that dominate their markets. He offers solid guidance on how to get focused and how to stay focused, laying out a workable blueprint for any company's evolution that will increase market share and shareholder value while ensuring future success.
Customer Reviews:
When I started up my business..........2007-03-30
When I started up my business, AUDIN Web Design, I used this book as my bible. It has worked so well for me. Some people may find a lot of fluff in the book (which is true if you read all the other books by the same authors), but if you are fresh to the material you will find it invaluable. When searching for a name of my company, the book revealed to me that AUDIN should be the name of my Web Design Company. With that I focused and channeled my course of action. If only everyone abide by the laws set forth in this book, we wouldn't have everyone and anyone hawking everything under the sun (hint, hint: Amazon). Anyway, if you are in a small business an you are starting to lose your focus, get this book and read; read like you've never read before. Read until the cows come home. This stuff is gold, real gold.
A Must-Read For Corporate Execs.......2007-03-26
It's human nature among company managers to fall in love with their own brand, which makes them lose sight of the REAL issue, which is what the customer's perspective is. Rolex clocks? Porshe watches? These are two things I found at a recent trip to a high-end watch store which indicate Rolex and Porsche could be losing their focus.
This book gets 4 stars because it could be more concise.
Stay Focussed, Specialize, Own Your Niche, SURVIVE !.......2006-06-21
Focus delivers. This book by Al Ries, one of the world's best know marketing strategists, hones in on the benefits of the anti-intuitive practice of focusing. He calls the latest management craze of alliances, mergers and acquisitions a fad that has lessened efficiency and the bottom line. He says to re-focus instead of reengineer. Out of focus companies are less effective and their identity is blurred to customers. By focusing here is meant specializing in one area and becoming the best in that area.
Coca Cola stock is worth double that of Pepsi but Pepsi sells twice as much as Coke. The difference is that Coke specializes and Pepsi is all over the board with restaurants and drinks other than soft drinks. Convergence goes against the laws of nature and businesses. New species aren't formed by combining other species. New businesses rarely come from combining businesses but by splitting up business. Automobiles never combined with boats or airplanes, although there has been effort in this area. The automobile has divided into over 45 brands with 1000+ models.
GM in the early days was selling many less cars than Ford. Sloan saw that his many brands were competing with each other. He took each brand and made price-point steps out of them. They no longer competed agaist each other and soon enough GM owned half the market. Well GM didn't stay with this focus and now all of their lines compete with one another and the brand identities are very blurred. The market share for GM is now very low again. How does a company like this refocus?
There are many ways to refocus. You may start by 'owning' a word or a category. For instance Pizza Hut owns Pizza but Dominoes is known for 'delivery' and Ceasar's is known for 'take-out pizza.' Fed Ex is known for 'over-night delivery.' Sell off or rename parts of the organization that are not part of this focus. General Mills used to own companies in many different industries but experienced huge growth by selling them off and focusing on cereals.
A focus should be simple and with the times. That doesn't mean that you have to change with the times. Having two feet planted in the past is a focus that has worked for the Levis 501 brand for instance. But, if your product changes and evolves, your name may have to change with it to cut prior associative thinking. Always look for where the next focus will be in your niche. Bayer made the finest asprin but lost out when Johnson & Johnson released Tylenol, which was soon overshadowed by American Home Products introducing ibuprofen, and the latest is naproxen sodium pioneered by Proctor & Gamble - the Aleve brand.
Keep the focus simple, memorable (a claim that is unique) and powerful. The future belongs to companies with a clear focus today.
Five Focussed Stars
Focused, but undisiplined.......2004-04-24
I believe this book makes a valid point for the pularity of companies today. There are just enough tidbits to make the read worthwhile. However, I found the book frustrating. The author suffers from disclipine. He makes poor use of analogies and the book, while chock full of examples, could many times be examples of the contra opionion: diversification. The author would benifit from application of scientific rigor that would add depth and credibility to his copious but superficial use of examples. Perhaps exploring a corporate strategy of diversification would of given him the credibility I needed to swallow all his claims. Without it he comes off as someone who makes up his mind what position he wants and then grasps anything possible to support his ideal. For those interested in the subject I relay the maxim, "Concentrate when in control otherwise diversify."
A very good book.......2004-04-03
I have not finished this book yet, but I believe I am already benefited from the book. I won't be as puzzled and frustrated as I was, facing distractions and many seemingly attractive oppotunities in life and work. It lets me to realize the harmful effects of unfocused efforts. This is enough for me to rate this book 5 stars.
However, I also believe focus in real life is not a static thing. You have to focus in a way that does not lose the sight of what is happening around you. In other words, you have to re-evaluate your focusing path from time to time.
By the way, I got this book from a library book sale. It was an unfocused effort -- I was just out there trying to find something interesting.
Book Description
"Focus on Your Future" is a workbook that takes parents and high school students through a step-by step process in grades 9-12 to prepare students for graduation and career/college planning for what they want to do after graduation. It addresses the importance of grades and extra-curricular activities, how to find what careers may be a fit for them, what training/college experience they need to get into that career field, and help in finding scholarship and financial resources to pay for that training or college degree. Students can use the workbook on their own, or with input from their parents, throughout their high school years.
Average customer rating:
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Astro-Focus Your Future
M. E. Coleman
Manufacturer: Aquarian Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0850305225 |
Average customer rating:
- A daughters point of view
- Focus your Future
- focus your future
- Focus Your Future
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Focus Your Future
Scott Newlin
Manufacturer: Milo House Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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| Business & Investing
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ASIN: 1592680127 |
Book Description
Focus Your Future is the book to read if you work or own your own company! This book will teach you how to focus your resources to compete and win against larger companies.
Customer Reviews:
A daughters point of view.......2004-06-23
Focus Your Future was written by my father Scott Newlin, Growing up i watched my dad and his amazing thoughts and ideas he had. He could do everything from play college basketball, own his own business, be a great dad and write and amazing book. I have read this book over and over again, as well as my friends. I never get tired of reading this book. All the information is so well put that it can even interest an 18 year old as well as a 60 year old. The fact that he uses his own life examples and how he overcame his own business obsticles keeps me very interested. He is an amazing business man and anyone who reads this book will be one step ahead!
Focus your Future.......2004-04-01
A must for anyone starting out in a new venture.
focus your future.......2004-03-25
This book was very helpful and focused. I especially liked the chapters that talked about leadership.
Focus Your Future.......2004-03-25
I recommended this book to anyone who wants or thinks of starting their own business. Plus it tell you how to compete with large companies.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from NZ Business, published by Profile Publishing Ltd. on February 1, 2004. The length of the article is 1073 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Business bodice-rippers: inspiration doesn't always come from above. Patricia Moore asks six small business owners (and the occasional corporate person) what business books have most impressed them and maybe even changed their approach to the business they're in.(Business Books)(Book Review)
Author: Patricia Moore
Publication:
NZ Business (Magazine/Journal)
Date: February 1, 2004
Publisher: Profile Publishing Ltd.
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Page: 22(2)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from NZ Business, published by Profile Publishing Ltd. on September 1, 2003. The length of the article is 886 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Focus on the future of your business: smart operators in the food sector are already making changes to their products and processes to cater for a future where manufacturers are going to have to take greater responsibility for their customers' health.(notebook)
Author: Ian Ivey
Publication:
NZ Business (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2003
Publisher: Profile Publishing Ltd.
Volume: 17
Issue: 8
Page: 12(1)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Alaska Business Monthly, published by Alaska Business Publishing Company, Inc. on November 1, 2003. The length of the article is 2033 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Focusing on your business: focus groups help businesses plan for the future.
Author: Melissa Campbell
Publication:
Alaska Business Monthly (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 2003
Publisher: Alaska Business Publishing Company, Inc.
Volume: 19
Issue: 11
Page: 92(4)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
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Frame & fame: photographer Kimberly Butler puts her exciting career in focus for you.(your future): An article from: Scholastic Choices
Russell Bart
Manufacturer: Scholastic, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
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ASIN: B0009GU12M
Release Date: 2005-06-01 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Scholastic Choices, published by Scholastic, Inc. on January 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1099 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Frame & fame: photographer Kimberly Butler puts her exciting career in focus for you.(your future)
Author: Russell Bart
Publication:
Scholastic Choices (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2005
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Volume: 20
Issue: 4
Page: 27(1)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Dairy Today, published by Farm Journal Media on August 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1094 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Future design: how Expo can help you make good decisions long before you invest your first dollar upgrading your facility.(Focus on management: facilities)
Publication:
Dairy Today (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 1, 2003
Publisher: Farm Journal Media
Volume: 19
Issue: 7
Page: 32
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This text/reference addresses the unprecedented changes occurring in manufacturing that are being brought about by quality management philosophy — lower inventory, reduced lead-time, preventive maintenance, and increased emphasis on customer satisfaction. Combining theory and practice, it presents alternative systems (models) for managing materials (inventory) — their use, transformation, distribution, and sale — and their flow to, within, and from the organization.
Covers forecasting and marketing analysis; independent demand systems (deterministic models/probabilistic models); discrete demand systems (deterministic models/materials requirements planning - MRP); inventory system changes and limitations; single order quantities; in-process inventory, just-in-time, and theory of constraints; distribution inventory systems; inventory valuation and measurement; simulation; and aggregate inventory control. Content progresses from simple systems to more complex models; numerous examples of solved problems and short case studies explore a variety of situations and organizational settings; and appendices provide additional extensions and supporting logic on particular topics.
For practitioners and advanced students involved in operations, inventory control, production control, and physical supply in manufacturing.
Customer Reviews:
New Edition.......2006-07-18
I like this book because it helps me so much in my teaching. Its really relevant to the content of our course. But unfortunately no new edition and this book is out of print. so i have to borrow this book from the library and renew it again and again.
Technical book on inventory management.......2003-05-03
I would describe this as a technical book on the science behind inventory management. Much of the book is dedicated to detailing formulas and models used to determine order quantities, lot sizing, demand forecasting, safety stock calculations. Real examples make understanding these complex formulas easier. The book also describes the logic behind MRP and discusses Just-In-Time and Theory of Constraints. I would not recommend this as an introductory book to inventory management but rather a book for those that already have some basic understanding of inventory management and want to take their knowledge to a higher level. I expect to be referring back to this book for years to come.
A book points the right subject at the right place.......1999-02-18
As a MRP consultant, This book helped me a lot to prepare user training materials. By placing marketing suject at the beginning, this book points where real-world success on implementing Inventory and Material Manage is coming from. Also has good examples and cases.
Book Description
The goal of Inventory Management will be to explain the dynamics of inventory management's principles, concepts, and techniques as they relate to the entire supply chain (customer demand, distribution, and product transformation processes). The interrelationships of all functions will be defined. The book concentrates on understanding the many ramifications of inventory management. In today's competitive business environment, inventory management has proven to be most critical, and this book is directed to the management of inventory to assist in better understanding the body of knowledge required to operate in a competitive world. Almost all functions such as sales, engineering, and accounting have an impact and are impacted by inventory management. The book will assist in the training of students as well as APICS CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) candidates. As such it will not only be a textbook, but also a desk reference for those employees responsible for controlling inventories, and thereby assist in reducing cost, improving customer service, and maximizing capacity. Each chapter concludes with a case study and suggested solution. The case studies tell the story of a growing company, Smith Industries, and the related inventory management problems it had to address. The problems addressed relate to the subject matter of the chapter.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Engineering Economist, published by Institute of Industrial Engineers, Inc. (IIE) on June 22, 1995. The length of the article is 964 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Principles of Inventory and Materials Management. (book reviews)
Author: Michael G. Kay
Publication:
Engineering Economist (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 1995
Publisher: Institute of Industrial Engineers, Inc. (IIE)
Volume: v40
Issue: n4
Page: p393(3)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
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Principles Inventory Materials Mgmt
TERSINE
Manufacturer: Longman Higher Education
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Quality Control
| Management & Leadership
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Industrial & Technical
| Chemistry
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ASIN: 0130553859 |
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