The Street-Smart Entrepreneur: 133 Tough Lessons I Learned the Hard Way

by Jay Goltz

Book Overview

If you're in business now... or have ever even thought about being in business, read this book Starting with two thousand dollars and a gritty determination to succeed, Jay Goltz built his business... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 188603933X
• ISBN13: 9781886039339
• Release Date: February 1998
• Publisher: Addicus Books
• Length: 270 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Truly a Unique Read

This book stands out in a crowded field of business books. Each topic is listed at the top of a new page, making the book easy to read and reference. From the importance of customer service and finding quality vendors, to dealing with employees and the government, Golz provides real-world advice that is valuable for any new entrepreneur. I read a lot of business books and many get recycled, but this one is a keeper. It's the kind of book you want to share with an entrepreneurial friend--a great read for anyone entering into entrepreneurship.

This Picture Framer Gives It 5 Stars!

This is probably the only entrepeneurial book I have ever read, but I would highly recommend it to anyone contemplating going into retail. The lessons Jay Goltz shares in this book are important, whether you're a 'lone ranger' going-it-alone retailer, or an administrative type. How, as a picture framer and administrator, he juggles all his balls in the air, and hats he wears, is impressive indeed. My own hat goes off to him. An aquaintance of mine (like myself, a picture framer)recommended this book to me, and I'm glad he did. The author speaks in broad enough terms so that you certainly don't need to be a picture framer to apply the valuable lessons he's sharing. Definitely worth reading for anyone at all interested in getting it right in business. Go Jay!

Great Read For Entrepreneurs

It seemed everyone buying my book was also buying "The Street-Smart Entrepreneur," so I decided to give it a read.I think "The Street-Smart Entrepreneur" Jay Goltz should be read by all serious entrepreneurs. The book is divided into 133 short sections, each giving a lesson Goltz learned in building a large, picture-framing company in Chicago.Entrepreneurs owning manufacturing companies will benefit the most from reading this book. But, nearly all entrepreneurs will find much of value.Some of my favorite lessons:* Don't demotivate your employees and hire carefully. Goltz suggests a "BATH" criteria for hiring employees. Do employees Buy into your company's concept and way of doing business? Are they Able? Are they Team players, who are also ready to take individual responsibility? Are they Hungry? (Not for lunch, but to excel and succeed.)* Distinguish between "work fors" and "work withs." Goltz tells us that not all employees want the same level of responsibility. Some just want to be told what to do. Others want to contribute more and are willing to work with you in building your business. The optimal extent of oversight and guidance depends upon the type of person the employee is. * Don't stop delegating just because screw-ups happen. Especially, distinguish between poor performance and accidents. Let good employees who make mistakes know you don't hold it against them and that accidents are just part of the cost of running a business. Poor performance, however, can't be tolerated. Goltz says mediocre employees belong with the competition.Goltz writes: "There's nothing to be gained by screaming at employees who make an occasional mistake or standing by while they eat themselves up with guilt or embarrassment. ...I don't want my employees ...worrying that I'm angry at them."Goltz emphasizes you shouldn't just sit back and expect employees to come to you. Go to them and find out what's up.* Have a good computer-accounting system and effective ways of doing things.Goltz writes: "...Have good systems in place that give you the numbers you need. You know how much inventory you have, how much you sell each month, what your receivables are, and what your expenses are."* Understand out-of-control growth can kill a company. Goltz emphasizes controlled growth that can be funded is better than explosive growth that leads to bankruptcy, because the company can't pay its bills.Goltz notes: "There's a mathematical formula to determine how much you can grow and remain self-funded. To do that calculation, you first have to figure out how much money you need to invest in your business to generate a sales dollar. As your business grows, you will need more money to finance your inventory, receivables....""The Street-Smart Entrepreneur," however, is easy-to-read, with no mathematics. Goltz suggests having your accountant help with such a calculation, if you desire one.* Listen to what your customers say they want and need. Don't just assume you know what your cust

This book covers a lot of issues I have never seen anywhere

I have probably read ten business books since I have started my business. I am always looking for ways to solve my problems and grow my business and found most of the other books on the market to be of limited value. Goltz's book on the other hand talks about the real problems I have from and firing to how to borrow money from the bank. I found myself taking notes through out the book and actually put many of his "lessons" to use the next day at work. This book is a must read for anyone who is running a business!

Solid, practical information on every page

Jay Goltz has done a wonderful job of sharing his insights about what it takes to succeed in business. The lessons are "bite-size" and easy to digest, and the book is packed with down-to-earth tips that have been very helpful to me. He is especially good at bringing up topics that most of us don't think about when we first go into business.