Hey Square Readers,   ***VOTING HAS ENDED*** Check out our Announcement Post for our June & July 2023 book   It’s voting time!     We’re halfway through reading Start with Why by Simon Sinek, our Square Readers Book Club book for April and May. But let’s start looking ahead to our next book for June and July 2023.    We have 3 books to choose from, and we’d love for you to vote to help us decide!   Last time we focused on business foundations, but for this round we’re diving into running your business. We’re choosing between Finances, Leadership, and Marketing books; all recommended by sellers like you!   1. Profit First by Mike Michalowicz  “A simple, counterintuitive cash management solution that will help small businesses break out of the doom spiral and achieve instant profitability. Just as the most effective weight loss strategy is to limit portions by using smaller plates, Michalowicz shows that by taking profit first and apportioning only what remains for expenses, entrepreneurs will transform their businesses from cash-eating monsters to profitable cash cows. Four simple principles can simplify accounting and make it easier to manage a profitable business. A small, profitable business can be worth much more than a large business surviving on its top line. Businesses that attain early and sustained profitability have a better shot at achieving long-term growth.”   2. Dare to Lead by Brene Brown  “Leadership is not about titles, status and power over people. Leaders are people who hold themselves accountable for recognising the potential in people and ideas, and developing that potential. Over the past seven years, Brene Brown found that leaders in organizations ranging from small entrepreneurial start-ups and family-owned businesses to non-profits, civic organizations and Fortune 50 companies, are asking the same questions: How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders? And, how do you embed the value of courage in your culture? Dare to Lead answers these questions and gives us actionable strategies and real examples from her new research-based, courage-building programme.”   3. The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib  “To build a successful business, you need to stop doing random acts of marketing and start following a reliable plan for rapid business growth. Traditionally, creating a marketing plan has been a difficult and time-consuming process, which is why it often doesn't get done. Whether you're just starting out or are an experienced entrepreneur, you'll discover: How to get new customers and how make more profit from existing ones; how to close sales without being pushy; how to make yourself the only logical choice; how to get amazing results on a small budget; how to charge high prices for your products and services and have customers actually thank you for it.”   Which of these do you most want to read first?  Vote by filling out this Google Forms survey!   While we’re voting by survey this time, feel free to tell us why you’re excited about a particular book in the comments below.    And if you have any suggestions of other books, drop them in the comments too and we’ll take a look and consider them for the next round in August and September.    We announced the winning book on Monday, May 15th, and start reading it in June.    We can’t wait to read with you! Pesso   ... View more

Hey Square Readers,   I hope you’re making your way through Start with Why by Simon Sinek so far, our Square Readers Book Club book for April & May. I’m about ⅔ of the way through! There's still plenty of time to read before our Live Discussion on Tuesday May 23rd.   The keystone of the book is the importance of having, knowing, and explaining the Why for your business.    Sinek defines a Why as an action statement that defines your purpose, cause, or belief. It explains why your business exists and why your customers should care. It should start with a verb (To bring, to give, to change, to ...) and be the heart of your business. It should guide every decision you make, and if your actions are aligned with it, build trust with the kinds of customers that align with it.      So that's my question today: What is your Why?   Feel free to share your How and What too!   It doesn’t have to be perfect – this is hard to do! If you’re not completely sure, that’s perfectly fine. Give it a shot, and if you’re not sure, tell us a bit more about your principles and mission, and maybe we can help.    You can read my Why in the comments below, and I can’t wait to read yours! We may repost your comments into our summary post at the end of the month.   See these threads for more discussions: SwW: Announcement Post Post a picture of you with your book Introduce Yourself RSVP for our Live Video Discussion Share your Favorite Quotes What can you do to be true to your Why?   Happy reading, Pesso ... View more