Finally, real estate brokers get their own E-Myth.
No, I’m not talking about some sort of internet rumor or online fairy tale. I mean that business writer Michael Gerber has made real estate brokerages the eighth stop on his planned 310-industry tour to “transform the state of small business.”
Gerber has a potent idea to sell. The “E” refers to entrepreneur; his first book was aimed at small business owners. He then branched out to offer advice to industries that tend to operate like small businesses. As one might imagine with such a commoditized approach, Gerber tends to paint with something of a broad brush in promotional materials. For example, in describing his E-Myth books here, he repeats seven out of the eight times that the industries highlighted in his books are each “a juggling act.”
It’s clear he needs a little help from his friends. Thankfully, he knows that. Each of his books features writing from an established industry leader. And thankfully for brokers, he chose Rich Rector to co-author The E-Myth Real Estate Brokerage: Why Most Real Estate Brokerage Firms Don’t Work and What to Do About It (Prodigy Business Books, 2012).
Rector has served as chairman, president and CEO of Realty Executives International since 1984. After purchasing Realty Executives Phoenix from his father in 1980, Rector led an aggressive international franchise expansion, growing the company to 800 franchises in 10 countries.
Rector composes every other chapter in the book, giving a real-life, down-to-earth feeling to what might have otherwise been a dry business tome. For example, Gerber’s chapter titled, “On the Subject of Pricing” is followed by Rector’s much more vernacular “What to Charge?” chapter. The every-other chapter concept gives the work a more conversational tone, as if you’re sitting down to coffee with these two entrepreneurial heavyweights. Continue reading »
You’re either an entrepreneur or you’re not. Right?
Well, according to Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck: What it Takes to be an Entrepreneur and Build a Great Business, success in business creation is not dependent on just one “it” factor. Authors Tony Tjan, Dick Harrington, and Tsun-yan Hsieh argue that, within each successful entrepreneur is a combination of the four driving attributes identified in their book’s title.
Furthermore, they argue that knowing which of these four traits drives you could be the key to unlocking your true potential. The book itself won’t be available until August, though you can pre-order it at their site. But as something of a personalized preview, the authors offer the Entrepreneurial Aptitude Test, or EAT, as a sort of entry point to their book. Continue reading »
By Erica Christoffer, Multimedia Web Producer, REALTOR® Magazine
How did the founders of Curves, Spanx, Geek Squad and Kinko’s turn a small dream into big success? With a little ingenuity and a big leap of faith. Authors, and husband and wife team, Renee and Don Martin highlight the people behind some of the nation’s most well-known multi-million dollar businesses and share how they overcame personal odds and industry challenges in their book The Risk Takers (Vanguard Press, 2010; $25.95). If you’re looking for a little entrepreneurial inspiration for your real estate business, this book is for you.
Renee Martin, community activist and former broker, chatted with REALTOR® Magazine for the Weekly Book Scan about her and her husband’s motivation for writing the book and how it can inspire real estate professionals to achieve their dreams.
You started out in real estate. How did your career path lead to writing?
MARTIN: I started out with Coldwell Banker as a broker in the San Fernando Valley where I worked for 12 years. I then started my own company, Country Manor Realty, where I specialized in high-end residential developments. But by the late 1980s, I had reached a point where I needed a new challenge. So I left my business and started attending UCLA where I received a professional designation in public relations. I then worked as a public relations spokesperson for various non-profits and community organizations. My work led me to become a court appointed special advocate (CASA). I found myself becoming an activist for women and children. Continue reading »
Here are the current best-selling small business and entrepreneurship books from Amazon.com:
1. Weaving Dreams: The Joy of Work, The Love of Life by Tami Longaberger
2. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t by Jim Collins
3. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A leadership Fable (J-B Lencioni Series) by Patrick Lencioni
4. Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
5. Rework [for Kindle] by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
6. Business Model Generation: A handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers and Challengers by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur
7. The E-Myth Revisited: Way Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber
8. The One Minute Manager by Kenneth H. Blanchard and Spencer Johnson
9. Crash It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuk
10. Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results by Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul, John Christensen and Ken Blanchard
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