Profits Aren't Everything, They're the Only Thing: No-Nonsense Rules from the Ultimate Contrarian and Small Business Guru

by George Cloutier

Overview

The best family business has one member. Weekends are for working, not playing golf or coaching. Never pay your vendors on time. Wear your control-freak badge with pride. Out denial: If your business is failing during a recession, it's your fault.

George Cloutier’s controversial rules for doing business aren’t taught at Harvard Business School. The founder and CEO of American Management Services and “the leading advocate for small business” (Reuters), Cloutier has spent more than thirty years guiding business owners through the tough choices that line the road to profitability.

Profits Aren’t Everything, They’re the Only Thing is the long-overdue wake-up call for 23 million small- and midsize-business owners across America. This book serves up the hard-boiled, unadulterated truth to aspiring and established entrepreneurs, without apologies. His no-nonsense advice may be hard to hear at times, but it works.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061856310
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/07/2010
Pages:	174
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

George Cloutier is a CEO, coach, speaker, and TV commentator who has been seen on Fox Business News, ABC’s 20/20, CNBC’s Squawk Box, MSNBC, and Bloomberg Television. He has successfully worked with 6,000 business owners in 400 industries and has been profiled by the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, USA Today, and Fortune Small Business.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Profit Rule 1 Profits Aren't Everything, They're Only Thing! 1

Profit Rule 2 End Denial 9

Profit Rule 3 Forget Sweat Equity 21

Profit Rule 4 Love Your Business More Than Your Family 35

Profit Rule 5 The Best Family Business has One Member 45

Profit Rule 6 Delegate, Don't Abdicate 57

Profit Rule 7 Live and Die by a Real Plan 71

Profit Rule 8 Pay for Performance 83

Profit Rule 9 "I Am Your Work God" 93

Profit Rule 10 You are Not in Business to Pay Your Vendors 107

Profit Rule 11 When Filing for Bankruptcy is Your Best Option, do it Early! 117

Profit Rule 12 Don't Treat Sales Like Your Mother-in-Law 127

Profit Rule 13 Give Up Golf, Retreats, Off-Sites, and Trade Shows 139

Profit Rule 14 Teamwork is Vastly Overrated 151

Profit Rule 15 It's not the Economy, Stupid, it's You! 163

What People are Saying About This

Tom Cochran

“George Cloutier’s new book is based on his experience with thousands of small businesses in hundreds of industries. It is a candid, “tell it as it really is,” hard-hitting book… A must read for all small and midsized business owners.”

From the Publisher

"This book can turn your business around—-if you have the guts to follow it." —-John Resnick, creator and host, Legends of Success with John Resnick

Editorial Reviews

George Cloutier’s new book is based on his experience with thousands of small businesses in hundreds of industries. It is a candid, “tell it as it really is,” hard-hitting book… A must read for all small and midsized business owners.” — Tom Cochran, CEO and executive director, The United States Conference of Mayors

“This slim but forceful debut by turnaround management expert Cloutier serves as a wakeup call for small business owners who have been hit hard by the recession… Cloutier’s book is loaded with valuable advice on how to get back on track and stay in the black in any economic environment.” — Publishers Weekly

“Packed with client examples and a no-nonsense attitude. Many of his regulations will amaze, shock, and awe small-business owners... Harsh ways to work? Yes, yet all his principles are founded on a success that’s hard to argue with.” — Booklist

From the Publisher

George Cloutier’s new book is based on his experience with thousands of small businesses in hundreds of industries. It is a candid, “tell it as it really is,” hard-hitting book… A must read for all small and midsized business owners.

Tom Cochran

Packed with client examples and a no-nonsense attitude. Many of his regulations will amaze, shock, and awe small-business owners... Harsh ways to work? Yes, yet all his principles are founded on a success that’s hard to argue with.

Booklist

Packed with client examples and a no-nonsense attitude. Many of his regulations will amaze, shock, and awe small-business owners... Harsh ways to work? Yes, yet all his principles are founded on a success that’s hard to argue with.

Booklist