Title: The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business
Author: Josh Kaufman
Year: 2010
Pages: 464
The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman is a book focusing on help people to understand and master business concepts, which were complicated in school.
The Personal MBA gave precise details on every major business topic: entrepreneurship, product development, marketing, sales, negotiation, accounting, finance, productivity, communication, psychology, leadership, systems design, analysis, and operations management.
As a result, I gave this book a rating of 8.5/10.
For me, a book with a note 10 is one I consider reading again. Among the books I rank with 10, for example, is Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.
3 Reasons to Read The Personal MBA
Accessible Business Learning
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this book offers valuable insights to help you navigate the complexities of the business world.
Cost-effective Education
The Personal MBA provides a cost-effective alternative, allowing you to learn at your own pace and on your own terms.
Practical Application
Each chapter equips readers with actionable strategies to implement in their own businesses or careers, ensuring that knowledge translates into tangible results.
Book Overview
The Personal MBA begins by challenging the conventional wisdom that a traditional business school education is the only way for success in the business world or leadership positions.
Kaufman argues that with the right approach and resources, anyone can learn the essential principles of business and achieve their goals.
He emphasizes the importance of self-directed learning and provides a roadmap for readers to follow.
Throughout the book, Kaufman covers a wide range of topics essential to understanding business, including marketing, finance, decision-making, and entrepreneurship.
Each concept is explained clearly and concisely, with practical examples and actionable insights.
One of the book’s strengths is its focus on practical application. Kaufman encourages readers to apply what they learn to real-world situations, whether they’re starting a business, advancing in their career, or simply seeking to improve their understanding of how businesses operate.
By emphasizing the importance of action and experimentation, Kaufman empowers readers to take control of their learning and progress at their own pace.
The Personal MBA also addresses common misconceptions about business, such as the belief that success requires taking big risks or following a specific formula. Instead, he advocates for a more nuanced approach, emphasizing the importance of understanding the underlying principles behind business decisions and adapting strategies based on individual circumstances.
Kaufman also includes recommended reading lists and online resources for further exploration, allowing readers to delve deeper into specific areas of interest.
Here are the business books The Personal MBA officially recommends:
Business Creation
- Go It Alone – Bruce Judson
- The Lean Startup – Eric Ries
- Street Smarts – Norm Brodsky & Bo Burlingham
- Ready, Fire, Aim – Michael Masterson
- Escape from Cubicle Nation – Pamela Slim
- Bankable Business Plans – Edward Rogoff
Value-Creation & Testing
- Rework – Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
- The New Business Road Test – John Mullins
- How to Make Millions with Your Ideas – Dan Kennedy
Marketing
- All Marketers Are Liars – Seth Godin
- Permission Marketing – Seth Godin
- The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing – Al Ries & Jack Trout
- Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got – Jay Abraham
Sales
- The Psychology of Selling – Brian Tracy
- Pitch Anything – Oren Klaff
- The Ultimate Sales Machine – Chet Holmes
- Value-Based Fees – Alan Weiss
- SPIN Selling – Neil Rackham
Value-Delivery
- Indispensable – Joe Calloway
- The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement – Eliyahu Goldratt
- Lean Thinking – James Womack & Daniel Jones
Finance & Accounting
- Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs – Karen Berman & Joe Knight
- Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits – Greg Crabtree
- The 1% Windfall – Rafi Mohammed
- Accounting Made Simple – Mike Piper
- How to Read a Financial Report – John A. Tracy
- Venture Deals – Brad Feld & Jason Mendelson
The Human Mind
- Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
- Brain Rules – John Medina
- Making Sense of Behavior – William T. Powers
- Driven – Paul Lawrence & Nitin Nohria
- Deep Survival – Laurence Gonzales
Productivity & Effectiveness
- Getting Things Done – David Allen
- The Power of Full Engagement – Jim Loehr &Tony Schwartz
- StrengthsFinder 2.0 – Tom Rath
- Bit Literacy – Mark Hurst
- 10 Days to Faster Reading – Abby Marks-Beale
Problem Solving
- The 80/20 Principle – Richard Koch
- Accidental Genius – Mark Levy
- Learning from the Future – Liam Fahey & Robert Randall
Behavioral Change
- The Power of Less – Leo Babauta
- The Path of Least Resistance – Robert Fritz
- Re-Create Your Life – Morty Lefkoe
- Self-Directed Behavior – David Watson & Roland Tharp
Decision-Making
- Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions – Gary Klein
- Smart Choices – John S. Hammond et al
- Ethics for the Real World – Ronald Howard & Clinton Korver
Communication
- On Writing Well – William Zinsser
- Presentation Zen – Garr Reynolds
- Made to Stick – Chip and Dan Heath
- The Copywriter’s Handbook – Robert Bly
- Show Me The Numbers – Stephen Few
Influence
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion – Robert B. Cialdini
- How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie
- Crucial Conversations – Kerry Patterson et al
- The 48 Laws of Power – Robert Greene
Negotiation
- Bargaining For Advantage – G. Richard Shell
- 3-D Negotiation – David Lax & James Sebenius
- The Partnership Charter – David Gage
Management
- First, Break All The Rules – Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman
- 12: The Elements of Great Managing – Rodd Wagner & James Harter
- Growing Great Employees – Erika Andersen
- The Essential Drucker – Peter Drucker
- The Halo Effect – Phil Rosenzweig
Leadership
- Tribes – Seth Godin
- Total Leadership – Stewart Friedman
- What Got You Here Won’t Get You There – Marshall Goldsmith
- The New Leader’s 100-Day Action Plan – George Bradt et al
Project Management
- Making Things Happen – Scott Berkun
- Results Without Authority – Tom Kendrick
Systems
- Thinking in Systems – Donella Meadows
- Work the System – Sam Carpenter
Analysis
- Thinking Statistically – Uri Bram
- Turning Numbers Into Knowledge – Jonathan Koomey
- How to Lie with Statistics – Darrell Huff
- Marketing Metrics – Paul Farris et al
- The Economist Numbers Guide – Richard Stuteley
Corporate Skills
- The Unwritten Laws of Business – W.J. King
- The Effective Executive – Peter Drucker
- The Simplicity Survival Handbook – Bill Jensen
- Hire With Your Head – Lou Adler
Corporate Strategy
- Purpose – Nikos Mourkogiannis
- Competitive Strategy – Michael Porter
- Blue Ocean Strategy – W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne
- Seeing What’s Next – Clayton M. Christensen et al
Creativity & Innovation
- The Creative Habit – Twyla Tharp
- Myths of Innovation – Scott Berkun
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Peter Drucker
Design
- The Design of Everyday Things – Donald Norman
- Universal Principles of Design – William Lidwell et al
Consulting
- Getting Started in Consulting – Alan Weiss
- Secrets of Consulting – Gerald M. Weinberg
Personal Finance
- Your Money or Your Life – Joel Dominguez & Vicki Robin
- The Millionaire Next Door – Thomas Stanley & William Danko
- I Will Teach You To Be Rich – Ramit Sethi
- Fail-Safe Investing – Harry Browne
Personal Growth
- Lead the Field – Earl Nightingale
- The Art of Exceptional Living – Jim Rohn
- A Guide to the Good Life – William Braxton Irvine
Overall, The Personal MBA is a comprehensive and practical resource for anyone seeking to gain a solid understanding of business principles without the time and expense of a traditional MBA program.
Kaufman’s clear writing style, practical advice, and emphasis on self-directed learning make it a valuable addition to any entrepreneur’s library.
What are the Key Ideas
Self-Directed Learning
Kaufman champions the idea of self-directed learning, empowering readers to take ownership of their education. Seeking out resources that resonate with their learning style, individuals can tailor their educational journey to suit their unique needs and goals.
Fundamental Business Principles
From the importance of cash flow to the power of differentiation, The Personal MBA covers the fundamental principles that underpin successful businesses. Mastering these core concepts, readers can build a solid foundation for long-term success in any industry.
Decision-Making Frameworks
Making sound decisions is a crucial skill in business. Kaufman introduces readers to various decision-making frameworks, such as cost-benefit analysis and opportunity cost, to help them navigate complex choices with confidence and clarity.
Entrepreneurial Mindset
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an intrapreneur within a larger organization, cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset is essential for driving innovation and growth. Kaufman explores the mindset shifts needed to identify opportunities, take calculated risks, and adapt to changing market conditions.
What are the Main Lessons
Apply What You Learn
Knowledge without action is meaningless. The Personal MBA encourages readers to apply what they learn by experimenting with new strategies and techniques.
Embrace Failure
By reframing failure as feedback, individuals can extract valuable insights that inform future decisions and improve their chances of success.
Focus on Value Creation
By focusing on value creation, businesses can differentiate themselves from competitors and build lasting relationships with customers.
Continuous Learning
Whether through books, courses, or mentorship, investing in personal and professional development is essential for staying ahead of the curve.
Network Effectively
By cultivating meaningful relationships with peers, mentors, and potential collaborators, individuals can tap into valuable resources and opportunities.
Stay Agile
By embracing change and proactively seeking out new opportunities, individuals can position themselves for success in any market conditions.
My Book Highlights & Quotes
Every successful business (1) creates or provides something of value that (2) other people want or need (3) at a price they’re willing to pay, in a way that (4) satisfies the purchaser’s needs and expectations and (5) provides the business sufficient revenue to make it worthwhile for the owners to continue operation.
You can’t make positive discoveries that make your life better if you never try anything new.
Whoever best describes the problem is the one most likely to solve it.
Business schools don’t create successful people. They simply accept them, then take credit for their success.
In conclusion, The Personal MBA offers a refreshing alternative to traditional business education, providing readers with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in today’s competitive business environment.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this book will help you master the fundamentals of business and achieve your goals with confidence.
I am incredibly grateful that you have taken the time to read this post.
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Do you want to check previous Book Notes? Check these from the last couple of weeks:
- Book Notes #124: Radical Candor by Kim Scott
- Book Notes #123: The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
- Book Notes #122: The First 20 Hours by Josh Kaufman
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- Book Notes #120: Storynomics by Robert McKee and Thomas Gerace
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