The definitive guide to starting and running a small business The Smarta Way to Do Business is the first definitive handbook for starting a business to bring you advice from real-world entrepreneurs who've been there, and done that. Packed with everything you need to know to start and run a successful business, straight from the UK's leading experts, this is the insider's guide YOU need to build a successful business right NOW. Featuring exclusive interviews with anyone who's anyone in the world of entrepreneurship, including Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden, Duncan Bannatyne, Sarah Beeny, Doug Richard, Martha Lane Fox, Caprice, Sahar Hashemi, and more, the book also brings you unique insights from Peter Jones, Mike Clare, Julie Meyer, Rachel Elnaugh and many others! Whether you're just starting out, looking to take your business to the next level or exploring how social media and emerging technologies could boost your customer sales, The Smarta Way to Do Business has the answers you're looking for.

The definitive guide to starting and running a small business The Smarta Way to Do Business is the first definitive handbook for starting a business to bring you advice from real-world entrepreneurs who've been there, and done that. Packed with everything you need to know to start and run a successful business, straight from the UK's leading experts, this is the insider's guide YOU need to build a successful business right NOW. Featuring exclusive video interviews with anyone who's anyone in the world of entrepreneurship, including Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden, Duncan Bannatyne, Sarah Beeny, Doug Richard, Martha Lane Fox, Caprice, Sahar Hashemi, and more, the book also brings you unique insights from Peter Jones, Mike Clare, Julie Meyer, Rachel Elnaugh and many others! Loaded with exclusive video interviews and expert expertise The complete start-up pack from the UK's high-profile online platform for entrepreneurs Packed with insider advice on starting your own business Whether you're just starting out, looking to take your business to the next level or exploring how social media and emerging technologies could boost your customer sales, The Smarta Way to Do Business has the answers you're looking for.

"The first knowledge-age book to give practical advice on how to organize and make use of knowledge--how to turn knowledge into wisdom."--Jacket.

How Strategy Works in an Interconnected, Automated World Leaders already know that the classic approach to strategy--analyze, plan, execute--is losing relevance. But they don't yet know what replaces it. As everyone and everything becomes more interconnected and digitized, how do you operate, compete, and win? Ming Zeng, the former Chief of Staff and strategy adviser to Alibaba Group's founder Jack Ma, explains how the latest technological developments, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, the mobile internet, and cloud computing are redefining how value is created. Written especially for those outside the technology industry or the startup arena, this book introduces a simple, overarching framework to guide strategy formulation and execution in this data-rich and highly interactive environment. Revealing the revolutionary practices that he and his team have developed at Alibaba, Zeng shows how to: Automate decisions through machine learning Create products informed by real-time data from customers Determine the right strategic positioning to maximize value from platforms and suppliers Repurpose your organization to further human insight and enable creativity Lead your company's transformation into a smart business With insights into the strategies and tools used by leaders at Alibaba and other companies such as Ruhan and Red Collar, in a variety of industries from furniture making to banking to custom tailoring, Smart Business outlines a radically new approach to strategy that can be applied everywhere.

Answers to the 12 most common and critical questions about corporate giving In this groundbreaking resource, Weeden shows how to strategically plan, manage and evaluate corporate contributions. Questions include: Why Should We Give?; How Much?; Who Decides?; Does a Company Need a Foundation?; How to Give Products or Services?; How Do We Know What Works? The book covers a wide range of topics including: The case for conditional corporate philanthropy; increasing stewardship to give more; assigning responsibility for signature programs; how CEOs leverage contributions programs for maximum benefit; effectively staffing corporate contributions programs; the pros and cons of corporate foundations; and more. Offers benchmarks for determining if a business has a meaningful philanthropic program that fosters constructive corporate citizenship Reveals how an effective philanthropic program and commitment can be incorporated in any organization Contains a comprehensive review of the information corporations need to make informed decisions about giving The author offers a prescription for linking businesses with causes and the nonprofits addressing critical issues in a way that will preserve or restore services and activities essential to our quality of life.

More people than ever are becoming entrepreneurs, but the perils of starting your own business are well-documented. Two lecturers on the subject from Imperial College, London, have written 'The Smart Entrepreneur' to show how to avoid these pitfalls and make your business a success.

Are you one of the many women out there who needs a brand-new model for your business career? Are you looking for entrepreneurial alternatives to the world of big business, but aren’t sure where to start? A transition into small business is a natural progression for countless women who have invested the first phase of their careers in large companies. Many mid-career women dream of starting their own businesses, but until now there hasn’t been a book that gives them the sense of multiple choice that helps them find the right entrepreneurial fit—options that go beyond starting a venture to include buying an independent business or a franchise, joining or consulting for small businesses, or working with partners. There’s a confusing array of how-to books out there with general advice about starting a business, conducting a job search, or balancing work and family. But what entrepreneurial women really need are the strategic tools for choosing and growing a business that will not only make them money, but make them happy as well. Women need direct, gender-specific advice about succeeding financially in their businesses; they also crave the feeling that their work matters, and they want flexibility and control over their professional lives in order to achieve a healthy work-life balance. This book offers them the womenfriendly business advice they need and numerous true-life role models to identify with and emulate. Author Ginny Wilmerding opens women’s eyes to the advantages of buying, joining, or consulting for existing small businesses, fully explaining the alternatives to starting from scratch. If you lack an original business idea, this book will give you the confidence you need to get excited about pursuing a business idea other than your own. But if you do want to start a company from the ground up, there’s plenty of food for thought for you here, too. Wilmerding not only shares her own stories and outside experts’ advice but also includes insightful vignettes from women who have found their niches and are succeeding financially. If you’re wondering how to finance your small business, Wilmerding steers you toward success in obtaining SBA loans and other financing. Finally, if you’re considering partnering with others to share the risk and the fun, she prepares you for partnership success, and explains the importance of good advisers and mentors. The goal of this book is to get you started on the path to a successful career in the small business world, a world that needs experienced, smart, versatile women like you to join its ranks. Smart Women and Small Business is the ultimate professional guide for mid-career, business-minded women who want to achieve the same independence and success as their entrepreneurial male peers—but in their own way.