Creating a Thriving Business

• Chapter Summaries    AcknowledgementsIntroduction Chapter One—Choosing A Business    Looking Inside: Ideas From WithinLooking Outward: Ideas From The World Around You    Inside And Out: Combining Both ApproachesIdea Sources: An Endless Well    Tough Choices: Product Or Customer First?Major Factors: Narrowing Your Choices    Naming Your Business    Timing Issues    Tyranny Of The UrgentThe Business Choice Chicken-And-Egg Syndrome     Chapter Two—Recipe For A Thriving Business    Recipe For A Thriving Business    Components Of A Thriving Business    Why This Structure MattersA Unique Methodology    A Traditional Business Plan Versus The Structure Of Profitability     Chapter Three—Step #1: Vision    Why You Need A Vision For Your Business    Vision: What Does It Really Mean?    Four Benefits Of Having A Compelling VisionThe Importance Of A Compelling Vision    Sources Of A Vision    Developing A VisionThree Steps To Creating A Compelling Vision    What Does A Compelling Vision Look Like?The Importance Of A Win/Win ExperienceMission Statement Versus Slogan Versus VisionIncubating Your VisionThree Problems Chapter Four—Step #2: Critical Success Factors And StrategyWhat Is A Critical Success Factor For A Business?Your Critical Success FactorsCritical Success Factor Analysis: The FoundationWhat Will This Analysis Accomplish?Synchronizing Vision And Critical Success FactorsMaking Implementation MeasurableYour Strategic Plan: The Road Map For Achieving Your VisionCreating A Sustainable Competitive Advantage Chapter 5 — Step #3: MarketingWhere Do Marketing And Sales Fit In?The Importance Of Your Marketing And Sales AreaOverview Of Your Marketing And Sales AreaYour Number Of Potential BuyersAwareness Of A Need For Your Product Or ServiceUnderstanding Your CustomerAttractiveness Of Your SolutionCreate Experiences Worth RepeatingTheir Awareness Of Your SolutionUpdating Your Critical Success Factors Chapter 6—Step #4: Sales And Related AreasYour Delivery ChannelsEffectiveness Of Your Sales ProcessesSales Is An Ongoing ProcessMeeting And Exceeding Your Customer’s ExpectationsAssessing Your CompetitionUpdating Your Critical Success Factors Chapter 7—Step #5: Producing Your Product Or ServiceWhat Production Means    The Production Chicken-And-Egg SyndromeOverview Of Your Production AreaThe Five Elements Of Your Strategic AdvantageExceptional Versus Great Versus Good Versus Average    Product Cost Advantage    Product Quality    Delivery Time Or Convenience    Customer Service    The Uniqueness Of Your Product    Developing Your Strategic Advantage    Updating Your Critical Success Factors     Chapter Eight—Step #6: Financing Your Business    Why The Funding Of A Business Is So Important    Your Overall Financing Needs    Evaluating Your Financing Needs    Tools For Calculating Your Financing Needs    Types Of Financing    Sources Of Financing    Evaluation Of Financing Criteria    Obtaining Funding    Updating Your Critical Success Factors     Chapter 9—Step #7: Execution—Innovating And Systematizing    Business Planning Activities    Developing A Game-Changing Vision    Recrafting And Recasting Your Vision    InnovationFruit Stands Versus Factories    Systems    Your Daily Role In Your Business    Updating Your Critical Success Factors     Chapter Ten—In Conclusion     About The Author    Free Special Bonuses    Additional Resources

“I can highly recommend this book to anyone starting a business, or who wants to spur their business growth. Creating a Thriving Business shows you how to systematically eliminate the guesswork and uncertainty associated with trying to grow a business.”—Bob Bareauthor of More Power! An Entrepreneur’s Roadmap to Success, founder of Best Selling Experts“George Horrigan is obviously an author you can trust. He gently takes you by the hand and leads you to success as a business owner. He does not make it sound easy. But he does make it sound possible. He does not regale you with tales of how quickly it will happen. But he proves to you that it will happen eventually. Even God had to wait. For you, as for Him, it will be worth the wait.”—Jay Conrad LevinsonAuthor of the Guerrilla Marketing series“In Creating a Thriving Business, George Horrigan has weaved together his experience in starting and growing seven businesses, extensive research performed over the past 25 years, and consulting with over 1,200 businesses in order to give the reader an easy, step by step methodology to create a successful, thriving business.”-Rick FrishmanFounder Planned TV Arts/Media Connect, www.rickfrishman.com