From Library Journal
Author and entrepreneur Walters, founder of Ivy Sea, Inc., an organizational consulting firm, shares her expertise here on the power of the small enterprise. The book is based on her extensive research, including interviews with over 70 small-business owners. Walters states that her book is "intended to validate, challenge, and expand readers' current knowledge, and experience base," and she has "included chapters that are more conceptual and data-oriented and provide a bird's-eye view of small enterprise and its contributions and strengths." Not merely a how-to on running a small business, this provides a thoughtful, thorough analysis of the advantages of the strong, small enterprise and strategies for the successful business. The author covers such issues as the contributions of small business to society; work vs. personal life; approaches to visioning, planning, and establishing a mission and core values in the company; and strategies for good employee and customer relationships. Walters provides case studies as well as an extensive bibliography and reading guide. This important work is essential reading for entrepreneurs and students of business. Strongly recommended to both public and academic libraries with business collections.
Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, NY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, NY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"Walters is a prophet of an emerging new economy of intelligent, caring, cutting edge entrepreneurs who seek to make a living - not a killing. Big Vision, Small Business is a mustread for all who believe that business can and should be fun, life serving, and human-scale." - David C. Korten, author of When Corporations Rule the World and Board Chair, Positive Futures Network; "If you're a small business owner - or even just thinking about being one - let Jamie Walters be your guide to finding both money and meaning in your business. Big Vision, Small Business offers practical insights and thoughtful observations on how to craft a company that reflects your entrepreneurial vision. I found it to be one of the most thoughtful and enjoyable books I've read in a long time." - Terri Lonier, author of Working Solo and founder, Working Solo, Inc. and SOHO Summit
Book Description
While most of the business world glorifies growth, Big Vision, Small Business celebrates the art -- and power -- of thinking small. Based on more than 70 interviews with small-business owners and on the author's own experience as a small-business entrepreneur, this book demonstrates that a company doesn't have to be big to make a significant impact. According to the author, a new kind of business owner is emerging. Defining business success qualitatively as well as quantitatively, these individuals ensure that their bottom line balances personal priorities and social responsibilities.
The book discusses four areas integral to big-vision, small-business ownership: engaging in inspired planning, knowing which model of growth to follow, maintaining successful employee and customer relationships, and seeking balance and integrity.
About the Author
Jamie Walters and her firm, Ivy Sea, have provided counsel to a wide variety of organizations, large and small, well-known and unknown. The firm's award-winning public-service web site (www.ivysea.com) was chosen as a content partner for Inc.com; and has been recognized by About.com, Entrepreneur's Edge, The CEO Refresher, and other business and leadership website portals as one of the best sites for small-enterprise owners and entrepreneurs on the Internet.
