Master the Art of Business

📚 I would like to invite you to a New Book Discussion Series – The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman.

Warm-up Recommendation: Get a sneak peek by listening to this podcast:Entrepreneurship Expert: How To Build A $1m Business

In a nutshell, this book offers a unique opportunity to teach yourself the fundamentals of business and develop skills that matter. Together, we'll learn:

1. How businesses work: Understand core structures, processes, and strategies.
2. How people work: Gain insights into motivation, influence, and effective working with yourself & others.
3. How systems work: Dive into the mechanics of business operations and improve workflows.

Bring your curiosity, questions, and enthusiasm! Whether you’re an entrepreneur, professional, or simply eager to expand your knowledge, this series will equip you with actionable insights to use in real life.

Topics for the 1st gathering:

• The Essence of Value Creation
• 12 Forms of Economic Value.
• How to Meet Customer Needs.
• Test and Improve Your Ideas

References:

Reading
Chapter 1: Value Creation

Video
The Personal MBA Google Talk

Here are the questions for the discussion:
1. Core Value Insights: According to Kaufman, creating value is the foundation of a successful business. What were some key insights you took from his ideas on value creation, and how do you see these ideas applying to real-life businesses?
2. How does the Iron Law of Market affect decisions about product development and innovation, and what strategies can businesses use to assess market demand accurately before launching a new product or service?
3. How can businesses identify which of the Core Human Drives—acquisition, bonding, learning, defending, and feeling—are most relevant to their products or services, and what are some examples of companies successfully leveraging these drives to connect with customers?
4. How do companies leverage the human drive for social status in their branding and marketing strategies, and what are the ethical considerations when creating products or experiences that appeal primarily to status-driven motivations?
5. How can businesses effectively use Relative Importance Testing to prioritize product features or service offerings, and what challenges might they face in accurately interpreting customer feedback?
6. Feel free to ask your own questions.

P.S. Don’t worry if you don’t have prior business experience. This series is designed to make business concepts accessible to everyone!

Cheers,
Maria