The Long Tail, Chris Anderson

This book started as an article in WIRED magazine, written by the editor-in-chief, that has become the most influential business essay of our time. What happens when your choice of goods or services is almost unlimited? What happens when you can find everything you might ever think you want even the quirky, niche product? What happens when the combined value of the millions of items that only sell in small quantities equals or exceeds the value of the handful of best sellers? Answer: You have just awoken to our current reality. This book is a glimpse of what is upon us - the new economics of endless choice and unlimited demand. Our world of business has changed in profound ways offering huge opportunities that did not exist before. His insights are like turning the lights on. Don't miss this, really

The Business General, Deborah Tom, Brigadier Richard Barrons

Would you turn to the armed forces for advice on how to succeed in business? Of course not! That is because our impression of them is formed by B-Grade war movies and stereotypical television news lampoonery that portray them as inherently autocratic, inflexible and slow-witted organizations. Armed forces are required to deliver results in conditions filled with uncertainty, complexity and life-threatening risk. Would you follow your manager's instruction to go into a life threatening situation? They do. Their leadership have to be trusted, the groups have to speak the same language, their skills training has to be reliable, and the lessons learned applied. I was astounded by how much we can learn about business success from military success - oh, and I don't mean the 'marketing is like warfare' silliness. Their's has to be a sophisticated and well thought through approach.