I’ll be taking the next two weeks off here at Crafting an MBA, first to rest, rejuvenate, and read (or, in other words, take a vacation) and then to exhibit at the Buyers Market of American Craft (will you be there, I’d love to meet up). As usual, I’m headed into vacation with a pretty [...]
On Tara’s recommendation, I started listening to Simon Sinek’s Start with Why. The basic premise is that people don’t buy what you do, they buy WHY you do it. If you only focus on what you do or how you do it, you’ll have to resort to manipulations such as price or promotion to get [...]
During last week’s conference call for The Creative Empire, Tara and I were asked which business books had the greatest influence on us. Even though I recommend different business books all the time, its not often that I think about which books had the greatest impact. So today I’m sharing four books that had a [...]
It’s no secret that I read a lot. Especially business books. Though I have been known to mix that up with other choice non-fiction. For instance, I’ve spent the last two days reading Tim Ferriss’s The 4-Hour Body. Despite the fact that I hated Ferriss’s first book, The 4-Hour Work Week, I couldn’t resist the [...]
Last week, I officially passed the one year mark for Crafting an MBA. It’s been an amazing year. I had no idea when I started this blog what the reaction would be, or that there was so much of a need. And so I want to say THANK YOU for all your support, for reading, [...]
I’m headed to the beach later next week, and you can bet my Kindle will be getting a good workout while I’m there. Now I know I’m usually the one recommending books, but I thought I’d turn it around and ask you for your recommendations. Read anything good lately? Or is there anything you’re dying [...]
Yesterday on Design*Sponge, I shared my top 10 must read business books. (If you’ve just found your way over from D*S for the first time, welcome!) I included Craft Inc. on that list, and while I consider it a fantastic resource, it’s not the only book on the market aimed at anyone running (or looking [...]
I just finished reading Seth Godin‘s new book, Linchpin*. In Linchpin, Godin argues that the secret to succeeding in today’s economy is not to become a replaceable cog, but to be indispensable. If you build a business based solely on providing the cheapest products, all you’ll find yourself doing is racing to the bottom. And [...]
This weekend I got an email from Catherine asking if I had plans to start producing any podcasts or if I had any recommendations for worthwhile business listens. I’m a huge fan of getting business advice from audiobooks and podcasts – it’s an ideal way to multi-task while working in the studio or driving. I’d [...]
In the recent poll here on Crafting an MBA, the number one area people wanted more help in is marketing and PR. But less people noted that they needed help with sales. This makes me wonder, is the goal of marketing just to get someone to look at your work, or are you doing everything [...]
Megan Auman is a designer, maker, educator, and entrepreneur who has built a multi-faceted business around her passion for great design and sustainable business. Her eponymous jewelry line is sold in stores across the US and online. In 2009, Megan founded Crafting an MBA to help designers and makers develop their business skills. In 2011, the site name was changed to Designing an MBA.
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