Recommended Reading:

Good to Great - Jim Collins: For my money this is the best business book that has been written. Why do some companies makes the leap and why are some stagnant. Even though he uses large companies in his research, the lessons are relevant to any business and the book is extremely well written.

The E-Myth Revisited - Michael Gerber: This book is a little hokey, but the thesis is dead on. Most people with a professional skill tend to work in their business rather than on the business and this is very limiting. Gerber gives some useful suggestions to change this mindset.

Small Giants - Bo Burlingame: This is sort of a "Good to Great" for smaller businesses. While most people will do anything to increase sales, Burlingame highlights several companies that have sacrificed growth while still maintaining very successful businesses.

Big Box Swindle - Stacy Mitchell: Maybe it's because our business is located in an area devoid of a lot of chains, but this book does a great job of explaining some of the costs of society becoming too homogenous in their shopping habits. That it manages to do so without being too preachy or one sided is an accomplishment.

The Starbucks Experience - Joseph Michelli: We all know that Starbucks has built an empire, but this is an interesting account of how they have sold image rather than coffee

Organic Inc. - Samuel Fromartz; In recent decades, organic food - the idealistic, natural alternative to industrial agribusiness and processed packaged foods - has grown into a multibillion-dollar business. Fromartz's portrait of the adolescent industry reveals that that success has prompted an epic identity crisis. What I like best about this book is how it shows businesses how a top notch product can allow you to pay a sustainable wage to your employees.

The Apple Way - Jeffrey L. Cruikshank: "We don't underestimate people... Rather than making a far inferior product for a hundred dollars less, we gave the people the product that they want and that will serve them for years, even though it's a little pricier. People are smart; they figure these things out." --Steve Jobs

The Apple Way divulges the secrets and management principles that keep Apple far ahead of the curve. Find out how to implement these and other winning strategies in your organization to trigger a technological and stylistic revolution of your own.

Movies of interest to business owners:

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox

Is truth stranger than fiction? Have you ever used Dr. Bronner's soap and wondered how this tingly product has so many uses? In Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox, director Sara Lamm follows around the Bonner family in their quest to sell soap and unite everyone under one plan (the Moral ABCs), listed on the side of every bottle, along with a variety of other quotes and directives. Some facts about Dr. Bronners that really interest me:

Total compensation of executives is capped at five times that of their lowest-paid position. Employees annually receive 15% of salary paid into a retirement/profit-sharing plan, up to 25% of salary as a bonus, and a no-deductible PPO health insurance plan for themselves and their families. Find out how this unusual company got it's start and thrives today.

Mike's Pretentious Pop Culture Recommendations

Having a lot of dental clients has one major drawback. Every office I visit pipes in either an easy listening station or a hits station. This means I've heard people like Fergie, Elton John, and Matchbox 20 far too many times in my life. With your musical well being in mind I offer some alternative selections.

Top 10 Albums of All-Time

Appetite for Destruction Ð Guns N' Roses: This is the CD that made GNR the "next rolling stones" and is a rare album that you do not have to skip over a track. It also contains excellent guitar work by Slash.

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Ð Spoon: It's hard to get just about every song on this album out of your head. It sounds like an album the Beatles might make if they were still around.

We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank Ð Modest Mouse: A solid album all the way through that alternates from poppy songs to angry ones seamlessly.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust Ð David Bowie: Most people know some of the popular songs on this album, but it's a classic because of some of the lesser known cuts. "Rock and Roll Suicide" might be the best closer on any album.

Unplugged Ð Alice In Chains: Alice in Chains rose to popularity during the grunge movement, but they were always more complete musicians than their contemporaries. This album highlights their versatility.

The Bends Ð Radiohead: Most people love "OK Computer" and it's a solid CD, but this one is simply better in my opinion. "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" is one of the best songs ever.

Daydream Nation Ð Sonic Youth: Lays the blueprint for the Seattle bands that followed

Angel Dust Ð Faith No More: It's a weird album, but one that flows all the way through with a rendention of "Midnight Cowboy" closing out the experience.

Physical Graffiti Ð Led Zeppelin: A double album that shows the versatility that Zeppelin had. It doesn't hurt that songs like "Kashmir" are on the album.

Animals Ð Pink Floyd: A Pink Floyd album that is mostly straight ahead rock with none of their usual filler. We also got to see the power station on the cover of the CD while in London even if my wife didn't believe me at first.

Recommended Recent Albums

Neon Bible Ð Arcade Fire
Love Ð The Beatles
You in Reverse Ð Built to Spill
Cold War Kids Ð Robbers and Cowards
The Hold Steady Ð Boys and Girls in America
Mastodon Ð Blood Mountain
Modest Mouse Ð We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Muse Ð Black Holes and Revelations
My Morning Jacket Ð Okonokos
The Shins Ð Wincing the Night Away
Son Volt Ð The Search
Sonic Youth Ð Rather Ripped
Spoon Ð Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Wilco Ð Sky Blue Sky
Thom Yorke Ð The Eraser
Thurston Moore Ð Trees Outside the Academy

My Uncle was the TV Critic for the Dallas Morning News and currently dissects current TV on his website http://www.unclebarky.com so he may be a better source for this, but here's my Top 10 TV shows of all-time:

South Park Ð Comedy Central
Curb Your Enthusiasm Ð HBO
Dexter Ð Showtime
The Office Ð NBC
The Shield Ð FX
Seinfeld Ð NBC
Homicide: Life on the Street Ð NBC
The Simpsons Ð Fox
The Wire Ð HBO

And if that wasn't enough, here's the Top 10 movies along with a memorable line:

10. Anchorman Ð The Legend of Run Burgundy: "60% of the time, it works every time"
9. Goodfellas: "Now go get your shinebox"
8. Tombstone: "I'm your huckleberry"
7. Planes, Trains and Automobiles: "The people train goes out of Stubville"
6. The Godfather: "Try the veal. It's the best in the city"
5. The Usual Suspects: "The greatest trick the devil pulled is convincing the world that he didn't exist"
4. Braveheart: "Freedom"
3. Caddyshack: "Don't kid yourself Judge, you're a tremendous slouch"
2. Glengarry Glenross: "Put that coffee down. Coffee is for closers"
1. Godfather Part 2: "Hyman Roth has been dying from the same heart attack for 20 years"