The Martha Rules: 10 Essentials for Achieving Success as You Start, Build, or Manage a Business

I love this book its is filled with practical ideas and advise for starting or improving ones business. She has been so generous with her knowledge - It a book I truly treasure.

The Martha Rules - Random House Audio (2005) Like her or not, she is victorious over life and circumstances. I spent several weeks listening to The Martha Rules on audio, and it has boosted my business life greatly. During the time I reviewed the book, I had to make an easy decision for a hard situation, and I credit much to The Martha Rules. Martha's clear voice and well-enunciated words encourages you to contemplate the chapters she perfectly crafted (which is her style). The chapters touch upon: passion; defining a big idea by looking closely with a telescope or wide-angle lens (easy for me to identify with this, owning Photography-by-james.com); teach and learn; grow your business; quality (signature of her brand); team building; making hard decisions; understanding the difference between risk vs chance; making it beautiful (another signature of her brand). I consider this book an exceptional investment in the business that is YOU.

I'm not particularly a fan of Martha's style, but I have tremendous admiration for the empire she's built through sheer vision and hard work. She's one brilliant, driven woman and this book gives great insight into how she's accomplished so much. This book is a great read for someone thinking of starting up a business -- or those who have already done so. Martha is very direct and serious about how you must focus your energy into your business plan and execution. She lays out very good ground rules for cutting the fat out of your initial dream and targeting concepts which will work. I love how throughout the book Martha emphasizes the need for sensible passion (my term, not hers). You have to love what you're doing, but you can't let your emotions overrule your business requirements. This really is a terrific book and I'm putting some of the concepts to use in my own small software business.

There's nothing amazing or breakthrough about the Martha Rules...except that you won't find this advice put together in just this way. For instance, Martha Stewart emphasizes the importance of identifying a target market that will buy what you offer. She talks about geographic mismatches: pick a location where your product will be welcomed. Sounds obvious? Maybe. But I've met dozens of wannabe Internet marketers who chose products and services that won't work on the web. And I know many coaches who cheerfully advise their clients, "If you dream it you can do it." Or even, "If you have an idea, there must be a market." Martha has made a career out of understanding her market. She has astounded publishers and investors who underestimated her broad appeal to women. At least one biographer has disparaged her affiliation with K-Market, but Martha understands those shoppers. Another Barnard College alum, Joan Rivers, wrote in her own biography something to the effect that, "If you appeal to the masses you dine with the classes. And if you reach for the classes you dine with the masses." Martha could say the same. On page 26, Martha writes, "Out of frustration often comes a good idea." She's echoing ideas from Marsha Sinetar and James Judson - and she's right. Often the best way to create a good business idea is to recognize that you can't find something you'd be happy to pay for. The section on idea size - too big or too small - makes sense too. It happens all the time. Why not start a pet-sitting business, I'll suggest. And a client begins to dream big. "Maybe an upscale service for wealthy pet owners. In a great neighborhood across town. And boarding services with luxury touches." Never mind that she's renting a studio apartment and needs to start a small business on a tight budget. And finally you have to recognize that creativity may not always be an asset. You have a juice store, Martha suggests. Employees have to follow a formula, exactly. No room for independence. You'll find these ideas elsewhere but they're worth hearing again. Sure, she uses examples from her own business. But let's face it: readers buy the book to get glimpses of the author. She doesn't shy away from mention of her prison time at Alderson. I believe she handled the whole messy situation with grace. And for those who dismiss her as a "convicted felon," the label of "felon" and the determination of "convicted" often depend on being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Martha's not warm and fuzzy...but not many billionaires are. But for Martha Stewart fans, the Martha Rules offers insights into the woman as well as the business.

Martha's passion really comes through in this book, and it's a very good read. It's inspiring for those who have ever dreamed of owning their own business or starting something new. The thing that surprised me the most was that I could see myself in her writing, and I could picture myself in a lot of the scenarios Martha chose. I've always been a fan of Martha, but found her in the past to be very woman-oriented and a lot of her shows/books to be primarily for women. This book is unique in that it is for everyone... male and female, young and old alike. If you want to be the best you can be, want to dream about new beginnings and want the inspiration and clues about where to begin, this is a perfect book for you. I couldn't put the book down after I started reading it. Martha's knowledge and ideas have been put to great use here.

I simply loved Martha Stewart's latest book. I felt that she covered many of the basics that so many entrepreneurial types of business people might possibly overlook. She is driven by achieving perfection and has gathered the best of the very best people in her search to achieve that in Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. She has given much credit to the people who have helped her on her own particular journey and when it was time for them to leave and to follow their own star, she wished them well. But she has also had some who have stayed with her for years along with many who were not a good fit. She covers much of the successes and pitfalls of business and the people who have worked with and for her. I loved the stories of some of the people she has had the pleasure of meeting and the successful businesses they have built. She told of the fresh approach many people have given to their inspirations that have evolved into beautiful businesses you want to go and visit just because they are so very appealing in their nature. She freely admits her mistakes and what she has learned from those stumbling blocks. She covered many of those times without dwelling on them. A mistake is only worthwhile and necessary if we learn from it ...or are able to make lemonade from Lemons. She has done this beautifully. From discovering your own particular passion to what is needed to launching your business to the very power of excellence, I found the book to be very worthwhile reading. It did take me three days to read it, but that was only because I wanted to digest what I had read. It is the kind of book that one wants to read again and underline certain passages....or even print them out and post it on the bathroom mirror where one can be reminded again and again. It is easy to read and to understand. Martha, again, has gotten down to the nuts and bolts of a project and made it understandable and appealing to most of us. Whether you are looking at Cottage Industry, a nice boutique, a unique business or even a very large business, this book should appeal to anyone wanting to follow their dream of a successful enterprise. This book is "Must Have."