On the 8th Day of Coworking bizperc Gave To Me...

This holiday, bizperc is hosting the 12 Days of Coworking.  For the next 12 business days, bizperc will be giving away awesome prizes in order to encourage entrepreneurs to celebrate the holiday season.  Watch the video above to learn about the 8th day of coworking...and win an inspirational business book! 

"Like" bizperc on Facebook and share this video with your friends.  Eight lucky people will be randomly selected to each win a free business book.  We even have signed copies of Bill Rancic's book, You're Hired!  As the first winner of The Apprentice, Rancic has provided loads of great information about the world of entrepreneurship and working with Donald Trump in this best-selling book. 

Want to amp up your new business this year?  Enter into the bizperc Facebook contest and win a free business book from bizperc and Think Big Partners! 

Good luck and Think Big!

Follow bizperc! @bizperc

Top 10 Summer Books for Entrepreneurs

The days are long and hot.  It’s summertime.  So why not kick back and relax with a good book?  Check out this list of our Top 10 Summer Books for Entrepreneurs in 2011:

1.      How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield

Did you love the Chicken Soup books?  Then you’ll love this book by the same author, Jack Canfield.  You’ll learn the 25 Principles of Success from different successful people. 

2.     The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki

A must-read for anybody going into the startup world.  Gain important advice from Guy himself as he teaches you how to move from one startup phase to the other. 

3.      New Ideas from Dead CEOs by Todd G. Buchholz

Dive into the stories of some of America’s most successful entrepreneurs.

4.     The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris

Learn how to make enough money to live the rest of your life in happiness.  This book will help you to reevaluate your priorities—and summer is the perfect time to do this!

5.     Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcom Gladwell

Best-selling author Malcom Gladwell examines the factors that contribute to high levels of success.

6.      Beyond the Lemonade Stand by Bill Rancic

Lemonade stands pop up throughout every neighborhood throughout the summer—so why not read Beyond the Lemonade Stand by Bill Rancic?  Learn how to succeed in business and in life by being smart, fair and helping those who need it.

7.      Blog Schmog: The Truth About What Blogs Can (and Can’t) Do For Your Business by Robert W. Bly

Blogging is all the craze this summer.  Why not learn about what it can (and can’t) do for your small business or startup?

8.     Crazy Bosses by Stanley Bing

Want a good laugh this summer?  Check out Crazy Bosses and learn about some of the worst bosses and the drama that they’ve caused.

9.     Your Management Sucks: Why You Have to Declare War on Yourself and Your Business by Mark Stevens

Learn about a different management approach and find out how to make your startup work by going against all of the rules.

10.  Rules for Renegades: How to Make More Money, Rock Your Career, and Revel in Your Individuality by Christine Comaford-Lynch

Want to hear some juicy stories about a romantic relationship with Bill Gates?  Want to see how being a monk relates to business?  Christine Comaford-Lynch puts it all out on the line in Rules for Renegades. 

What are you reading this summer? 

Written by Allison Way

@AllisonThinkBig

Joe Calhoon's "The 1 Hour Plan For Growth" Becomes an Amazon Bestseller! Reiterates the Importance of Social Media, Business Planning and Networking

Joe Calhoon and his team received some good news last Tuesday—Calhoon’s new book, The 1 Hour Plan for Growth – How a Single Sheet of Paper Can Take Your Business to the Next Level, became a bestseller on Amazon.com as many entrepreneurs in Kansas City and even more across the nation purchased the effective business planning book and put its contents to good use.

Just one day before The 1 Hour Plan for Growth became an Amazon Bestseller, Joe Calhoon hosted a kickoff luncheon at bizperc, where Kansas City movers and shakers were invited to congratulate Calhoon and his team, network with others, and listen to beneficial advice from seasoned entrepreneurs.  As a byproduct of this successful luncheon, and with the incorporation of effective marketing skills, social networking strategies, and the development of a well-written book, The 1 Hour Plan for Growth became a national success. 

Joe Calhoon honors the many contributors of his new book during
Monday's luncheon at bizperc.

Become one of the many entrepreneurs who have purchased The 1 Hour Plan for Growth and have learned just what it takes to grow and plan a new successful business!  Entrepreneurs and small business owners everywhere have noted that the book is extremely beneficial for those who need aid in effective business planning.  To purchase The 1 Hour Plan for Growth or to learn more about the book, check out http://www.the1hourplanforgrowth.com/ and start growing your new business today! 

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer and videographer for Think Big Partners and bizperc, two of Kansas City’s newest entrepreneurial resources.  To read more of Allison’s work, please visit the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner.  

Joe Calhoon Celebrates "1 Hour Plan For Growth" Book Launch with Kansas City Entrepreneurs and Jack Stack Barbecue Partner, Case Dorman

On Monday, business strategist and author Joe Calhoon brought together numerous successful Kansas City entrepreneurs to celebrate the launch of his new business book, "The 1 Hour Plan for Growth".  The luncheon, catered by a Kansas City barbecue favorite, Jack Stack Barbecue, took place at the recently-launched KC event space, bizperc6 in the Crossroads District.

Joe Calhoon discusses "The 1 Hour Plan for Growth" with
fellow Kansas City entrepreneurs.

During the luncheon, various entrepreneurs from the Kansas City area were invited to lunch, network, and congratulate Joe Calhoon and his team.  During the event, Calhoon recognized and honored a majority of his team as well as an abundance of successful entrepreneurs that came to give their support and congratulations.  The lunch also featured a question-and-answer session with the Managing General Partner of Jack Stack Barbecue, Case Dorman--a leader in some of the best barbecue in Kansas City.  During the question-and-answer session, the crowd was given advice about how to stay in business through products, passion, and people, and were informed about the Jack Stack startup process and its future.

"The 1 Hour Plan for Growth" luncheon took place at bizperc6,
Think Big Partner's new event space in the Crossroads District.

Kansas City entrepreneurs (and entrepreneurs around the globe) are encouraged to purchase The 1 Hour Plan for Growth from Amazon.com.  When small business owners, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and innovators purchase the book, they will help to boost the book’s bestselling status.  Joe Calhoon and his team need anywhere from 3,000-5,000 books sold in order to snag the top position on Amazon.com.  Help Joe Calhoon reach his own American Dream and increase your business’s chances of development and growth as well as the revitalization of the economy—buy The 1 Hour Plan for Growth!

Joe Calhoon and Drew Hiss, producer of Crossing Rivers,
enjoy the Jack Stack Barbecue buffet at the luncheon.

Think Big Partners would personally like to thank Joe Calhoon and his team for providing such an informational and inspiring book.  It is people such as Calhoon who can help teach the world to develop small business, better the economy, and of course, Think Big! 

Written by Allison Way, writer and videographer for Think Big Partners and bizperc, two of Kansas City's newest entrepreneurial resources.  To read more of Allison's work, visit the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner.  

10 Books to Inspire Entrepreneurs (In Honor of Book Lover's Day!)

Now that Kansas City has truly begun to experience fall weather—with temperatures below 60 degrees, the need to rake leaves from the yard, and the necessity of turning on heated seats in the car—it is also time to start enjoying downtime indoors.  Kansas City entrepreneurs, this does not mean frantically checking your emails, clicking through the TV for the latest news, or spending hours on Facebook.

Why not spend this fall catching up on the latest business books?  In honor of Book Lover’s Day, which falls on the first Saturday of every November, I have narrowed down some of the bestselling business books that will not only help to inspire entrepreneurs, but also give expert advice from the mouths of seasoned entrepreneurs who truly have “been there, done that.” 

My List of 10 Books to Inspire Entrepreneurs:

1.  Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh

2.  The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis

3.  The 1 Hour Plan for Growth by Joe Calhoon

4.  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey

5.  The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

6.  What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith

7.  Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath

8.  Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinmeier Hansson

9.  Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink

10. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

What are your favorite business books and how have they inspired you and your small business?  Please comment to fill in other entrepreneurs about your favorite business books.  And remember to keep Thinking Big! 

Written by Allison Way.  Allison Way is a writer and videographer for Think Big Partners and bizperc, two of Kansas City's newest entrepreneurial resources.  To read more of Allison's work, visit the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner.