What's the best business book you've read in the last 6 months—and why?

 1. I have been re- reading a couple of Jack Welch's books- to bad the administration is not doing the same.

2. The Daily Drucker by Peter Drucker. Every day is a new insight to some facet of business, economy, staff, or life in general.

3. No books lots of magazines.. Mainly health & fitness. Keeping fit keeps you sharp and gives great energy to keep pushing and working harder.

4. Leadership gold. Good reminders of how to keep on track with business and life in general.

5.  Essentials of Profitable Wholesale Distribution by Jim Olsztynski , Down to earth reminders of how and why we do business. To make Money is the key thing.

6. Think Big & Kick Ass by Donald Trump.

7. The 7 Irrefutable Rules of Small Business Growth. received at YE meeting.

8. The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni. Its short and it seemed to fit the strategic planning that I had on my mind at the time.

9. Marketing Warfare by Al Ries and Jack Trout -- gives a new perspective to everyday marketing.

10. Fearless Negotiating

11. Good to Great..Jim Collins - I went back to re-read this book after having it on the shelf for a few years. Reading the case studies again it's easy to see that most businesses today are at the critical juncture of moving themselves into the GREAT category if they take advantage of the opportunities available to them during this economic downturn and execute on solid business practices. Also, Leadership is the key component that can not be overlooked.

12. The 10 Natural Laws of Succesful Time and Life Management - Business and life are getting compressed into one blended unit. This book helps separate the two and refine your focus on each independently.

13. Change is Good...YOU GO FIRST! by Mac Anderson and Tom Feltenstein

14. The PEI Journal ;-)

15. "The Shack". Not a business book...But, I consider my relationship with God/Jesus/The Holy Spirit having to do with business (since business has EVERYTHING to do with relationships). Or, if you are pressing for a business book..."The One Minute Manager."
 
16. The little red book.

17. Back of the Napkin by Dan Roam. Simple concept that we seem to over-complicate in our daily work life.

18. The Energy Bus. It is a great reminder how we can get stuck in a rut and it really is all about attitude.

19. Extremely motivational; gets one to expand their thinking. Another would be Now, Discover your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham & Donald Clifton.

Does your company offer any unusual employee benefit? If so, please describe:

1. A Christmas savings club, 5 paid sick days, on top of vacation earned.

2. We stagger our start and end times with various employees to deal with the Atlanta traffic. Most our our teams either work from 8-4 (no lunch) or 10-6 (no lunch) we can save some of our folks a lot of frustration and have happier employees when they don't sit in traffic 1 hour plus a day (each way!)

3. When gas prices were going crazy and business was good we helped all employees that came in on time and left on time a reimbursement for gas each month.

4. We provide at no cost to the employee short term and long term disability coverage and life insurance policy.

5. can earn an additional 1 hour vacation time for every month of perfect attendance.

6. Employees with children are given 4 hours a year excused absence to attend school functions.

7. We provide at no cost to the employee short term and long term disability coverage and life insurance policy.

8. We offer individual benefits based upon the employee's history such as tools, vacations, perceived value.

9.100% coverage of life, short-term and long term disability insurance.  Matched HSA funding.

10. Full 100 percent health coverage, no co-pays, including optical and dental. We are fully reimbursed for any and all medical expenses. YMCA Membership, Sam's Club Membership.

Up to 10 percent match on 401K

11.We treat the day after Thanksgiving as part of the Thanksgiving Holiday. All employees receive both days as a paid Holiday. We also provide Bonus Paid Days Off through out the year to those that excel in their performance.

12. Short term & Long term Disability Insurance.

13. Freedom. To make decisions, to make mistakes and to learn from those mistakes.