Tell us about your Book Club experience

[Pesso]

Hey Square Readers!

Can you believe that we’ve been running this Book Club for almost a year now? So with that, we would love to hear about your experience as a part of this group.

Tell us:

• Why do you participate in the Square Readers Book Club? What are the benefits?
• What has been the impact of incorporating Book Club learnings in your business? 
• What strategies do you use to make time to read & comment on these books, while also balancing the busy life of a business owner?

We may use your feedback in future promotional campaigns or blog posts, which will help encourage more business owners to join us and learn more strategies to improve their businesses. By answering these questions, you’re consenting to have your name and answers included in future promotions and Community posts. 

Thank you so much for sharing, and we can’t wait to hear your answers!

Pesso

[Pesso]

Hey friends – I’d love to hear from you:

@Smellthis1919 @CareyJo @Moreplease @JUYBoutique20 @DinaLRosenberg @Doran @scastrotattoo @Tamyra_Paunchy @Stacelyn24 @CarissaD @YBF @bonny @Granny1 @ChocoRee @Spicec1 @GourmetOnWheels @TheRealChipA

[Smellthis1919]

Hi Aylon

My answers are in CAPS LOCK

• Why do you participate in the Square Readers Book Club? What are the benefits? I PARTICIPATE IN THE BOOK CLUB BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR SUPPORT FROM OTHER BUSINESSES AND SQUARE (AYLON) PICKING BOOKS THAT GIVE US KNOWLEDGE AND ADVICE THAT WE DISCUSS AND LEARN HOW TO PUT THIS KNOWLEDGE INTO RUNNING OUR BUSINESS BETTER ....THIS BOOK CLUB IS AN AMAZING SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR ME AND MY BUSINESS 
• What has been the impact of incorporating Book Club learnings in your business? 
• THE IMPACT OF INCORPORATING THE ADVICE FROM EVERYONE IN THE BOOKCLUB HAS BEEN SO VERY HELPFUL AS WE ARE ALL FROM DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND DIFFERENT AGES... MAKING THE INFORMATION WE SHARE REALLY GOOD AND HELPFUL ...WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER
• What strategies do you use to make time to read & comment on these books, while also balancing the busy life of a business owner?
• READING THE BOOKCLUB BOOK IS A PRIORITY FOR ME SO THAT I CAN BE READY TO DISCUSS IT WITH MY FELLOW BOOKCLUB FRIENDS ...I TRY AND SET ASIDE AN HOUR A DAY ...SINCE WE ONLY MEET EVERY 2 MONTHS I FIND THIS WORKS WELL FOR ME 

Thanks for asking ...looking forward to our February bookclub meeting 👍😊 happy reading everyone 

[Pesso]

Thank you for these amazing answers, @Smellthis1919 ! It's so wonderful to hear that this has been helping you and the business! Really appreciate you!

[bonny]

Participating in this group has been interesting.  I mean like thought provoking, paradigm challenging type of interesting.  Most of these books I never would have thought about reading or have found them on my own.  They have given me a lot to think about and along the way I have identified some of the weak spots in my business and I'm now working on fixing them.  

So my strategies to make time to read the books - at first I thought I'd just read when I had time.  I found unless I made the time, as in setting aside the time to read, it was easy to never really get around to it.  There are endless fires to put out every day.  So I put it on my calendar as if it's an appointment.  Each afternoon, I leave my work and sit down to read for a half hour.  Having that dedicated time has made all the difference.  And I'll probably continue the practice even when I've finished reading these books.  I have to admit, it's been great to make notes on stuff I need to follow up on and have the liberty to go back to do a deeper dive.  My dog and cat have even joined in.  They love that I go sit where I am more accessible to them and now they are waiting for 4:00 to come around.  

[Pesso]

Thank you so much for sharing these thoughtful answers, @bonny ! 

Those are such great strategies and I'm so glad to hear that this has been helping you find and fix some parts of your business. Can't wait to hear more about all of the things you've been doing!

[JUYBoutique20]

• Why do you participate in the Square Readers Book Club? What are the benefits?  I've always loved book clubs.  I love being introduced to new books and authors that were not on my radar.
• What has been the impact of incorporating Book Club learnings in your business? There are so many aspects of business and with the book club tackling different learning objectives through different author's viewpoints is always a plus. 
• What strategies do you use to make time to read & comment on these books, while also balancing the busy life of a business owner?  I actually haven't been the best at this part.  When I leave the boutique, I like to concentrate on anything that's not business related, including books. At night I pick up my e-reader with every intention to read something but between running my business, being a mom of 4, and trying to do a little self-care I can get a little distracted by sleep 😂.  This year my goal is to read business-related things in the mornings and relax with something not so serious at night.  

[Pesso]

Thanks for sharing this, @JUYBoutique20 !

What have you implemented you've learned from book club so far? What has been in the impact on your business?

That's such a good point! It can be so hard to think more about the business when you're trying to decompress and focus on yourself and the family. Thanks for making time for us! 

How is the morning reading habit going?

[JUYBoutique20]

The biggest thing I've implemented is the profit's first method.  I've literally been following it exactly like the book says.  Before I've done some parts and skipped others but with reading it again, I decided to follow it exactly. 

So far, I feel less stress about paying myself. 

The morning reading is going ok.  I'm not an early morning person so I have to force myself to get up.  I'm actually using The Miracle Morning routine.  We should have that as a book club choice one day. 

[Pesso]

That's so amazing that you've been following Profit first completely! How's it been going so far? So happy to hear that you're less stressed already!

I absolutely feel that. I'm absolutely not a morning person either, but working on it! Oooh that could be a fun one, thanks for the suggestion!

[Stacelyn24]

I really really really can't believe it's been almost an entire year!!!  Time really does fly when you're having fun huh lol 🙂

• Why do you participate in the Square Readers Book Club? What are the benefits?  I participate primarily to read new books that may help me manage and run my business better (easier).
  
• What has been the impact of incorporating Book Club learning's in your business?  I have used a few tactics to help figure out or update my numbers in running the business.  This helps me understanding my reports just a little better.  I was even able to create a entire new report based off what I read from one of the books in the book club that allowed me to see areas of improvements for our nail techs.
  
• What strategies do you use to make time to read & comment on these books, while also balancing the busy life of a business owner?  This year I'm going to try (it might not always happen) have a "closed for business" time of day.  Meaning a cut off time to respond to emails, create newsletters, work on social media, etc.  I'll then use this downtime to do some enjoyable reading 🙂
  

[Pesso]

I love this, thanks so much @Stacelyn24!

So great that you've been incorporating some learnings -- What does that report show? What are the areas of improvement for the nail techs?

Ooh that's such a great idea to be able to focus on working on the business -- let us know how that works!

[CareyJo]

Aylon!!!  Sorry I've been AWOL for so long!!!  We were out of state for three weeks and I'm just now getting back into the swing of things!!

I can't believe it's been a year!!!  Hooooooollllllllly cow!!!

I participate for several reasons - learn new things, 'meet' new people, gain new perspective and have fun!  I also hope that my experience can be of value to someone else in their journey.  If I can save someone from making mistakes, then that's a win.

Unfortunately for me, the books have not directly impacted our business only because we're a service based company.  I feel like most of the books have been geared towards brick and mortar stores and/or retail of some kind.  We don't sell online or use digital services.  Having been self-employed for 37 years, it's hard for me to find new ways of doing things that apply to our business model.  But I am willing and open to learning.  I do my best to read as much of the book as I can and always participate in the zoom call at the end of the book, just to gain feedback from others.  I don't have all the answers.  I'm not perfect in business.  But I do know what works for us and why it works.  I try to find new things that can give me a different perspective and maybe shift our old way of doing things into a new way that works for clients.  So far, there's been very little I could actually change.  Demographics, location and operations all play a key role in how you can change your business.  Sometimes change doesn't work.

I try to steal away about 15-30 minutes here and there to read the book.  I review the notifications at least weekly and comment where I feel I'm of value.  We live in a rural area, I have to drive 30+ miles to get anywhere.  I carry the book with me.  Sitting at the doctor's office for 5 minutes and reading is 5 more minutes than I had before.  You can't eat an elephant all in one bite.  And if you don't finish the book it's okay!  Just do as much as you can!

Looking forward to today's zoom!

[Pesso]

Thanks so much for joining back in, @CareyJo ! Hope you had a great time away and the transition back isn't too rough.

I love all of this that you shared -- openness to learning is key, and I'm so grateful to have you here sharing your vastness of knowledge and experience! It's so wonderful to hear others getting so much out of what you have to say, and to have you here!