Notes of Genius…

Hosted by Samantha Linn & Nicole Becker

bookclub1.gif

Welcome to Notes of Genius, a monthly bookclub & community for creatives! We’re reading through some of the best biz books & then joining up on Clubhouse to discuss and share the best parts. Now with added chats in between book discussions! Feel free to join in even if you don’t want to participate in the discussion. We’re happy to just be your virtual accountability partners! You can find downloadable notes for previous reads below, as well as what our next read will be & the discussion date. If you have any questions or need a Clubhouse invite, please reach out: hello@makeupbysamanthalinn.com


Currently Reading:

“Company of One” by Paul Jarvis

Discussion: 5/19/2021 at 11am on Clubhouse

Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business

“What if the real key to a richer and more fulfilling career was not to create and scale a new start-up, but rather, to be able to work for yourself, determine your own hours, and become a (highly profitable) and sustainable company of one? Suppose the better—and smarter—solution is simply to remain small? This book explains how to do just that.”

Previous Read:

“Pumpkin Plan” by Mike Michalowicz

Past Event: 4/21/2021 at 2pm on Clubhouse

“So what is the Pumpkin Plan?

  • Plant the right seeds: Don’t waste time doing a bunch of different things just to please your customers. Instead, identify the thing you do better than anyone else and focus all of your attention, money, and time on figuring out how to grow your company doing it.

  • Weed out the losers: In a pumpkin patch small, rotten pumpkins stunt the growth of the robust, healthy ones. The same is true of customers. Figure out which customers add the most value and provide the best opportunities for sustained growth. Then ditch the worst of the worst.

  • Nurture the winners: Once you figure out who your best customers are, blow their minds with care. Discover their unfulfilled needs, innovate to make their wishes come true, and overdeliver on every single promise.”

Previous Read:

“Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz

Past Event: 3/24/2021 at 2pm on Clubhouse

Conventional accounting uses the logical (albeit, flawed) formula: Sales - Expenses = Profit. The problem is, businesses are run by humans, and humans aren't always logical. Serial entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz has developed a behavioral approach to accounting to flip the formula: Sales - Profit = Expenses. Just as the most effective weight loss strategy is to limit portions by using smaller plates, Michalowicz shows that by taking profit first and apportioning only what remains for expenses, entrepreneurs will transform their businesses from cash-eating monsters to profitable cash cows.

Note of Genius Interim Chat

PS. You’re Running a Business

Past Event: 3/17/2021 at 2pm on Clubhouse

With Guest Host: Cinnamon Wolfe, Chatting about what it takes to run a profitable business by setting actionable money goals, keeping an abundance mindset, & checking in on your business for profitability.

Previous Read:

“Untamed” by Glennon Doyle

Past Event: 3/10/2021 at 2pm on Clubhouse

About the book: “Soulful and uproarious, forceful and tender, Untamed is both an intimate memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It is the story of how one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live. It is the story of navigating divorce, forming a new blended family, and discovering that the brokenness or wholeness of a family depends not on its structure but on each member’s ability to bring her full self to the table. And it is the story of how each of us can begin to trust ourselves enough to set boundaries, make peace with our bodies, honor our anger and heartbreak, and unleash our truest, wildest instincts so that we become women who can finally look at ourselves and say: There She Is.

Untamed shows us how to be brave. As Glennon insists: The braver we are, the luckier we get.”

Previous Read:

“Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill

Past Event: 2/24/2021 at 2pm on Clubhouse

About the book: “Think and Grow Rich has been called the "Granddaddy of All Motivational Literature." It was the first book to boldly ask, "What makes a winner?" The man who asked and listened for the answer, Napoleon Hill, is now counted in the top ranks of the world's winners himself. The most famous of all teachers of success spent "a fortune and the better part of a lifetime of effort" to produce the "Law of Success" philosophy that forms the basis of his books and that is so powerfully summarized in this one.”

Previous Read:

“Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert

Past Event: 2/10/2021 at 2pm on Clubhouse

About the book: “Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.”


Previous Read:

“Building a StoryBrand” by Donald Miller

Past Event: 1/27/2021 at 2pm on Clubhouse

About the book: Donald Miller's StoryBrand process is a proven solution to the struggle business leaders face when talking about their businesses. This revolutionary method for connecting with customers provides listeners with the ultimate competitive advantage, revealing the secret for helping their customers understand the compelling benefits of using their products, ideas, or services. Building a StoryBrand does this by teaching listeners the seven universal story points all humans respond to, the real reason customers make purchases, how to simplify a brand message so people understand it, and how to create the most effective messaging for websites, brochures, and social media.”