And the lessons learned.
An action manual of higher awareness and applied intuition

Almost 70 business books in one!

"When I read a magazine article entitled, "10 Ways to Go Out of Business," I snapped. I could just as easily show you 10 ways you can succeed in business! There are millions of ways to screw up, what good is knowing that? What about focusing on what works?" said author Burke Franklin recalling his first inspiration to write this book. He started writing 10 ways to succeed. By the time he was done, he had 20. As it turned out, that was just the start of a 4-year project that became this brave new book for everyone involved in running a business. (Since Burke started his Karate training at the same time he started his business, he says he observed many parallels.) Hence, the title: Business Black Belt. Also, he observes, most points can be made with a simple story and a philosophical lesson – no need for an entire book on each subject!

This book is for you if you are an entrepreneur or business manager engaged mano a mano with your company!

What is the book about?
Business Black Belt details the business, management, and marketing principles of JIAN. The book is packed with keep-it-simple insights, a few "contrarian" points of view, and unconventional approaches to business. This is not a technical book or a management tutorial, it's a book of proven ideas that you can act upon immediately.

Who should read the book?
Anyone building a business — including entrepreneurs, managers, programmers, executives, or marketers — will find value and inspiration in this book.

Click Here to Read a Few Chapters of this Uniquely Informative Book

Why is the book relevant?

JIAN used the Business Black Belt principles to launch ten successful business productivity software tools (the ones on our home page). Over 1,500,000 entrepreneurs and business owners around the world use these applications to get things done.

Now you can find out how they did it and how you can do it too. It's not as hard as you think if you read Business Black Belt.

"Business Black Belt is a fascinating account of hundreds of business situations and how one might approach them. I found nuggets on every page. The chapters are short and filled with poignant examples."
- Roger McManus, Publisher, North Carolina Entrepreneur Magazine

What no one tells you about running a business

Regardless of your skill, behavior, education and/or experience, if your sub/unconscious preconceived notions are working against you, there's no way you can win. However, if you were to look at situations from a different point of view, then you have every possibility of succeeding. Building your business takes a combination of effective application of sound business practices along with effective application of the thoughts and attitudes that will guide you to success. Of the two, mastering the thoughts and attitudes needed to be successful is the most difficult. Many businesses with great products or services never succeed because they don't process and apply the thinking and attitudes needed to be successful. That is what is provided here. Author Burke Franklin has made a number of observations useful to entrepreneurs (and entrepreneurial managers within large enterprises) that will offer other perspectives. These ideas and new ways of looking at age-old situations will enable you to effectively apply your skills and experience to succeed.

"If you're looking for practical tips and tricks you should know and use on a day-to-day basis, they're in here!"
- Larry Moore, Larry's Auto Works, Mountain View, CA

A chapter (a lesson) in just one sitting

Business Black Belt introduces real-world situations you will face while building your business. 70 short chapters cover many crucial topics: your attitude, managing, marketing, selling, employees, money, MBAs, lawyers, consultants and investors... using the mental disciplines of a karate master to skillfully build your business.

Business Black Belt gives you the unique benefit of Burke Franklin’s experience as the founder and CEO of JIAN. He started his karate training at the same time he started working for himself. Along the way, he recognized that his performance on the mat paralleled his behavior at work -- Karate class is much more visible although no less forgiving. "When my attention at work lapsed, I literally got my butt kicked in class."

As founder and CEO of JIAN, Burke enjoys an unusual situation. Burke states, "As we build our business, I spend 100% of the time on the business of business. For the past 12 years, we've worked with expert consultants, other entrepreneurs, and business owners every day to put their best ideas to work in the ongoing search for better ways to start, build and run businesses. I'm now a 2nd degree black belt and, to date, more than 700,000 people have used JIAN's software to succeed in their business."

"Finally, some great business ideas that are much more than just what to do, he actually explains how to do them."
- Bill Hayes, President, Automatic Rain, an irrigation company in Menlo Park, CA

Three out of five businesses will NOT fail within 5 years

(Run, don't walk, away from anyone who feels the need to tell you that your business will fail!) In fact, more than 80% of businesses started today will make it beyond 5 years. What makes or breaks a business is not statistics, but simply your approach to running it. The ultimate security is knowing that you can come through no matter what. That means having the knowledge, experience, as well as the nerve to use them. Then building the right relationships with great people around you.

For entrepreneurs who want to know where to go,
when there's no one else to follow

"I wanted to give you some practical information you can use today, and every day. I go way beyond theory. I deal only in practical, real-world stuff. You have a job to get done -- this book is much more than just philosophy from 10,000 feet, it will help you do what you must do," adds Franklin. Business Black Belt reveals hundreds of concepts unlikely to appear in business school textbooks, on the radar screens of big companies, or in proposals from most business consultants. (Have they ever run their own business, risked their home, life savings... everything?!)

The chapters are short and focus on a specific topic. The style and appeal of Business Black Belt can be likened to What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School by Mark MacCormack and How to Swim With the Sharks by Harvey Mackay. Like Mark MacCormack and Harvey Mackay, Burke Franklin actually works in his business -- not just observes it from the sidelines.

"Once I started reading Business Black Belt, I couldn't put this unique book down. It is a compendium of information, anecdotes and lessons that can be easily and immediately, applied to transform effort into success. A one of a kind book by a businessman who has
been there and can show you how to get there."
- Joe Kolezynski, Executive Director, Professional Golfers Career College, Windermere, FL

Karate Training: Mental Discipline, Fearlessness, Flexibility, and Speed

Business Black Belt draws many useful parallels between business and the martial arts. Burke Franklin learned a lot about himself as a business person during his Karate training, but you don't need to know Karate to use these ideas immediately to expand your perspective and build profits. The black belt theme throughout leverages the martial arts training to build the character, confidence and creativity necessary to follow your instincts and experience to build a successful business... in the face of big companies, competitors and others’ sometimes questionable business practices.

Ask for it at your favorite bookstore

You can ask for Business Black Belt by name at your bookstore--they may have it in stock or can get it for you very quickly. (Borders has it in their computer system.)

(ISBN # 1-56811-016-2) 356 pages. Hard cover.

60-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

If you don't like it for any reason or don't have a friend who could benefit from Business Black Belt right now, we'll buy it back from you!

Click Here to Read a Few Chapters of this Uniquely Informative Book

Introduction

White Belt: The Beginning of a New Way

How I Earned My Business Black Belt
Qualify Your Advice What You Get and What You Give
I Can’t Believe You Asked That!
We’re Full of Solutions Looking for Problems
Why Smart People Don’t Learn So Well
KARMA: Your Cosmic Credit Report
Focus on Your Goal, Not on How You’ll Get There

Gold Belt: Getting Out of Your Own Way

Get Your Life Off the Roller Coaster... and into a Steady Climb
One Day You’ll Get Lucky. . .
Doing What You Really Want
Ya Gotta Get Your Hands Dirty
The Process of Achieving Results
The Pain / Need Ratio
When They Hit You on the Head, Say “Thank You”
The Way of Transformation
We Are Reflections of The People Around Us
More Than Five Senses You Can Use
A Trick to Remember
The Pain and Pleasure of Constant Consciousness
A Black Belt in Business?
Do the Math
Money

Purple Belt: Managing Yourself

Connect with the Inner Adult
Emergency Response
Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way
Leadership?
Management by Centrifugal Force
Meeting with a Purpose
Hiring the Right People
Hiring Friends?
Interview Questions Not in Anybody’s Book
Let People Tell You What’s Wrong So They Won’t Tell Everyone Else
Managing Creative Interference–Business Builder or Business Killer?
Taking & Giving Credit

Green Belt: Marketing

Create an environment where sales can occur.
Advertising: An Investment, Not an Expense
How Right is Your Price?
Salespeople
Selling for a Change
Why Should I Buy from You?
Manufacturers’ Reps
Sell to Those Who Influence Your Customers
Say “Thank You” and Promote Yourself
Using Competitors for Fun & Profit
Leave Your Pitch On the Phone
Be Part of a Virtual Company
Lawyers, the Care and Feeding Thereof
Consulting the Consultant
Editors, Writers, & Reporters

Red Belt

Getting On With It
Bankruptcy—Behind the Scenes
New Punctuation:
Write It Like You Would Say It
Don’t Read This! The Trouble with Negatives
Afraid of Getting Your Idea Ripped Off?
The Easy Way To Spec a New Product
Planning
How to Turn Your Idea Into a Business
The Money People. . .
Who Are Ya Gonna Call?
Intrapreneurship
What Are You Going to Do Next?
Get a Life

Black Belt

The Test
20 Reasons Why People Succeed In Business