Alpha Dogs: How Your Small Business Can Become a Leader of the Pack

Alpha dogs" in business not only have a passion for their companies and a talent for seeing opportunities where others see limitations, they also rise above their competitors to become leaders of the pack. Longtime Inc. magazine writer Fenn's breezy and informative book highlights eight such small-company entrepreneurs, among them Chris Zane, whose Connecticut bicycle store brings in $6.1 million a year, and Deb Weidenhamer, whose Arizona auction and appraisal company earns $11.5 million. In chapters with titles like "Seduce Your Customers" and "Transform with Technology," Fenn puts forth each entrepreneur's business as a case study in how to overcome a particular problem—from the Amy's Ice Cream company's efforts to build a hometown reputation to the sock manufacturer Thor-Lo's efforts to innovate sport socks for a changing industry. Practical tips at the end of each chapter highlight the lessons learned, and at the end of the book a conclusion identifies the key behaviors that make up "Alpha Dog DNA." For small-business owners looking to give their enterprise a boost, this practical and chatty book provides solid strategies for shifting into high gear. (Dec.)