Sunday, December 04, 2005

In My Library Bag: The Martha Rules

The latest book by Martha Stewart has lots of ideas for entrepreneurs: finding The Big Idea, making things beautiful, insisting on quality. One of the more interesting chapters discusses frugality. Even in her early catering days, Martha instructed the staff how to trim green beans with the least waste. She points out that the smallest details can make the difference when it comes to turning a profit.

"I am notorious for asking the people I employ about the cost of this or the cost of that...I expect very precise answers. This frugality is deeply embedded in the culture of my company. It is how I have always run my businesses, and in large part, why they have been profitable. It is not about being cheap but about being frugal." The Martha Rules, p. 60.

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