Welcome everyone to MBA on the Run. The concept of this site is to listen to business related audio books on an iPod or other MP3 player while walking or jogging through various business districts. The idea is to immerse the listener into the business concepts that are being presented in the program on a first hand basis. Major Business Assets on the Run
Sounds like a crazy idea doesn’t it.
The concept started last year when I realized that I needed to look into the degree completion process for my current job. I have two years of college and several technology certifications. After calling around and looking into different programs I realized that I would be looking at over $50,000 and 4 to 5 years of study to receive a masters degree in business.
When I was searching around I ran into a manifesto over at changethis.com entitled the Personal MBA, by Josh Kaufmann. His thesis is that you can get the equivilent education that a traditional MBA offers by reading 42 business related books. He setup a website at personalmba.com that offers a book list and online collaboration. After doing a little research this actually sounded like a workable solution. I figure that it will probably take two years to go through the books and about a $1000 in books and supplies. A far cry from the $50,000 of the traditional program. The program has become so popular that it was picked up by Business Week in an online article.
The bottom line: You get the education but not the piece of paper (degree) that may be critical. After looking at the list of books and the probable time commitment, I considered doing this. I asked myself the question… How will this fit into my personal goals and can it be somehow worked into my current schedule? When will I be able to read 42 books? I thought to myself… I’m already time strapped and a commitment this big may not fit.
Just then my e-mail popped up and there was a special offer from Audible.com for audio books.
The light went on…
Do this program with Audio books on my Ipod…
Another light went on…
Do this program while I’m already doing something else…
Another light went on… it was getting brighter..
Do this program while walking or exercising… something I’m already doing 30 minutes a day.
A crazy flashing light went on…
Walk or run in different business areas for greater continuity
Neon lights popped up…
Interview local business owners about the subject material when done listening
A bright white spot light came on…
Blog about the results. Create an online thesis…
An MBA on the Run!
That is what this site is all about.
Over the next two years I’ll cover many of the major business books and give you insight about the experience. With each book completion I’ll interview a local business owner about the subject. A real world analysis. I’ll post the results in an easy to use article format including the following.
- Book description and weblink
- Technical items (author, book length, etc)
- Where I experienced the book (location, time, etc)
- My feedback on the material
- My feedback on the learning experience
- Three major takeaway points
- An interview with a related business person including podcast or written interview.
- Your feedback on the book.
I hope to post two reviews per month with postings at least once a week.
The first four books that will be covered are…
Some of my adventures so far…
All proceeds from book and technology sales as well as ad revenue over the next two years will go to help build a youth center and computer lab. Please consider helping out our future entrepreneurs and career seekers by buying books and equipment through links on this site.
Blogsphere: TechnoratiFeedsterBloglines
Bookmark: Del.icio.usSpurlFurlSimpyBlinkDigg
RSS feed for comments on this post | TrackBack URI for this post
10 Responses to 'Major Business Assets Online'
Leave a Reply
Subscribe
Recent entries
- Make A Difference
- links for 2007-09-24
- 7 Learning Wonders
- links for 2007-06-17
- links for 2007-06-10
- Revolutionize Your Audio Book Experience
Pages
- About MBA On The Run
- E-Myth Business Plan
- Marketing
- Rich Dad-Poor Dad
- Success-Connect Newsletter
- Wal-Mart Effect
- Wisdom of Crowds
Admin
- November 2007 (1)
- September 2007 (1)
- July 2007 (1)
- June 2007 (2)
- May 2007 (1)
- April 2007 (1)
- February 2007 (2)
- January 2007 (2)
- December 2006 (1)
- November 2006 (2)
- October 2006 (3)
- September 2006 (2)
- August 2006 (2)
- July 2006 (2)
- June 2006 (1)
- May 2006 (4)
- April 2006 (5)
- March 2006 (3)
Hi,
I am also pursuing similar goal, trying to listen most of the audio books from the PMBA list if available. I am trying to get audiobooks from our local library as well as from online rental audiobooks store. In case of non availability, I had to resort to paper copy.
I will appreciate, if you include online resources for the available audiobooks.
BTW, it is a great idea to publish your experience/adventure online.
Thanks a lot for sharing.
-Hemant
Thanks for the reply, Hemant. I have found many of the popular books on the personal MBA list are available on Audible.com and Jiggerbug. As you say some of the titles are only available in print. As I finish a book and I write up the article I will be sure to mention sources for the book.
I have found that it is helpful in some instances to have the audio version to get through the material quickly and then to have the printed material for reference.
Good luck on your journey and please feel free to leave comments and reviews on this site.
John
New Blog Discusses and Reviews Business Audiobooks…
…
[...] In addition to the Personal MBA site, however, my eye was particularly caught by an article “MBA On The Run”, which I originally saw here, but now has a dedicated site. A recent full write up on it can be found here. This is essentially what I’m going to do – I’m going to listen, rather than read, to as many of the books on the Personal MBA list as I can, read the rest, and buy physical copies of any that I particularly like, or feel I’ll want to reference more than occasionally (the finance books, for instance). There’s a few books that aren’t on the PMBA list that I want to listen to as well, that I haven’t gotten to yet for various reasons. Right now, for instance, as well as physically reading “The World Is Flat” at home, I’m listening to “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell on my commute. I’ll have completed it after 5 “commute days” (I haven’t been in the office every day this week), and there’s no way I would have finished it in that time if I’d been reading it. For some more reading on the PMBA, if you haven’t seen it already, you might want to read this Business Week article. [...]
[...] « Major Business Assets Online The Big Moo » [...]
Let me know if you might be interested in covering or reviewing some of our business audiobooks.
Melissa Dittmar
Random House Audio
Manage by running around…
If you’re into self-improvement, you should definitely check out John Richardson’s new project. It’s called MBA On The Run and it is a cool recipe for simultaneous mental and physical improvement. What’s it all about? It’s about getting an MBA-lik…
[...] One of the highlights of 2007 in my Personal MBA program was to finish it out with an eye opening book from Tom Rath. Entitled, “Vital Friends“, Tom takes us on an interesting journey through the lives of many people on their jobs and ties in how friendships have made all the difference in job success. [...]
[...] Another take is the MBA on the Run similar to the idea from above but doing it audibly via audio book, which I’m sure helps use some of that down time while exercising or commuting. [...]
[...] This has been an amazing experience as I have fulfilled my goal of participating in a successful Personal MBA program. Audio books are more limited in their selection, but there are hundreds to choose from in the [...]