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Adrian J. Slywotzky
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The Art of Profitability Paperback – September 1, 2003

by Adrian Slywotzky (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 240 ratings
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An extraordinarily new business slant on how companies can generate greater profits in 23 compact lessons with ongoing tutorials between two fictitious individuals.



In the past, companies taught their employees about quality. In today's unstable economy, employers must stress the importance of profitability. Now with scores of examples from the global marketplace, the bestselling coauthor of The Profit Zone and Profit Patterns takes you to a higher level in the art of business. Each of the twenty-three chapters in this concise, challenging book presents a different, powerful business model...and a provocative dialogue between an extraordinary teacher called David Zhao and his young protégé. Revealed are the invisible but significant governing principles that allow businesses to survive and prosper in any economic climate. By participating in each session with the exuberant, challenging master, you too will learn how your company and your competitors generate profit...what approach best applies to your profit-making strategy...what specific actions your organization can take in the next ninety days to improve its bottom line...and more.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 1, 2003
  4. Dimensions
    5.15 x 1.55 x 8.1 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    9780446692274
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0446692274
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Interesting, concise....This little book packs quite a punch."

About the Author

Adrian J. Slywotzky (born in 1951) is a consultant and author of several books on economic theory and management. Slywotzky graduated from Harvard College and holds a JD from Harvard Law School and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He has worked as a consultant since 1979 and is currently a partner at Oliver Wyman.

Slywotzky wrote several books on profitability and growth, namely the bestselling The Profit Zone'.' He is one of the most renowned consultants of the United States and was elected as one of the 25 best consultants in 2000 and 2008. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0446692271
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Business Plus; unknown edition (September 1, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780446692274
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0446692274
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.15 x 1.55 x 8.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 240 ratings

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Adrian J. Slywotzky

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
240 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars This book teaches us how to find value business and stay with it. very insightful and pleasing conversation between two characters, worth reading your time.
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2023
Verified Purchase
Fundamental book about finding Great companies and how to think when buying a stock for it’s valuation and staying for ever to create wealth.
One person found this helpful
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Irish in Carmichael
5.0 out of 5 stars A mentor's bookshelf in a practical book.
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2014
Verified Purchase
Art in a simple format focused on one measure at a time presents a comprehensive treatise of the complexity of financial analysis in a easy reading accessible style. Like "Renewal Factor" by Robert H. Waterman and "Thriving on Chaos" by Tom Peters, "Art of Profitability" should be in every mentor's bookcase to be freely shared with every mentee and student of practical business. It can be read and understood by the novice. It can be the base for jumping off into the depths of strategic planning and complex applications. It can be the foundation of raging debates as to finance versus marketing versus the priority of short or long range objectives. I find it a useful reminder when I use it as a coaching tool with an experienced subordinate and an aid to pointing out weakness or academic deficiencies to an inexperienced new hire. In both cases it is neither condescending or preachy. I expect it is a good tool for marketers, accountants, and other general business practitioners seeking a foundation in finance and analytical business tools. For the entrepreneur its a good tool for prioritizing and designing a dashboard of analytical measures.
5 people found this helpful
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Brad
4.0 out of 5 stars Not Your Average Business Book
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2006
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The author weaves a story into his rundown of 23 profit models by having a young executive learn at the feet of a mystical guru over a year-long period. As the student gains insight, he grows in confidence and ability--good thing, too, since the company he works for is hopelessly messed up.

This highly accessible book is helpful on several levels.

First, it provides solid overviews of 23 important profit models: what they are, how they work, and why they work. Case studies and anecdotes provide illustration in case some of Master Zhao's explanations aren't sufficiently clear.

Second, it reminds us that profit is at the center of everything in business. The dialog between teacher and student illustrates how easy it is for business leadership to ignore that seemingly obvious principle.

Third, Mr. Slywotzky gives us a learning model we can apply to any problem, business or otherwise. He teaches the arts of listening, holding back, asking the right questions, analzying numbers, and extrapolating sound conclusions from particular facts, even small and seemingly unrelated ones. If you're interested in further study, he supplements his book with a reading list you won't see in an ordinary business book bibliography.

Probably the learning model is the most valuable aspect of the book: teach a man to fish, etc... Fascinating reading for entrepreneurs and executives in organizations of any size.
12 people found this helpful
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Jerris Hedges - Honolulu
3.0 out of 5 stars useful perspectives
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2018
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Cash flow and generation brought together with a common language.
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Randall Degges
5.0 out of 5 stars An Insightful and Educational Look at Profit Models
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2010
Verified Purchase
I originally purchased this book as I've been looking into starting my own company (on my spare time), and wanted to learn more about profitability, how to actually make profits, and what the different strategies involved are.

Adrian Slywotzky's book really impressed me. It is written in a relaxed, conversational tone (as a dialog between a famous economist and a dedicated young businessman), and discusses a slew of profit models, how they work, and what their strengths and weaknesses are.

While I think this book is geared (mostly) towards professional businessmen whose job is to increase company profitability, the lessons learned in each chapter can be broadly applied to any sort of entrepreneurial interest (like in my case), and any sort of employee interest as well (for guys who just want to help their company be a success).

The book was a pleasure to read, and is very thought provoking and interesting. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who is genuinely interested in how businesses generate profits, and what techniques can be used to increase profitability without changing the product / service / whatever your company is selling.
5 people found this helpful
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S. Philips
5.0 out of 5 stars Simple Yet Effective
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2004
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I thought this book was great! Slywotzky uses this book as a sort of Cliff Notes to his previous books, all of which are probably the best books on strategy out there. This book will appeal to all levels of experience and knowledge, as very simple yet effective business paradigms and principles are explored. The best thing about the simplicity of these principles and the way that Slywotzky delivers them, is that he makes them very easy to apply and take immediate action on. I found myself perusing the Wall Street Journal, spotting them in action or being ignored. It's very short, but some of the references will likely inspire you to go off and explore them. As far as the critique about the plot, I think those reviewers missed the point of the book. Don't read a business strategy book from the VP at Mercer Management Consulting looking for plot twists and character development. Read it because he knows what he is talking about!
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Business Book of all Time!
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2017
Verified Purchase
Without question, my favorite business book of all time. I have used it for years as a tool to mentor upcoming managers. Everytime I go through it with a new person, and a new situation, it helps generate new ideas for our businesses.
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Akis
4.0 out of 5 stars A quick guide to business models
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2015
Verified Purchase
Enjoyable book although I felt that some chapters needed more work, and the concepts were not very well explained. Overall however it was worth reading with lots of interesting insights
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Senthil K
5.0 out of 5 stars Profit models of enterprise
Reviewed in India on March 12, 2021
Verified Purchase
Wonderful book about different profit models.
Must read for investors, entrepreneurs , students and corporate leaders. Heart of every enterprise is profit model.

Gives you an insight on profit models and their sustainability.

Models such as pyramid model, block buster model, switch board model, time profit model and digital model are eye-opener to me.
One person found this helpful
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Brad Lohner
5.0 out of 5 stars Get out of your own head
Reviewed in Canada on July 15, 2019
Verified Purchase
Read it multiple times as it is packed with ideas that I had to relate to my existing business, or consider for the next one.
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アマゾン花子
5.0 out of 5 stars 発想の転換を促す良書、読書から得た知識をいかに自分の中で熟成させ、実際のビジネスに活かすか
Reviewed in Japan on September 24, 2017
Verified Purchase
優れた日本語の訳本に出逢い、その途中で原書を読みたくなり入手しました。
この本から得られることは、大きく二つあります。

ひとつは、23種に分類したビジネスでの利益の出し方です。
大きく23種挙げていますが、そのうちで類似しているものもあること、
その類似したもの同士の違いを考察すること、
そして、たまたまこの本では23種に分けていますが、
これを自分の中で熟成し昇華することで、
違った利益の出し方を考え出すことも示唆しています。
(P10 "There's nothing sacrosanct about the number twenty-three.")

二つ目はビジネス書の読書に対する哲学です。
ただ読了し、読んだ本の数に満足するのではなく、
立ち止まって考えて、いかに自分の身にし、
自分が携わるビジネスに活かすかということです。

実際、世の中には、読んだだけで終わり、
自分の糧にして、
行動に移す人は極めて少ないのは洋の東西を問わないのでしょう。

また、最初図書館で見つけた翻訳本を読んでいる間に、
アマゾンで原書を取り寄せて途中からそちらを読み始めたところ、
一部意訳をし過ぎて原文からかけ離れて文脈に沿わないところを発見しました。
日本語訳は、P245「重力の法則は地球全体に機能する法則だ」とあります。
原文は、P218"Gravity's force was a function of mass over the distance squared."で
直訳すると、”万有引力の法則は、(引き合う物体の)質量と距離の二乗に対する関数(比例・反比例する)”であり、
この流れで続くのが
”古典的な利益のルールも同じように単純で、利益は相対的市場シェアの関数で、
相対的市場シェアが高ければ、利益が高くなる”。
functionは、”関数”なのに”機能”と訳しています。
意訳のし過ぎで、話の流れがうまく繋がらなくなります。

読みやすくしようとするあまり、原文から大きくかけ離れてしまったようです。
全文を対比させていませんが、このトーンで訳したとなると、
こうした傾向は全体的に見受けられるでしょう。

原書は英検2級+の語彙があれば、読み進められます。
だいたいの筋を知りたい人は翻訳本でも良いとは思いますが、
精読したい人は原書を読むことを強くお勧めします。
4 people found this helpful
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Marcos White
5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what you're looking for.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2014
Verified Purchase
A series of different profit / business models laid out with examples of the businesses that utilise them. Forces you to examine which models you are using in your own business and which ones you should work harder at.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Happy purchase
Reviewed in Canada on February 19, 2019
Verified Purchase
Happy purchase
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