The Worst-Case Scenario Business Survival Guide: How to Survive the Recession, Handle Layoffs,Raise Emergency Cash, Thwart an Employee Coup,and Avoid Other Potential Disasters Paperback – Large Print, 2 November 2010

David Borgenicht has written a series of Worst Case books and, in the introduction to this one, admits that the others are written more for entertainment than practice. This book is different and is intended as a serious guide for a business owner with a business in trouble.It is split into five main sections:Financial emergenciesHR emergenciesProductivity emergenciesSales and marketing emergenciesExecutive emergenciesIn each section, the two author have asked various business experts on their tips before writing what they call Basic Training. These are practical but sometimes easier to say than do. At the back of the book are suggested"what to say guides" for various situations.I have a few concerns.First, a company in trouble needs to be aware of its legal obligations. There are different levels of trouble but, if insolvency is threatened, you must know where you are. There are serious penalties for trading beyond the point of no return. If you need to reduce your employees, it must be done in the right way.What you do to get out of trouble depends on what caused the problems. The book is tactical, looking at how to reduce the impact of the symptoms rather than strategic, which involves looking at and fixing the underlying problems.The book also ignores financial control. You need to understand what it will take to get you back above the break even level and you need to be forecasting your cash flow, probably for at least 3 months to make sure you're not digging a deeper hole in a few weeks time.Paul Simister, a business coach who helps business owners who feel stuck, get unstuck.

This is only my observation, but I have found most business owners are both OCD and ADD, and though this book covers most of what I already know, I appreciate being reminded the simple, precise steps to identify, isolate, and control the key elements that can make or break your business. It sounds so elementary, but the other thing I really liked about it was the colors, of all things. It was just easy reading, and no fluff to make it a big book just to see their own words published.

Bought the book on a suggestion from someone else. It's ok...Talks about a lot of different areas a business can go wrong. Not all the suggestions are all encompassing.

I found this book to be especially useful for my consulting business. It covered an immediate need of how to handle firing a underperforming sales person. I bought this book out of curiosity and I'm glad I did. It can be read or skimmed quickly, but it's something that I keep handy and glance at from time to time. It raises your business awareness almost instantly in a variety of areas and that's it's greatest value - handy, timely, simple, advice.

Although this is a great concept and some sections of the book were humorous, overall I was disappointed with the quality of writing and the content.