Forge News and Updates |
We all need a pick-me-up every once in a while, whether it comes in the form of a compelling novel, a heartwarming self-help book, or a business book with a little inspiration. We collected some of the best business books according to our Forge members. Check out our list of the best business books below, complete with an opinion of why this book was chosen by each person!
- Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
- “Growing up a terrible student, this book gave me hope I could build a business!” – Sam Hill of Big Lead Gen. Inc.
- Good to Great by Jim Collins
- “One quote I’ve never forgotten from it is, ‘To go from good to great means transcending the curse of competence.’ This has been a core value in my professional life for the past two decades years, and the mission, vision and goals of our company are really built on the foundation of that premise.” – Jennifer Solt of 24 Communications
- Weird in a World That’s Not by Jennifer Romolini
- “This book had a huge impact on me as a reminder that you can stay true to yourself and when you’re with a company that wants to change you, you’re in the wrong place.” Rebecca Dobrinski
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- “I think it’s fascinating to consider why people, and organizations, act the way they act.” – Donnie Garvich of Two Ravens

- The Long Tail by Chris Anderson
- “It goes deep into the (at the time new) idea that by being true to your rabid fans, you can generate a stronger business over time. So instead of trying to sell the lowest common denominator product, target exactly who you want with what *they* want. Lots of good crunchy examples too.” – Scott Pierce of Two Ravens
- Exponential Organizations by Salim Ismail
- “This book demonstrates how any organization can streamline growth and accelerate it using technology and nine other core characteristics. Any business hoping to avoid becoming a slow, inefficient company should adopt what Ismail outlines in his research.” – Josh Rhodes of Big Lead Gen Inc.
- The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
- “It helped me think strategically about making foundations decisions about starting my business.” – Jacqueline Jones of One Degree MMM
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini
- “Great book on human behavior and how we make decisions. I reread it every other year or so because it’s that good.
– Perry Still of HNS Partners

- What Should I Do With My Life? by Po Bronson
- “It helped me rethink my priorities and long term goals.” – Alex Grodner of Cambria Solutions
- A Sense of Something Greater: Zen and the Search for Balance in Silicon Valley by Les Kaye and Teresa Bouza
- “I enjoyed the book because the authors bring together interviews of and short pieces by people who work in the tech industry, offering advice on how to deal with the high stress, burnout, etc. that modern work produces. Even though it’s focused on Silicon Valley, the concepts apply anywhere.” – Kerry Smith of ecoTexual
- Zero to One by Peter Theil
- “This book is a must read for entrepreneurs. Peter push’s you to become a contrarian and shares many of his most thought provoking insights.” – Connor Hand of Big Lead Gen Inc.
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
- “Lencioni breaks down the building blocks for an effective team. By writing the team in a fable it is very practical and very easy to apply to your own organization. You can easily read the entire book in a few hours and walk away with a clear understanding of the building blocks that need to be in place to create a team that will function cohesively. Implementing all of the building blocks is a much tougher process, but you finish the book with a framework of where you should be headed.” – Kim Lee of Forge

- A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink
- “It’s my recommended read for every new graduate or person trying to figure out what they want to do in life. Helped me understand work and career beyond the boundaries of academic majors and industry definitions.” Autumn Foster of Quire Consulting
- How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking by Jordan Ellenberg
- “If you are looking for a primer on how misinterpreting data leads to bad decisions, look no further.” – Nathan McMinn of MNMX.io
- The Third Door by Alex Banayan
- “Not only is it full of advice form some of the world’s greatest business leaders. But the documentation of what Alex Banayan went through to make the book possible is absolutely amazing at the least. This book is a great example of the kind of relentlessness that is necessary to bring big dreams to reality.” – Stanley Stevenson of Stevenson Designs
- The Accidental Salesperson by Chris Lytle
- “It talks about how sales techniques are essential across all industries whether you are in marketing or a dentist.” – Russell Hooks of Happenins In The Ham

- Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
- “Social media has made us writers but the majority of us aren’t professional writers. Our words carry our marketing messages. Everybody Writes is a go-to guide for how to communicate well in writing in order to attract and retain customers.” – Donna Gilliland of MOSTraining
- Management by Peter Drucker
- “So much is changing in our world, and some things don’t change – focus on leading people, focus on doing the right things and not just doing things right. This book really helps cut through a lot of the noise you find in most business books.” – Austin Senseman of MNMX.io
- The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
- “When we were first starting out, my business partner, Krista Baker, and I were energized by The $100 Startup. It reinforced for us the notion that you already have what you need to change course and create what you want; you just have to take action.” – Kelli Eldridge of Race Quest Travel
- Radical Candor by Kim Scott
- “In the South, we are raised to not say anything at all if we don’t have anything nice to say. Walking on eggshells and talking around the truth restricts the ability to develop your team, and brutal honesty can do the same by making you out to be an asshole. I like Radical Candor because it clearly illustrates how personally caring for your team earns you the right to challenge them directly.” Trey Noland of Trek EC

Forge News and Updates |
With so much growth in businesses today, new and innovative ideas are leading to more startups and independent businesses. According to Huffington Post, 33% of the current workforce is independent or freelance, and this number is projected to grow to 40% by 2020. Because of this, more people are ditching traditional office spaces and overcrowded coffee shops and moving into the flexible atmosphere of a shared workspace.
With Birmingham quickly becoming a growing hub for entrepreneurs and small businesses owners, people are constantly searching for a more relaxed, enjoyable, and communal place to work.
The answer? Coworking spaces.
We’ve sifted through the options and compiled a list of the top coworking spaces in Birmingham.
1. Forge
Located right above the Pizitz Food Hall, Forge offers a unique layout that is both architecturally captivating and engaging with its members. Lots of natural light, free Revelator coffee, and a modern atmosphere overlooking the city gives Forge an edge over other spaces.
A membership at Forge includes a number of things: a flexible workspace, conference rooms, private offices, member events and best of all, a network of business leaders. With breakthrough sessions, Lunch and Learns, and Member spotlights, Forge encourages member engagement and creates a network that leaves a lasting impact on the community.
As the first professional coworking space in downtown Birmingham, Forge finishes as number one on our list. So head to the Pizitz, grab a bite to eat, and come work at Forge!
2. The Hub
Located in West Homewood, The Hub is a coworking spot that offers a communal work space, conference rooms, and event spaces.
Aside from free Wifi and unlimited Seeds coffee, The Hub offers a community. The Hub takes it a step further in redefining the value of collaborative coworking – with a lounge area, putt putt course, and communal garden, the Hub encourages collaborative relationships within its members. Their focus is on the people, making it a rich experience.

“We build together, create together, dream together, imagine, re-imagine, redefine, and give life to the unimaginable.”

3. MAKEbhm
A makerspace in the heart of Avondale is the perfect spot for creatives and artists looking for a place to work. With studios, class offerings, and retail spaces, MAKEbhm draws in creatives and gives them access to equipment they otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
Though primarily a studio space, MAKEbhm does have the option for a creative coworking membership. With an entire floor dedicated to coworking, members have access to the lounge area, conference rooms, community tables, and private offices.

MAKEbhm provides the free Wifi, coffee, tools, and space – you provide the inspiration.
4. Innovation Depot
Innovation Depot: Birmingham’s home for startups. With all 140,000 square feet dedicated to housing technology, startups, and entrepreneurs in the Birmingham area, Innovation Depot gives business owners a competitive advantage in growing their business.
Innovation Depot provides a coworking space for members to work alongside other entrepreneurs. With conference rooms and assigned desks available, members are able to take advantage of space and resources needed to promote their business. Want access to seminars and events, fast Wifi, and an affordable spot to work? Check out Innovation Depot.
Lunch & Learn |

In March Forge is focusing on the importance of sales funnels! Sales funnels illustrate the journey that your prospective customers go through on their way to buying your service or product. You have to take people through the funnel journey in order to get a new client! Josh Rhodes emphasized this when he talked about the importance of sales and the sales funnel at our last Business Breakthrough Session.
“Sales is the oxygen mask of your company.”
Josh Rhodes, CEO of Big Lead Gen Inc.
We have two Lunch & Learn events planned for March 13 and March 20. First, we’ll be hearing from Corbitt Chandler- the Founder and CEO of Apex Current. Apex Current uses data and analytics to create highly targeted digital marketing campaigns for your audience and CRM automation to generate qualified leads, sales, new customers and repeat buyers. Before Apex Current, Corbitt was the Vice President of Marketing for Iron Tribe for nearly three years. Iron Tribe is a fitness chain with nearly 40 locations across the Southeastern United States. Corbitt knows the importance of sales funnels! He’ll be teaching us “Effective Sales Funnels” – check out the Facebook event for more information!

Our second event will be taught by Will Yarbrough, the Sales Manager of Fleetio. Fleetio Manage helps you control the chaos of fleet operations, it’s an all-in-one fleet management software for fleets of all sizes. And Fleetio Drive tracks drivers and monitor driving behavior using only smartphones. He will be focusing on “Feeding the Funnel and Making it Count.” In our second Business Breakthrough Session, Tony Summerville (Founder of Fleetio) emphasized the importance of the sales funnel for his company. Will is here to expand on the journey their customers take! Click here to RSVP to the event.

As Josh Rhodes said, “You must perfect your funnel! These are the progressive micro commitments that your customer takes as they progress toward purchasing.” Let’s focus on sales funnels and learn together. Join us at Forge for these two events!



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Forge News and Updates |
Forge is the first coworking space or “shared” office space in downtown Birmingham! According to Forbes, there are currently more than 11,000 coworking spaces in the United States. It was projected that by 2020 we would see more than 26,000 spaces hosting 3.8 million people! With the rise of millennial entrepreneurs, shared office space is more and more appealing for many reasons.

If you aren’t familiar with the idea of coworking, let us give you more information. Multiple businesses work from Forge whether they are in a private office or working with a membership in our common space. Every member has access to our conference rooms, phone booths, networking and educational events. Almost like a gym membership, Forge members pay a monthly membership fee for access to our space. Our membership costs range from $189-325 a month- far less than your average office space.
Keep reading! We’ll tell you why coworking is a great investment for your business.
1. Networking
Get ready to brainstorm and connect with other entrepreneurs who are working on projects and similar challenges. Also join in on the social events a coworking space offers- happy hours, food tastings and much more.

2. Flexibility
Coworking spaces are designed to accommodate growth! You can easily start with a smaller membership and move up to a full-time membership or private office if your company needs it. If you need to cancel your membership, you can! Generally it’s just less commitment for you.

3. Affordability
Coworking spaces cost a fraction of a traditional office space lease! If you need to add additional items like a mailbox, you can. If you’ve been working from coffee shops, I bet you’ll save money with the free Revelator coffee offered at Forge! Also things like cleaning and maintenance are handled by the company, giving you less responsibility.

4. Service.
Coworking spaces are familiar with the needs of a startup and provide resources to help your business grow. Forge’s Lunch & Learn event topics have ranged from Accounting to Online Marketing to Instagram for your Business. Forge staff is available to serve your business’ specific needs!

This infographic sums up a lot of the advantages to coworking. Avoid the distractions and isolation of your home office. Steer clear of the unreliable wifi and inconveniences of a coffee shop. Increase your productivity in a shared work space!
Hear from some of our visitors and members…
“What a fantastic place to meet like-minded entrepreneurs and grow your business network! Forge also has a variety of offices available for rent, including a penthouse workspace that was perfect for my team of 10 coming from out of town.”
Justin

“I have really enjoyed working at Forge. Forge allows me to focus better than I’m able to at home. I feel more connected to what’s going on in the city.”
Adam

“Since joining Forge, our business activity has sky rocketed, I’ve created relationships (professionally and cordially), and my productivity has never been better. Needless to say, being around a community of other hustlers can certainly rub off on your work ethic.”
Wade

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Lunch & Learn |
LUCA Financial Operations is an accounting and finance team that offers tech-enabled bookkeeping and accounting for growing businesses. Trey Fulmer is the CEO and Founder of LUCA and he graciously taught our first Lunch & Learn event of 2018. Trey’s main idea: be proactive in your accounting.

Financial awareness means getting timely, accurate data from your business so you are prepared with actionable information that you can use to make decisions. It creates peace of mind so you could be ready for anything that may pop up- like an audit.
A survey from Xero shows that only 24% of small businesses have an accounting advisor. And if you work with an accounting advisor, you are 23% more profitable. Trey emphasized that an accounting advisor is much different than a tax accountant. You may talk to your tax accountant just once a year when you send them all your banking info and simply hope for the best. But an accounting advisor communicates with you regularly and helps you make decisions with the growth of your business.

Hire an accounting advisor who has experience in your specific industry! You may think you can’t afford it but it usually pays for itself over the course of a year or two.
How do you find an accounting advisor? QuickBooks has an online directory of accounting advisors in your area and you can see reviews for them. Xero has an advisor network you can check as well. Make sure you ask someone for their scope of services and how much they will be communicating with you!

Focus on reconciling your accounts daily or weekly- instead of monthly or quarterly. The technology that exists now allows you to do this much more efficiently and accurately when it’s done on a regular basis – make it a habit.
It’s also important to know your ‘break even point.’ A lot of people don’t spend enough time figuring this out. You need to understand your fixed and variable costs because they can drastically change your break-even point as your business grows.
If you’re proactive with your accounting, you’ll avoid a lot of pitfalls because you can respond more quickly when things come up. Trey suggests watching out for: all the compliance headaches and potential for penalties and fees – particularly business licenses, sales taxes, and personal property taxes.
Embrace technology. Establish structured processes. Understand the numbers relevant to your business.
Trey also encouraged implementing a “financial operating system” for your business. It starts with an accounting system, structured workflows, good habits, a flexible operating budget, and a financial reporting framework. Even if you are a sole proprietor you should spend time working on these things or hire someone who can get you setup the right way.

When looking for accounting software, Trey suggests using Xero as an alternative to QuickBooks. It’s much easier for your accounting advisor to work with you in Xero and the support team is great! Regardless of the system or the accounting advisor you work with, make sure you take advantage of the partner discounts offered by your accounting advisor.
Here’s our takeaway points:
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be proactive in your accounting
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embrace technology
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build an operating budget
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hire an accounting advisor that has experience in your industry
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look into using Xero instead of QuickBooks