Is the business world some sort of maze, with concepts and strategies everywhere that seem to make absolutely no sense? Well, many of us once thought about getting an MBA so that we could learn all about business, but the time and money involved seemed like a lot. Enter the “10 Day MBA,” a game-changing book that promises to encapsulate complex business principles in bite-sized lessons you could grasp in just ten days! Written by Steven Silbiger, this promises to be a book providing practical knowledge that will help boost your career, enhance your skills, and give you all the confidence you need to overcome real-life business challenges. Want to know how to run an organization, how to understand finance, and design an effective marketing strategy in no time? Immerse yourself in so much wisdom that fits within your hectic schedule!
The Genesis of the “10 Day MBA”
When Steven Silbiger wrote the “10-Day MBA,” he set out to create a comprehensive guide that took in the essence of an MBA program in ten days. This ambitious vision was born from the realization that so many aspiring business leaders could not find the time or resources for traditional MBA programs but needed much of the essential knowledge that those programs provided. Silbiger found a solution by integrating key principles from various business disciplines—finance, marketing, operations, and more—into digestible segments. Imagine being handed a fast pass to the enriching world of business education, where each day brings new insights and practical applications that you can immediately implement in your career.
MBA book Core Subjects
Each chapter in “10 Day MBA” is well-structured to capture specific topics that reflect core MBA subjects. In a very astute combination, Silbiger can help readers understand complex frameworks without intimidation. It would seem he created some sort of business buffet where he allowed the reader to sample just those critical ingredients that would make up a successful business model. The first several days cover general management and leadership principles so that a proper foundation is laid. Because Silbiger structures the book in such a progressive format, he almost emulates a condensed curriculum that enables readers to grasp important concepts quickly and walk away with practical skills, not theoretical jargon.
How to Approach the 10 Day MBA Book
Although the book states you can learn an MBA’s worth of material in 10 days, it’s important to go into this book with a realistic mindset. You aren’t going to be an expert by any means after reading this book, but you will have a great foundation of business principles. If you are expecting to be fluent in advanced business jargon or create a business plan in one night, you are in for disappointment. However, if you want to get a feel for the core concepts in business, then the 10-Day MBA is an excellent resource.
Given the density of the material, it is a good thing to create a study schedule. You might want to break it into chunks so that each day isn’t overwhelming. A simple 2-3 hour per day commitment can help you get through the book in a non-intimidating way. For instance, focus on reading every morning for 30 minutes and then reflect on what is important in the evening.
The Pros and Cons of the 10 Day MBA Book
Quick and Efficient: It’s a fast route for one who wants a business education.
Affordable: Contrasting the price against what conventional MBA programs cost, it comes out as rather reasonably affordable, making business education accessible.
It gives an overview of all the major disciplines in business, equipping one with a well-rounded understanding of what to expect.
Lack of Depth: The book gives a broad overview but doesn’t have the depth needed to make one master business concepts.
No Hands-On Experience: The 10 Day MBA is all theory, unlike the MBA, which involves practical experience in the form of case studies that are realistic.
How to Supplement Your 10 Day MBA Learning
This book is a great starting point, but to internalize and apply the knowledge, it needs to be supplemented with additional resources, hands-on experiences, and hands-on learning. Below, we’ll explore several ways to enhance and expand your 10-day MBA journey.
Enroll in Online Courses
One of the best ways to deepen your understanding of business concepts is to enroll in online courses, many of which are offered for free or at a low cost. Platforms like Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning offer courses taught by professors from top universities. These platforms offer courses in marketing, finance, entrepreneurship, leadership, and even specialized data analytics topics that businesses are increasingly demanding today, but are not fully covered during the 10-day MBA course.
Read complimentary books
While the 10-Day MBA gives you a high-level overview of key business topics, you can go deeper into each area by reading more specialized books. Here is a selection of books to complement your learning in various business areas:
- Finance: The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham – A timeless classic that addresses investment strategies and financial wisdom.
- Marketing: Created by Chip Heath and Don Heath – A guide to how to create messages that stick and resonate in people’s minds.
- Leadership: The Apocalypse Eats by Simon Sinek – How great leaders earn the trust and loyalty of their teams.
- Entrepreneurship: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries – Practical lessons on how to successfully build and scale a startup.
Business Podcasts and Webinars
Podcasts are a great way to expand your learning on the go. Business podcasts allow you to hear directly from industry leaders, successful entrepreneurs, and top academics. Listening to podcasts while commuting, exercising, or on your break will help reinforce the ideas learned in the 10-Day MBA and expose you to current business trends. You can check out our other article Top ecommerce podcasts for podcast picks.
Conclusion
Supplementing your 10 Day MBA learning with further resources, practical experiences, and continuous engagement will enable you to turn theoretical knowledge into actionable skills. The book is a great primer to get you started on crucial business concepts, but in order to excel, you’ll need to go deeper into those subjects that resonate most with your career and business aspirations. Whether you learn through online courses, conferences, the application of concepts to real-world scenarios, or mentors, each one of these activities will help reinforce your learning and keep you on track for mastering business principles. Remember, the path to becoming a business expert is continuous, so keep learning, applying, and growing.
