Ask John: Straight-talking, Common Sense from the Front Line of Management

by John Timpson

John Timpson, CBE, is one of the United Kingdom's most successful businessmen. His eponymous high street chain has almost 1,400 branches and a turnover of $300 million. John's column in the Daily Telegraph (UK), "Ask John," has been dispensing straight-talking, no-nonsense business advice for more than five years. This book collects and expands the very best from that column, from why low cost will never be a real substitute for proper customer service to the etiquette of employing interns. Timpson offers practical business advice for CEOs of multinationals and independent family businesses alike.

Genres: Business, Management

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2015

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of responses to readers of the Daily Telegraph business pages (i.e die-hard Tories) John Timpson gives no nonsense, straightforward advice on how he runs his successful business. He comes across as slightly old fashioned, but in a good way. He's as modern as he needs to be on important issues, but you get the impression that there won't be much talk of synergies, business process re-engineering and paradigms at his Board meetings. This is an interesting book to dip into, but I'm not sure how useful his advice is. Perhaps it works for him, but you are you. If you're using this book to solve a current business problem, then unfortunately you're probably already ensnared by it. I suggest that you think up your own approach, run it up the flagpole and see how it flies. It's not rocket science etc etc