Tech IT Easy

One of the things I’m always looking for are tools that teach me stuff in a language that I understand. I have several books on finance, some of which are great in describing the general picture, but lacking in the details; others of which are (probably) great in describing the details, but suck at the general picture.

“Managing the numbers,” by Richard Stutely, is a book that does both well. It basically takes you through the process of:

• dealing with financial problems;
• of putting it in the greater context of the organisation;
• of splitting it smartly across sections;
• and, most importantly, keeping that continuity by using one company as an example, which, if you put it all together, form one great excel-sheet.

In other words, if you’re “fearful of finance,” like me, but absolutely need to know it, like me, it’s the perfect book.

Things I like most are actually the pictures, which give you an overview of how everything fits together. No, perhaps not this one:

…but this one, which essentially shows you who allocates the budget, who spends the money, who makes the money, and who manages profit (and loss)…

…and this one, which is all about calculating return on an investment.

(appologies for the funky layout and colouring, they were taken from a phone).

It is a book written for people that don’t want to spend too much time on things like this (90% of the planet), but know that they need to keep track of it for the good of their organisation. If this fits your situation, then I warmly recommend it.

I have to warn you though: if you’re just a tourist/beginner in this area, then this book is definitely not for you.

Vincent