Review of Niching Up

[shivani_aswathy]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Niching Up" by Chris Dreyer.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

In his book Niching Up, Chris Dreyer explains how focusing on a specialty can open up new opportunities, contrary to the common misconception that saying “no” limits options. While acknowledging that niching up may not work for everyone, he shares his experience of how it benefited him. After targeting the broader market and experiencing a significant slowdown in growth, he realized that anything he had ever been successful at was because he was “focused” and thus owes the credit of his success to niching up.

The book is organized into eight chapters, beginning with a discussion on the drawbacks of niching, followed by a detailed exploration of the benefits of niching in the subsequent chapters. The book maintains a seamless flow and continuity throughout and uses straightforward language, breaking down concepts in a way that's easily understandable by an absolute beginner.

While trying to answer two fundamental questions - Should I niche? and When should I niche?, the author explains how starting broader and simply understanding the industry can help land you in the center of the Venn diagram of purpose, passion, and profit.

The author uses examples from everyday experiences that we all encounter but might not have given much thought to. For example, the unique purple lightsaber of Mace Windu had my attention while watching Star Wars but its strategic importance became clear only after reading the book. Similarly, the several thought-provoking references from movies and real-world examples along with mentions of the lessons and learnings from other related books to back the arguments made by the author make the book highly engaging and relatable.

The author doesn't just provide superficial advice on making money; the focus is on principled practices. For instance, when he suggests, "If you want to get more referrals, be someone worth referring to", he emphasizes the importance of principled conduct. Alongside cultivating a business mindset, the author also stresses the value of being honest about the work one does.

While this book can serve as a valuable resource for individuals embarking on a new venture or navigating the ideation phase, I am convinced that its insights are universally applicable. The lessons derived from this book have the potential to benefit all individuals at various junctures in their lives. The book is an excellent read and I highly recommend it overall.

******
Niching Up
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon