This is the season for new resolutions, so how about opening a new chapter in your business thinking?

Some of you might have found a book in your Christmas stocking but, alas, not many of them are likely to be about business.

However, you would be wise to pick up one of two new volumes published by a pair of Kent authors who know a thing or two about how to make a wad of cash.

The Grown-Up Business has been written by Shirley Mansfield, a high-growth business coach, trainer, problem-solver and indefatigable blogger, who used to work for Business Support Kent.

A few weeks later, guests gathered in the Orangery in Turkey Mill, Maidstone, to hear Will Wood, accountant and business owner, explain why he had written The Organised Business.

Both books follow a familiar format, with each laid out in about 10 chapters devoted to problem analysis, solution and case studies.

While much advice sounds obvious – “the more organised you are, the more successful you will be” says Wood, while Mansfield enlightens us with “you must have a product or service that does what it should do” – too many of us overlook the obvious.

Cynics may dismiss it as telling granny to suck eggs, but the wise will say “That’s my problem, too, and I can learn from these people”.

Wood, who lives in Maidstone, spells out the contrasting approaches and results by “organised” Stephen and “disorganised” John.

One grows, is successful and takes holidays without worrying that the business will grind to a halt.

The other in the same sector sells only half as much, stresses and sees home life become a mess.

Mansfield, who lives in Lenham, examines why some businesses grow and others don’t. One of her case studies is Saga, the Folkestone-based holiday and financial-services business for the over-50s. She puts its growth since the 1950s down to “strong vision” from the founding De Haan family, who “kept learning about their customers and the market”.

She urges business-owners to “think back to the day you set up your company. What was your dream, your plan or your goal?” and then asks the stark question “What has your dream turned into?”.

Both books are easy to read and well designed. Wood’s has one or two typos – “e” for envelope in stationery, Will – but is a reminder there is still plenty to learn for all business people.

Wood learned business at his father’s knee, has been there and done that, and should be heeded by every business-owner.

Mansfield has vast senior experience. Her book is a little deeper, more comprehensive and ambitious but suited to businesses of most shapes and sizes.

She cites Pareto’s principle that 20% of your products will deliver 80% of your profits and 20% of your customers will deliver 80% of your profit.

The bottom line is that both books are good reads, mixing common sense and practical actions with energising ideas.

Every business-owner should go to bed with a Mansfield or Wood – or preferably both. It could transform their enterprise in 2015.

Tache-ing out for fine cause

Mo fever broke out across the county in November. Hundreds of businessmen sprouted hairy growths for testicular and prostate cancer research.

A special salute to Jason Lewis of DHA Transport, Maidstone, for asking Pure Hairdressing to dye his mo in Gallagher-style gold, white and green.

His fan-tache-tic achievement raised £1,200 for this worthwhile cause. Well done to all the newly hirsute.

Devil’s option

Fracking is a word that dare not speak its name.

I chaired a debate at Hadlow College and most voted against doing it at all. If done badly, it could be environmentally damaging but lack of investment in energy has opened the door to fracking – and needs must when the Devil drives.

We need more women at the top

I was sorry to see chief executive Harriet Green leaving Thomas Cook.

She was one of only a handful of women running a FTSE-100 company. The world average of top female executives is just 8%, with the Far East (up to 30%) outscoring the EU with its pathetic 9%.

Apart from alleged male discrimination, there are several factors such as high-flying women often leaving careers to become mums. There’s no shortage of talent.

I‘m not sure about the claim that more women at the top of banks and financial institutions would have averted the 2008 crash but would love to see it tested – if not in such dire circumstances.

We have many successful female entrepreneurs in Kent… let’s hope 2015 sees many more.