Brain food

The Easter break always comes at exactly the right time. After a busy and exciting start to the year, it’s the perfect opportunity to relax and recharge as we move into the middle of the year.

But we know what you guys are like – you won’t be able to resist checking your emails and browsing the internet to keep up with the latest news.

With this in mind, we’ve prepared a short reading guide for the Easter break.

• Firstly, start by checking out SmartCompany’s very own How To section, which contains more than 40 bite size tips about running your business. All the advice comes from leading entrepreneurs and experts and we guarantee you’ll find more than a few nuggets in there to get you thinking.
• The subprime crisis feels like a long time ago in entrepreneur years, but the fallout continues to reverberate around the economy – just ask anyone trying to get a loan. If you want to understand how this whole mess started, check out this extract from The Big Short, the new book from Michael Lewis, who is one of the best business writers in the world. It’s a fascinating story of how one very unique fund manager spotted the crisis and became very rich from it.
• There are some great entrepreneurial publications around the world, and one of our favourites (apart from SmartCompany, of course) is Inc.com. For more inspiration in your business, have a look at this piece on 25 ways to jump start your business. Again, there are some great ideas in here that could spark some change in your company.
• The iPad hits the shops in America this week and we’re desperate to see how this device will be received by consumers – and what the opportunities for entrepreneurs will be. Tech site Gizmodo has a great preview of how iPad apps will work; we’d also recommend Tech Crunch and Engadget as places you will be able to get all the latest news and reaction.
• Melbourne has the Spring Carnival, but Sydney’s Easter Carnival is the second big event of the year for horse lovers and punters (like me!). So for a bit of fun, why not check out the form guide this weekend and track the fortunes of entrepreneurs such as John Singleton, Gerry Harvey and Bob Ingham, who all have horses running over the carnival. And if you’re looking for a tip in the main race, the Golden Slipper, Michael Horne, racing manager from betting agency Betstar likes Beneteau at good each way odds, ahead of Crystal Lily and the roughie Georgette Silk.

Have a great break and we’ll see you back with a very big edition on Tuesday.