Procurement 101 : The Tips and Tricks I Wish I Knew Earlier

Procurement's job is to spend it well.Twenty-five-plus years ago, nobody told me procurement could be a career, let alone a genuinely fun one. I fell into it the way most of us do: a job opened up, I raised my hand, and I figured I'd learn the rest on the job.This is the book I wish someone had handed me on day one. It is not a textbook. It's the real stuff, drawn from supplier meetings, budget reviews, and building processes from scratch across manufacturing, healthcare, aviation, and distribution.Whether you're brand new to a procurement role, a hiring manager trying to build a stronger team, or you've been doing this for years and just want to see your own experience reflected back at you, this book is for you.Inside, you'll learn how to:Find the spend no one is watching, and bring it downChallenge "e;sole source"e; and build real supplier competitionNegotiate firmly without losing the relationshipRead the fine printBuild category strategies, manage supplier risk, and measure what mattersUse AI as a tool, not a strategyBuild a procurement career that lastsEvery chapter ends with a Toolbox of things you can do this week. Not someday. This week. The appendix gives you ready-to-use templates, from a spend analysis starter to a negotiation prep brief and a contract review checklist.Procurement rewards action, not theory. Welcome to Procurement 101. Let's get into it!