A Timeless Tale of a true entrepreneur!  Enjoy Shaken - it's sure to stir
928884
A rich story told by a masterful storyteller!  Linda Himelstein's deep research into the life of Pyotr Smirnov is fascinating from its historical authenticity to the story within the story - the desires and passions of the human spirit.  In Smirnov, Ms. Himelstein unveils the true soul of arguably one of the world's first great marketing minds. This historical account is brilliantly researched and provides important insights into Nineteenth century Russian society that has modern day implications.
3515917
A business love story that reaches out to everyone who tried to pursue a new idea or make his business better. A longtime personal friend of Dr. Sussman but many years removed from his acquaintance, I thoroughly enjoyed and was richly rewarded with the insights and intriguing storyline of the success of his daughter Annie and her friend in creating an original and highly successful small business. Be prepared to learn how to not only be successful but live life to its fullest. A quick read but incredibly insightful and scholarly reading not to be missed by any aspiring entrepreneur!
4879689
I will Bet the Book can fit in a Scott E Vest pocket.

This book will bring out the entrepreneur in you as the author,
gives you a front seat to his life's journey.  The book is a transparent
story which takes you through the high's and lows of Scott's personal
and professional life.  There are many great anecdotes, quotes, and
small stories you can borrow to have a winnable game, and realize
the challenges and triumphs in bringing a product to market.
Scott's swim through the shark invested water's of the TV show shark tank,
are well documented and fascinating.
I'm at a loss on a few of the one star reviews, as I have read a ton of Biz Memoirs,
and this book was truly one of my favorites.
You will love this book, I did.
1780996
I originally bought this book in order to learn basics of how to start my own business. While the book really isn't useful for the purpose of learning detailed steps about how to start your own company, Richard Branson's energetic life story definitely will serve as an inspiration to any would-be entrepreneur and does paint the picture of a man who struggled against the odds to grow his business from a student-run newsletter to an international airline company and more.

Would definitely recommend as a source of inspirational reading and to get a feel for some of the struggles that a multi-billionare businessman encountered throughout the life of his business. This book will give you a sincere appreciation for a very charismatic and energetic man who served the needs of society, accomplished daredevil feats, and made a fortune in the meantime.
4014956
This book is real, raw, entertaining and truly inspiring! Whether you're about to begin your entrepreneurial journey, or are perhaps floundering in the dark and about to give up, this is a must read book.

There are no shortcuts to success. You've got to earn it. You've got to pay your dues.

EBR shares his entire journey - how he persevered through tough times, learnt from his mistakes, kept his eyes and ears open for new ideas, stayed hungry and passionate, and constantly evolved to become one of the true rockstars of the Online Marketing World!

What an amazing book, E Brian Rose! A must read for all entrepreneurs!
2851150
One of my favorite topics is how business can be a force for good in our world. This is an amazing story of a startup business in what some would have called an over-saturated market ... bottled ice tea. Honest Tea took on Snapple and other big players because they had a vision that would make a difference in people's lives. Fast forward 10 years later, they were bought by Coke but kept pursuing that mission, and now 3 years later they are still living out their original mission despite being owned by a mega-corporation. This is the story of how Barry Nalebuff, Seth Goldman, and the team at Honest Tea have succeeded in leading a for-profit business as a vehicle for change ... and the many lessons they learned along the way.

Barry and Seth wanted to make a difference in the world. Barry was in the education sector; his partner Seth started out in the nonprofit and government sectors. They discovered that business can be an even more powerful tool for change. Of course, if the business doesn't thrive, you won't have any impact.

I was skeptical of the comic-style format ... would this be a serious business book that I could learn from? From the first few pages, I knew the answer was YES. The comic format made the book a fast, engaging read, but I still got a ton of practical, inspiring information from the book.

I should say it WOULD have been a fast read if my kids hadn't kept "borrowing" it from me before I had a chance to finish it. The comic format appealed to them and has been a great way to introduce key business and economic principles. I later asked my 13-year-old son to explain "marginal utility" (a concept I didn't learn until microeconomics class in college), and he still remembered it!

This is a book entrepreneurs should read before launching their business. This is a book current business leaders should read to take their business to the next level. And it's a book that parents should buy for their kids to help them learn life-long principles about business, economics, and living a purpose. Most of all, it's a book everyone should read to be reminded about the opportunity of for-profit businesses to change lives and communities for the better.
4501614
Rubies in the Orchard is an amazing story of entrepreneurship, marketing genius, and, frankly "turning pomegranates into pomegranate juice."  An entrepreneur turned venture capital investor, I have read it twice and have begun recommending it to my friends and peers.  I also teach aspiring entrepreneurs and I've added this to the short list of "must-reads."

The odds of creating one very successful product or company are low.  The odds of creating several are infinitesimal.  That's why it is so fascinating to read the story of Lynda and Stewart Resnick, a wife and husband team that started with a struggling flower delivery business and ended up creating a stable of well known and respected brands, including POM Wonderful, Fiji Water, and Teleflora.  I suspect there will be more such excellent brands to come.

This book is a unique and compelling hybrid, partly a book about how to market in today's world of interconnected consumers (think Ries and Trout's The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing meets Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point), and partly an autobiography.  The reader learns by seeing what has and hasn't worked for the Resnicks.  Their success comes both from a core of inherent creativity--an ability to see value where others have not--and from an operational focus that has, amongst other successful approaches, constructed a new and better way to utilize management consulting resources (selecting top performers from McKinsey and the like, bringing them in-house, and giving them ownership).

But, in the end, this is a personal story, an autobiography of two people who could have kept the secrets of their success to themselves but who chose instead to share them.  It is a story of teamwork, of vision, and of an unshakable commitment to quality products and to the consumers who use those products.  Like their other products, this book is a ruby in the orchard: it more than delivers on quality and value.  It is a must-read.
4222753
I LOVED this book: engaging from the very first page, the compelling journey of these visionary twin entrepreneurs kept me turning the pages..  What an amazing account they share with us..  and written with a wonderful blend of courage, insight, and sparkling wit..  This book moved me -- made me laugh, and choke up -- and left me deeply inspired.  Way more than a book about business -- this is a vastly enjoyable "must read" for anyone who needs their hope rekindled in a world so often overrun by the senseless pursuit of money. A rare and wonderful find!!
4607338
A tale of a young woman who was frustrated in business until she met a very special mentor.  If you apply the wisdom in this book, you will most certainly grow your business and your influence.
3467995
Richard Branson is a visionary not afraid or bound by history or customs to explore, take risks and strive for better ways of living and achieving.  He may well be the consummate business leader of our time. Wrapped in 357 fast-moving pages, 'Screw Business as Usual' is all of that and more.

'SBAU' provides both a colorful view into Branson's business perspectives and endeavors, and effectively argues that businesses can be human and environmentally sustainable AND financially successful. Deeming this "Capitalism 24902", Branson takes us on a global journey to explore how companies such as his own Virgin Group (numbering over 150, at last count), Unilever, PUMA, Participant Media, Green Mountain Energy, Innocent Drinks, Amy's Kitchen, Husk Power, BroadReach, Interface, Method, TOMS Shoes, even Walmart and General Electric, and so many others are screwing business as usual by doing good and achieving industry leading results, in the process.

The work of organizations such as The Elders and The Carbon War Room, as well as discussions on how the for-profit and non-profit communities (such as the Government of Botswana, The Gates Foundation and MSD/ Merck, in the fight against HIV/AIDS; and Grameen Bank and Danone, in the fight on poverty) can effectively partner to accelerate good and make the world a better place for all, were particularly inspiring.

'SBAU' tends to drop names and meanders at times, (a reflection of Sir Richard's mindset, I suspect :), but proves to be a treasure trove of ideas and real-life examples of how businesses can propel their success by joining the fight for good - helping earth and her citizens in addition to their shareholders.

Whether we realize it or not, we're all in this one together, and it's not a fight we can afford to lose. Thanks, Richard Branson and Virgin Unite, for your leadership in a time when we so desperately need it!
2238122
A wonderfully rich account of the rags to riches to rags story of the man behind Smirnov Vodka. Who knew that there was such an amazing history to this ubiquitous brand? The author is a deft storyteller and skillfully guides the reader through decades of Russian history, all the while entertaining you with this remarkable story of vision, persistence and entrepreneurial spirit. The research that went into this book left few details out and it brought the story to life. I found myself wanting to consult maps and draw family trees. A truly engrossing, enjoyable read!
1038570
Couldn't put it down until I finished it! Well written, interesting, honest, educational and full of insights and anecdotes that add depth to the author's story. I highly recommend this read to any entrepreneur or anyone who loves one. Business school teachers should ad this to their entrepreneurial classes. So many business books on success are often just a reverse engineering of what got them there and usually imply it was worth it (given the success). This author courageously shares with us the real story towards success overlapped with a very personal journey and a deeper understanding of the both the value of and challenges of relationships and people dealing with their own issues and biases. Read it - it will be worth your time.
1822440
An American Hedge Fund is an inspiring story of a young entrepreneur coming of age in business and in life. Mr. Sykes leads his audience through the daily up and down adventure of a day-trader and hedge fund manager. Though Mr. Sykes has his critics, who base their negative reviews solely on Mr. Sykes personality instead of the merits of his engaging story and life experience, he rises above those who brush him aside and writes a well composed, tell-all-tale of who he was, what he did, and who he has become. As a business owner, I highly recomend this book for any 18-30 year old thinking of becoming an entrepreneur. Nice job Tim. I'm looking forward to the next book!

Matthew Holland
President
The Baystate Souvenir Company, LLC
2607425
This is a thrilling read and breath of inspiration for any budding entrepreneur or venture capitalist. Co-author Jerry Bledsoe, a N.C. mystery writer, lends an air of cliff-hanger mystery to this exciting story. It is truly a page-turner! Plus, there is an intriguing section on the history of the transmitter radio, and early inventors like Marconi. Jerry Neal was a child prodigy with the heart of an inventor, who checked out a book by Alexander Graham Bell, went home, and built his own telephone. This energy shines through in this candid and at times humorous account of a company that went from literally a garage start-up formed by three guys to a high-tech, multi-national success.

Also recommended: Why Globalization Works, by Martin Wolf; As the Future Catches You, by Juan Enriquez; The Outsourcing Revolution, by Michael F. Corbett
1764142
Danny Morel, Real Estate Broker and Author, tells a poignant tale of growing up in a single parent household in an economically challenging environment.  In this highly Inspirational work, Morel takes us on a journey from the depths of despair folllowing the California/National Real Estate Crash of 2008, by sharing the story of his quick, downward spiral and how his post crash fear-based Mindset undoubtedly accelerated his fall from grace.  Luckily for Morel, his redemption was built on a strong foundation of humility, followed by a faith-based mindset.  He continiues to make an excellent point that negative fear or positive faith based visionary mindsets are usually mutually exclusive, and a person must choose either one or the other.  I really appreciated the Author bravely and candidly shared his business failures and lowest points with the readers.

The consistent action required to produce a measurable performance period for Massive Inspired Action - MIA (a time lag of 90 Days) makes perfect sense.  Another mindset struggle for many impatient people will be to migrate to a faith based thought process during this time period.  Tweaks or minor adjustments will probably need to be made...to ensue a great outcome.  The pre-MIA actions are the  enemy, so great care must be made not to revert backward. Resilience going forward is the key to success!

This book offers a great Macroeconomic response to strategic planning by providing an outline for success.  I say that because it does not get bogged down in the minutiae or details one might find in a similar book with a microeconomic approach.  An action plan outline is offered which seems very reasonable and highly executable bullet points.

Another part of the book that I found to be extremely valuable is to be highly cognizant that in the future it is never a good idea to sit back on one's laurels even after you have enjoyed much individual success and recognition, because sales momentum can and will be easily diminished thereafter if you start to coast because your so busy basking in your own glory.  Complacency is the enemy!

I liked the fact that the Author urges the reader to follow their respective business carefully by always tracking their numbers so that they approach management with a vigilance instead of sticking their head in the sand (In denile) like an ostrich!  Morel states that business is 80% psychology and 20% strategy, and mentions some excellent points about having the proper Mindset.  He comments that some of his Mindset thinking was obtained through studying some of Tony Robbins books and other materials and I could certainly recognize some key ideologistic similarities between the two men.  I just happen to be reading "Awaken The Giant Within" a classic by Robbins and I see a lot of positive parallels regarding Mindset.  Robbins' book itself is totally a more Microeconomic detailed approach and at 542 pages, a very lengthy read.

I also must mention that I really appreciated the real-life examples of how the Author successfully coached some his students and helped them turn around their sales performance.  I found it highly motivational!

In my humble opinion, Morel deserves a Five-Star rating as a first time Author for putting together an interesting book that many will find to be very helpful in their professional career development as real estate agents.  By sharing some of his actual life experiences in the book, positive and negative, it made me want to continue reading it to learn more about his unique story.

It's a very fast read and I found it to be highly motivational.
2157376
Mary Ellen Tribby has done it again! I consumed this book in a matter of days and let me tell you the content and the way she delivers it is masterful. Mary Ellen is one of the foremost authorities on the new paradigm of entrepreneurship. Her knowledge and wisdom will support, inspire, empower and absolutely help you take your business and vision to the next level...immediately. This is a must read for all entrepreneurs who want to make a difference. This book will change your view about what's possible by simply being willing to say yes to your dream. Thanks Mary Ellen...I will add this masterpiece to my Mary Ellen Tribby bookshelf!
Paul Hoffman
CEO/Visionary The Success Creation INstitute.com
4114635
This is an absolute must read if you're job, your passion, or both (if you're lucky) has anything to do with creating technical innovation. "Founders at Work" is a wonderfully meander through the stories of successful company founders - across several decades. Far from focusing on just those who made it big during the first dot-com boom or those who are profiting from Web 2.0, Jessica also includes some of the true pioneers in the field. She recognizes that, not only do these industry veterans have valuable stories to convey but, since many of them are helping to steer companies and venture capital funds to this day, their advice is quite topical and current.

From the great introduction right through the final interview, this book is packed with great anecdotes, advice, and information and inspiration. Makes you wonder as to what the story is behind the story - how did Jessica get unfettered access to such a broad array of the founding fathers?

I've included some illustrative quotes from the book below. Give them a read and then go pick up this book. The printed copy is a bargain and the e-book version is a steal. It may turn out to be one of the best investments you ever make.

* "You guys are nuts. Throw out your business plan. Your customers--or potential customers - are telling you what your business should be. The business plan was only used to get you the money. Why don't you rewrite a business plan that is focused just on providing what your customers want?" - Q.T. Wiles advice to Charles Geschke (Cofounder, Adobe) on the real purpose of a business plan

* "There were some warning signs. Consider McKinsey, which holds itself out as one of the world's leading repositories of knowledge on how to manage a business. They say they'll never grow their company by more than 25 percent per year, because otherwise it's just too hard to transmit the corporate culture. So if you're growing faster than 25 percent a year, you have to ask yourself, `What do I know about management that McKinsey doesn't know?'" - Philip Greenspun (Cofounder, ArsDigita) on scaling corporate culture

* That [not improving core product quality] was probably the biggest mistake we made. And that's the advice I give everybody. All those little coupon schemes, this is what General Motors does. They figure out new rebate schemes because they forgot all about how to design cars people want to buy. But when you still remember how to make software people want, great, just improve it. - Joel Spolsky (Cofounder, Fog Creek Software)

* "I think some people slept; I know I didn't sleep at all." - Max Levchin (Cofounder, PayPal)

* "There were times when we were really broke before we had our angel investment, when only one guy who had children was getting paid." - Caterina Fake (Cofounder, Flickr)

With nearly 21 of the 32 interviewees having the term "Cofounder" in their titles, Joel Spolsky's advice seems perhaps to reflect best on what was critical to the success of these companies. "But because they never really take the leap and quit their job, they can give up their dream at any time. And 99.9 percent of them will actually give up their dream. If they take the leap, quit their job, go do it full-time--no matter how much it sucks--and convince one other person to do the same thing with them, they're going to have a much, much higher chance of actually getting somewhere."