Customer Reviews

For Entrepreneurs Only

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4 star:		(1)
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In the author's amazing experience he started about 100 companies, encountering many hurdles. Most of its nearly 50 chapters are a mini-story relating a real-life business situation, and ends with the "lesson" learned to conclude each chapter. The lessons will be difficult to apply, however, unless they are coupled with the superb salesmanship reflected throughout the book.

The book claims that entrepreneurs are born, and not made (actually relates to genetics, hunter versus farmer instincts). Later chapters attribute entrepreneurial traits to parental influences. That's confusing, because one would hope reading the book itself could be a strong factor, as well.

As an entrepreneur, the book claims that you will experience "entrepreneurial terror". Actually, many of the ventures recounted are risky, heavily leveraged, and prematurely mass-marketed. That "terror" feeling could have been a signal to back off on the gas pedal for most people. Building a strong business takes time. The book suggests that CEOs of publicly-held companies have sold out, and are not real entrepreneurs. Yet, the business ventures cited that did fail still lost money for people far less knowledgeable about investing than Wall Street companies.

Upon reaching the end of the book, I concluded that "entrepreneur" is just a polite word for an opportunistic, ultra-aggressive, individualistic approach to business. The lessons try to show how to reduce risk, but are actually closer to showing how to avoid having to trust business associates through one-upmanship and gaining tactical advantages. The "entrepreneurial terror" may come at the expense of personal peace for many entrepreneurs.

An entrepreneur model with too much individualism and aggression will miss the maturing process toward becoming an effective corporate leader. Yet, the latter chapters discuss Total Quality Entrepreneurship (TQE), a new management approach that makes "entrepreneurs" throughout an organization. But TQE's real effect may be to coax would-be entrepreneurs (who would start their own companies) into staying under the control of the current one. There's a built-in contradiction of terms.

If your looking for a book to really show you the inner personal change required to make it as a small business person, I'd recommend reading "The E-Myth Revisited."

As an entrepenuer I can speak from experience that what is said in the book is correct. You are either a hunter entrepenuer or a farmer entrepenuer and a big key to success is knowing what you are. Everyone wants to think of themselves as a hunter over a boring "farmer" but in reality most hunters would love to have farmer skills... that's true in my case. I spend all my time trying to smooth over the weaknesses of my "hunter" approach and banging my head against a system that is set up to support and nurture a farmer approach... even to entrepenuership.

Some of the reviews here don't cut it... they didnt get the point which is... know yourself first, then work around your strengths. This is a cornerstone work in my mind. The reference by other reviewers to the e-myth as being superior show that they love the "farmer" approach. I'd suggest they re-read FEO with a more open mind. It really is great stuff.

Using extraordinary anecdotes from his own life, Wilson Harrell teaches as well as story-tells. This book is one of the best on entrepreneurship and the roller-coaster life it brings. Buy it!

Length:: 1:13 Mins

I first read this book back in the 1990s and learn about it when Wilson Harrell was a guest columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine. It is a MUST read for anyone considering starting a business. Wilson provides wonderful insights into the mindset and terror for those taking the plunge into starting a business. Its fun to read too. In my advising over 500 founders, entrepreneurs and companies over the past 20+ years I ALWAYS recommend my mentee, clients and founder get a copy and read it Post Haste! Mike Ryan

What I liked:
Highly motivational, and the stories of his own experience are interesting and a good read. I'll read this book multiple times in the years to come, because there's so much information it. He writes like he has no doubt in his mind that you will be the next Entrepreneur that all the press wants to interview.

What I didn't like:
The author's definition (being absolute) of an entrepreneur. In his eyes, opening up a pizza shop isn't an entrepreneur, that's a small businessman. Entrepreneurs, per the author is someone with the goal of becoming a Fortune 500 company.

I am reading this book for the third time.Great motivation. Helps me to stay focused. A good pump you up weekend read.Has helped me with my start-up.