Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain: How I Went from Gang Member to Multimillionaire Entrepreneur [Hardcover]

Ryan Blair (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 4, 2011

The incredible story of a gang member who became a multimillionaire CEO.

Ryan Blair's middle-class upbringing came to an abrupt end when his father succumbed to drug addiction and abandoned his family. Blair and his mother moved to a dangerous neighborhood, and soon he was in and out of juvenile detention, joining a gang just to survive. Then his mother fell in love with a successful entrepreneur who took Ryan under his wing. With his mentor's help, Blair turned himself into a wildly successful multimillionaire, starting and selling three companies worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

This book will inspire and guide people who are willing to do whatever necessary-hard work, long hours, sweat equity-to take their vision from paper to pavement. Blair gives readers a road map for successful entrepreneurship.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"His failures and successes, along with a little input from his gurus, coupled with his solid commonsense advice and entrepreneurial life lessons offer an inspiring and helpful story." ---Publishers Weekly

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

Ryan Blair is a self-made multimillionaire and serial entrepreneur. He established his first company, 24/7 Tech, when he was twenty-one years old and has since created and actively invested in multiple start-ups. As the CEO of ViSalus Sciences, Blair turned the company around during the 2009 recession and, in just over a year, took it from $600,000 to $10 million a month. Ryan lives in Hollywood, California, with his son, Reagan. Don Yaeger is a former associate editor for Sports Illustrated. He is the author of seven books and coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Under the Tarnished Dome as well as the critically acclaimed Pros and Cons: The Criminals Who Play in the NFL. Johnny Heller has won two prestigious Audie Awards and has earned numerous Audie nominations. He has been praised for his adult, personal development, history, comedy, and children's book narrations. Named a Best Voice of 2008 and 2009, as well as one of the Top 50 Narrators of the Twentieth Century by AudioFile magazine, Johnny has earned almost twenty Golden Earphones Awards. Two of Johnny's audiobooks have been picked by AudioFile as Best Audiobook the Year, and he has won two Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Awards.

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover (August 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591844037
• ISBN-13: 978-1591844037
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (247 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ryan Blair is a serial entrepreneur and self-made millionaire who had nothing to lose and everything to gain. At just 21 years old, Blair founded his first company, 24/7 Tech, and by the age of 34, he has founded and sold numerous businesses for hundreds of millions of dollars.

In August 2011, Blair authored the New York Times Best Seller, "Nothing To Lose and Everything To Gain: How I Went From Gang Member To Multimillionaire Entrepreneur." Uncensored and raw in his account of growing up in the face of adversity, Blair effectively imparts lessons learned from obstacles faced and provides a road map for entrepreneurial success. Blair's no ordinary businessman: he's a master of personal reinvention.

His biggest endeavor yet has been the overhaul of ViSalus Sciences, a company that manufactures weight loss and nutritional supplement products. Blair originally sold the company, but within just a few months, due to the recession, ViSalus was within one month from having to declare bankruptcy. As CEO, Blair went all-in, personally investing his last million dollars on a new business model that would later revolutionize the 118 billion dollar direct selling industry. In just 21 months, ViSalus went from 600,000 to 30 million dollars in monthly sales and is still climbing.Blair regularly appears as a business expert on national television networks such as CNBC, MSNBC, and Fox. He has also been featured in major publications including Fortune Magazine, BusinessWeek, Forbes Magazine and the Wall Street Journal. Blair is also a contributor for the Financial Times and took a turn in movie production serving as Executive Producer of Man in the Glass: The Dale Brown Story, an award winning documentary about the legendary LSU Basketball Coach.

Blair's captivating story was also a bestseller in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine, amongst others. Through a candid and unfiltered voice, Nothing to Lose speaks to everyone, from struggling youth to thriving businessmen alike, illustrating how to turn failures into successes.

Blair currently resides in Los Angeles with his 2-year-old son, Reagan.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing To Lose! April 1, 2013

By BrittneyM

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a one of a kind book for me. I have so much respect for Ryan Blair for not only sharing his story with us, but for who he is. Nothing to Lose was a gift to me, because I'm continuing to grow into the right mindset. Thank you Ryan for being an inspiration! Looking forward to laughing, crying & smiling in your next book!
-Brittney Mathews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars IF YOU NEVER TRY, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW April 1, 2013

By Billy N.

Format:Paperback

NOTHING TO LOSE, EVERYTHING TO GAIN by Ryan Blair is a straight-forward biography that shows us all that anything can be achieved if we are willing to work for it. In a very open and honest way, Ryan tells us how we can obtain our dreams regardless of who we are and what we have done. One of the best "how to be successful" books out there that shows by EXAMPLE and not fact.

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars bad boy using street smarts to win March 30, 2013

By Lori Marick

Format:Paperback

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ryan's book because he is so easy to relate to. He motivates with his drive and determination, mistakes and failures, sorrows and joy. I thank Ryan for helping me to learn from his mistakes. I appreciate his candid honesty, and his ability to think "outside the box." I intend to face the challenges of my growing business with a new attitude. I have NOTHING TO LOSE, and EVERYTHING TO GAIN!