Only the Crazy and Fearless Win BIG!: The Surprising Secrets to Success in Business and in Life [Hardcover]

Arthur Wylie (Author), Brian Nicol (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 31, 2012

Following the pack and doing what you are told may get you a job and even a promotion, but it won’t lead to real success.

Entrepreneur Arthur Wylie, who made his first million by 26, has conquered the worlds of finance, real estate, and entertainment with more than $50 million in deals brokered and almost half a billion in assets and transactions under management. In Only the Crazy and Fearless Win BIG!, he shares a little secret that few books discuss—to win big you have to be fearless and, sometimes, even a little crazy.

Wylie outlines real-world examples from some of history and present-day’s most well-known names and everyday entrepreneurs in every industry, profession, and segment of the economy. Only the Crazy and Fearless Win BIG! shows how their decisions raised eyebrows, dropped jaws, and met resistance—yet proved to be right.

A few crazy and fearless decisions that led to victory and success, to fame and respect:
• People Power: Henry Ford pays his workers double the industry average
• Being Fearless: CEO Steve Jobs is fired from Apple
• How Crazy: Intern-now-CEO Sean Combs' $300 Million Clothing line beats out his entertainment business

Through Wylie’s experience and guidance, he weaves together the lessons of these stories and more to share what it means to you and your business vision.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Currently the Arthur Wylie brand is one of the hottest celebrity-entrepreneur brands in the country. His ventures started out of his dorm room, and he received millionaire status by 26. Wylie is the founder and CEO of Arthur Wylie Enterprises brand, which has overseen $775 million in assets, transactions, insurance, intellectual properties and real estate over the past 11 years. Wylie has a bachelor's degree in financial management from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has been a licensed securities principal for some of the top investment companies in the world. Currently an executive of Global Renaissance Entertainment Group and Arthur Wylie Enterprises, his duties range from capital raising, film production oversight, distribution and marketing.

Wylie recently launched the Arthur Wylie Foundation to help develop the next wave of young aspiring entrepreneurs in the film business. Visit arthurwylie.com.

Brian Nicol is an award-winning writer, editor, and publisher. He is the former editor of Honolulu, the city and regional magazine of Hawaii. He has also served as editorial director of Aster Publishing Corp. and CEO of Home & Away Publishing, a AAA-owned media company that produces travel magazines with a combined circulation of more than 5.5 million.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: BenBella Books (January 31, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1935618490
• ISBN-13: 978-1935618492
• Product Dimensions: 0.9 x 5.5 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #506,515 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Do the unexpected" is the guiding business philosophy of this investment mogul, Hollywood executive, serial entrepreneur and author. This daring mindset prompted him to start his own financial firm out of his college dorm room and to later grow it to oversee hundreds of millions in assets and participate in more than $750 million worth of business deals. This boldness also led him to venture into disparate industries, including the notoriously tough entertainment world, where he has also realized extraordinary success.

Wylie is a living example of his highly anticipated book's daring premise. You'll be hard pressed to find someone leading a wealth management firm with hundreds of millions in managed assets and interests who woke up one day and decided to sell off the company, go to Los Angeles and become a film industry power player.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book about Crazy Business Success February 28, 2012

By Linda Hollander

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this book. Unlike the usual business biography, Arthur Wylie talks about how we need to be crazy and fearless in business and in life. He cites many examples of people who thought they were crazy in their time, Henry Ford, Steve Jobs, even Sarah Blakely of Spanx.

Instead of the usual rhetoric of going for your dreams, Arthur Wylie talks about a life-wealth plan that consists of vision, planning, execution, marketing, networking and dealing with the unknown.

As Wylie states, risk-taking is like exercising a muscle. If you stop doing it, you will atrophy and feel trapped by your own circumstances.

This book changed my perspective completely. I thought about all the crazy and fearless things I've done. Most of this wild stuff actually worked and made me feel more alive.

From now on, when someone calls my idea crazy, I'll say, "thank you."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Life-Changing Book! December 7, 2012

By newtechi

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

When a new product or invention comes out, have you been one to say, "I had that same idea. Why didn't I do anything with it?" Well, this book is for you. It is for the multi-hyphenate, the multi-talented, the multi-tasking individual who has (or wants to have) innovative ideas that should be out in the marketplace. Ultimately, it is for anyone who wants to win BIG in whatever endeavors in life.

Only The Crazy and Fearless Win Big brilliantly, albeit practically, guides you in the direction of taking your ideas off the shelf of your mind. And, it helps you get started with a well developed plan.

This book had all of the neurons firing in my brain. I am a filmmaker (et al) and history enthusiast, so I loved all of the stories of crazy and fearless thinkers throughout time who changed the world. I believe author Arthur Wylie is one of the great business minds of our time. While you learn some of his business secrets and acumen, when you finish the book you will find yourself encouraged, inspired and ready to put your plan into action. You will be ready to be Crazy and Fearless!

Cassandra Hollis
Holy Hill Films, LLC

5.0 out of 5 stars What a fantastic book! March 11, 2013

By Jackie

Format:Hardcover

I truly enjoyed reading this book. It provided such a unique vantage point on how to be successful in businness adventures, and how, often times, it is neccesary to be crazy and fearless to see a big pay-off.

This novel opened my eyes to the critical need to take risks, a word that is often daunting and and activity that is so often avoided. Rather than escaping from risk-taking, this books teaches teh values of taking a risk and moving out of ones comfort zone in order to see a great pay-off.

I truly reccomend this novel to all ages and demographics; it is a book that should not be missed. It can help anyone, at any stage in his/her life take an idea and work to impleement it into action!

LOVED READING THIS BOOK!!

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST Book I've ever read! May 4, 2012

By Heddy

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I Just ordered my copy! I have to say reading this book is what I needed. I am already working on my business plan, doing things the right way with a solid plan and foundation. CONGRATULATIONS on your book Arthur!!! I'm Proud of you! Me encanta la manera en la que se explica de una forma práctica qué pasos seguir para ejecutar y llevar a la realidad los sueños y la visión que tienes en mente. No tener miedo a actuar, a hacer cosas diferentes e innovadoras, atrevernos a tomar riesgos y ser intrépidos son algunas de las tantas enseñanzas de este maravilloso libro!!!!! Me llena de mucho ánimo las citas de los pensamientos de grandes personajes considerados "CRAZY and FAIRLESS del mundo" como Steve Jobs y Henry Ford. Los invito a leer este maravilloso libro donde tu VISION, PLANEACION, EJECUCIÓN, MERCADEO Y TRABAJO EN LA RED se convertirán en una REALIDAD!!!!! Yo compré mi libro desde Barranquilla-Colombia y me llegó a mi casa en un par de días, fue súper fácil adquirirlo. La mejor inversión en lectura que he hecho. Te recomiendo a ojos cerrados que compres este libro YA!