Customer Reviews

Seven Secrets of Great Entrepreneurial Masters: The GEM Power Formula For Lifelong Success

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It has been said that, if you honk your own horn, no one will want to do it for you. This is a book about horn honking.

This book shows an ego at work that is big enough to fill the universe yet small enough to dwell in your heart. Before you reach page 15 of this book, you will have seen over 150 different tidbits of inside information from the author such he loves his mom, he loves his dad, he loves his two daughters, he loves his son in law, he loves his friends and his dreams have been satisfied beyond his wildest expectations. He mentions seven times that he lives in Aspen (all this before we reach page 15) and we are told several times that he hikes, bikes and rides ski lifts. Unfortunately in all of this verbiage we find no mention of his wife or the mother of his daughters. How can a life be so successful and happy without learning how to love another of our Heavenly Father's Creations? Fishman shows us what a ego on display is all about.

There is insight that can be gained from this book and you will find it right there in the Conclusion at the end of the book where you don't have to wade through the "I am happy and successful and live in Aspen, Colorado" drivel. However, the real story of this book is one that hasn't been told and that involves the Power of Persuasion. How did Fishman get McGraw - Hill to publish this book? Had he chosen to discuss his talent of persuasion, he might have come up with a different title than one that appears to be a Stephen Covey knockoff.

The title of this book might make you think it's another self-improvement clone of the Stephen Covey genre, but it's much better. If you have your own business, or are thinking of starting one, it would be tough to find a better primer. If you're busy, this is a great read, because Fishman crams more practical content into fewer pages than less valuable books. The author obviously has first-hand knowledge from his TAB Boards exposure of what keeps most private business owners awake at night after the rush of entrepreneurship subsides and the business sometimes becomes a prison. The real value here are the chapters about re-connecting your business goals to your "personal vision", or what you're supposedly in business for in the first place. The chapters on communication, negotiation and fostering creativity are better, more concise, ad more practical for private business owners than most entire books on these subjects.

Most busy entreprenuers will describe a continual "battle" between their Work and their Life. Unfortunately for many, Work often wins this battle.
GEMs understand how to establish a Personal Vision of TRUE happiness and success. They understand how to maintain a sustainable work-life balance and how to have it ALL.
Whether you have owned a business for 30 days or 30 years, the principles and Success Formula in Fishman's book are priceless. I encourage everyone to read it and to USE it.

The Seven Secrets of Entrepreneurial Masters GEM Formula is loaded with gems. Straightforward - down to earth -- addresses real day-to-day business issues with insightful actionable jewels in each chapter. A planning diamond for personal and business success...

Raymond J Champney
President
RJC Enterprises, LLC

Much to my surprise, Allen Fishman's book is a useful tool for everyone who has a job, not just for seasoned business professionals or those wanting to be an entrepreneur. As a recent college grad, I found this book to be a wonderful guide for me to use for planning my future. With a personal vision mapped out, I can now focus on my plan to help me accomplish my career goals while still enjoying my personal life. The younger generations today are taught that if you want to be successful you must work, work and work! We are not told that we can have it all--a successful career and personal life. Allen teaches us that this isn't true, we can have it all--we just need to plan. The secret I found most helpful was the last secret about creativity. An article written in The Economist stated that one of the biggest difficulties employers have with their employees who are fresh out of college is their almost inability to think creatively. Applying the two elements Allen suggests helped to unlock my creative ideas.

The seven secrets are secrets no longer. Fishman has done a service for the entrepreneurial community, as well as the would-be entrepreneur. Almost every business owner I've worked with would prefer eating glass over developing a long range personal or business plan. Fishman explains the importance of planning as an ongoing and adaptable process, linking personal and business plans tightly together. This book is full of real-world examples that will resonate with those who own a business, while preparing those who are contemplating business ownership.

Finally, a book has arrived that lets the business owner know that they are not alone. Through his stories and examples Fishman creates an environment that allows the business owner to say "that is me, I have that challenge" and follows the story up with ways to go about solving the problem. The formula that is presented is a very powerful yet straightforward way for business owners and entrepreneurs to achieve business success based on what they want in their personal lives. I am now using Seven Secrets of Great Entrepreneurial Masters with my small business clients and I recommend it to all small business owners and want-to-be business owners.

I do not enjoy reading business books but this one captured me. Finally a "what, how and why" for small business that presents the business owner's entire life. It shows the interrelationships between the personal, business and spiritual aspects of being in business and how to make it "all" finally seem worthwhile. The same processes could also easily be used by managers, employees or anyone looking for something beyond just occupying space.

I work with and advise owners of small to medium-sized businesses. The author has done a great service to entrepreneurs in writing this book.

Many business owners are so focused on day-to-day issues, and never take the time (or they just don't know how) to look at the "big picture." This book dispenses with the hype, and looks at keys that are important to entrepreneurial success. The "secrets" are right on.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, or you hope one day to be one, I highly recommend this book.

Finally someone has recognized the importance of the owner's personal vision in developing their business strategy.

Fishman also discusses the need for a flexible strategy based on a continual planning process that allows the owner to revisit his/her personal goals and change the business's direction as needed.

There are plenty of war stories but, also numerous examples of how business owners have found the perfect work/life balance. A great read for both current and prospective business owners.