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Success, It's a Beautiful Thing : Lessons on Life and Business From the Founder of Blimpie International
 
 
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Success, It's a Beautiful Thing : Lessons on Life and Business From the Founder of Blimpie International [Hardcover]

Tony Conza (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Book Description

0471381470 978-0471381471 April 14, 2000 1
LESSONS ON LIFE AND BUSINESS FROM THE FOUNDER OF Blimpie (r) INTERNATIONAL

"You'll never achieve your greatest successes because you want to make more money. You'll do it out of a love, a desire, and a passion for reaching a dream." -Tony Conza

What is success? Tony Conza will tell you that it has nothing to do with running an international chain of sandwich stores. It has to do with setting goals and achieving them. Long before he became Blimpie International's CEO, Conza was toiling away on Wall Street and dreaming of starting a business. With no money, no connections, and no mentors, Conza set his sights on becoming an entrepreneur. He worked hard. Took risks. He pursued opportunity with a passion. And no matter how grim the situation, Conza never, ever gave up.

Conza says the Blimpie slogan-"It's a Beautiful Thing"-appeals to the heart as well as to the mind. That's what success must do. You must put your heart into your dream and be willing to do whatever it takes. As long as you are passionate about what you do, asserts Conza, you will not fail.

Success: It's a Beautiful Thing reveals how Conza realized his dream, sharing for the first time the commonsense tactics that helped turn a one-store operation run by Conza and two friends into an international, 2,100-store chain known as Blimpie. In a warm, friendly style, Conza interweaves events from his personal and professional life, offering timeless wisdom and practical advice on finding success-both in business and in life.

Here, Conza discusses the struggles, triumphs, and tragedies he faced as he worked to accomplish his goals. Even when financial troubles and poor management threatened to put Blimpie out of business; even with his own bank account depleted and his insurance policies cashed in, Conza found a way to survive. He'll tell you how he did it. You'll discover how Conza created a vision for the future and set an example for his people to follow--turning Blimpie into one of the industry's largest chains, earning profits for staff and shareholders, and making Blimpie a global brand.

As much as this book is a riveting account of how Blimpie was formed and made it to the top, it is also a guide for turning your own dreams of success into reality. Conza's real-life lessons will teach you how to:
* achieve your dream with a three-step plan
* create your own opportunities
* communicate more effectively to improve relationships
* change your behavior to improve your business and your life
* create a life of enjoyment
* do well by doing good
* build upon success once you've achieved it

Conza states that as long as you love what you do and have fun with it, it will never be "work" and you'll find success that much faster. You can become an entrepreneur or run a better business-and reap the rewards. Sparkling with remarkable insight, Success: It's a Beautiful Thing will inspire you to reach your own dreams-and motivate you to sustain your success.

Acclaim for SUCCESS: IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING

"Looking for a practical road map to a life of successful and fulfilling entrepreneurship? Read this."-Ronald T. LeMay, President and CEO, Sprint Corporation

"Tony has succeeded in combining his skills as an entrepreneur and a wonderful human being to get to the heart of what it takes to be successful, not only in business, but in life."-William R. Johnson, President and CEO, H.J. Heinz Company

"What makes America work? Entrepreneurship. What makes a good entrepreneur? Read Tony Conza's book. You won't regret it!"-Joseph Nye, Dean, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

"Tony succeeded not in spite of his humble beginnings but because of them. His story proves that the old-fashioned values instilled in him by his parents-persistence, passion, and a sense of humor-are still the keys to building a successful business today."-John F. Antioco, Chairman and CEO, Blockbuster Inc.

All of Tony Conza's proceeds from this book will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Tony Conza has shown, time and again, the vision to make Blimpie grow and the courage to make changes along the way. When he speaks about success, a lot of people would be well served to listen." (M. Douglas Ivester, Chairman and CEO The Coca-Cola Company)

From the Inside Flap

"You'll never achieve your greatest successes because you want to make more money. You'll do it out of a love, a desire, and a passion for reaching a dream." -Tony Conza What is success? Tony Conza will tell you that it has nothing to do with running an international chain of sandwich stores. It has to do with setting goals and achieving them. Long before he became Blimpie International's CEO, Conza was toiling away on Wall Street and dreaming of starting a business. With no money, no connections, and no mentors, Conza set his sights on becoming an entrepreneur. He worked hard. Took risks. He pursued opportunity with a passion. And no matter how grim the situation, Conza never, ever gave up. Conza says the Blimpie slogan-"lt's a Beautiful Thing"-appeals to the heart as well as to the mind. That's what success must do. You must put your heart into your dream and be willing to do whatever it takes. As long as you are passionate about what you do, asserts Conza, you will not fail. Success: It's a Beautiful Thing reveals how Conza realized his dream, sharing for the first time the commonsense tactics that helped turn a one-store operation run by Conza and two friends into an international, 2,100-store chain known as Blimpie. In a warm, friendly style, Conza interweaves events from his personal and professional life, offering timeless wisdom and practical advice on finding success-both in business and in life. Here, Conza discusses the struggles, triumphs, and tragedies he faced as he worked to accomplish his goals. Even when financial troubles and poor management threatened to put Blimpie out of business; even with his own bank account depleted and his insurance policies cashed in, Conza found a way to survive. He'll tell you how he did it. You'll discover how Conza created a vision for the future and set an example for his people to follow-turning Blimpie into one of the industry's largest chains, earning profits for staff and shaleholders, and making Blimpie a global brand. As much as this book is a riveting account of how Blimpie was formed and made it to the top, it is also a guide for turning your own dreams of success into reality. Conza's real-life lessons will teach you how to:
* achieve your dream with a three-step plan
* create your own opportunities
* communicate more effectively to improve relationships
* change your behavior to improve your business and your life
* create a life of enjoyment
* do well by doing good
* build upon success once you've achieved it
Conza states that as long as you love what you do and have fun with it, it will never be "work" and you'll find success that much faster. You can become an entrepreneur or run a better business-and reap the rewards. Sparkling with remarkable insight, Success: It's a Beautiful Thing will inspire you to reach your own dreams-and motivate you to sustain your success.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 264 pages
  • Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 14, 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0471381470
  • ISBN-13: 978-0471381471
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,576,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars SUCCESS, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING, May 22, 2000
This review is from: Success, It's a Beautiful Thing : Lessons on Life and Business From the Founder of Blimpie International (Hardcover)
THIS BOOK IS A MUST FOR ALL ENTREPRENEURS {BUDDING OR ESTABLISHED), MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES, OR JUST ANYONE WHO WANTS TO WORK AND ENJOY IT. THIS BOOK IS EXTREMELY EASY TO READ AND UNDERSTAND. THERE IS ANOTHER SURPRISE THAT THE AUTHOR ADDS: RECIPES. I THROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS.
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3.0 out of 5 stars Steps to Restaurant Success, July 6, 2006
This review is from: Success, It's a Beautiful Thing : Lessons on Life and Business From the Founder of Blimpie International (Hardcover)
This book is like listening to a motivational speech. It's not written as a biography, like many other business success stories. Instead of talking extensively about his personal rise to the top, the book focuses more on business strategies and advice for running a successful company.

Author Tony Conza does have some good wisdom to share and some good, quotable phrases. Some of his advice is obvious, but I did find some good, profound quotes buried inside some of the paragraphs- quotations that offer some good wisdom and business sense. There are also several key statements that Conza decided to highlight in the book by setting them apart, in boldface type, within each page.

Conza talks about his actual business experience with Blimpie sporadically. When appropriate, he will say something like "we applied this principle at Blimpie and it was a tremendous success". But the book is mostly a general advice manual, with bits and pieces about the Blimpie experience blended in.

There is little talk about the author's personal life and relationships. We don't get to hear much about his days as a youth, or his immediate family. He talks briefly about his mom and dad and his own experience working at the Federal Reserve before he became interested in food service. He also talks about his desire to learn to play the piano; his experience as a marathon runner (he successfully completed the New York Marathon); his embarrassment when he was asked to throw out the first ball at a 1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball game (he threw the ball in the dirt); and his meeting with former president Jimmy Carter and other important heads of state. These little tidbits are tossed in here and there, but there isn't much personal talk about family and life experiences.

Conza's experience with working in the restaurant business and his passion for success are well- presented in this book. I would have preferred if the book had been written as more of a biography, with a chronological chapter- by- chapter buildup to the present day company. But Conza's book is still a pretty good one, well- written and easy to understand, and full of sound advice for succeeding in business and life.

And, as Tony Conza has proven, success really is a beautiful thing!
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Business, Great Book., July 12, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Success, It's a Beautiful Thing : Lessons on Life and Business From the Founder of Blimpie International (Hardcover)
I own a Blimpie franchise in Peoria, AZ, and have personally found this book helpful. Tony covers success in business, how to deal with others, and basic life values that everyone needs to learn now a days. Everyone know matter your occupation or age will enjoy this book. Stop by at the Blimpie in Peoria, AZ, and mention the book and i'll get you a Free Blimpie Best!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
A glaring morning sunlight made its way onto my face, waking me up. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
franchisee advisory council, mental wheelchair, sticky things, passionate people, best sandwich
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Girls Clubs, New Jersey, Wall Street, New Wave, Border Cafe, Tony's Take, Jersey City, Joe Conza, Maui Tacos, Boston Chicken, Chuck Leaness, Papa Tony, Roberto Goizueta, Coca-Cola Company, David Siegel, Jimmy Carter, Tony Conza, Blimpie Best, Book of Excuses, Chicken Delight, Communicate More Effectively, Educated Incapacity, Pat Pompeo, Smoothie Island
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