Clearly written and experience-based, this quirky book overflows with practical insights, and is a must read for anyone taking a first step in starting a solo business. Part roadmap, part inspiration and laced with wit and authenticity throughout, Katz shares his own story as a first-time, mid-life, solo professional.
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About the Author
An award-winning humorist, entrepreneur and recovering corporate marketer, Michael Katz translates his unique view of everyday life into useful, authentic and entertaining business insights. As Founder and Chief Penguin of Blue Penguin Development, Inc., Michael is a recognized expert in the development of electronic newsletters, and helps clients significantly increase sales by showing them how to build on their existing relationships. Since launching Blue Penguin in 2000, Michael has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Week Online, Bloomberg TV, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald and other national and local media. He is the author of three books, and has published over 175 issues of his “E-Newsletter on E-Newsletters,” a biweekly with 5,000 passionate subscribers in over 40 countries around the world. Michael has an MBA from Boston University and a BA in Psychology from McGill University in Montreal. He also has a second degree black belt in karate (Kempo), a first degree black belt in parenting (three children), and is a past winner of the New England Press Association award for "Best Humor Columnist."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This may be the first of it's kind. Katz draws on his personal successful experience as a solo professional while adding the type of humor that makes you laugh but also makes a point. Each "quirky story" educates and motivates in very practical and useful ways. If you aren't one yet, this just may be the book to get you thinking about taking the leap.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a solo professional I'm always looking for "the" book that is a quick read with great advice. This is it! This is the kind of book that will never make it to the bookshelf. My already dog-eared copy will live on my desk and serve as a reference when I need inspiration and comic relief when I just need a break. The perfect gift for the seasoned entrepreneur and a must read for those just starting out!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Thinking of leaving your job, or you have recently joined the ranks of solo professional, this book is a must for you
October 7, 2007
Format:Paperback
Michael Katz, in his book "It Sure Beats Working: 29 Quirky Stories and Practical Business Lessons for the First-time, Mid-Life, Solo Professional", made me feel as if I was involved in a personal conversation with the author through his journey towards becoming a solo professional. While reading, I laughed and shook my head in affirmation while Katz recounted stories which included starting a business, and the lessons he learned while growing his business. Katz candidly divulges his true feelings and experiences, while letting the reader learn from his trials and successes.
Michael began his adult life as most of us do, graduating collage and working for a large corporation. As many working professionals can relate, he discovered working in a large company was not his true direction in life. If you are stuck in a cubicle hard at work and are trying to avoid the political drama at work, you will share his angst when he speaks of attending unproductive meetings and his yearning to leave a boring job.
Katz attained his goal of leaving his "secure" job with a large company and striking out on his own. If you are thinking of leaving your job, or you have recently joined the ranks of solo professional, this book is a must for you. The greatest benefit to the reader is the authors ability to candidly tell us his experience, and make the reader realize he is not alone in his struggle to make it in the world as a solo professional.
Since I am also a mid-life individual who changed course in his professional life, I felt as if he was speaking directly to me, although I can't relate to his struggle with baldness. My hair is all there, but has turned gray.
The chapter I enjoy most is entitled "Become a Leading Expert in Something". Michael Katz is an expert in development of electronic newsletters, and one day found himself with a client who was a life coach. This life coach had lived the majority of her life with chronic illness, but had not capitalized on her uniqueness in raising a family and building a successful career while battling this illness. Michael while consulting with the life coach on a newsletter was able to refocus her efforts and declare her new expertise. Now the life coach can be defined as an expert in the field of thriving in the workplace while having a chronic illness.
If you are on the fence thinking of starting your own business you will enjoy his "10 Really Good Reasons to Quit Your Job and Start Your Own Business". Some of the top ten reasons I enjoyed include: dancing to your own music, never having to retire, and finding your purpose.
This book is typical Michael Katz, funny, informative, and a great read. Although his book focuses on the solo professional, much of his advice transcends the sol proprietor and is good advice in being successful in both your personal and business life.
Michael began his adult life as most of us do, graduating collage and working for a large corporation. As many working professionals can relate, he discovered working in a large company was not his true direction in life. If you are stuck in a cubicle hard at work and are trying to avoid the political drama at work, you will share his angst when he speaks of attending unproductive meetings and his yearning to leave a boring job.
Katz attained his goal of leaving his "secure" job with a large company and striking out on his own. If you are thinking of leaving your job, or you have recently joined the ranks of solo professional, this book is a must for you. The greatest benefit to the reader is the authors ability to candidly tell us his experience, and make the reader realize he is not alone in his struggle to make it in the world as a solo professional.
Since I am also a mid-life individual who changed course in his professional life, I felt as if he was speaking directly to me, although I can't relate to his struggle with baldness. My hair is all there, but has turned gray.
The chapter I enjoy most is entitled "Become a Leading Expert in Something". Michael Katz is an expert in development of electronic newsletters, and one day found himself with a client who was a life coach. This life coach had lived the majority of her life with chronic illness, but had not capitalized on her uniqueness in raising a family and building a successful career while battling this illness. Michael while consulting with the life coach on a newsletter was able to refocus her efforts and declare her new expertise. Now the life coach can be defined as an expert in the field of thriving in the workplace while having a chronic illness.
If you are on the fence thinking of starting your own business you will enjoy his "10 Really Good Reasons to Quit Your Job and Start Your Own Business". Some of the top ten reasons I enjoyed include: dancing to your own music, never having to retire, and finding your purpose.
This book is typical Michael Katz, funny, informative, and a great read. Although his book focuses on the solo professional, much of his advice transcends the sol proprietor and is good advice in being successful in both your personal and business life.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Breath Of Fresh Air
I just finished reading "It Sure Beats Working" and it was like a breath of fresh air. As I begin to work for myself I have surrounded myself with "guru" and "how-to" books to the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Shan
Need to read over and over!
This is one of the best books I have read to help develop a small business. Small punchy writeups, each one with a great message. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Anthony
Break down imaginary barriers and self-defeating attitudes
When I saw Michael Katz' book "It Sure Beats Working," I jumped at it. Anything Michael writes is funny, so I knew it would be enjoyable. Read more
Published 20 months ago by aspires2b
If you are doing or thinking of doing any kind of e-newsletter
I work with people to train them how to do effective e-newsletters. This is the one book I tell them that they have to read. The book is short but full of effective concepts. Read more
Published on October 25, 2008 by Neal Nelson
Great Book
This is a great book for anyone who is looking to start their own business and has all the skills they need but just needs a little push and motivation to go off on their own. Read more
Published on September 30, 2008 by K. Collins
Rare Combo Few Can Pull Off
Michael Katz' extraordinary book is informative, exciting, magnificent, fun, funny and incomparable. Read more
Published on July 30, 2008 by Ken Lizotte
Useful and funny self-marketing anecdotes
Michael Katz is a pro and this book is a fun, breezy read, and you can't "beat" the title. Some of the stuff seemed familiar from his blog but it has more heft all bound together... Read more
Published on June 1, 2008 by Lectrice
Great holiday present for friends running small businesses or dreaming...
So many books about business lessons are a struggle to plow through - they tend to be full of statistics and the authors often full of themselves. Read more
Published on November 2, 2007 by K. Gow
Ranked #1 by SocialMaturity.com's Book Club
As a subscriber to the Blue Penguin Development Newsletter for years, I've long been a fan of Michael Katz's writing. Read more
Published on September 23, 2007 by Laurence I. Barsh
Bubby and Zadie would be proud
If you haven't eaten all day and have but $12.99 in your name, buy this book and you will never go hungry again. Read more
Published on September 11, 2007 by The Netty Professor
Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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solo professional Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Chief Penguin, United States, Most Beautiful People, Michael Katz New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
solo professional Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Chief Penguin, United States, Most Beautiful People, Michael Katz New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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