The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur: The tell-it-like-it-is guide to cleaning up in business, even if you are at the end of your roll. [Hardcover]

Mike Michalowicz (Author), HarperCo Books (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 24, 2008

"Never started a company before? Struggling with little or no cash? Have no experience, no baseline to judge your progress against? Thank God! You've got a shot at making this work." So says Mike Michalowicz, author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, a business book that is so uniquely useful, so raw and entertaining, it reads like the brainchild of Steve Jobs and Chris Rock.

The founder of three multimillion-dollar companies, including Obsidian Launch, a company that partners with first-time entrepreneurs to grow their concepts into industry leaders, Mike Michalowicz knows what it really takes to spin your great idea into pure gold.

Whether you're just starting out or have been at this for years, Mike's "get real" approach to business is a much-needed swift kick in the pants. In this book, you'll discover:
* Why a business plan is a total waste of your time.
* Why fulfilling your own needs is the first and last order of business.
* Which three sheets of paper you need to successfully launch, manage and grow your business.
* How to get started in business with little or no money.
* How to find and exploit resources that no one else knows about.
* How to stop procrastinating and take action NOW!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Disarmingly funny, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur tells it like it is and yet never gives up on the little guy. After reading this book you'll feel like you can actually pull it off - because you can."
--Donny Deutsch, Host of CNBC's The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch and Chairman, Deutsch Inc.

"The title of Mike's book might spark your interest, but the contents will truly transform your interest into entrepreneurial success."
--Pat Croce, Former Owner of the 76ers & Host of Down to Business

"Rock solid advice straight from the trenches, this book will change the way you look at everything about business. Mike has done a great job of making the complex - simple to understand. Bravo!"
--Bill Bartman, Self-made Billionaire (25th Wealthies Person in the World) & National Entrepreneur of the Year (twice) by USA Today, Inc, and E&Y & Founder of Billionaire Business Systems.

"This book kicks ass. I have read dozens of great books on entrepreneurship and honestly, I have never read one that was more in line with my own personal entrepreneurial philosophy and experience. And yes, you can quote me on that."
--Scott Allen, The Blogger for Guide to Entrepreneurs (Entrepreneurs.About.com) & Entrepreneur

"The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur is a great, insightful read loaded with ingenuity, humor, and heart. If there was ever a "must-read" book for aspiring entrepreneurs, this is it."
--Cameron Johnson, Entrepeneur, Oprah's The Big Give Contestent and Author of You Call The Shots

"Fast-moving, packed with anecdotes from real businesses and genuinely very funny, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur shares lessons that I can relate to from running my own business for the past five years."
--Fraser Doherty, 19 Year Old Founder & Managing Director of $1M+ company, SuperJam

"Stop your crying! Stop your whining! The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur shows you how to get off the pot by using what you have to make your business a success!"
--Barry Moltz, Entrepreneur and Author of Bounce!

"The book is full of business wisdom that any entrepreneur can learn from. His life experiences, personality and huge set of balls make him THE MAN... and this book LIFE CHANGING!"
--Louis Lautman, Filmmaker & Founder of Young Entrepreneur Society (Y.E.S.)

"The TPE is a raw, powerfully inspirational, and intriguingly crafted masterpiece. Read this book tonight and start your company tomorrow. I did."
--Alexander LindahlFounder of College Mogul

"The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur is a must-read for aspiring AND established entrepreneurs. First, it is written by a successful serial entrepreneur who has built multi-million dollar businesses and walked the talk. Second, Michael is not afraid to call it like he sees it, whether or not it offends others. Unfortunately, both of these qualities are lacking in most entrepreneurship books."
--Michael Simmons, Co-Founder of Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour & Bestselling Author of The Student Success Manifestor

"This book kicks ass. I have read dozens of great books on entrepreneurship and honestly, I have never read one that was more in line with my own personal entrepreneurial philosophy and experience. And yes, you can quote me on that."
--Scott Allen, The Blogger for Guide to Entrepreneurs (Entrepreneurs.About.com) & Entrepreneur

About the Author

Mike Michalowicz started his first business at the age of 24, moving his young family to the only safe place he could afford - a retirement village. With limited resources and no experience, he systematically grew a multimillion-dollar technology business, sleeping in conference rooms to avoid hotel costs.

After selling his first company, Michalowicz launched a new business the very next day, and in less than three years, sold it to a Fortune 500. With his newest venture, Obsidian Launch, he fosters startup businesses with his 'get rich right' approach.

A graduate of Inc. and MIT's Birthing of Giants Entrepreneurial Program, Michalowicz received Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards multiple times. He is a recurring guest on CNBC's The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, ABC News, and other television programs; has been featured on multiple radio stations including National Public Radio (NPR) and in The New York Times, SmartCEO Magazine, and other publications.

Michalowicz is a guest lecturer for entrepreneurial groups at Babson, Boston College, Columbia, Harvard, Penn State, Temple, University of The West Indies and other colleges throughout the country and world.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 199 pages
• Publisher: Obsidian Launch, LLC; 1st Edition edition (September 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981808204
• ISBN-13: 978-0981808208
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (345 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > Home Based
  • #23 in Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > New Business Enterprises

More About the Author

Mike Michalowicz (pronounced mi-CAL-o-witz) started his first business at the age of 24, moving his young family to the only safe place he could afford - a retirement village. With limited resources and no experience, he systematically bootstrapped a multi-million dollar technology business, sleeping in conference rooms to avoid hotel costs. After selling his first company, Mike launched a new business the very next day, and in less than three years, sold it to a Fortune 500. With his newest multi-million dollar venture, Obsidian Launch, he fosters startup businesses with his "get rich right" approach.

The host of the brand new business reality show, Bailout!, Mike is a graduate of Inc. & MIT's "Birthing of Giants" Entrepreneurial Program. He has received multiple entrepreneurship awards, including the SBA's Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Mike is a recurring guest on CNBC's The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, ABC News, Fox News and international television programs. He has also been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, US News & World Report, National Public Radio (NPR), the New York Times, and other publications.

Mike is a frequent guest lecturer for entrepreneurial groups and professional business groups throughout the world. Mike is also a guest lecturer for collegiate entrepreneurial programs such as Babson, Boston College, Columbia, Copenhagen Business School, Emerson, Harvard, Penn State, Pepperdine and Princeton.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Short Easy Applicable Guide for the Everyday Entrepreneur, December 22, 2008

By 

Ivana S. Taylor "Ivana Taylor" (Medina, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur: The tell-it-like-it-is guide to cleaning up in business, even if you are at the end of your roll. (Hardcover)

I fell in love with Toilet Paper Entrepreneur on page xxi (in the introduction) where Mike Michalowicz does a brilliant comparison between the "Media Darling" entrepreneur and his "Three Sheet Path." In Mike's example at the age of 18, the media darling is recruited to an Ivy League school only to quit and launch a successful VC. Meanwhile, Mike is picking colleges based on the guy-to-girl ratios. Yup - that would be me.

This book showed me that regular people with some skill and an idea can launch a successful business -- without all the fancy schmancy MBA stuff and spending thousands on consultants and technology. Don't get me wrong. There is a place for all the formal stuff - but this book will get you to that place.

One of my favorite Guy Kawasaki quotes (from his new book Reality Check) goes something like "Just once I wish someone would ask me for money to increase their capacity because they have more customers than they know what to do with!"

Toilet Paper Entrepreneur will get you to that point where you will build a business and an infrastructure for profitable growth. If you've ever dreamed of pitching the likes of Guy Kawasaki - read this first. This will get you to needing more capacity to serve more customers.

Mike doesn't have to impress anyone. He has proven (because he's made millions several times over) that real entrepreneurship is about resourceful action and this book tells you how.

Build your business with 3 documents
1. A Prosperity Plan - Your credo and vision for your success.
2. A Quarterly Plan - Your goals and objectives a quarter out
3. Daily Metrics - The numbers that immediately measure the health of your business.

You'll also find ways to:
- Get low-cost, no-cost employees and assistance
- Find office furniture
- Free conference calling and web casting

And so much more.
WARNING: Not for the easily offended.

If you are easily offended by potty humor - this book is not for you. If you're more impressed with high-end consultant, PhD. research-based books that tell you all the right ways to do things - you'll be disappointed.

But even the "negative reviews" here acknowledge that the information is good, valid, insightful and right on.

Personally, I love the potty humor. It's visceral and completely and effectively communicates what it really means to be resourceful when you have to be.

I've already used many of the tips in the book and saved some money. It's inspirational and is gathering quite the community of fun entrepreneurs committed to action and growth no matter what the economy.,

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, October 15, 2008

By 

Sarah L. Radford "Designer of Chic Gems, etc.... (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur: The tell-it-like-it-is guide to cleaning up in business, even if you are at the end of your roll. (Hardcover)

Ok, so I just finished the book....LOVED it!
Mike's book, The Toilet Paper Entrpreneur" is a no nonsense, tell it like it is book on business. I can say that the 3 sheet toilet paper theory is genius! Everyone can relate...
Being an entrepreneur myself, I know that there is a lot of hard work that goes into owning a business. My friends who have classic "9-5er's" don't get it. Reading this book is a breath of fresh air and gives me an instant energy charge. I have had people ask me over and over if I have a business plan. I do have one roughly written, but it is far from "perfect". I liked the chapter that talked about business plans being a waste of time. Afterall, do most people really look at them after they get a bank loan? Instead, Mike suggests making a Prosperity Plan, which is much more practical and definitely helps you keep focused on the big picture.
I also throughly enjoyed the chapter about the TPE's vs. The Media Darlings. I have had people give me their FREE advice that I don't have the money needed to make my business successful. Hmmmm... As Mike said, ask Bill Hewlitt and Mike Packard who began their business with $538.
The beautiful thing is that in America that can be your story too!
The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur is a must read for any entrepreneur!
All the very best!
Sarah Radford
President Chic Gems, etc.

30 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for beginner entrepreneurs and good for the rest of us too, September 26, 2008

By 

Benjamin A. Simon (Arlington, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur: The tell-it-like-it-is guide to cleaning up in business, even if you are at the end of your roll. (Hardcover)

Because of my interest in this topic (I write software for businesses who fit the definition of a Toilet Paper Entrepreneur), Mike (a guy I've just met over the web) sent me a review copy of the text.

I have to say, I really enjoyed the book. It's written with a humorous / conversational tone, which makes for an easy read (be prepared for lots of potty humor). While the book is fun, I was pleased to find lots of useful advice for building a business - the book goes beyond just cheerleading.

I happen to be a big fan of the whole bootstrapping method of building a business. Rather than figure this approach out via trial and error, Mike provides a concrete approach for doing just this.

I gave the book 5 starts because I think it nails the topic for the audience it wants to go after: people who want to start a business, but don't think they have the money or education to do so. If that's you, then this should be among the first business books you buy.

If you're like myself and have a bit more experience, then I still recommend the book. You'll no doubt find it educational, and at the very least, you'll get in quite a few good laughs.