Customer Reviews

The Ugly Truth about Small Business

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although my "day job" is as a drama teacher, I've run my own business, on the side, since 1975. And I've always had success. Yes, it's tough. Yes, you have to work hard. Yes, there will be obstacles. That's life. I've had more problems on campus, however, than I have running my own business.

Ruth King wants to show us the ugly side of running a business. It's expensive (but it doesn't have to be). It's depressing (but only if you give up each time you hit a roadblock). It's not for everyone (but if it weren't for you, why would you be reading this?).

There is a myriad of great books on starting your own business -- all aspects, from finding seed money to getting free promotion to expanding to keeping your spirits up to bookkeeping to tax issues.

Avoid this book. Get inspired instead of depressed.

I like the idea and the stories of business challenges. I was hoping for more solutions.

After many years of thinking and researching starting a business as an ongoing enterprise (instead of merely earning income as a self-employed consultant) i am putting everything together.

It is a scary proposition.

In my research, i got a lot of advice from people and books. In particular, they stress the need to write business plans and other steps. However, in all of it - no one would spell out exactly WHY business plans need to be written.

In The Ugly Truth, the reasons why are spelled out forcefully. This is a sobering look into entrepreneurship and being a small business owner, and yet it is an UPLIFTING confirmation for those of us who have decided to take this road.

It spells out the WHY'S very eloquently.

Years ago, i told my sister, who owns several day care centers, that i intended to go into business for myself. Her considered advice was:

"Do it. You will cry yourself to sleep for a few years, but you will be glad you did it."

That's exactly what this book says.

It just explains why and what you need to do, through the hard earned lessons of others. If nothing else, it helps to learn through the experiences and mistakes of others.

This book should be required reading for any college course on being in business.

I purchased this book for my son who owns a small restaurant, catering business but I haven't given it to him yet as I am in the process of reading it myself...and enjoying it. Ruth King did a great job on writing this. No wonder she is so successful herself!

PS: Bought the book used and the cover came in pretty bad shape. Wish I had bought it new!

Someone reviewed this book and described it as "Pessimistic and Boring". I would say it's informative, enlightening and interesting. This is a collection of real pitfalls that real business owners experienced in their businesses. Things that many people may not be aware of or feel that "it wouldn't happen to them".

This should be considered a must read by anyone thinking about starting a business. Not to sway you from starting a business, but to help you protect yourself from common pitfalls.

I find business self-help books that offer examples of persons who have encountered difficulties and resolved them one way or another, instructive. This book does that by taking a mini case study approach to running a small business. Granted these scenarios are in no way HBR case studies, but that is not what I was looking for. I wanted a quick review of the problem, the solution(s) the person took to the problem and why, and some type of lessons learned. This book does that.

Yes, some of the anecdotes do not have a happy ending. However, that does not detract from their educational value. After all, I would prefer to reduce my own mistakes by learning from someone else's mistakes vicariously, then by experiencing them first hand.

Too many business owners have jumped in feet first without understanding the pitfalls and traumas that being a business owner can bring. This book will open the eyes of new, as well as seasoned business owners to many of the obstacles that stand in the way of their success by telling the stories of those who have been in the trenches. The stories told within the book will give comfort to many who have been through the exact same situations and felt that they were "all alone" in their failure, and that many times these so-called "failures" lead to great success.

For several years I have been contemplating opening my own business. I never really wanted to but people all the time tell me "I should". I think I have finally reached that stage where "I might". My biggest conern is not the fear of failure, but the fear of being responsible.

Reading this book has given me great insight on what to expect,

the understanding that everyone who starts their own business faces the same fears. It is helping me to get the confidence and encouragement needed to get started. Thankfully there were enough stories with positive outcomes to offset the failed ones.

Ruth King has packed a lot of "lessons" in a small package through the throughtful reflections of a diverse group of entrepreneurs. This isn't a "how-to" book but rather one that shares real-life experiences of those who have chosen to pursue the vision of owning a small business. This little book served to encourage me to see just how much I really have learned in 20 years of business and reinforced my finest attributes; perseverance and learning from others mistakes.

The author discusses passion as the condition precedent for a

successful outcome. In addition, investors must decide upon how

much money will be committed to individual deals. During this

process, lessons will be learned on how various businesses

operate. The operation of a business involves logical thinking

all of the time. People who commit themselves must believe in

the work that they are doing. Implementation of a successful

business plan is paramount. Above all, it's important to journalize

transactions and the experiential domain of the day-to-day

interplay with customers and relevant others.

This work is excellent for those intending to acquire a business

or start one of their own.