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If You Want to Make God Really Laugh, Show Him Your Business Plan: The 101 Universal Laws of Business
 
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If You Want to Make God Really Laugh, Show Him Your Business Plan: The 101 Universal Laws of Business [Hardcover]

Barry J. Gibbons (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)


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Book Description

May 1, 1999
The former CEO of Burger King blows the cover on corporate incompetence--and uncovers the secrets of good business--in his sharp-tongued, riotously funny book.

Why are so many businesses such depressing, poorly directed messes? Ask Barry Gibbons, enlightened capitalist, high-spirited wit, and the man who nearly single-handedly pulled Burger King out of a long, disparaging slump, rendering it robust and dynamic (without cutting heads).

In this rollicking, iconoclastic book, Gibbons blasts apart the thick wall of hubris, hierarchy, regimentation, and exaggerated complexity so endemic to the corporate world--and lays bare his 101 "Universal Laws of Business," commonsense truths about how to run a business profitably and well. His sage witticisms and sensible opinions cover motivational theory, limited terms for business leaders, being big but acting small, hurdling marketplace barriers, unhealthy profit, new branding, innovation, information technology, and more.

And Gibbons deftly answers nagging questions, such as: why mediocre products litter a hyper-competitive marketplace that demands distinct oneswhy the workforce is supremely alienated, exactly at a time when businesses need savvy, motivated employeesand why the most meticulously crafted business plan contains the one and only scenario guaranteed not to happen.

These 101 business truths will grab readers by the gut and make them gasp in relief. Because they're the things that most everyone (especially the folks laboring in the trenches) knows to be true--and wonders why the top dogs don't have a clue.


Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gibbons headed Burger King from 1989 until 1994 and is widely credited for turning around the ailing hamburger chain. In 1994, he decided to quit the world of big business, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been busy. A native of England, Gibbons is now in his mid-50s. He is popular on the corporate lecture circuit, he consults, he writes an irreverent column for the business section of the Miami Herald, and he is chairman of the board of a Florida chain of music stores. One of Gibbons' proudest moments was rebuilding Burger King's headquarters and shepherding its staff through the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Among his mantras is the insistence on treating employees fairly, and downsizing advocate "Chainsaw" Al Dunlap is Gibbons' favorite target. All of this would make wonderful grist for an instructive autobiography. Instead, Gibbons prefers to use the sort of humor that is the hallmark of his column to get his point across. He strings together his 101 commonsense, down-to-earth maxims with hyperbole, potshots, flippancy, and meandering asides. David Rouse

From the Back Cover

"Barryyou are a true madman (OK, visionary)." --Tom Peters

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: AMACOM; 1 edition (May 1, 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0814404987
  • ISBN-13: 978-0814404980
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Out-of-the-box thinking that is a must for all CEO's, May 26, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: If You Want to Make God Really Laugh, Show Him Your Business Plan: The 101 Universal Laws of Business (Hardcover)
Wit and wisdom work in perfect harmony in this book. Plus an abundance of common sense, which is so often not commonly used! Full of fresh attitudes and ideas about how to think and behave differently in the business world that could, and in my opinon, should change basic business practices for ever. A dynamite book that makes you laugh at his footnotes whilst crying at the horrific examples of how not to run a business.

'Enlightened' is an understatement - this man must have a direct line to some greater power that we poor simple folk have not found. Buy this book, read it at least twice, make some notes and then give it to your CEO. If he/she has any sense that there is always a different way of doing things, this will excite and inspire change.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars If you want to really laugh -- and learn -- read this book, December 23, 1999
This review is from: If You Want to Make God Really Laugh, Show Him Your Business Plan: The 101 Universal Laws of Business (Hardcover)
This guy writes with the wit and wisdom of Tom Peters and the hysterical observations and honesty of Dave Barry. Loved this book. I want more.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Barry Gibbons is not "irreverent" he's dead on!, October 1, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: If You Want to Make God Really Laugh, Show Him Your Business Plan: The 101 Universal Laws of Business (Hardcover)
Reviewers and critics of Barry Gibbons often talk about his irreverent humor. As far as we're concerned, though, he's dead on! Even his title for the book shows it. Here's a book that talks about business in a way that we've always thought it should be run. Mr. Gibbons presents his ideas in 101 Universal Laws of Business, but in essence these just state what most of us mere mortals (i.e., without MBA) would call "common sense". He starts off with what he calls "Tests of Rightness" (no, not righteousness!) Already, we thought we could start making our own rules. Look, if it doesn't feel right, then it probably is a mistake, right? These are not namby-pamby "feel good" rules, but basic common sense. Mr. Gibbons presents all of these pieces of wisdom with with the kind of humor that makes reading a joy. We sped through this book nodding our heads in agreement, and holding our sides when we laughed too hard. Buy this book, read it, live it. You won't be sorry.

(c)1999, VentureConsult.com

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