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Monk and the Riddle: The Education of a Silicon Valley Entrepreneur
This book describes how one Silicon Valley insider has blazed a path of professional - and personal - success playing the game by his own rules. Silicon Valley is filled with garage-to-riches stories and hot young entrepreneurs with big ideas. Yet even in this place where the exceptional is common, Randy Komisar is a breed apart. Currently a "Virtual CEO" who provides "lea...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
March 1st 2000
by Harvard Business Review Press
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This book inspired me to interview Randy Komisar for a column I was writing at the time.
Passion – it’s on the ceiling!
Posted on April 5, 2003
First Published in Sally’s World, April 2003
http://www.sallyduros.com/passion-its...
By SALLY DUROS
In the 80s, we worked hard. In the early 90s, we worked smart. In the late 90s, we worked fast. But now, firmly established in the new millennium, we are working all three, but most of all we are working passion.
Today many of us have switched careers or spun o...more
Passion – it’s on the ceiling!
Posted on April 5, 2003
First Published in Sally’s World, April 2003
http://www.sallyduros.com/passion-its...
By SALLY DUROS
In the 80s, we worked hard. In the early 90s, we worked smart. In the late 90s, we worked fast. But now, firmly established in the new millennium, we are working all three, but most of all we are working passion.
Today many of us have switched careers or spun o...more
What I enjoyed most about this book is that its point is simple, yet important: people succeed in Silicon Valley / Tech because they are committed to a goal above and beyond making money.
I work in the tech industry and we're always hearing about people we know or loosely know making big money by having their companies acquired. But I always ask myself: is that really the end goal? Would you really have sacrificed all of those nights, weekends, blood, sweat, tears, relationships to this company i...more
I work in the tech industry and we're always hearing about people we know or loosely know making big money by having their companies acquired. But I always ask myself: is that really the end goal? Would you really have sacrificed all of those nights, weekends, blood, sweat, tears, relationships to this company i...more
How This Resonates With Me:
The author’s opinion of the interdependent relationship of work and life is something I believe in wholeheartedly. Life is brief, and it’s wasteful to spend time doing things that do not align with your passions or gifts. The brevity of life is a lesson my friend Shannon dealt me firsthand and I try to remind myself of this everyday.
Related to this, the author challenges a societal norm he calls The Deferred Life Plan. It’s a concept I always had a hard time buying int...more
The author’s opinion of the interdependent relationship of work and life is something I believe in wholeheartedly. Life is brief, and it’s wasteful to spend time doing things that do not align with your passions or gifts. The brevity of life is a lesson my friend Shannon dealt me firsthand and I try to remind myself of this everyday.
Related to this, the author challenges a societal norm he calls The Deferred Life Plan. It’s a concept I always had a hard time buying int...more
The deferred life plan concept is clarified in this book. The notion that business is art.
“In theory, the risk of business failure can be reduced to a number, the probability of failure multiplied by the cost of failure. Sure, this turns out to be a subjective analysis, but in the process your own attitudes toward financial risk and reward are revealed.
By contrast, personal risk usually defies quantification. It's a matter of values and priorities, an expression of who you are. "Playing it safe...more
“In theory, the risk of business failure can be reduced to a number, the probability of failure multiplied by the cost of failure. Sure, this turns out to be a subjective analysis, but in the process your own attitudes toward financial risk and reward are revealed.
By contrast, personal risk usually defies quantification. It's a matter of values and priorities, an expression of who you are. "Playing it safe...more
Unlike all other business books I've read, this one is mercifully short, focused on one big idea, and told as a story. Aside from that, I could not put the book down because it really appeared in my life at the right time to ask the question what I am passionate about my passion in life. Now I am a almost a full believer in abandoning the "Deferred Life Plan" -- do nonsense now to make money, live later -- except that I don't know what I am deferring. I do also like how subtly the benchmarks for...more
Do not ask me why this book is entitled The Monk and the Riddle as I will let you discover it if you decide to read this “old” book (a more than 10 year-old great piece of Silicon Valley description). Its subtitle is clear though: The Education of a Silicon Valley Entrepreneur.
Not all agree on the fact it is a great book as you may find at the end of this post, from the comment by the Red Herring in 2000. Still, I loved reading this book and let me explain why. Randy Komisar, today a partner at...more
Not all agree on the fact it is a great book as you may find at the end of this post, from the comment by the Red Herring in 2000. Still, I loved reading this book and let me explain why. Randy Komisar, today a partner at...more
How do you make an egg fall 3 feet and not break?
This book clocks in as a quick read. The author proved to be an excellent story teller. I don't know if I liked any characters, but the characters elicited a strong (annoyed) emotion.
More important, he wields an enlightened approach to entrepreneurship and business in general. He understands business as a creative and constructive process; with the idea being the ultimate driver and predictor of success. Stray from either your creativity or the s...more
This book clocks in as a quick read. The author proved to be an excellent story teller. I don't know if I liked any characters, but the characters elicited a strong (annoyed) emotion.
More important, he wields an enlightened approach to entrepreneurship and business in general. He understands business as a creative and constructive process; with the idea being the ultimate driver and predictor of success. Stray from either your creativity or the s...more
I teach an entrepreneurship class to law students and assign The Monk and The Riddle to the class. It is a great book for law students to read because it forces them to think about why they are going to law school, what they are hoping to get out of it, what will ultimately make them happy. While that is arguably a sub-theme of the book, I find it the most interesting piece of the conversation with my students.
On the other hand, the bulk of the book is focused on an entrepreneur's quest to get...more
On the other hand, the bulk of the book is focused on an entrepreneur's quest to get...more
The book stands out from the typical self-help/business books by tackling ideas like the Deferred Life Plan or the distinction between passion/drive with honesty, intelligence and simplicity.
Beware there are some anecdotes in the book where the author did not follow and arguably contradicts the book's (his own) tenets, but things worked out for him quite quite well (re Claris Corp.).
In the author's defense, the point of the book is (echoed elsewhere too) that there is no provable certainty about...more
Beware there are some anecdotes in the book where the author did not follow and arguably contradicts the book's (his own) tenets, but things worked out for him quite quite well (re Claris Corp.).
In the author's defense, the point of the book is (echoed elsewhere too) that there is no provable certainty about...more
Apr 27, 2013
Lucy Park
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Lucy by:
Cheol Kang
우리의 부모세대와 다르게 우리 세대는 '먹고사니즘'으로부터 그래도 제법 해방이 되었기 때문에, 어떤 일이 내게 돈을 많이 가져다줄지, 혹은 일 자체는 고되더라도 남은 인생(그것이 퇴근 후가 되었든 노년이 되었든)을 편하게 해줄 것인지보다는 내가 어떤 일을 하는 것이 의미가 있을지, 행복할지를 고민하는 것 같다. 감사하게도, 내가 보고 있는 내 주변의 세상은 그런 것 같다.
그럼에도, 우리는 전혀 먹고 사는 문제로부터 해방되지는 않았다. 능력이 있으면서도 고용이 안 되는 친구들이 있고, 불안정한 소득과 삶이 싫어 의치법학대학원으로 진학하는 친구들도 많다. 고용이 된들 행복하냐, 그건 더 큰 문제이다. 설상가상으로 교수님께서는, "너희 세대는 120살까지 살 것이다"라는 악담(?)을 하신다.
이 글에서 글쓴이가 전달하려는 메세지는, 매슬로우의 5단계 욕구 이론에서 4단계까지 만족스럽게 채운 사람들에게는 적합한 얘기들일지 모르겠다는 생각이 들었다. 그냥 적당히 하고 싶은 일만 하며 살아도 *...more
그럼에도, 우리는 전혀 먹고 사는 문제로부터 해방되지는 않았다. 능력이 있으면서도 고용이 안 되는 친구들이 있고, 불안정한 소득과 삶이 싫어 의치법학대학원으로 진학하는 친구들도 많다. 고용이 된들 행복하냐, 그건 더 큰 문제이다. 설상가상으로 교수님께서는, "너희 세대는 120살까지 살 것이다"라는 악담(?)을 하신다.
이 글에서 글쓴이가 전달하려는 메세지는, 매슬로우의 5단계 욕구 이론에서 4단계까지 만족스럽게 채운 사람들에게는 적합한 얘기들일지 모르겠다는 생각이 들었다. 그냥 적당히 하고 싶은 일만 하며 살아도 *...more
'Monk' includes some decent advice, and the writing is serviceable, but I found that the book was more of a superficial, self-indulgent autobiography rather than a guide to any sort of career enlightenment. I felt it failed to explore, in depth, many of its main points, such as choosing passion over drive, enjoying the journey over the destination, etc. Claims such as these are obvious and ubiquitous; in my opinion it is the ability of an author to explain in depth and motivate readers to explor...more
I wanted this book to be like The Alchemist, at least when it came to the monks' riddles, but it really wasn't. In fact, that was one of those things the author left unfinished from this book. And, after spending the first part of the book talking about it, it just seems like a frustration that he wanted to voice in his book and something that really should have been left out.
Overall, though, the book was a pleasant read and it had some good information on how venture capitalists value start-ups...more
Overall, though, the book was a pleasant read and it had some good information on how venture capitalists value start-ups...more
This is a book that narrates, through the dialogue between a mentor (Komisar) and two entrepreneurs seeking to launch their business, valuable lessons on entrepreneurship, and leadership. It takes us through the lifecycle of a start-up from inception to execution. What sets this book apart is that the narration showcases both the investor's point of view (VC) and the entrepreneurs looking to start their business. Through this the reader learns the gap that can and usually does exist between the...more
This was a fascinating read.
I found this to be an engaging narrative of the story of an early 2000′s entrepreneur trying to make it big. Lenny the entrepreneur is on a Deferred Life Plan and is ready to toil it out to make big bucks before he can settle to do something that he has always wanted to do. Randy argues that mere pursuit of wealth is not motivating enough to brave through the rough journey of a startup; he wonders what Lenny plans to do after he makes it big. The premise of the book...more
I found this to be an engaging narrative of the story of an early 2000′s entrepreneur trying to make it big. Lenny the entrepreneur is on a Deferred Life Plan and is ready to toil it out to make big bucks before he can settle to do something that he has always wanted to do. Randy argues that mere pursuit of wealth is not motivating enough to brave through the rough journey of a startup; he wonders what Lenny plans to do after he makes it big. The premise of the book...more
I bought this on my Kindle, which was sweet, and the book was very engaging. That said, the book's summary, to me, was that VCs prefer to fund a big talker with an ambitious idea to a practical talker with a practical idea (banking on one of their investments winning big enough to make up for the rest), and that silicon valley forgives failures as how you learn, but not laziness. Beyond that, it was your usual 'do what you love, don't defer your passion in the hopes of getting to it later, find...more
Started strong with great anecdotes of finding himself through experiences post-college. His early work in Rhode Island after attending Brown, traveling, post-law school, and also discoveries while working in Silicon Valley.
The story of Lenny and his business was an interesting scope of young entrepreneurs - grandiose ideas of business without asking why they are doing the venture. But ultimately this dragged on for too long.
The key points of the book:
If your goal as a businessperson is to make...more
The story of Lenny and his business was an interesting scope of young entrepreneurs - grandiose ideas of business without asking why they are doing the venture. But ultimately this dragged on for too long.
The key points of the book:
If your goal as a businessperson is to make...more
Nice and easy read - the book includes some excellent ideas that are thought provoking.
“Passion and Drive are not the same at all. Passion pulls you towards something you can’t resist. Drive pushes you towards something you feel compelled or obligated to do. If you know nothing about yourself, you can’t tell the difference.”
"Two types of startups -
a) Better-Faster-Cheaper
b) New World"
"Mediocrity is the biggest risk of all .."
"[Many of us divide our] .. life into two distinct parts:
Step one: D...more
“Passion and Drive are not the same at all. Passion pulls you towards something you can’t resist. Drive pushes you towards something you feel compelled or obligated to do. If you know nothing about yourself, you can’t tell the difference.”
"Two types of startups -
a) Better-Faster-Cheaper
b) New World"
"Mediocrity is the biggest risk of all .."
"[Many of us divide our] .. life into two distinct parts:
Step one: D...more
This is basically the story of a start up culture gone wrong and how it should be reshaped based on passion. Komisar is a virtual CEO and helps businesses incubate as they get funding and start on the cycles of fund-raising and then into real business. I love business books and although this is older now, written during the boom and then bust of the dot com era, its lessons still stand. Business is fantastic but it can't be about the money first, it must come from passion to change the world. I...more
I enjoyed this book a lot, it's a book by a silicon valley guru who basically illustrates through a parable/story of one of his client interactions how businesses need to be about more than just making money. They have to have a soul and a feminine side. They have to consider how they are creating a real change and innovation in the world, rather than just following in the same old pathways as those that came before. It's a book about compassion and innovation, evolution and life. It applies to...more
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Not a bad book, but not something likely to leave a lasting impression, at least for me. The book is part memoir and part fable talking about how people need to spend their working lives involved in a life they are passionate about, rather than deferring their passions until after they retire (which he calls the deferred life plan). I agreed with the point coming into the book, and thus I am likely not someone expected to get a great deal out of it. Well Written.
Not exactly rocket science or high literature, but it's a) an interesting view into Silicon Valley b) a reminder to do what you love and not put it off. After reading it, I wondered if I was using all my creative talents, or just putting in my time at this level of career, before I actually get the "dream job." By his philosophy, there should be interesting fulfilling work at every level... but maybe he was luckier that most in being at the right place, right time, in order to have the chance to...more
great book, although the author didnt effectively expound to the reader what the most important part of the lesson to be learned by the riddle - that it doesnt matter how high you hold the egg, its still going to drop and crack whether youre holding it up at 3 ft or 50 ft. you still can still spend the trip down doing something your passionate about instead of putting off meaningful pursuits in favor of dead-end unhappy chases after money or success.
If you’re interested in getting an inside perspective of venture capitalism in the Silicon Valley or just fascinated by business dealings in general this book is at times informative and worth the read. If not, this boring narrative about the education and career path of a “unique Valley insider” will waste the battery on your kindle, fail at helping you fall asleep and end up costing you an additional glass of wine.
I first read this book back in 2001, and it helped define my career. I remember feeling awed by it.
On second reading, 10 years later, it's still interesting. It's not, however, great. It is merely good, and fairly simplistic in terms of style. That's alright - Komisar has good thoughts to convey, and a bit of zen in him as well. The difference between drive and passion, the journey being the reward - these are good lessons.
On second reading, 10 years later, it's still interesting. It's not, however, great. It is merely good, and fairly simplistic in terms of style. That's alright - Komisar has good thoughts to convey, and a bit of zen in him as well. The difference between drive and passion, the journey being the reward - these are good lessons.
Fantastic book! I happened to read this at a time when I was really unsatisfied with my current job. I felt like a paper-pusher instead of contributing to society. Reading this book helped me realize I have to find meaning in what I do. Now, I'm finding ways to find meaning in my job and have ideas for new ventures that will allow me to support my family and make a lasting contribution. I will be reading this book again.
In the context of the author's experiences of working at, leading, investing in, and providing guidance to startups, this book asks and persuades the reader to answer these questions: (1) "what would you be willing to do for the rest of your life" and (2) how can you make that happen right now? Part business case-study, and part life philosophy, I'd recommend this to anyone who is looking for more in life/career.
I found the book funny, insightful, and informative. It's an excellent book for anyone trying to find balance between work and life. It was enlightening on how the VC business works and what one goes through when deciding on who to invest in. The Monk and the Riddle is a light read that is both entertaining and educational. This book makes you laugh. It makes you want to cry. But most important it makes you stop and think.
This book covers how to start a business but also motivates to change your style of life:
It talks about the experiences of the author in the Silicon Valley while at the same time advising how to live your life doing what you want, which is far more important than performing a job just to make money.
It talks about the experiences of the author in the Silicon Valley while at the same time advising how to live your life doing what you want, which is far more important than performing a job just to make money.
Really like this book. Its all about pursuing your passions and building a business around your life rather than deferring the life you want to live until you have reached some milestone. Told as a story of a VC coaching a younf entrepreneur. If you like business+zen, you will like this.
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“In theory, the risk of business failure can be reduced to a number, the probability of failure multiplied by the cost of failure. Sure, this turns out to be a subjective analysis, but in the process your own attitudes toward financial risk and reward are revealed.
By contrast, personal risk usually defies quantification. It's a matter of values and priorities, an expression of who you are. "Playing it safe" may simply mean you do not weigh heavily the compromises inherent in the status quo. The financial rewards of the moment may fully compensate you for the loss of time and fulfillment. Or maybe you just don't think about it. On the other hand, if time and satisfaction are precious, truly priceless, you will find the cost of business failure, so long as it does not put in peril the well-being of you or your family, pales in comparison with the personal risks of no trying to live the life you want today.
Considering personal risk forces us to define personal success. We may well discover that the business failure we avoid and the business success we strive for do not lead us to personal success at all. Most of us have inherited notions of "success" from someone else or have arrived at these notions by facing a seemingly endless line of hurdles extending from grade school through college and into our careers. We constantly judge ourselves against criteria that others have set and rank ourselves against others in their game. Personal goals, on the other hand, leave us on our own, without this habit of useless measurement and comparison.
Only the Whole Life Plan leads to personal success. It has the greatest chance of providing satisfaction and contentment that one can take to the grave, tomorrow. In the Deferred Life Plan there will always be another prize to covet, another distraction, a new hunger to sate. You will forever come up short.”
—
33 people liked it
By contrast, personal risk usually defies quantification. It's a matter of values and priorities, an expression of who you are. "Playing it safe" may simply mean you do not weigh heavily the compromises inherent in the status quo. The financial rewards of the moment may fully compensate you for the loss of time and fulfillment. Or maybe you just don't think about it. On the other hand, if time and satisfaction are precious, truly priceless, you will find the cost of business failure, so long as it does not put in peril the well-being of you or your family, pales in comparison with the personal risks of no trying to live the life you want today.
Considering personal risk forces us to define personal success. We may well discover that the business failure we avoid and the business success we strive for do not lead us to personal success at all. Most of us have inherited notions of "success" from someone else or have arrived at these notions by facing a seemingly endless line of hurdles extending from grade school through college and into our careers. We constantly judge ourselves against criteria that others have set and rank ourselves against others in their game. Personal goals, on the other hand, leave us on our own, without this habit of useless measurement and comparison.
Only the Whole Life Plan leads to personal success. It has the greatest chance of providing satisfaction and contentment that one can take to the grave, tomorrow. In the Deferred Life Plan there will always be another prize to covet, another distraction, a new hunger to sate. You will forever come up short.”
“And then there is the most dangerous risk of all -- the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.”
—
15 people liked it
More quotes…
Apr 22, 2013 09:17am