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The Humility Imperative: Effective Leadership in an Era of Arrogance
The Humility Imperative begs the can one be confident and have humility at the same time?
In order to explore that, this book emphasizes the very personal nature of leadership. It delivers authentic, raw evidence that building anything requires constant attentiveness to interpersonal dynamics.
The Humility ImperativeI follows entrepreneur and investor Dave Balter’s journey from the sale of his fourth startup, BzzAgent, through the launch of three additional startups—Smarterer, Mylestone, and Flipside Crypto—as well as his time as both a corporate executive and as a partner in a venture capital fund.
The experiences highlight the fact that while humility may be intended in one’s heart, it only becomes genuine if it is reflected through the thoughts of others.
The lessons are a reminder that every interaction—both professional and personal—is the lens by which your own intentions become clear. Humility is an imperative. And it lives in the eye of the beholder.
In order to explore that, this book emphasizes the very personal nature of leadership. It delivers authentic, raw evidence that building anything requires constant attentiveness to interpersonal dynamics.
The Humility ImperativeI follows entrepreneur and investor Dave Balter’s journey from the sale of his fourth startup, BzzAgent, through the launch of three additional startups—Smarterer, Mylestone, and Flipside Crypto—as well as his time as both a corporate executive and as a partner in a venture capital fund.
The experiences highlight the fact that while humility may be intended in one’s heart, it only becomes genuine if it is reflected through the thoughts of others.
The lessons are a reminder that every interaction—both professional and personal—is the lens by which your own intentions become clear. Humility is an imperative. And it lives in the eye of the beholder.
234 pages, Paperback
Published June 19, 2020
20 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 30, 2020
Dave Balter is something of a phenomenon in Boston startup circles, and even as a diligent follower I’d only read about 30% of this material before. Seeing it fresh, together, and in the context of a lot of new work and insights, I’m struck by not only the wisdom but the intimate honesty of it all. This is not a business book of dry facts and boardroom anecdotes. It's the best look I’ve seen at what it’s *really* like to try and build a business, in the real world of egos and insecurities, failing marriages and growing children, celebrated triumphs and inevitable regrets. It’s not the stuff you learn in business school, but what you learn the hard way... through the heart and not just the head, too often after the fact and almost never in a straight line.
It takes courage to share stories this personal, to face the truth of your own situation, to demonstrate strength through vulnerability. This book calls on that kind of courage as a requirement of leadership in the present moment and beyond, and it does so with candor, charm, and the convincing power of its own example.
It takes courage to share stories this personal, to face the truth of your own situation, to demonstrate strength through vulnerability. This book calls on that kind of courage as a requirement of leadership in the present moment and beyond, and it does so with candor, charm, and the convincing power of its own example.
January 9, 2021
Good title, but a vapid and uninspiring book by someone whose overinflated sense of self worth leaps off the page, even as he occasionally (only two essays in the book are about what the title topic) writes about humility.
May have some tidbits useful to a founder, but a swing and a miss as a business or leadership book.
May have some tidbits useful to a founder, but a swing and a miss as a business or leadership book.
April 19, 2021
An easy and enjoyable read - however, I learned near null. And I definitely learned nothing about humility! Honestly, I am not sure what I am supposed to take away from the book in terms of leadership or humility, and I feel like it was scarcely touched. Really, it was more about a start up founder's adventure, which is interesting of itself, but a completely different book. It makes you wonder if the author actually has learned much about humility on his travels at all.
As a side note, this book is a compilation of blogs, and is not written with the intent of becoming a book. This means the book has little read thread of development, and really, just seems like a cheap effort to score some more cash for the author. Would not recommend buying or reading it. I'm sure you can find better books for your money.
As a side note, this book is a compilation of blogs, and is not written with the intent of becoming a book. This means the book has little read thread of development, and really, just seems like a cheap effort to score some more cash for the author. Would not recommend buying or reading it. I'm sure you can find better books for your money.
June 30, 2020
Reading Dave Balter is like having a beer with your best buddy who happens to be a serial entrepreneur with storytelling chops like Dave Chappelle’s. It’s a lesson on what life as a founder is like. A lot of pointed and choice personal and professional lessons, actually, that play out as if you were at a totally lit show. Balter’s writing is so energetic and immediate that if he tells you about the time he was so close to the stage he got splashed with sweat, your cheek is tingling. If you want to experience the long, strange trip of startup life firsthand, Humility is your ticket to the spectacle.
June 21, 2020
Serial entrepreneur and great human Dave Balter writes a funny, succinct, brilliant book about living a “balanced” life in the startup world. It is full of so many great insights as well as very unique recruiting posts!
July 1, 2020
Incredible journey
I know Dave peripherally and from a long time ago, from the Bzzagent days. His collection of essays truly demonstrates what becoming a master looks like - a true leader, entrepreneur and startup guru. I’m in awe of the stories and a little bit jealous at his journey.
The sponge and the stone in particular jumped out at me. Tons great advice here not only for startup founders, but for wanna bees like me as well. Can’t wait to see what he does next.
I know Dave peripherally and from a long time ago, from the Bzzagent days. His collection of essays truly demonstrates what becoming a master looks like - a true leader, entrepreneur and startup guru. I’m in awe of the stories and a little bit jealous at his journey.
The sponge and the stone in particular jumped out at me. Tons great advice here not only for startup founders, but for wanna bees like me as well. Can’t wait to see what he does next.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews