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Level Up: Rise Above the Hidden Forces Holding Your Business Back
An inspiring and revelatory guide to starting and scaling a small business, from powerhouse duo Stacey Abrams and Lara Hodgson
Like many business owners, renowned politician and activist Stacey Abrams didn’t start a business because she dreamed of calling herself an entrepreneur. Her part-time post (and its $17,310 annual salary) as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives necessitated striking out on her own as a consultant—her first small business. Then, Stacey and her friend Lara Hodgson launched an infrastructure advisory firm—named Insomnia Consulting because they did their best thinking at 3:00 a.m.—and then another business, and then another.
Fifteen years into their entrepreneurial journey together, they have tackled the obstacles that many business owners face: how to grow sustainably, hire thoughtfully, and keep up with the Goliaths in your industry.
Now, for the first time, Stacey and Lara share their inspiring and relatable personal story and lessons learned the hard way to show how every business owner can confront the forces that conspire to keep small businesses small. Lauded for her “resilient, visionary leadership” (Barack Obama) and celebrated as a “passionate advocate of democracy” (Madeleine Albright), Stacey now brings her fierce sense of justice to the challenges that America’s business owners face. Level Up arms readers with the confidence, know-how, and savvy to overcome the obstacles that hold their businesses back.
Like many business owners, renowned politician and activist Stacey Abrams didn’t start a business because she dreamed of calling herself an entrepreneur. Her part-time post (and its $17,310 annual salary) as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives necessitated striking out on her own as a consultant—her first small business. Then, Stacey and her friend Lara Hodgson launched an infrastructure advisory firm—named Insomnia Consulting because they did their best thinking at 3:00 a.m.—and then another business, and then another.
Fifteen years into their entrepreneurial journey together, they have tackled the obstacles that many business owners face: how to grow sustainably, hire thoughtfully, and keep up with the Goliaths in your industry.
Now, for the first time, Stacey and Lara share their inspiring and relatable personal story and lessons learned the hard way to show how every business owner can confront the forces that conspire to keep small businesses small. Lauded for her “resilient, visionary leadership” (Barack Obama) and celebrated as a “passionate advocate of democracy” (Madeleine Albright), Stacey now brings her fierce sense of justice to the challenges that America’s business owners face. Level Up arms readers with the confidence, know-how, and savvy to overcome the obstacles that hold their businesses back.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published February 22, 2022
20 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
Stacey Abrams
26 books2,545 followersStacey Abrams is an American politician, lawyer, author, and businesswoman who was the house minority leader for the Georgia General Assembly and state representative for the 89th House District. She is a Democrat.
Abrams, one of six siblings, was born to Robert and Carolyn Abrams in Madison, Wisconsin and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi. The family moved to Atlanta where her parents pursued graduate school and later became Methodist ministers. She attended Avondale High School and was the school's first African-American valedictorian. While in high school, she was hired as a typist for a congressional campaign and was later hired as a speechwriter at age 17 based on the edits she made while typing.
In 1995, Abrams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Political Science, Economics and Sociology) from Spelman College, magna cum laude. While in college, Abrams worked in the youth services department in the office of Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson. She later interned at the Environmental Protection Agency. As a Harry S. Truman Scholar, she studied public policy at the University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs and went on to earn her J.D. from Yale Law School.
Abrams worked as a tax attorney at the Sutherland Asbill & Brennan law firm in Atlanta, with a focus on tax-exempt organizations, health care and public finance. She was appointed the Deputy City Attorney for Atlanta at age 29.
Abrams co-founded and served as the senior vice president of NOW Corp. (formerly NOWaccount Network Corporation), a financial services firm. She co-founded Nourish, Inc., a beverage company with a focus on infants and toddlers, and is CEO of Sage Works, a legal consulting firm, that has represented clients including the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA.
Abrams has had an extensive writing career, penning several best-selling novels under the nom de plume of Selina Montgomery. Abrams is also the author of 'Minority Leader', a book of leadership advice to be published by Henry Holt & Co. in April 2018.
Abrams, one of six siblings, was born to Robert and Carolyn Abrams in Madison, Wisconsin and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi. The family moved to Atlanta where her parents pursued graduate school and later became Methodist ministers. She attended Avondale High School and was the school's first African-American valedictorian. While in high school, she was hired as a typist for a congressional campaign and was later hired as a speechwriter at age 17 based on the edits she made while typing.
In 1995, Abrams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Political Science, Economics and Sociology) from Spelman College, magna cum laude. While in college, Abrams worked in the youth services department in the office of Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson. She later interned at the Environmental Protection Agency. As a Harry S. Truman Scholar, she studied public policy at the University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs and went on to earn her J.D. from Yale Law School.
Abrams worked as a tax attorney at the Sutherland Asbill & Brennan law firm in Atlanta, with a focus on tax-exempt organizations, health care and public finance. She was appointed the Deputy City Attorney for Atlanta at age 29.
Abrams co-founded and served as the senior vice president of NOW Corp. (formerly NOWaccount Network Corporation), a financial services firm. She co-founded Nourish, Inc., a beverage company with a focus on infants and toddlers, and is CEO of Sage Works, a legal consulting firm, that has represented clients including the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA.
Abrams has had an extensive writing career, penning several best-selling novels under the nom de plume of Selina Montgomery. Abrams is also the author of 'Minority Leader', a book of leadership advice to be published by Henry Holt & Co. in April 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 21, 2022
If you are a fan of Shark Tank or if you have ever thought about starting your own business, this book is definitely for you. These inspiring women talk you through all of the steps it takes to build a successful business. There is a LOT that goes into it. If you think the entrepreneurs on Shark Tank have a lot of numbers and information in their heads, you won't believe how much more goes into developing a business and getting it off the ground. I love how the book is broken up into the chapters, and at the end of each chapter they review the most important key items to take away with you.
Thanks so much to Portfolio books for the gifted copy!
Thanks so much to Portfolio books for the gifted copy!
July 31, 2022
This is an incredible book explaining a journey of two entrepreneurs who had a great idea and they started up a successful venture. However, when they tried to scale up the business and tried to supply to big businesses, the way businesses work and how they pay to the small firms led to eventual shutting down the business. It sheds light on how the cash flow, credit market and payment system and terms do not work well for small business.
This led authors to rectify the situation with another venture which became successful and their journey of how they scaled and almost went to the brink and saved the company.
If you are thinking of starting a small business, this is a must read book.
This led authors to rectify the situation with another venture which became successful and their journey of how they scaled and almost went to the brink and saved the company.
If you are thinking of starting a small business, this is a must read book.
December 27, 2023
I bought this for a friend who is a Stacey Abrams fan, thought I should do a quick read before I gave it away.
I was highly impressed.
Not just by the quality of the insights and advice offered, but the way that content was delivered in a really easy to understand manner. Each chapter ends with the key takeaways.
The book was a pleasure to read because of the joy of discovering the depths and layers businesses that Stacey Abrams had been involved in, well all the time running for office or leading the Georgia legislature. And even more interesting was the evolution of how those businesses started and intertwined.
As an author myself, I appreciated the structure of the book and took some ideas for my own next creation.
As an entrepreneur, their struggles were very relatable and I enjoyed the hope that they offered with relevant steps to achieve success and overcome obstacles.
As a consultant to entrepreneurs, I appreciated the data and insights offered up that I think every future entrepreneur should be aware of as they decide whether or not to launch their next big thing.
I was highly impressed.
Not just by the quality of the insights and advice offered, but the way that content was delivered in a really easy to understand manner. Each chapter ends with the key takeaways.
The book was a pleasure to read because of the joy of discovering the depths and layers businesses that Stacey Abrams had been involved in, well all the time running for office or leading the Georgia legislature. And even more interesting was the evolution of how those businesses started and intertwined.
As an author myself, I appreciated the structure of the book and took some ideas for my own next creation.
As an entrepreneur, their struggles were very relatable and I enjoyed the hope that they offered with relevant steps to achieve success and overcome obstacles.
As a consultant to entrepreneurs, I appreciated the data and insights offered up that I think every future entrepreneur should be aware of as they decide whether or not to launch their next big thing.
November 20, 2022
A good read no matter the size of your business
I didn’t expect to enjoy and appreciate this book as much as did. You truly feel like you are “at the table” with Stacey and Lara as they share their experiences and lessons. Really well crafted engaging writing on subjects that could be wonky. No matter where you are in your business journey, this is a good book to have in your library.
I didn’t expect to enjoy and appreciate this book as much as did. You truly feel like you are “at the table” with Stacey and Lara as they share their experiences and lessons. Really well crafted engaging writing on subjects that could be wonky. No matter where you are in your business journey, this is a good book to have in your library.
September 4, 2022
As the spouse of a former small business owner, this book resonated with me. In particular, the discussion of cash flow and how your biggest customers can cause you the most pain.
In my opinion, chapters six through ten are the most insightful.
I consider this a must read for small business owners in the US.
In my opinion, chapters six through ten are the most insightful.
I consider this a must read for small business owners in the US.
September 5, 2023
This book helps explain what it took for Stacey Abrams and Lara Hodgson's small business. This also gave a look at how Abrams juggled her political career with her business career. It was slow in some parts, but inspiring to those who feel like owning a business is their goal, but don't know how to obtain it.
March 27, 2022
I really wanted to love this book because Stacey is so fascinating as a person. However, this book was terribly bland and the writing was dry. Not a lot of business information unless you’re growing a business that requires investors.
Read
April 5, 2024Interesting story and good lesson on how doing one thing can lead to something completely different. I learned a lot about issues small businesses have with funding, and how Stacey and Lara are helping change that.
February 17, 2022
Thanks to PRHAudio for this complimentary audiobook! Great book on making success out of challenges! Eye opening as a business owner who has dealt with similar challenges.
March 20, 2022
A fascinating look at small business in the United States from the inside.
March 26, 2022
Interesting to read about the trials and tribulations that start ups have and to hear some of Stacey Abrams background.
April 1, 2022
I can't speak to how good the business advice is, but the personal stories are fairly interesting.
May 1, 2022
Solid 3.5 stars.
June 13, 2022
A useful book for new entrepreneurs, but I had a hard time slogging through it. I was a bit bored.
June 24, 2022
As a business (or entrepreneurial) book, move on. There are much better books in starting a and growing a business, such as The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future, Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable, 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, The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It, and even Rich Dad, Poor Dad and many, many more.
This book is written in both the third person as well as the first person, sometimes adding confusion where clarity is required. Furthermore, the authors are largely pushing two agendas in this book: 1. their own business ("Now" or "NowAccounts") which is a business that they are unashamed to market to the reader directly and 2. the liberal bias is so repetitive that it becomes tiresome. I'm an Independant who votes for Democrats and Republicans, and they have stepped WAY beyond the bounds of being non-partisan.
As an example, here's a quote:
If you are a white male founder and you make a mistake, it’s often treated as a dress rehearsal, and you’re given the chance to try again.
This is one of many such slams on how "the white man" is putting everyone down in the context of building a business.
Wrong, wrong - and wrong and I'm personally sick of this narrative! I'm a white male founder of a number of businesses, and I have had business partners and co-founders of all different ethnicities and of both genders. In the United States, right now, the table is slanted towards the ethnic minorities in terms of having the best availability for capital, the mandated spots at the table given by many in the Fortune 500 and many other benefits. But it's not easy for anyone. As Peter Drucker pointed out years ago, business is an art, not a science ; as such, the only single requisite to becoming successful is to be creative.
Furthermore, to paraphrase Felix Dennis, building a business isn't itself difficult ; it's working on yourself that is. The business is a mirror of it's owner(s) and manager(s), and it runs on a supply of cash. All of those have to be in sync in order for it to run successfully and grow. It's both extremely easy and extremely difficult. It's a puzzle with many solutions. But most importantly, it's valued by no-one more than the person who owns or is the founder of the business. Elsewhere, nobody really cares and you can't take it with you when you are dead.
Many people start a business for the thrill of the hunt. Many start a business to get rich. Others too find that it's a means to get more free time into your life. But it's also quite achievable to start a business to benefit the world. People can, and should, start a business to clean up an ocean (or two)... or start a business which will begin peace. The Prosperity Paradox: How Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty describes exactly why this is a superior approach to having a government try and do it. In the end, Business is a set of new power tools while governments only have leftover nails and and second hand hammers.
Beyond that, the authors should be ashamed of themselves by writing a book that also peddles their services. That's not good form. But it's also not a good book, and most of the advice is recycled with buzzwords spread out ("pivot," "flywheel," "bootstrap," - it has all of the buzzwords as decoration throughout this tome). If you read anything else in this topic you'll come away with better ideas than what the authors tried to present here.
This book is written in both the third person as well as the first person, sometimes adding confusion where clarity is required. Furthermore, the authors are largely pushing two agendas in this book: 1. their own business ("Now" or "NowAccounts") which is a business that they are unashamed to market to the reader directly and 2. the liberal bias is so repetitive that it becomes tiresome. I'm an Independant who votes for Democrats and Republicans, and they have stepped WAY beyond the bounds of being non-partisan.
As an example, here's a quote:
If you are a white male founder and you make a mistake, it’s often treated as a dress rehearsal, and you’re given the chance to try again.
This is one of many such slams on how "the white man" is putting everyone down in the context of building a business.
Wrong, wrong - and wrong and I'm personally sick of this narrative! I'm a white male founder of a number of businesses, and I have had business partners and co-founders of all different ethnicities and of both genders. In the United States, right now, the table is slanted towards the ethnic minorities in terms of having the best availability for capital, the mandated spots at the table given by many in the Fortune 500 and many other benefits. But it's not easy for anyone. As Peter Drucker pointed out years ago, business is an art, not a science ; as such, the only single requisite to becoming successful is to be creative.
Furthermore, to paraphrase Felix Dennis, building a business isn't itself difficult ; it's working on yourself that is. The business is a mirror of it's owner(s) and manager(s), and it runs on a supply of cash. All of those have to be in sync in order for it to run successfully and grow. It's both extremely easy and extremely difficult. It's a puzzle with many solutions. But most importantly, it's valued by no-one more than the person who owns or is the founder of the business. Elsewhere, nobody really cares and you can't take it with you when you are dead.
Many people start a business for the thrill of the hunt. Many start a business to get rich. Others too find that it's a means to get more free time into your life. But it's also quite achievable to start a business to benefit the world. People can, and should, start a business to clean up an ocean (or two)... or start a business which will begin peace. The Prosperity Paradox: How Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty describes exactly why this is a superior approach to having a government try and do it. In the end, Business is a set of new power tools while governments only have leftover nails and and second hand hammers.
Beyond that, the authors should be ashamed of themselves by writing a book that also peddles their services. That's not good form. But it's also not a good book, and most of the advice is recycled with buzzwords spread out ("pivot," "flywheel," "bootstrap," - it has all of the buzzwords as decoration throughout this tome). If you read anything else in this topic you'll come away with better ideas than what the authors tried to present here.
June 24, 2022
Required reading for any small business owner!
February 7, 2024
This book is just one large pamphlet for the authors business.
March 24, 2024
Read about half of it. Wasn’t good enough to finish
April 7, 2022
They had some good ideas for businesses, but failed due to financial issues with payments and not enough cash flow. Then they tried again. End (and beginning) of story.
August 6, 2022
I had no idea that Stacey Abrams is a serial entrepreneur, writer, and politician. This book co-written with her business partner details the trials and tribulations of several of their business forays. It also provides tips for entrepreneurs that are trying to grow their business and take it to the next level.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews