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Lucky or Smart?: Secrets to an Entrepreneurial Life
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At twenty-seven, Bo Peabody was an Internet multi-millionaire. In the heady days of the late 1990s, though, when every cool kid had an IPO, that wasn’t very remarkable. What is remarkable is that he’s even more successful today. He has co-founded five different companies, in varied industries, and made them thrive during the best and worst of economic times. Through it all
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Start your review of Lucky or Smart?: Secrets to an Entrepreneurial Life
Even though I am not a first time entrepreneur, I decided to pick up this little book as I am interested in starting up yet another business.
Fairly interesting, definitely easy to read.
His answer to the title question is: "I was smart enough to realize I was getting lucky." He talks a lot about the differences between entrepreneurs and managers. He says that entrepreneurs want results immediately, while managers are happy to wait. Entrepreneurs understand everything about nothing and a little b ...more
Fairly interesting, definitely easy to read.
His answer to the title question is: "I was smart enough to realize I was getting lucky." He talks a lot about the differences between entrepreneurs and managers. He says that entrepreneurs want results immediately, while managers are happy to wait. Entrepreneurs understand everything about nothing and a little b ...more
Very quick read (58 pages total) and very simple concepts, such as the author's belief in starting "fundamentally innovative, morally compelling and philosophically positive companies," that "B-students" start companies and "A-students" are hired to manage those companies, and that is important to understand "the difference between being lucky and being smart."
While I appreciate the candor and simplicity of the book, and stories of the author's successes are mostly entertaining, it's a bit too f ...more
While I appreciate the candor and simplicity of the book, and stories of the author's successes are mostly entertaining, it's a bit too f ...more
"Start a company that is fundamentally innovative, morally compelling, and philosophically positive." Bo shares this and other interesting tidbits in this quick read. He has several insightful takeaways from his "smart enough to know he was lucky" days as an entrepreneur. Some great tips, although I'd take with a grain of salt about entrepreneurs being "born" and not raised...I think there's a TED Talk arguing the latter...
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my only takeaway from this book was that as an entrepreneur you are a B student or B player. Good at many things. Jack of master trades, master at none. However you will need to hire A players, those who are specialized in certain areas that you need and can help you grow.
Oct 22, 2012
Raj Shankar
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
entrepreneurship
I would call it a booklet rather than a book. If you are on a short haul flight or car ride - slip it into your coat pocket and you will be done during the journey a couple of times over. No jokes! The book is small and entertaining. It has harsh truths put too bluntly. Its been a book, i pick up often and just read a little and put it back into my library. If you are entrepreneurial you will love it. Here is a slightly longer review: http://rajshankar.wordpress.com/2012/...
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I thought it was going to be simpleton stupid, but it was actually pretty interesting. Bo makes some decent points:
- surround yourself with smart people;
- trust their opinions and leadership;
- B students found companies, A students turn them into successful businesses;
- dont't burn your bridges, pay it forward, you'll never know when.
In the end it helped me see some mistakes I'm making... ...more
- surround yourself with smart people;
- trust their opinions and leadership;
- B students found companies, A students turn them into successful businesses;
- dont't burn your bridges, pay it forward, you'll never know when.
In the end it helped me see some mistakes I'm making... ...more
Short but full of ideas about what makes entrepreneurs succeed. It is both brains and luck. And as the author says it is in large part having the brains to figure out that you're lucky so that you know when to walk away.
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This book was included in my book: The 100 Best Business Books of All Time. www.100bestbiz.com
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I really enjoyed this book; it was very entertaining. Having worked at one of Bo's companies and eaten at his restaurants it hit home. I only wish it were 250 pages rather than 50
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It's always good to be smart enough to know when your lucky. The challenge is to know the difference while it is occurring.
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Good.
He is describing, How B student and A student will behave, Why the 95 Year old lady applied divorce after 75 years. What Good to Great says to entrepreneurs.
He is describing, How B student and A student will behave, Why the 95 Year old lady applied divorce after 75 years. What Good to Great says to entrepreneurs.
The only truly valuable review for this book can come from fellow entrepreneurs. I am not one by Peabody's definition. As a non- entrepreneur, I found the book highly entertaining and well structured. It was also concise with little fluff. Great work Bo!
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A quick, light read that has a couple of useful notes. Reign in your ego, don't believe your own press and recognize when you have just plain been lucky.
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Now I know, among other things, to ask of all the other books on my biz reading list whether the book is for entrepreneurs or for managers. Neat.
A short little book with some inspiring thoughts on being smart enough to know when you're being lucky.
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Not bad, but enough for that not to matter too much.
Quick read book. Awesome and worth reading... You'll find what mistakes are you making.
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While I am very interested in the concept that much business success is tied to luck, I found the book somewhat scattered and lacking rigor. In the end, though, the author brought it back to the importance not of being lucky but of being aware of such luck when success in business happens.
This books asks the entrepreneur to focus on few core skills like attracting and keeping the best minds to work for you for low salary. Because you are a start up company, the author encourages the reader to acquire the needed funding by repeatedly calling the angel investors or loan sharks even while you hear the word "NO".
These are his following statements:
• Make the world a better place.
• Increase the quality of life.
• Right a terrible wrong.
• Prevent the end of something good.
• Can you work ...more
These are his following statements:
• Make the world a better place.
• Increase the quality of life.
• Right a terrible wrong.
• Prevent the end of something good.
• Can you work ...more
Fun short read about entrepreneurship. Luck is not a mere chance, rather than a probability you can improve.
The book is fun read about many stories that the author went through.
The book is fun read about many stories that the author went through.
Pretty empty business book that falls more into the "generic motivation" category than the business category. The "secrets" that the author alludes to are basically:
1) Know which of your employees/partners are smarter than you, and try to orchestrate smart people rather than doing everything yourself. In fact, Bo actually says that if you ARE smart, you won't make a very good entrepreneur. This is probably big news for Elon Musk and company.
2) The job of an entrepreneur is to engage in a constan ...more
1) Know which of your employees/partners are smarter than you, and try to orchestrate smart people rather than doing everything yourself. In fact, Bo actually says that if you ARE smart, you won't make a very good entrepreneur. This is probably big news for Elon Musk and company.
2) The job of an entrepreneur is to engage in a constan ...more
This book is not just a business book. I recommend it for everyone. It's very enjoyable with many wonderful little nuggets and life-lessons. If you are looking to start up a business on your own and think that you'll make it work cause your smart or you'll make it work because everything just works out for you, then you should read this book. I was very impressed with the quality of information, and how the author really brings his entrepreneurial experience alive. The book makes its points well
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Solid book! Only a few pages. We're thinking of starting a smoothie business in Pittsburgh so we decided to read this book (among others). It was definitely worth the read because it was so short. For that reason, it's hard to have a strong opinion about it. Overall, I'd say just read it if you're thinking about it-- you don't know what you don't know. So... If you hate it, not much is lost. If you love it, much is gained.
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A short, simple book with wisdom from one entrepreneur who says he was both lucky and smart in business, but more importantly smart enough to realize he was getting lucky. Has lots of pithy, moral admonitions (that apply to life as much as business), like "know what you don't know," and "always be gracious."
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Quick read about some of the truths about moving from an employee to an employer. I like it because it's concise and the author doesn't sound "preachy" about being an entrepreneur. I especially like how he defines the relationship between the A students and B students and how they need to work together to make a business thrive. ~NR
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Some interesting ideas, and definitely a fresh perspective. However, the entire book is anecdotal, and therefore biased and potentially skewed to a single perspective. The author admits as much in a few parts.
As I said, there were some good nuggets, but they are located among a lot of other content that could be dangerous if taken at face value.
As I said, there were some good nuggets, but they are located among a lot of other content that could be dangerous if taken at face value.
A short book. Pretty decent overall, but not much depth to it. It is mostly a collection of anecdotes which are quite entertaining and are probably the best part of the book. The principles themselves are quite generic and you've probably read them elsewhere - surround yourself with bright people etc.
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Even though I don't believe in luck, I found Peabody's book is a great read for anyone who believes or knows they are an entrepreneur. It's a very short and quick read with good lessons and autobiographical stories.
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According to the author, A students don't make good entrepreneurs. B students with fluttering attention spans do (by hiring A students who can be focused managers or engineers). And also, be gracious and keep your ego in check.
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