The E-Myth Enterprise: How to Turn a Great Idea into a Thriving Business

You are either going to love this book or hate it.  First of all if you haven’t read any of the E Myth books yet, DON’T start with this one!  I suggest going with The E-Myth Revisited and first have your world rocked about what it means to be in business.

The subtitle of The E-Myth Enterprise is almost a misnomer because it is so much more than just having a thriving business.  What Gerber refers to as “E-Myth Enterprises” are rare gems indeed, that we can only hope to aspire to but very few indeed will achieve (bummer –sort of…)

The author (who is a very powerful and compelling 70+ year old speaker as well) waxes absolutely philosophical and even existential in bravely exploring how important one’s business needs to be in alignment with their purpose in life.  And that ultimately the only hope for us as a species will be if more of us realize this and act accordingly (told you this was different ).  While he does give some specifics of what constitutes an “E-Myth Enterprise” (even if only of a company consisting of one person —you.)  They tend to be high level concepts and not much more meat than that.

I give this book a mixed review: 6 out of 5 for inspiration, 3 out of 5 for content and writing style.  I was profoundly inspired when I realized that here was someone who so powerfully articulated the vision I always had for my companies and providing clues on how I might reach this vision.  On the other hand, his last chapter rant makes me wonder if the editor that allowed this kind of disjointed thinking to make it to the printing press still has a job.  He almost builds into a rage and then stops abruptly with a self-serving suggestion to contact him on how to create an E Myth Enterprise.  I’m afraid that last chapter will hurt his otherwise great reputation.  Everything else before it is very much worth the read.  This is not Gerber’s best book, but in some ways it may be his most profound.

(**** Four Stars – reviewed 8/1/09)

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

Okay, it doesn’t matter if you have never run, hate running, get hurt every time you do go running, etc. —run, don’t walk to get this book!  I stumbled upon it and just out of curiosity started to read the reviews.  In addition to gushing kudos, the reviewers were referencing things that you wouldn’t expect from this kind of book.

You will discover in a very enthralling way why the fancier the running shoes you buy, the more likely you are to get hurt.  That running barefoot (starting in grassy fields) is the most natural kind of running you can do for pure enjoyment and avoiding injury.  (see the image below of my new “running shoes” for hard surfaces). And that only humans have the ability to run long distances non-stop. 

Because of my bad back (a life-time ailment as a result of carrying sides of beef when I was 12 —no kidding!) I avoided running at all costs.  It would just kill my back.  Now my back hasn’t bothered me since I relearned how to run.  This book will destroy the myths we’ve all carried about running and open a whole new world of expressive joy that we were literally born for.

Make no mistake, this non-fiction book is awesome story telling by a journalist for Men’s Health magazine.  His style keeps you totally engaged and the fact that he participates in his own story lends a kind of gonzo journalistic flavor.  In addition to meeting some incredibly colorful characters along the way, you will discover that the principles that make running so natural for us (when done the way nature intended) can be carried over to business and life.  I was incredibly inspired and regardless of your disposition towards bi-pedal locomotion, you will be too!

(***** Five Stars!! – reviewed 7/15/09)

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity

This book gives a practical and achievable solution to one of modern society’s biggest conundrums: how to stay focused in an increasingly complex world where everything vies for our attention every minute of the day.

The author David Allen succinctly provides the reader with a step-by-step strategy to gain control of our business lives so effectively that whole networks of “GTD” groups have formed. This is the perfect Rx for the typical Ritalin-deficient real estate salesperson with the only side affect being success and wellbeing. (***** Five Stars!! – reviewed 6/5/09)