Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining and Instructive until it gets patronizing
Review: This review pertains to the Audible.com version of the book. Initially, I enjoyed hearing the tale of a novice company builder and his patron, a wise old business man. The narrative style reminds me of sections in "Rich Dad, Poor Dad." A number of pithy maxims are shared with us through the eyes of the pupil, but towards the end of the book we start getting sermons.There are long spiels on how science has only realized what many deep thinkers (e.g. Buddhists) have known all along. One silly example was his point that the Buddhists say "we are empty", and the author goes aha -- see they knew that before the physicists discovered atoms are mostly space. Maybe I'm overdramatizing here, but the author's naivete and aggrandizing statements remind me of the spin Nostradamus lovers present to the rest of the world. Other sermonizing statements include (paraphrasing) "if you don't know what to do with a company problem, put it in God's hands and do his will." Of course, the author must be unbiased, so he always says "God as you see him or her." Sounds reasonable, but then he goes into this section where even atheists *must* know there is some kind of God, and if they don't, can they create universes? Some great reasoning and open minded thinking there. There were lots of other statements where I just shook my head thinking the author should stay grounded on earth, or at least, stay focused on the supposed topic. If you get this book, I suggest you avoid the final sections where he becomes heavily spiritual.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Instructive until it gets patronizing
Review: This review pertains to the Audible.com version of the book. Initially, I enjoyed hearing the tale of a novice company builder and his patron, a wise old business man. The narrative style reminds me of sections in "Rich Dad, Poor Dad." A number of pithy maxims are shared with us through the eyes of the pupil, but towards the end of the book we start getting sermons. There are long spiels on how science has only realized what many deep thinkers (e.g. Buddhists) have known all along. One silly example was his point that the Buddhists say "we are empty", and the author goes aha -- see they knew that before the physicists discovered atoms are mostly space. Maybe I'm overdramatizing here, but the author's naivete and aggrandizing statements remind me of the spin Nostradamus lovers present to the rest of the world. Other sermonizing statements include (paraphrasing) "if you don't know what to do with a company problem, put it in God's hands and do his will." Of course, the author must be unbiased, so he always says "God as you see him or her." Sounds reasonable, but then he goes into this section where even atheists *must* know there is some kind of God, and if they don't, can they create universes? Some great reasoning and open minded thinking there. There were lots of other statements where I just shook my head thinking the author should stay grounded on earth, or at least, stay focused on the supposed topic. If you get this book, I suggest you avoid the final sections where he becomes heavily spiritual.
Rating: 
Summary: useful in career planning
Review: VISIONARY BUSINESS is a self-professed fictionalized account of a true story, written as a pleasing parable that is as far from a textbook as soufflé is from hard tack. If you need to know what it is that you need to be successful, with a healthy dose of common sense thrown in, then look no further. It is the conveyance of this high-level information that is so pleasing. What you won't get from the book are details on writing business plans, creating pro-forma cash-flow analysis. If that knowledge is what you seek you can always pick up any number of business school texts. The 'story' opens with Mr. Allen starting a business: under-funded, overworked, and with only a vague idea of what to do. Enter Bernie, a guy whose expression he had seen before "on the Yoda doll on my dresser - the Jedi master from the STAR WARS Movies...." Hokey as it seems, Bernie sits like a Zen Monk outside watching for several days before walking in the door to become Allen's mentor. With Bernie's pleased assessment of their used furniture, "I've seen start-up companies who have put all their money into the furniture... and they went bankrupt before the year was out. They didn't invest in the future," the relationship is off to a good start. "Every company needs a business plan, whether they need investors or not," Bernie says, and then tells what it should contain including the requisite five-year cash flow projections. He goes on with advice on why partnerships don't work, how to find the keys to personal motivation for the operatives and employees that will aid in setting up the fledgling corporation, and then he leaves. Bernie is the kind of venture capitalist known in entrepreneur circles as "Angels" and he certainly proves to be a Godsend for Allen as he becomes an investor/mentor, echoing the venture capitalist credo "Never forget: I'm investing in you," underscoring that a good management team is more important than the idea. The story moves from "plan your work and work you plan," to, "find ways to solve problems without lawyers," and on into solving the problems of a maturing company before they arise. Nice and proactive. Bernie talks sense about employee benefits, pension plans, ESOPs, and the benefits of a phantom stock program. It is pleasing to watch the relationship between Bernie and Allen grow as the company does. Every successfully completed step brings the two men closer and personal advice begins to flow. This is the fatherly 'spiritual' advice so nicely woven within that points to the realities of stress on the executive/entrepreneur, and offers ways to cope. Tidbits like maintaining focus through daily quiet time, a meditation, if you will, that fully aligns oneself, including one's subconscious, toward the all important goals. Bernie offers great advice on public relations and the importance of being a positive part of the community. All Bernie's points are summarized at the end of each chapter. They are also assembled into a list of "25 Principles and Practices" at the end for easy reference. This is an excellent self-help book for entrepreneurs, as powerful as sage wisdom from Napoleon Hill, Earl Nightingale, or any other quality personal motivation source directed toward startup and growth through the full maturation cycle, from both the business and the spiritual side. It is a fast and pleasing read; one that you will want to keep close at hand.
Rating:
Summary: Yoda for Entrepreneurs
Review: VISIONARY BUSINESS is a self-professed fictionalized account of a true story, written as a pleasing parable that is as far from a textbook as soufflé is from hard tack. If you need to know what it is that you need to be successful, with a healthy dose of common sense thrown in, then look no further. It is the conveyance of this high-level information that is so pleasing. What you won't get from the book are details on writing business plans, creating pro-forma cash-flow analysis. If that knowledge is what you seek you can always pick up any number of business school texts. The 'story' opens with Mr. Allen starting a business: under-funded, overworked, and with only a vague idea of what to do. Enter Bernie, a guy whose expression he had seen before "on the Yoda doll on my dresser - the Jedi master from the STAR WARS Movies...." Hokey as it seems, Bernie sits like a Zen Monk outside watching for several days before walking in the door to become Allen's mentor. With Bernie's pleased assessment of their used furniture, "I've seen start-up companies who have put all their money into the furniture... and they went bankrupt before the year was out. They didn't invest in the future," the relationship is off to a good start. "Every company needs a business plan, whether they need investors or not," Bernie says, and then tells what it should contain including the requisite five-year cash flow projections. He goes on with advice on why partnerships don't work, how to find the keys to personal motivation for the operatives and employees that will aid in setting up the fledgling corporation, and then he leaves. Bernie is the kind of venture capitalist known in entrepreneur circles as "Angels" and he certainly proves to be a Godsend for Allen as he becomes an investor/mentor, echoing the venture capitalist credo "Never forget: I'm investing in you," underscoring that a good management team is more important than the idea. The story moves from "plan your work and work you plan," to, "find ways to solve problems without lawyers," and on into solving the problems of a maturing company before they arise. Nice and proactive. Bernie talks sense about employee benefits, pension plans, ESOPs, and the benefits of a phantom stock program. It is pleasing to watch the relationship between Bernie and Allen grow as the company does. Every successfully completed step brings the two men closer and personal advice begins to flow. This is the fatherly 'spiritual' advice so nicely woven within that points to the realities of stress on the executive/entrepreneur, and offers ways to cope. Tidbits like maintaining focus through daily quiet time, a meditation, if you will, that fully aligns oneself, including one's subconscious, toward the all important goals. Bernie offers great advice on public relations and the importance of being a positive part of the community. All Bernie's points are summarized at the end of each chapter. They are also assembled into a list of "25 Principles and Practices" at the end for easy reference. This is an excellent self-help book for entrepreneurs, as powerful as sage wisdom from Napoleon Hill, Earl Nightingale, or any other quality personal motivation source directed toward startup and growth through the full maturation cycle, from both the business and the spiritual side. It is a fast and pleasing read; one that you will want to keep close at hand.
Rating: 
Summary: Tremendous response to the book!
Review: We've published several hundred books over the last 20 years, and there have been just 3 titles that have stood out from all the rest in the amount of response we've received from reviewers and, most important, readers: CREATIVE VISUALIZATION by Shakti Gawain (published in 1978, now over 3 million in print), THE SEVEN SPIRITUAL LAWS OF SUCCESS by Deepak Chopra (1995, 2 million in print), and now, VISIONARY BUSINESS. Here are a few of the responses; more are listed in the Author's comments: "Offers valuable insights to any new entrepreneur. Allen's central message is this: It is possible to pursue one's true dreams and cultivate a successful business" (Whole Life Times). "It reminded me of The Alchemist, and moved me to tears... I couldn't stop listening to the book on tape--it's really very helpful." (D.O., Sao Paulo, Brazil) "I love Visionary Business! It anecdotally makes the hard essence of business palatable to non-business people (like me). The book heralds a paradigm shift for the new century: it's not the story of the rugged individual anymore--we are all in this together. An excellent book on the soul of business" (J.D., Manager, Anderson's Bookshops, Chicago). "...reminded me of Carlos Casteneda" (M.H., San Francisco). "I'm sending a message of admiration and thanks. Visionary Business is the most marvelous book--we carry our copies around like Bibles ... an awesome, wonderful book" (E.G., Atlanta). The list goes on and on, and I won't bore you with more. But this kind of response is the very best part about the publishing that we do. We're know we're having an impact in the world, and making a difference. This is a book that has changed people's lives for the better.
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