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

I ploughed through half the book with great zest the other night - part of which I read out loud to my wife; I was reading Chapter 2: A Little Peace and Quiet (in your mind) and when I read the title, ' How to Blow Your Last $20 on Booze and Still Make Millions', she popped her head around the bathroom door, squealing, 'No! It does not say that...!' When I showed her it did and went on to read further subtitles such as, 'The competition will beat your inexperienced ass' or content such as, ' ...they have achieved something that we should have, but we didn't (and can't), so screw them' - she laughed and said, 'Did you write this?!'.Her asking me that question just summed it all up for me as to why this is such a refreshing book on the subject of entrepreneurialism: because it spoke to me in a way that I understand - the way of the ordinary guy who does (though we don't like to necessarily admit it outright) suffer from envy, anxiety, apprehensions and fears about getting into commercial ventures. My wife obviously knows me very well and she knows that the almost cavalier attitude that prevails in TPE (by comparison to what one would expect from a similar book) is very fitting for someone of my character - so much so that she thought I could have written it myself as it speaks my own language to the T. That is what sets it apart from all the more wishy-washy, generic, boring books in it's class - although technically I don't feel it can be lumped into the same genre as it is as much a 'business book' as it is an 'anti-business book', snubbing the generic tomes. It is like the Salvador Dali of business/entrepreneurial books - Dali, who famously said of his peers when they tried to banish him from the surrealist movement: "The difference between me and the surrealists is that I am a surrealist".I actually found the story on spending your last $20 on booze very amusing, being British, like the character it describes - that's how we roll! But it gave me hope (as I rolled over into the red buying several cases of Corona in Publix for our July 4th BBQ) that - as is reinforced - Nothing is Impossible! As long as we have the creative energy to think outside the box and keep moving with the times and work with what we've got, play to our strengths and not compare ourselves jealously to our counterparts, anything is achievable - even with just three sheets or less!Overall, from what I have read thus far, the aspect that I love the most about the book is that it really boosts confidence through incorporating many a 'mind-over-matter' philosophy such as the Channel of Enabling Beliefs. A friend introduced me to the fascinating power of cognitive therapy a couple of years ago and I had largely forgotten about it until I read this segment which reads almost like an exercise from one such book on the subject; by literally turning each of your Wall of Limiting Beliefs excuses effortlessly into positive Enabling Beliefs (with valid common sense behind each transmogrification), it pretty much proves that it is all in the head - that we are the ones that control our thoughts, fears and feelings through our own mere perceptions of things. It never ceases to amaze me how such a simple, seemingly trivial and inconsequential concept can in fact be the most powerful flip-switch to one's personal, emotional, financial and spiritual success. I almost feel as though Freud's life work would never had existed if cognitive therapy had been on the scene in his day - because really, our own unique perceptions of the world are what cause us all our grief or joy.But enough about all that. I just love that the book incorporates such a perfect spectrum of confidence boosting introspection and simple, matter-of-fact principles to dealing with potential clients and corporations alike - and it does it an amusing, yet heartfelt way, like your favorite teacher at school. Unlike similar books, I do not feel intimidated or patronized by the language in this one - to the contrary - one gets the distinct impression that you are being handed prime information from the trenches by a rebel leader who has infiltrated enemy lines - and all whilst in the field mess kitchen with your mates!So top marks to the author! Thank you for producing a down-to-earth, solid book that is full of knowledge, confidence and most importantly, wit. After all, if we didn't have humour in our life, what would we have?

There is an old saying, "Sh*! or get off the pot!" I would submit that before anyone gets off the porcelain throne, he/she should probably make sure all business is finished. Hopefully, our supplicant has previously analyzed the type of business for the most expedient method of achieving a successful petition. However, when in the presence of the porcelain god, one must have a proper exit plan...stay too short a time and return, possibly having had to visit the laundress, or stay too long thus requiring a visit to a physician to cure a subsequent hemorrhoid. Either outcome is painfully embarrassing to say the least.The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur is a lively read, accused by some as being sophomoric, too humorous, and lacking in substance. Those detractors could not be further from the truth. In any business endeavor, in order to sell a product, one must have a customer, thus a target base. The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur has a target base of readers who have discovered they MUST get off the proverbial pot if they are to have any chance of success in this very challenging economy. However, when even supposed traditionally recession proof jobs are in danger...and in fact are laying off thousands of employees...people with great ideas don't have time to waste before they hit the ground running, but many of them don't have any idea what to do with their great idea! They have heard that 80% of small businesses fail in the first five years, but they don't know why. In their heart of hearts, they know that they just can't wing it. The TPEr's want to know what the 20% already know; they want to know how their great idea can succeed. These people are ready, willing, and capable of achieving wonderfully successful businesses that can in turn jump start the economy, but they don't have time to go back to school to learn all the technical jargon, etc to begin their work. These people need immediate, relative advice written in a user-friendly language. Ever wonder why sitcoms are so wildly popular? Laughter is the best medicine...especially for unexpected hemorrhoids like recessions, lay-offs, foreclosures, etc.The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur can be a quick first read, but a second read is an almost must. At the end of each chapter is a set of action steps designed to help the budding entrepreneur or even a long-time business person evaluate his WHY...why am I doing what I'm doing...for if one can reignite the passion, or in some cases actually discover the driving passion, then there is a recipe for success that does not involve a convoluted, mystifying jumble of highly specific jargon that only the "media darlings", as Michalowicz calls them, can decipher. The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur cuts to the chase in regard to small business development by sharing with his audience what the 20% already know...you must know WHO you are in order to know WHAT you are about before you can determine WHERE you are going, and all of that BEFORE you can create the road map to get there! In short, WHY are you doing what you are doing?The TPE inspires business owners to determine who they really are and what they are truly after in order to maximize the time needed to achieve their goals. The tone of TPE is not condescending or judgmental...it is one of camaraderie, of encouragement, of teamwork. The vibe is "we can do this together!" Many, if not all, of the TPE audience feels betrayed by the system, but Michalowicz offers hope by reminding us of our historical origins......we are a nation of resourceful, resilient people who can do anything with a strong will and "just three sheets of paper".5 stars for the spirit and inspiration found in The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur!

The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur tries to promise two things: that the book will be funny as well as contain sound unconventional advice. Well, it's not funny but it delivers on the important part.The humor in the book is easy. Way too easy to be considered funny by anyone over 15 and interested at all in comedy. The lame jokes at least leave the book light and irreverent, making it easier to read than virtually every other terrifically boring business book.The advice in the book centers around infusing your business with your value. While, as the book says, this keeps you happy and persistent in your efforts, the author (perhaps without even knowing it) is teaching you to build a brand for your business. And not just any brand. Since this brand will be aligned with your values, it will be genuine and consistent (since you will stay you).The small tips for working with no money may lower your expectations of what you can start out with, but they are realistic and the mark of a business man with his ear to the ground.I highly recommend the book if you're starting a company or thinking about it, but unless you like carlos mensia level humor, prepare for some eye rolling.

Razoável

Libro di grande utilità per familiarizzare con la mentalità imprenditoriale. Si è scritto bene e ciò aiuta ad addentrarsi negli argomenti senza noia e con motivazione. Attenzione perchè, oltre alla quantità di informazioni da digerire, il libro propone attività che possono mettono in discussione i valori di una persona, come quando uno deve mettersi veramente in gioco. A buon intenditore...

An excellent book written and different perspective to creating a business and executing one. I loved the book and it's well written. I always knew one way of doing business or starting one but this approach simply takes the stress off the mind of planning and running. It's a yes to read and follow.

Llevo más de 1 año en mi camino de emprender (y décadas que estaré :D ), aun sin clientes... En esta situación y de los muchos libros de negocios y startups que he leído, estei libro está en mi top 3. Porque creo que no hace falta leer sobre finanzas cuando uno empieza, como dice el autor "the early days of business are about survival."

Yo llevaba mucho tiempo intentando leer y aprender sobre negocios y emprendimientos. Ojalá me hubiera topado con este libro primero, porque explica de una forma directa y muy sencilla, lo que hay que saber para empezar. Después ya te puedes buscar otras lecturas mucho más especializadas, pero los libros de este autor son excelentes si no tienes mucha idea sobre el tema, o inclusive aunque ya sepas algo, es una mirada más fresca sobre el tema