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Paperback
Publisher: Harvard Business Press
ISBN13: 9781578516445
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
What would you be willing to do for the rest of your life . . . ? It's a question most of us consider only hypothetically-opting instead to "do what we have to do" to earn a living. But in the critically acclaimed bestseller The Monk and the Riddle, entrepreneurial sage Randy Komisar asks us to answer it for real. The book's timeless advice-to make work pay not just in cash, but in experience, satisfaction, and joy-will be embraced by anyone who wants success to come not just from what they do, but from who they are. At once a fictional tale of Komisar's encounters with a would-be entrepreneur and a personal account of how Komisar found meaning not in work's rewards but in work itself, the book illustrates what's wrong with the mainstream thinking that we should sacrifice our lives to make a living. Described by Fortune.com as "part personal essay, part fictional narrative and part meditation on the nature of work and life," The Monk and the Riddle is essential reading on the art of creating a life while making a living.
Prospective entrepreneurs may think they know everything there is to know about starting a business in Silicon Valley. They can draw up business plans, have meetings with venture capitalists, maybe even get funded and actually launch a start-up. However, in The Monk and the Riddle, Silicon Valley sage Randy Komisar reasons that's only half the equation for success. And it may not be the important half. Komisar has worked with a number of companies--Apple, LucasArts Entertainment (the gaming division of George Lucas's empire), and WebTV among them--and has come to a rather startling conclusion: if you can't see yourself doing this business for the rest of your life, don't start it. In other words, he wants to see passion and purpose in business, not just spreadsheets and a by-the-numbers business model.
To illustrate, Komisar takes the reader through a hypothetical Silicon Valley start-up, with an eager entrepreneur named Lenny trying to get funding for an online casket-selling business. As Komisar helps Lenny find the real purpose of the business, the passion behind the revenue projections, he reflects back on his life as an entrepreneur. Komisar emerges as a master storyteller, the kind of guy you'd feel honored to share a bottle of wine with. And you believe his conclusion: "When all is said and done, the journey is the reward." It's great if you've made billions on the journey, but the important thing is that you do something you can truly throw yourself into. --Lou Schuler
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| An enjoyable informative read. |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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For those interested in an insight into silicon valley and how technology companies are grown Randy Komisars The Monk and the Riddle is excellent reading. He draws on his huge experience and explains what it takes to be successful, even if a lot of it is purely having the right idea at the right time and having the right guidance. This book provides an insight into how budding technology entrepreneurs need to do to get find private equity and is a must read for those looking to be successful and avoiod the pitfalls in presenting to venture capital investment companies and grow a company. His underlying message is important for all to recognize though and is that while we maybe prepared to invest all we have to make our ventures successful it isn't just about sacrificing all to get there, it is about enjoying the journey and that all we ever have is the present.
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| Great business novel with a twist about life |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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A great business novel that emphasizes on life while making a living - true to its title. Once you start, you won't feel like putting it down. Gives you a different perspective on life and career. It jolts your thoughts on what kind of life do you want to lead - "Deferred Life Plan" or "Complete Life Plan" as Randy puts them. It's more than a venture capitalist story.
Only thing I wonder if following your passion is truly as easy and successful as depicted in here. What made me frown was that it's always easier said than done. Randy Komisar is an accomplished professional. It's very easy to look back and say, follow you passion in life and success will come. I'm sure there are millions of people who work their lives off and don't get anywhere close to where Randy is.
But this book did force me to look into what I'm passionate about. I'm sure I'm like millions others who just run in the race of life without even remembering what they like to do and what their passion is. To be more precise I think I need to see what is my biggest passion that I want to pursue as career. In general terms, I'm passionate about everything I do but probably that is not enough. Credit goes to this book that made me think harder and live a complete life plan, instead of deferred life plan.
Reetu Gupta
A passionate Engineer and an MBA student.
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| An engaging read but... |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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I picked this book up to understand the venture capital industry, and this book provided a very philosophical insight into the new venture creation process.
The book, with its well written style, intertwines two experiences that the author had, namely, a puzzling encounter with a Buddhist monk, and a series of meetings with an entrepreneur seeking funding for his internet venture.
At a philosophical level, Randy elevates the refrain-"Love what you do, and do it today"-from a cliche'd expression to a very poignant theme in the book. If you are trying to understand the mechanics of the venture capital industry, this book is not for you. Instead, what you will find here is what is the required at the heart of all entrepreneurial risk taking.
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| Makes You Reexamine Your Life Plan! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I first came across this title in the recommended reading section of Tim Ferris' book, the 4 Hour Work Week (if I am not mistaken) and several blogs on the internet!
After some time, I finally bought the ebook version yesterday. How timely! I am in the midst of evaluating 2 different career paths that will either lead me down where I FEEL I should go, but perhaps not pay as much, and the other path that I THINK I should go in what can be best described as Komisar's "Deferred Life Plan" (earn money now, do what i want later).
Having read this absolutely engrossing book in a couple of hours, I have come to the conclusion to go with my gut and to NOT defer the rest of my life!!
This is highly recommended, soul-searcher's book and good luck with your search for your Whole Life Plan!
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| Not just for entrepreneurs, Good for jobseekers too |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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Jobseekers can benefit from this book for entrepreneurs and not just because it solves the riddle of how to drop an egg three feet without cracking it (no, I won't spoil it here). Komisar has an illustrious career spotting and shepherding start-ups (LucasArts, WebTV, Tivo) but his lesson for entrepreneurs about passion v. drive is important for jobseekers especially now.
Komisar talks about identifying the why (the passion that pulls you) of your startup and not just relying on drive (which you need lots of as well) to push through. Similarly jobseekers need the drive to get through the minutiae of the job search -- networking, follow up, interview practice, copyediting that resume. But the thing that separates the successful career from the mundane is the passion. In this tough market, where no sector is safe or easy to break through, you need passion for your choices to pull you forward and get you through the anxious, bleak, and frustrating times.
It was also nice in The Monk and The Riddle to follow two entrepreneurs on their journey and see the risks they took. Jobseekers and employees face risks as well. It's always inspiring to read about other people who go for it. At the very least, it reminds us that we have choices. Regardless of the market (the sample entrepreneurs in The Monk and The Riddle were in the funeral business of all things!), we have choices in what we pursue. Lead with passion, follow up with drive, and make bold choices -- excellent advice for entrepreneurs and jobseekers as well.
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