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. 'Belongs in a category by itself...The best thing I've read all year' - "San Francisco Examiner". 'A timely book' - "USA Today". 'A self-help manual and business fable rolled into one' - "The Times, London".
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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 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
Komisar is among a new breed of executives who have been called "virtual CEO's." Unlike consultants, they not only advise but actually work for companies that tend to be very small high-tech or Internet start-ups. In addition to working currently for seven such companies, Komisar has worked with WebTV and TiVo, was the "real" CEO at LucasArts Entertainment, and was one of the founders of Claris Corporation. With the assistance of freelance writer Kent Lineback, who has produced numerous films and videos for the Harvard Business School, Komisar here intertwines the story of his own career with that of two fictional entrepreneurs. The purpose is to show how deals are made and businesses get started in Silicon Valley. Komisar's many experiences allow him to speak firsthand about how venture capitalists and headhunters think and operate. He also warns that passion and vision are just as important as a well-crafted business plan. Throughout, we also get a strong dose of Komisar's own philosophy of success and fulfillment, a philosophy that might best be called Zen capitalism. David Rouse
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Shawn
Format:Paperback
The book was well written and brief. I came away from having read the book a little underwhelmed. Not a lot of insights into Randy Komisar's experiences that would be portable to other entrepreneurs.
Perhaps the book "Go Corporation" has already provided sufficient details into the challenges and critical decisions that decide a company's fate.
The only message I obtained was "Follow your passion". Which is a good one.
Perhaps the book "Go Corporation" has already provided sufficient details into the challenges and critical decisions that decide a company's fate.
The only message I obtained was "Follow your passion". Which is a good one.
By SCurrie
Format:Paperback
Follows the story of two people trying to get a venture capitalist to help give them money for a business, whilst the venture capitalist tries to persuade them to do something else. Also covers the concept of working at something that you would do even if it never became successful so that your life would have some kind of purpose. Overall it didnt impart much meaning for a regular entrepreneur such as myself.
By T
Format:Hardcover
The book is so stupid. All he talks about is how good he is and just shows off. I have no idea why my friend actually recommended me this stupid book. What a waste of time and money. I was expecting a decent, intellectually written, intellectual/logical story.
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4.1 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dull, of little use.
I found this book of very little value for my business. I thought I'd find some amazing insights but it sort of put me off. Basically the guy says you shouldnt expect to get rich. Read more
Published on Mar 3 2009 by Mark Twain Jr.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Badly written, Boring & Little (or no) value
Randy tries to present an old concept in an old way. There are tons of books that tell you to do what you feel passionate about, how to succeed in investing and how to love... Read more
Published on Jun 3 2004 by Ashutosh Mestry
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Perspective
Could you be happier in your work? In your life?
Reading this book provides an opportunity to step back from the day to day muck and gain perspective on both life and career. Read more
Published on May 21 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Perspective
Could you be happier in your work? In your life?
Reading this book provides an opportunity to step back from the day to day muck and gain perspective on both life and career. Read more
Published on May 20 2004
4.0 out of 5 stars
Took a while to get into, but captured me afterwards
This book by Silicon Valley legend Randy Komisar, beginning with its title, took me a while to get into, I have to admit. Read more
Published on Mar 18 2004 by Manny Hernandez
5.0 out of 5 stars
Virtual CEO: What a great concept!
Learned a lot from this book. The best lesson is the link between the author's story and the rest of the book that some may have missed. Read more
Published on Mar 5 2004 by Ayyoub S. Ayyoub
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just a Fun-read; no un-obvious gospels
The only interesting point Randy made was that "TRY and do what you love doing, instead of doing what you *have* to do for a long time before it is too late to do what you... Read more
Published on Feb 11 2004 by Anand Rangarajan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoy the ride!
An odd title for a business book, or rather a book about the business of life. I guess it is meant to hook you, draw you in, and much as the monk did, put your hand on the shoulder... Read more
Published on Nov 2 2003 by Stephen Sherlock
1.0 out of 5 stars
Borring
Maybe I just missed the point because I am not a business person, but my overall impression of this book is that it [is bad]. Read more
Published on May 30 2003
2.0 out of 5 stars
"how to feel like working when you don't need to"
A brilliant guide to doing what you feel passionate about instead of what you need to do to pay the rent (mortgage) for those few who have enough money that they don't really need... Read more
Published on April 27 2003
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