Most business books are dry as toast.
You know you’d benefit from the information, but you can barely keep your eyes open every time you sit down to read.
Not so with this book.
The Rice and Beans Millionaire: The Tale of an Improbable Entrepreneur, by Bryan and Jeffrey Eisenberg, is a primer for entrepreneurship. But you’ll never feel like you’re struggling to stay awake. In fact, you’ll get so caught up in the story, you’ll be turning the final page before you realize it.
A Little Background
Bryan and Jeffrey Eisenberg are recognized authorities in marketing optimization, analytics, and customer-experience design. They’re the authors of two New York Times bestselling books, Waiting for Your Cat to Bark (July 2, 2006) and Call to Action (June 6, 2005). They’ve also written The Marketer’s Common Sense Guide to Web Analytics, Always be Testing, Persuasive Online Copywriting, Buyer Legends, and Be Like Amazon.
For more than 20 years, the brothers have consulted with companies around the world, including HP, Google, Intel, Chase, and Travelocity, and helped their clients generate hundreds of millions of dollars. They’ve spoken on some of the top stages. And they’ve been quoted and referenced in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Forrester Research to name a few.
Needless to say, they know what it takes to grow a successful business.
Over the years, they’ve observed that successful companies embrace the use of customer narratives in one way or another. They realized that storytelling and narratives are key to moving the needs on sales and the value they can deliver to clients.
In 2014, they launched training company Buyer Legends to help companies finally get it right.
Entrepreneurship: It’s Time to “Get It Right”
More than 16% of the 18-64 population own and manage their own business, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), 2021/2022 U.S. Report.
With layoff on the rise, this book couldn’t have come at a better time.
The Rice and Beans Millionaire is for aspiring entrepreneurs who may be struggling to understand how to start their own business. It’s also for experienced entrepreneurs who enjoy the reminder of what really matters in business.
The book is based on real characters and true stories. You’ll hear from luminaries such as Derek Halpern, Peter Shankman, and Amanda Russell. You’ll walk through the Wizard Academy, the non-traditional non-profit non-boring business school founded by Roy H. Williams and his wife Pennie.
But it isn’t about business celebrities. It’s about you. Me. Us.
It’s about the mindset of success.
It’s about seeing opportunities.
It’s about leveraging our strengths and building your tribe.
In the words of our entrepreneurial guide throughout the book, Ricky, it’s about finding “a way to help people who already love their hobby, enjoy it a bit more. When you do that, then it becomes a winning proposition.”
What You’ll Learn
My biggest takeaway:
“Any Jane or John Q can be a great entrepreneur if they follow the lessons of great businesses before them, address a deep customer need, create a great experience, share great stories and manage the operations of the business well.”
That’s the foundation. And as entrepreneurs, we need frequent reminders that this is what matters. Not the bells and whistles. Just the basics.
That may also be the source of the title. Rice and beans are a simple meal that nourishes the body. It’s not fancy. It doesn’t aim to impress. But it leaves you feeling satisfied.
The Rice and Beans Millionaire will do the same. When you finish this book, you’ll feel satisfied — and maybe a bit inspired — no matter where you are on your entrepreneurial journey.
If you’ve got an itch to start your own business, this book is for you. Learn the mindset of success and the actions that will get your vision off the ground. Then take the first step on your journey.
You owe it to yourself.
