Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck: What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur and Build a Great Business

These four components in various mixes are vital to startup success. The three authors all know what they are talking about, having 'been there, done that'. Chances are high that startups will be undertaken by people not only with a mix of these components, but with one or more of them being more dominant than the others. The secret is to play to strengths, but without neglecting the weaker aspects or being unconscious about the negative aspects of the strong ones.Luck is not something taught on entrepreneurship courses, but maybe it should be. Not luck itself, but the ways in which entrepreneurs can favor their chances of it. The authors stress the way that luck can be favored. Through humility, intellectual curiosity and optimism. It figures, doesn't it? They also suggest that a lucky network can be developed through vulnerability, authenticity, generosity and openness.This is not a self-help book, though. It presents an orderly way to develop a self-awareness of heart, smarts, guts and luck so that the entrepreneur can better take advantage of each without the downsides of say being over-confident, only using book smarts, being foolhardy or overplaying the odds.

The framework contained within this book instantly appealed to me because of its simplicity and accessibility. The traits of heart, smarts, guts and luck are intuitive, which makes them easy to apply to oneself and others. In that sense, the book displays immediate value. All too often I find business and self-improvement books provide frameworks that are not easy to follow or grasp and therefore, tend to ignore them.I am not an entrepreneur and was concerned this book might not be useful to me and my profession. But that is not the case. These lessons apply to anyone in business who is looking to grow and succeed in an organization.One thing to note about the book- it is actually pretty fun to read. The authors added a little whimsy throughout the book- from cute illustrations to simple terms and chapter summaries. You can tell by the cover it is not a "typical" business book and indeed it is not.Definitely recommend this to anyone in business and anyone looking to understand what drives them to act the way they do.

This book has so many nuggets of great small business advice I would recommend it to almost everyone. I especially like the last section of the book that summarized the key success factors for starting and continuing a successful business. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was HSGL model, I felt, was a bit contrived and forced. Yes, there is some evidence of it's usefulness but I didn't finish the book extremely certain of its applicable usage. The examples of business people who fit the models was repetitive with some famous names but that is to be expected in a modern business book. In summary, a very good book that can certainly help you become better.

This book is a must read for the experienced and inexperienced to include all ages. This book should also be a mandatory read in every business school in the world. Business success just makes more sense and self-awareness is the foundation. With having an MBA under my belt and having read numerous business books ever since my father introduced me to the book 'Rich-Dad Poor-Dad' by Robert Kiyasoki in the mid 90s, this book just hits you in the Heart, Mind, Gut and Spirits to understand what business really is. Fun and simple read, very clearly written and well thought out on key practical points. I highly recommend this book not only for entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs but also to corporate employees amongst any industry, as it'll open your Heart, Mind, Gut and Luck; Literally it will do just that. Classic book. Best regards from Jakarta, Indonesia.

The authors do a great job of defining the four (4) key business-builder character traits - Hearts, Smarts, Guts and Luck (HSGL). They aim to leave readers with two things: 1) increased self-awareness and 2) practical wisdom. They believe that figuring out which traits drive you and your decisions is the most important thing you can do to enhance your business leadership. As part of the book, they have a survey instrument (E.A.T.) to help suss out which traits are your strongest. They nicely navigate through the use of stories, examples, case studies and anedotes. This book will not only help you understand yourself, but also your partners involved with starting, growing and scaling your business.

As a retired architect I selected this book out of intellectual curiosity rather than for practical use. Its title caught my attention, but I found it to be rather dull reading for the most part. A true entrepreneur would be so bored by the second chapter, he'd toss it aside and say "Let's stop the talking and let's DO something!". I started scanning and skipping before I was half way through. There are certainly some interesting points and stories along the way, but most of the content seemed to me to be obvious, repetitive, monotonous verbiage stretched out long enough to justify a full-length book. It all could have been said--and said much more concisely and interestingly--in a third to a half the length. I took the on-line aptitude test but it, too, pretty much told me what I already knew. I just didn't see much new or inteesting with this book.

Truly enjoyed this book. Loved the well thought out explanations of Heart, Smarts, Guts and Luck - examples, questions, application. Really focuses on self-awareness has a key trait for success in entrepreneurship and in life. Know yourself and you will know what to do. Easy to read book. I have purchased additional copies and sent to others. I highly recommend this book for aspiring entrepreneurs and current entrepreneurs. I am a business owner of over 10+ years and it really gave me "food for thought", as I continue my journey.

Good book, fun to read and very informative!

The book came within a few days from ordering so happy will definitely order again :)

Ein großartiges Buch weil es eben NICHT vor staubigen Fachbegriffen strotz. Die Autoren schreiben leicht verständlich und sehr praxisorientiert. In vielen anderen Büchern zu dem Thema ist man teilweise noch genötigt, mit weiterer Literatur zu recherchieren, muss einzelne Begriffe nachschlagen - nicht so in diesem Werk.Es ist nicht nur für den angehenden Unternehmer interessant, sondern auch für denjenigen, der bereits angefangen hat und auf Fehlersuche ist.Sehr interessant auch: Die Umfrage, die man auf einer Website ausfüllen kann. Der sogenannte Entrepreneurial Aptitude-Test liefert wichtige Ergebnisse und differenziert welche der vier Bestandteile (Herz, "Hirnschmalz", Bauchgefühl oder Glück) das eigene Handeln bestimmen.Wer der englischen Sprache auch nur halbwegs mächtig ist und Interesse an einem lebendigen, hilfreichen Inspirationsquell hat -> Kaufen!

HSGL is unique in its ability to capture the interest and imagination of a diverse readership. Institutions that nurture entrepreneurship should find HSGL to be an important consideration for their course resource list, and beyond this audience, any reader interested in further self-discovery will find the reading of this book to be time well spent. It is a rare publication that can be trumpeted on many levels.I had looked forward to reading HSGL and as a non-entrepreneur, I was eager to discover my resulting level of comfort with its concept and language. I was delighted by HSGL's ability to draw me in and encourage reflection on characteristics that motivate and ultimately enable discoveries about what inspires and sustains us all in our business and personal lives. I did not anticipate the opportunity to learn so much from Tjan and his co-authors and I am extremely satisfied having read this book. It is well-researched, accessible and it is a great read.

Excellent book. This was recommended by our organization that could help for career growth especially if you feel you have some entrepreneurial skills.