The Down-home Approach to Business and Personal Success, by Tim Knox

“Only by discovering our weakness can we build on our strengths.” Tim says, “The best way to get over the failure of a business (and deep feelings of personal failure that go along with it) is to do an autopsy of the business to help find out exactly what went wrong.” Then suck it up and move on.

He also relates lessons learned from the personal experiences that apply to running a business, such as, near electrocution and taking his daughter shopping. He says the lessons are out there if you are paying attention.

This is a great read if you are curious or thinking about taking that enormous step into the world of entrepreneurship, or being your own boss. Tim’s book helps you examine if you are serious about starting a business or even cut out to go for it. He looks at the meaning of success and serial entrepreneurs. He covers many aspects of market research, customer service, and climbing aboard the world wide web. Tim gives you direction, and a sense of what you need to learn in more detail.

The best part of Tim’s book (even better the knowledge gained) is his upbeat sense of humor. Every paragraph is written from a friendly, humorous perspective, which absolutely keeps you reading. For example, he explains how there are “no dumb business questions, only dumb business question askers.” and how most customer service reps are “walking oxy-morons.”

Tim relates many tales about growing up in Alabama with his mama and his liquor lovn’ old man. He recounts a couple of valuable lessons learned from his father’s failed entrepreneurial endeavor. “Number one: Never get drunk and spray paint a beat-up, unwashed, rusted old truck in your back yard in the middle of a blistering Alabama summer day. Number two” Never start a business when you don’t have the foggiest notion about what the heck you’re doing.” Tim states that to his old man accounting meant making up excuses to his wife about how he spent his time.

This book actually made me laugh out loud. A difficult feat. I am more of a groan and ah hah, kind of gal. Laughter, like a thunderstorm, clears the air and refreshes your perspective. A great characteristic when discussing a serious topic. And, it comes with the added bonus of teaching you a little something. Starting my own business is something that I find appealing, (if I could only find a clue as to what kind.) Tim’s book did give me a sense of confidence to try. I even learned a way to trust in my ideas. Tim’s book is full of useful information.