Longaberger: An American Success Story

Rating:
Summary: Not A Very Helpful Book!
Review: As stated by another reviewer, this is a book for "Longaberger fans" (pretty much a waste of time and money for anybody else). The wholesome, made-in America image that the Longaberger family is trying to convey seems ironic to me now, since the company is outsourcing a large amount of their products in China. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone except the die-hard Longaberger enthusiast!

Rating:
Summary: Longaberger : An American Success Story
Review: Even if you are not a big basket collector this is a delightful book with lots of business ideals and tools. The stories of a family business and their successes are delightful. This book is full of American Family traditions, full of farm owners stories and it's quality. Dave was an incredible man with lots of vision. Reading this book and explore a business success, that is full of delight. Yes, I have enjoyed the quaility of these baskets and collecting is just a bonus. Enjoy everyone, this book is truely inspirational.

Rating:
Summary: Longaberger-An American Success Story
Review: GREAT book! Even if you are not a Basket fan, there are wonderful business tips in this book! All too many businesses don't thrive because their focus is on themselves, this book offers a different perspective. Success comes from concentrating and focusing on others first. It shows us that success is a journey requiring integrity, belief in your dream, good old-fashioned hard work and the ability to learn from your failures. It is inspiring to see someone as Dave Longaberger succeed and gives you confidence that you too can succeed. A must for any business owner!

Rating:
Summary: This is not a business book
Review: I cannot give this book enough praise. The author goes into full detail of the things that he struggled with as well as his success stories.

He also shares his 18 Management Principles that can be used in any business.

When I first saw the book, I thought I don't want to read a book about baskets, but I am sure glad that I did purchase this book. It was the type of book that was very difficult to put down and you wanted to read every word.

Here is an excerpt I would like to share, "First, when you compete, don't focus on the compeition, instead, focus on how well you can do. Second, no matter what you sell, you're always selling yourself. Third, do't give up when people don't buy. After all, nobody sells 'em all."

Rating:
Summary: Too repetitive
Review: I enjoyed the book and wish I had been able to meet 'Popeye'. I did think that the same principles were repeated over and over again in the book. "Care about your people" was said 1000 times it seemed. The same stories were used in multiple chapters. It could be cut down, put into an inexpensive paperback, which would have been worth the money.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Business Tips If you are a real businessman
Review: If a book's name is success story it will not be a business textbook to explain business strategy or corporate finance. In this book you can see the optimism (which we need right now), persuasion(every entreprenuer needs), and a soft touch to people ( key element to create successful business). So as you understand this book do not make you understand hard business issues but make you understand that the realization of dreams are not restricted to business educated people... It shows you a person who has learning disabilities can create a company of 1 billion dollar worth... it shows you the importance of caring customers and touching customers and caring their families...

So people who needs business books they need to go text books not success stories... ... if i need a screwdriver and if i get a hammer, hammer will be useless for me but this does not change the effectiveness of the hammer for the person who needs it... so only problem is the person who selects it...

thanks

Rating:
Summary: Not A Very Helpful Book!
Review: That was Mr.Longaberger's problem. He knew that handcrafted baskets had a place in Americana, but he didn't know how to make it profitable. But he never gave up. While it was running in the red, he was taking money from his business that was running in the black.

Those entrepreneurs that are working full time jobs, as well,know the feeling.

I picked up this book to gain perspective on how to not get discouraged in my own business. It worked.

I have never had to work in a building that had no roof. I have never had to pay employees with IOUs. I have never had to go into a store and see my handmade baskets tossed in the back of a shelf collecting dusts while cheaper made, inferior baskets go whizzing by.

What I took away from this book is to constantly persist and innovate. The cliche "Where there is a will there is a way" readily applied to Mr.Longaberger. He gained my utmost admiration as a businessman and as a philanthroper.

From day one he shared is wealth, with his employees, with his community, and with strangers. I am shopping around to purchase one of his baskets, solely as an inspiration piece, and if you do the same, after reading this book, you will find out what I found out, they are expensive and you have stiff competition among the collectors. He created a $7billion company from an abandon building. Could you do the same.

Do you have what it takes to get through your hard times, up beat, to really see your business blossom? I do. I look forward to seeing you at the top.