• Built to Sell

  • Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You
  • By: John Warrillow
  • Narrated by: Erik Synnestvedt
  • Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,435 ratings)

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Built to Sell  By  cover art

Built to Sell

By: John Warrillow
Narrated by: Erik Synnestvedt
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Publisher's summary

A business parable about how to create a start-up that won't trap you when you want to sell it. According to John Warrillow, the number one mistake entrepreneurs make is to build a business that relies too heavily on them. Thus, when the time comes to sell, buyers aren't confident that the company-even if it's profitable-can stand on its own. To illustrate this, Warrillow introduces us to a fictional small business owner named Alex who is struggling to sell his advertising agency. Alex turns to Ted, an entrepreneur and old family friend, who encourages Alex to pursue three criteria to make his business sellable:

  • Teachable: focus on products and services that you can teach employees to deliver.
  • Valuable: avoid price wars by specializing in doing one thing better than anyone else.
  • Repeatable: generate recurring revenue by engineering products that customers have to repurchase often.

©2011 John Warrilow (P)2011 Gildan Media Corp

What listeners say about Built to Sell

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    1,849
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Great reads

I like the topic and the practical tips. I feel like it could be convey fully in 1-2 hours instead of 4 though.

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  • Bo
  • 06-07-19

Well put together book!

Thank you John for putting this book together!

The use of the story makes the book much more enjoyable. The summary of each
step that follows the story is clearly and concisely articulated. This book, for its purpose, is awesome!!

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Love it!

Really engaging narrative and easy to understand, great resource for business owners and entrepreneurs. highly recommend.

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The gift that keeps on giving!

Built to sell was given to me as a gift. And it keeps on giving. I have given this book to three close friends and recommended it to countless associates. It made me fall in love with learning again. I have listened to it times and keep going back to it when ever I feel I am falling into any old habits.

Easy and enjoyable listen. Great for start ups and existing businesses.

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Simple but specific

Thank you for making this advice detailed and specific enough to be meaningful and yet simple enough to apply. Also, by telling us what you were thinking when you had to make decisions you didn't want to make helps me relate to you and trust the path.

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Interesting Story

This book was great, the story helped create a blue print to build a business to sell.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Great book.

The story is great and engaging, I liken that the author summarizes the main points of the book at the end which makes reference easier.

Also the narrator is not as horrible as many reviewers made him out to be so please don’t be put off by the particular negative reviews about the narrator.

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Good book. Narration sounded robotic.

I thought this was an excellent and informative book for any business owner. Narration was a bit strange but it was still a good listen.

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Recomendado al 100

De los mejores libros de negocios que he escuchado/leído. El storytelling lo hace entretenido de principio a fin porque puedes identificarte con el personaje en todo momento. Los conceptos son sumamente claros y poderosos. Prácticamente puedes sacar un checklist sobre cómo preparar tu negocio para crecer sin ti. EXCELENTE

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great book!

I really enjoyed the story while learning new business skills.
The concept of teaching using a story is new for me, specially for professional business books.

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