Built to Sell

Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You

By: John Warrillow

Narrated by: Erik Synnestvedt

Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins

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

Good info. Easy to understand.

While some people complained about the narrator, I had no issues listening at 1.5x speed as I usually do. Content was easy to understand and digest. I’d recommend it for entrepreneurs.

I have changed how I think about being in business

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book is perfect for any entreprenuer who no longer wants to work in their business but rather work ON their business.

What about Erik Synnestvedt’s performance did you like?

At first, I did not like his voice at all but I changed my mind half way through

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes! I no longer want to be another employee in my company. I want to run it!

Any additional comments?

If you are an entreprenuer and are hoping to sell your business one day - get this book and follow it. The advise is invaluable.

Strong content, OK story, irritating narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, if I thought they could handle the terrible narration.

What was most disappointing about John Warrillow’s story?

It was OK. I'm just not crazy about the story approach. Seems a little bogus, as if the message is, "See, this guy followed the book's advice and look at how successful he was." Just give me the information and let me decide. Or if it's going to be a story, make it something that actually happened.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Erik Synnestvedt?

Anybody. ANYBODY! My gramma?
Joel Lefferrt was good with one of these story books.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but I couldn't handle the narrator.

Any additional comments?

Please make more of an effort to in choosing a narrator. I cannot believe the publisher would have accepted this guy if they had given him an interview. (Unless he's maybe the boss's son in law.)

Amazing content! Only one draw back.

The narrators voice was slight annoying. If that wasn’t the case I’d give it 5 stars. The idea of doing a story rather than just straight information threw me off but, made the book extremely engaging!

Great book

This is a great read/listen to. While running will be sharing it with friends

Very usefull and practical book for entrepeneurs.

It was a really concice and straight to the point book to build a company that thrives. At least i liked the Audible version of it.

Simple steps to create a very valuable business

Set for simple, easy to follow, and if you follow them, your business will be more valuable when you sell or if you keep it, you came on our auto pilot!!

Great listen

Great listen for anyone nre to business and thinking of creating a small business. Definitely a quick and a little broad. May not be as applicable to tech totally but still great listen and worth it.

Perfect for agency business owners! Exactly what I needed to hear

For an agency owner myself, this served as motivation to focus on one offering and strip away from all the crap. I'm shifting to a product instead of a service and only one instead of many. If you're a business owner working more than 40 hours a week, then listen to this. Yes you're probably thinking, of course I work more like 80 hours! Well, then listen to this now. Great listen!!

Comically bad narration, but excellent content

Comically bad narration, but excellent content. this book opened me up to some new ideas.