• The Barefoot Executive

  • The Ultimate Guide to Being Your Own Boss and Achieving Financial Freedom
  • By: Carrie Wilkerson
  • Narrated by: Carrie Wilkerson
  • Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (191 ratings)

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The Barefoot Executive  By  cover art

The Barefoot Executive

By: Carrie Wilkerson
Narrated by: Carrie Wilkerson
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Publisher's summary

Don't think you have what it takes to run a business? It's time to reconsider. Carrie Wilkerson offers the opportunity to live life on your terms. Want to start your workday with e-mail and coffee on the back patio? Want the flexibility of joining your fourth-grader on an all-day field trip? Are you ready to take that vacation you’ve been planning for years? Then you have a choice to make, and The Barefoot Executive will help jump-start your transition. You’ll learn:

  • Your “why” -- the most important question. Why do you want to work for yourself?
  • What type of business best suits your experience and talents.
  • How to stay focused on your goal and avoid distractions.
  • Where to find the support that will accelerate your success.
  • How to link your business to the right market.
Whether it’s a service, a product, or your insight or expertise, you already have the raw materials necessary to transform your life. Carrie will walk you through the process of building the business you need to achieve the life you want. Her guidance is practical. No philosophical silliness, no theoretical abstractions - just concrete action steps alongside insights from fellow entrepreneurs, interactive exercises, and links to Carrie’s online video coaching segments. It’s the next best thing to working one-on-one with her. The Barefoot Executive will have you energized by the possibilities and embracing the extraordinary life that is well within your reach.

©2011 Carrie Wilkerson (P)2011 Oasis Audio

Featured Article: The Best Audiobooks for Entrepreneurs


Starting a business can be tough. Not only do you have to take your amazing idea from fledgling proposal to working business model, but there are so many little details and unexpected challenges along the way. If you're thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, or if you're in the thick of launching your own business, check out some of these best books for entrepreneurs to help you navigate the uncertain territory of starting a business.

What listeners say about The Barefoot Executive

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Where is the substance?

What would have made The Barefoot Executive better?

Some substance

Would you ever listen to anything by Carrie Wilkerson again?

No

Any additional comments?

I have listened to many audiobooks and enjoyed nearly all of them.After reading the other reviews on the site, I thought it sounded like a good listen.The book is very repetitive and has nothing of any real substance.I got through 2/3 of the book and could not take any more.In the first chapter carrie sets up her credentials - she runs many successful businesses from home, lost over 100 pounds, has 4 kids, overcame depression etc - which is good.But she keeps repeating these same facts again and again during the book about how amazing she is for overcoming these obstacles.There are no real deep insights about anything.The whole message of the book seemed to be - if you have an interest in something you can start an internet business advising on the topic, and if you work hard you will build a successful business.I am not disputing that this is true but there has to be more meat in a 6 hour book.It is supposed to be a book for people starting a business or people already running a business, but I think only newcomers to business will get anything out of it.This may sound like a harsh review, but maybe I am just not who the book was aimed at.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Worth reading but not what I expected...

I wouldn't call it the ultimate guide to anything other than Carrie Wilkerson self promotion. However I do think it was worth the money. This review may seem harsh but keep reading to the end to understand my point.

The book is not a straight road-map from business idea to creation to profit. She presents ideas and concepts in a non-linear fashion and often repeats herself. The repetition of ideas is very common in self-help/biz development books so I expected it. What I didn't expect was the shameless self promotion.

She mentions her 100lb weight loss, adopted kids, mountains of debt, professional contacts (Zig Ziglar, etc) a lot! Her story is very inspiring! I applaud her will, dedication and commitment to success. However, rather than hearing about all of the things she had to overcome, I'd like to hear HOW she overcame them. I was expecting a more in depth discussion about how she built her business, the hurdles, the successes, the choices, etc. She briefly mentions her first business and extensively covers how her current business can help us reach new heights but never peels back the curtain.

I'm always leery about authors/speakers/teachers who make their living from teaching people how to make money. I find it a bit disingenuous for people who've never built a business outside of the "make money online" industry to claim to be able to help people how to make money outside of this industry. I don't think that describes Carrie 100%. I think she used the steps she outlines in this book to grow her business to the point where she expanded in to this industry. However, I wish she would have spent more time talking about THAT part of her growth.

Every chapter references how her current business and products can help us do the things she is teaching us to do. It is clear that the book is a marketing vehicle for her business. And for that reason I wanted to give this book 1 star. However, after listening objectively and ignoring the self promotion, I definitely see the value in the book.

This book is great for someone who is considering getting in to business for themselves and is not sure how or why. The action steps she gives will help you get an idea of what YOU can do to build a business that you are good at and care about.

It is not technical, so it is great for beginners and not so great for experienced business owners. There are a few insights for current biz owners but I think the greatest value in this book is in finding, evaluating and starting your business idea.

This book gave me ideas that will allow me to make 100 times the cost of the book within the next 6 months, so it was definitely worth reading. However, It could have been a 2 hour book without all the self-promotion and marketing, but then she wouldn't be following her own advice from the last chapter.

I prefer books that give the history of a business or CEO and talks about the tactics, ideas and tools they used to start and grow their business. (see Tony Hsieh, Steve Jobs, Starbucks, etc)

READ THIS BOOK but take notes so you don't have to go through it again.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Worse book Ever

What disappointed you about The Barefoot Executive?

The title is completely misleading.
It was sophomoric.Self-centered. It was simplistic. Non-specific. Definitely not executive material.

Has The Barefoot Executive turned you off from other books in this genre?

yes

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Carrie Wilkerson?

I wouldn't have published this book. it is more of a pamphlet that belongs in the lobby of a christian motivation center

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Barefoot Executive?

all the faith-based assertions. the simplicity and assumptions

Any additional comments?

It is a useless book for anyone who has been or wants to be in the business world. I can not imagine it being useful to anyone, whether you are starting out as a network marketer, an entrepreneur or a small partnership.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great Audio Book!

Carrie read the audio herself - that is sincerity at its max. Because she wrote the book and now she is reading it to her listeners, you feel that she is speaking to you directly and sharing with you all that she knows. The most amazing first audio book experience for me!!!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very encouraging!

Carrie Wilkerson has a very engaging style and is very encouraging, yet practical, in her strategies and techniques for starting a business.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Save your money or credit

Would you try another book from Carrie Wilkerson and/or Carrie Wilkerson?

The title should be Carrie Wilkerson, My Self Serving, Self Centered Autobiography.
I gave up after about an hour and a half. No, I would not purchase anything by her again.

Would you ever listen to anything by Carrie Wilkerson again?

No Chance. Zip. Zero. Nada.

Would you be willing to try another one of Carrie Wilkerson’s performances?

She does have a very "happy" voice, but no.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Barefoot Executive?

Editing wasn't the issue. It is holding the book out as helpful when it is just endless self centered "go to my website" sort of marketing.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Pretty good

What did you love best about The Barefoot Executive?

I liked the tidbits about not making excuses and just act, even if it's not perfect.

What did you like best about this story?

I think the main thing I will take away from this is that I really need to seek out motivational materials that help inspire me on my journey as an entrepreneur.

What about Carrie Wilkerson’s performance did you like?

I think she did a great job!

Any additional comments?

A great portion of this book was geared towards helping someone brainstorm what they can offer the world with a huge emphasis on the the author's success story. As someone who is already a small business owner, there were quite a few sections that just didn't apply to me at all. There were some good tidbits that I did get so it wasn't wasted time. I'm just now hungry for material that is more closely related to my stage in business.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful listen packed with terrific ideas.

The author and narrator has one of those friendly voices that makes you feel like you are listening to a positive and enthusiastic friend who has been there and done that. Would highly recommend!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved This Book

Such a great book, a must read! Excited to implement so many great ideas. Thank You.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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applicable

im sad its over! great listen, great content. goibg to listen again to put the steps into action.

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