Ready, Fire, Aim

By: Michael Masterson

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's Summary

If you had the opportunity to work where, when, and with whom you wanted - all while getting paid very well - would you take it? Self-made multimillionaire and best-selling author Michael Masterson did, and with Ready, Fire, Aim he'll show you how to do the same.

Whether you're thinking about starting a new business or growing an existing one, Ready, Fire, Aim has what you need to succeed in your entrepreneurial endeavors. In it, Masterson shares the knowledge he has gained from creating and expanding numerous businesses and outlines a focused strategy for guiding a small business through the four stages of entrepreneurial growth. Along the way, you'll learn the skills needed to succeed in this dynamic environment. Discover how to:

Start a business from scratch and make it profitable quickly

Keep a growing business growing

Get other people to do almost all the hard work for you, so you are free to do the fun stuff

Position yourself as an indispensable business builder, so you can enjoy a big share of the profits - even if you are only working part time

Duplicate your winning strategy in several businesses so you never have to worry about "needing" any one of them.

Over the course of his remarkably successful career, Masterson has developed dozens of businesses, including one still growing at $300 million. Now he shows you how to outsell your competitors by implementing innovative operational procedures to reduce costs and using the power of the Internet to reduce customer complaints and increase profits.

©2008 Michael Masterson (P)2008 Gildan Media Corp

Best Business Book in a Long Time

This is one of the best business books I have read in a long time. It is imminently practical and based on common sense. In a nutshell, the book discusses the importance of taking action but intelligent action) and accelerating failures. As an attorney, I have seen so many people spend all their focus on creating corporations, printing business cards, creating expensive web sites, hiring 'branding experts' and marketing consultants, all before they make their first sale. Most successful entrepreneurs take a more action oriented approach where they first get some business in the door and then worry about improving things. I highly recommend the book.

14 of 14 people found this review helpful

Awesome for entrepreneurs who are starting off

Anyone who is starting as an entrepreneur or is in Stage 1 of his business (i.e. revenue less than i million), will find this book extremely useful. The bulk of the material on this book is for this class of entrepreneurs. There is also a lot of information for Stage 2 businesses (revenue from 1 to 10 million). There is also some information for bigger businesses, although not much.

I find this audio awesome because Michael Masterson speaks from experience and not from theory. There is nothing like tapping onto the experience of a seasoned serial entrepreneur.

After listenning to this, the entire business plan for my business venture became crystal clear.

For those who are not entrepreneurs or are not planning to start a business, will not be able to relate to this book. But for those who are just starting out, this is a GEM! And for those already having running businesses, this would also be helpful as it can give you insights you never imagined.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Something for everyone, and something not

Interesting book, with good ideas, especially in the opening chapters. The structure of the book is discussing how to move a business through each "phase" of it's life, bracketed in terms of gross revenues. This is good for a publisher, I suppose, since it appeals to someone in every category of business...from a $25k/year starter, to a $200m corporation. However, from the reader's point of view, it means that one section will likely be VERY relevant, and all others won't. I have some passing intellectual curiousity about the best strategy to move my business from $10m/year to $50m/year, but right now only the first part (getting to $1m/yr in revenue) is really practical for my business...everything else is interesting, but I can't apply it. It seems like everyone will have this problem...one of two of the "bracketed" how-to lessons will be interesting and relevant, and the others won't really affect you.

All in all, worthwhile, but don't expect to enjoy the entire book...just the parts that match the current state of your business.

25 of 27 people found this review helpful

This is a Fire Starter for Entrepreneurs

What did you love best about Ready, Fire, Aim?

I really, really like how merciless the author is in identifying the most important things an entrepreneur needs to attend to while reaching for growth and glory. I won't spill the beans in this review, but suffice it to say that 3 years into my own journey, this book hit me square between the eyes with messages/lessons I really needed to hear.

The book is not written to simply motivate us and give us encouragement; it's a blueprint for how to THINK about what we're doing on a day to day basis.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The tag line would read: Entrepreneurs, pay attention!

Any additional comments?

The only drawback for me is the author's references to his vast experience building businesses in multiple and various industries, though only giving examples from a very select 2 or 3. I don't mind if he's only been in 2 or 3 industries; I only mind the grand-standing without delivering substance on the claim. This is a very small detraction for me, but worth mentioning so others may not feel the same level of surprise as I did.

Overall, I am really grateful to have listened to this book!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Interesting read before starting a business

Very interesting way to look at things, opposite to many people's normal way of working. You cannot plan everything and expect perfection from the first try. Experience will teach you how to improve aim after you have fired. Good reading from a person with lots of experience to earn enough credibility.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Straight forward and empowering

Any additional comments?

Coming from a phase 1 business, 0-1 million, it was good to hear about where to focus now. There are some great practical ideas shared that get missed by many, like selling to validate your product before spending time/money on branding. As the book goes on to address business phases where you bring in 10 million +, it started to get intimidating, but there was some great management and leader insights drawn from it all.
Great narration!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Lots of Interesting Ideas

Any additional comments?

I think there are a lot of applicable (even if not wholly original) ideas in the book: distinct stages in the life of a company, doing a Minimum Viable Product (using language from the Lean Start-Up), getting out of the way of your own employees, etc. It mostly felt like a mash-up of 4 Hour Workweek and The Lean Start-Up, with some Rich Dad thrown in. There was more "become rich and don't work much" hype than I'd prefer. Overall, a pretty worthwhile read, especially if you haven't read similar books already, but not really a gamechanger for me.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Even better listening the second time

Where does Ready, Fire, Aim rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The narrator is very good and the story to remember. I love the concise way he describe business and success along with failures to avoid.
.

What did you like best about this story?

The stories and examples of real life.

Which scene was your favorite?

The chocolate candy cost cutting is so true and enlighten the book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Made me want to change our business

Any additional comments?

Great book from Michaels Materson

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

one of my favorite business books of all time

I've must have listened to this book nearly a dozen times by now. I remember reading this book when I was just starting our business and now hundreds of employees later I find its license still very relevant. I recommend this book for anyone who is thinking or is in the middle of running their business.

multiple listens required

this book is so packed with everything you need!!

it should be made into a curriculum.

Great stuff

A great book full of powerful advice. I have recommended it to many for a listen

great book

I was recommended this book my a successfull entrepneur and it was better then I thought . great insight full of good points and hopefully I will be using it . thank you

Another disappointingly slow book

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Less single entrepreneurs and more "staff orientated" businesses

Any additional comments?

Was a long and slow book, I listened to the first hour and a bit, got nothing, and then skimmed a lot. Seemed quite dated, unless that was the feeling from the narration, and didn't really apply to me as a PT and Life Coach - was recommended this book by someone. but was let down in it's "usability" for me an my business model

1 of 2 people found this review helpful