Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive
Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive
The keys to better business from a thriving group of business owners-the Amish
Business can be discouraging. According to US Department of Labor figures, only 44 percent of newly-opened firms will last four years. Amish firms, on the other hand, have registered a 95% survival rate over a five-year period. And in many cases, those businesses do remarkably well-as Donald Kraybill writes: “the phrase ‘Amish millionaire’ is no longer an oxymoron.” Success Made Simple is the first practical book of Amish business success principles for the non-Amish reader. The work provides a platform of transferable principles–simple and universal enough to be applied in the non-Amish world, in a wide variety of business and management settings.
- Learn how to develop profitable and fulfilling enterprises as Amish explain how to build fruitful relationships with customers and employees, prosper by playing to strengths, and create an effective marketing story
- Includes interviews with over 50 Amish business owners outline the role of relationships in business and the importance of the big picture-taking in long-term goals, the welfare of others, and personal integrity
- Offers ideas on practical application of Amish business practices to non-Amish businesses, with bullet summaries at the end of each chapter reviewing the most important take-away points
With a focus on relationship-building and the big picture, Success Made Simple offers business owners everywhere the tools for better, smarter, more successful enterprises.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Highly recommended
Erik does a great job opening up a world which is unknown to many and inaccessible to the majority of people. There’s many things to admire about the Amish and great lessons to be learned, but the most important one is that leading by example has once again proven to be not the best way to lead, but the only way. Definitely a must-read for anyone working with or through people!
5 Stars Character trumps Competence
Recent high profile business disasters have reminded us that intellect and even competence are not the essential ingredients for business success. Success Made Simple captures the soul of Amish business and reveals how character, faithful relationships and a commitment to the greater good of community lead to “uncommon” success.
Dan Miller, author of 48 Days to the Work You Love
5 Stars A Book of Common Sense
“Success Made Simple” is an excellent book of common sense. I’m always surprised by how uncommon common sense often is, how easily we forget these truths. What Erik Wesner has done is to take business principles from the Amish, break them down, and convey to the reader the best way to apply them. Erik has compiled many invaluable lessons into one readable, thoroughly enjoyable book. Well worth your time!
5 Stars Success Made Simple, An Inside Look At Why Amish Businesses Thrive
The author has presented a number of successful habits and principles as to why Amish businesses are so successful in a simple, easy-to-understand manner that can be duplicated. The intermittently dispersed facts and his personal experiences with them provide even the most curious reader with tidbits about Amish culture. From their reliance on “doing the right thing” to their reliance on their faith, the Amish have figured out a proven formula to success and balance. This book is a great read for anyone in business or is in need of some leadership and life principles. Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive
4 Stars Success Made Simple
Erik Wesner spent an intensive period of time in the Amish community even though he is not Amish himself. He started by trying to sell them books which he did with some success.
I always had a bit of childhood fascination with Mennonites who lived nearby as I was growing up. They are similar in many ways to the Amish. They dress in black, drive horse and carriages, don’t believe in cars or electricity and generally live life more like the turn of the 1900’s than today.
I learned that the Amish are opposed to automation because they place such a high priority on family and they think things like cars would allow people to travel too far away from family.
The Amish success in my opinion is built on their great work ethic. In general I’ve seen most highly successful businesses, are lead by leadership with great work ethic. And work ethic permeates the culture.
The Amish are highly religious. Because of that they can be quite calm in times of high stress. They turn there problems over to God rather than becoming twisted up inside.
There is an limit on Amish entrepreneurs because the church and the community frowns upon growing too fast and too big. I guess as in any entrepreneurs’ situation, entrepreneurs need to be there own people and recognize the peer pressure just is.
In one sense I thought the Amish would have many disadvantages because of their lack of automation, however in business they are not opposed to using equipment and computers. I think being Amish has some advantages though too such as: work ethic, community, and even the Amish name which is quite well respected.
It’s an interesting book that gave me some fascinating insights into the Amish people and although it’s interesting I don’t think I will become one
Filed under: Personal Finance Book Reviews