Crazy Is a Compliment

The Power of Zigging When Everyone Else Zags

By: Linda Rottenberg

Narrated by: Linda Rottenberg

In the tradition of both The Lean Startup and Lean In, a manifesto about taking smart risks in pursuit of big dreams.

Linda Rottenberg has spent her career helping innovators think big. "If people aren't calling you crazy, you aren't thinking big enough," she says. These days taking chances isn't just for young college dropouts in hoodies. Whether you work at a Fortune 500 company, a non-profit, or a mom-and pop store, everybody needs to think and act like a changemaker. We all need to be nimble, adaptive, daring, and maybe even a little crazy, or risk being left behind.

But how do you take smart risks and still achieve big success? That's Rottenberg's expertise as the CEO and cofounder of Endeavor, the world’s leading organization devoted to identifying, mentoring, and investing in fast-growing businesses. Since 1997, Endeavor has screened 40,000 candidates and handpicked 1,000 entrepreneurs in 20 countries - then helped them take the crucial steps to grow their organizations and transform their communities. In 2012, Endeavor entrepreneurs generated six billion in revenues and provided 225,000 jobs.

Now Rottenberg draws on her unique experience to show how we can all take manageable steps to achieve our dreams. Crazy Is a Compliment offers a blend of inspiring stories and practical tools for getting started, going bigger, and integrating work and family. As she writes, "Since everybody has to take risks these days, we all need to be able to derisk risk."

Written with wisdom, wit, and passion, Crazy is a Compliment is a rallying cry for a new approach to business and a blueprint for personal change. The good news is that anybody can initiate those changes. "There are no admission criteria. There is no wardrobe requirement. There is no secret vote. Entrepreneurship is for everyone."

©2014 Linda Rottenberg (P)2014 Penguin Group

Critic reviews

"Call me crazy, but I think Linda is onto something big here. She delivers powerful insights with her legendary wit and candor to show how everyone can think and act like an entrepreneur." (Michael Dell, founder and CEO, Dell Inc.)

"For nearly two decades, Linda has been teaching and learning from the boldest entrepreneurs around the world. In this terrific book, she shares what it takes to master the chaos of starting your own business - or simply to grow your own career in today's fast-changing world of work." (Reid Hoffman, co-founder/chairman of LinkedIn and co-author of the number one New York Times best seller The Start-Up of You)

"Crazy is what they call people who don't fit in. And we need a lot more crazy like Linda is crazy. She is generous, curious, connected and driven to make a difference in the world. And this book captures all of that and more. Buy it, read it, live it." (Seth Godin, author of Linchpin)

Awesome book...

Awesome book and great way to end with dedication to your daughters. I to believe you can have great success in business and run a successful household. Kudos to your success with Endeavor and with this book. I am a new big fan.

Wholesome.

If you could sum up Crazy Is a Compliment in three words, what would they be?

A beautiful marriage between Linda's voice, her storytelling, and guidance. Simply delicious.

Which scene was your favorite?

Many

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

Like Linda said, it's about taking risks while not risking it all. Zig while everyone Zags. Keep yourself in check first, spend time with your loved one(s), and just Do It.

Common pitfalls are included with success stories

Would you consider the audio edition of Crazy Is a Compliment to be better than the print version?

If you have limited time, the audio version is a great way to digest the book. The subject matter suits an audio book just fine. There is nothing overly complicated that would be lost without having the text in front of you.

What does Linda Rottenberg bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I personally think Linda has a great voice. I really like it when authors read their own books. You get the proper tone and inflection than if it were read from some other possibly relatively disinterested third-party.

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

The Startup mentality isn't just for Silicon Valley.

Relatable and relevant

As a female entrepreneur this book was very relevant and structured in a way that's easy to relate to as she pulls from the well-known founders and brands to illustrate points. Highly recommend to all females in business.

must read for any entrepreneur

loved the book! thanks linda. i highly recommend any entrepreneur to read this book. a lot of good stories

Very interesting & thought provoking

Very interesting & thought provoking
You will enjoy this book - history and what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Motivational. This is not a how to book- it provides real world examples & warns of vanity metrics.

Brimming with stories!

An enjoyable book through and through! I love how Linda Rottenberg read it, enjoyed all the anecdotes she cited and appreciated all the the insights she shared. What a wonderfully comprehensive gift to entrepreneurs (and all readers). I will definitely come back to it again and again, and share her words of wisdom.

I have a newfound respect for Endeavor and hope to be an Endeavor entrepreneur one day. My kind of community development.

Loved the book I wish there was pdf download

Would you listen to Crazy Is a Compliment again? Why?

Yes, it encouraged me, inspired and gave me direction. Not only great stories, but this book is a powerful tool for the crazies. Focus Focus. I want to know where I can go for comprehensive personality test.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Crazy Is a Compliment?

Personality test, knowing your personality type weaknesses etc.

Which character – as performed by Linda Rottenberg – was your favorite?

Her telling her own story passionately from the heart. Which made huge difference

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

I laughed and had allot of Aha moments.

Any additional comments?

Please add PDFs download for the personality tests. I would have like to take a few. So I can see were I fall. Key guide to support the audible version. Great resource for all the people that have been called crazy.

Very good book

I really enjoyed this book. The author backs up her ideas with proven stories from people from well known companies.