Crossing the Swamp

My Path to Innovating as a Parallel Entrepreneur

By: John Shen

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

Inspiration and wisdom for entrepreneurs, visionaries, innovators, and start-up teams.

Whether you are already an entrepreneur or seeking to launch a start-up, listen to this book for insight and encouragement you will not find elsewhere.

John Shen is unique among American entrepreneurs. He founded five start-ups and currently leads four of them simultaneously, with yet another new one on the way. He is a “parallel entrepreneur”, going far beyond the usual model of being a solo or serial entrepreneur. He is a first-generation entrepreneur who came to the US at the age of 23 and achieved the American dream. Moreover, he has experienced total business collapse and knows what it is like to come back from failure, to “cross the swamp”.

John recounts his dramatic life story and his entrepreneurial journey. The book details the eight personal and business qualities that entrepreneurs must develop in order to achieve their highest goals. John’s focus is especially on explaining the significant advantages of being a parallel entrepreneur—benefits that solo and serial entrepreneurs lose out on, limiting your potential.

John has a strong passion to support grassroots entrepreneurs and small businesses, especially minority and women-owned micro-businesses. His American Lending Center had made more than 25,000 loans to minority- and women-owned small businesses in all 50 states by the end of 2022. He is a co-founder of the Long Beach Accelerator™, and his company, Sunstone Management, funds many pitch competitions and demo days to reward innovative start-ups.

This is the book to listen to if you are seeking to succeed in your entrepreneurial journey.

©2023 John Shen (P)2023 John Shen

Critic reviews

“From its gripping start to its motivating finish, Crossing the Swamp is a must-[listen] for entrepreneurs at any stage. John Shen shares his 20 years of business experience to help us overcome the challenges business (and life) will surely throw our way! Whether you are a veteran or a novice, you will find the tools you need and the inspiration to use them." (Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey, founders of Barefoot Wines, and New York Times best-selling authors of The Barefoot Spirit)

Great example of resilience and intellect.

Mr Shen is a role model for both immigrants as well as those born in the USA who may take citizenship for granted. His ability to obtain a full scholarship to one of the finest universities in the US, build a prosperous career in real estate and then lose all in the 2008 economic downfall and pick himself up and rebuild himself is nothing but inspiring. Layer on the concept and execution of parallel entrepreneurship, where one endeavor leads directly to another, enabling client base and support assets to be shared, with diversification built in, is something all entrepreneurs should look to achieve. Mr Shen goes well beyond monetary reward discussing the importance of community and family. an inspiring read.