Lucky or Smart?

Secrets to an Entrepreneurial Life

By: Bo Peabody

Narrated by: Bo Peabody

Length: 1 hr and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

At 27, Bo Peabody was an Internet multi-millionaire. In the heady days of the late 1990s, though, when every cool kid had an IPO, that wasn't very remarkable. What is remarkable is that he's even more successful today. He has co-founded five different companies, in varied industries, and made them thrive during the best and worst of economic times. Through it all, the one question everyone asks is: Was it his smarts that made him an entrepreneurial leader, or was it just plain luck? The truth is, Bo was smart enough to know when he was getting lucky. And he wants you to have the same advantage.

With proven methods for success and a witty, conversational voice, Bo takes the listener through the lessons his experiences as an entrepreneur have taught him. At the heart of Bo's manifesto is a mantra that everyone, whether working for a multinational corporation or a solo start-up, should heed: If you want your business to be successful, make sure your work is fundamentally innovative, morally compelling, and philosophically positive.

Lucky or Smart? will teach you how to put yourself in a position to get lucky, create the right situations for success, and take advantage of every opportunity. It is the first truly authentic guide to an entrepreneurial life, a must listen for anyone looking for his or her own road to fulfillment.

©2004 Peabody Enterprises (P)2005 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A terrific roadmap for prospective entrepreneurs as well as corporate executives who want to replicate the spirit and creativity found in successful new ventures. A great read." (Booklist)

Agree with previous review.

A few good points in the beginning about the authenticity of business ideas, the rest of the "success" reasons are tend to throw and generalize people in clear-cut "fit" and "unfit" categories, pointing out qualities that may prevent one from staying lucky. Maybe a a 5 star for someone right out of college, but not for a seasoned entrepreneur. Below expectations.

definitely smart, too

I downloaded this book because I am a small business owner and I thought it might inspire me. I didn't expect it to make me laugh out loud. It did both. I listened to it on a recent plane flight, and the journey flew (sorry) by. I actually just went to Amazon and bought a few copies to give as gifts to friends. It's the kind of book you can give to those friends who say "I don't read books" (it's short! tell them) and also to those snooty literary friends who say "I never read 'business' books." (He's a good storyteller, tell them.) The one accurate comment in the review above is that the interivew at the end is amazing. This isn't one of those "I did it and so can you" books... you don't feel like you've just been to a seminar, you feel like you just met a pretty interesting guy at a dinner party who told you what he's been up to for the past few years. And then you sit back and digest what he said and realize you've actually learned a thing or two about running (or starting) your own company. And especially about managing crazy geniuses.

definitely lucky!!

This book has few good points. The interview at the end of the reading was worth more than the book. I am sure most "want to be entrepreneurs" have enough common sense to skip this book.