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Guitar Lessons: A Life's Journey Turning Passion into Business
The inside story of the founding and growth of Taylor Guitars, one of the world's most successful guitar manufacturers Bob Taylor mixes the details of his experience as a tradesman and cofounder of Taylor Guitars, a world-famous acoustic and electric guitar manufacturer, with philosophical life lessons that have practical application for building a business.
From the “a-ha” moment in junior high school that inspired his very first guitar, Taylor has been living the American dream, crafting quality products with his own hands and building a successful, sustainable business. In Guitar Lessons, he shares the values that he lives by and that have provided the foundation for the company’s success.
Be inspired by a story of guts and gumption, an unwavering commitment to quality, and the hard lessons that made Taylor Guitars the company it is today.
Q&A with Author Bob Taylor
Author Bob Taylor What inspired you to write this book?
The opportunity was presented to me, and the time just seemed right. Sometimes, I think, if you do these things too early, it’s a waste of time. In our case, it seems as if everything is right for people to want to read the book.
How would you describe Guitar Lessons to someone who has little knowledge of Taylor?
It’s a book of business lessons learned through experience and told in story form. It’s the story of starting a business as a teenager based on a craft I fell in love with, and really, how it turned into a major business by bringing great people in with me and persevering through the years.
Is there content in the book that will surprise existing Taylor Guitars owners?
I think people familiar with the company will see it as a more in-depth and candid story than what they are going to read in a blog, article, or company profile. In a book format, there’s enough time to go into depth. There are lots of Taylor guitar owners. We’ve sold a million guitars, and 750,000 of those have only recently joined our customer base in the last six or seven years. This will give them a better insight into our story and where we came from.
What lessons do you want readers to leave with?
The main lessons are that it takes perseverance and the ability to knock down obstacles as you go. There’s no singular thing that acts as a turning point in a business and gets you to finally “make it.” There may be 25 things that you need to solve for your business to be successful. Maybe you have to get to where eight or nine are solved just to stay in business, and then you go from there. But you must continue to own something, whether it means learning how to do production, marketing your products, or taking care of employees. You can run a car with six pistons, but it takes all eight pistons to fire for the car to really run great.
From the “a-ha” moment in junior high school that inspired his very first guitar, Taylor has been living the American dream, crafting quality products with his own hands and building a successful, sustainable business. In Guitar Lessons, he shares the values that he lives by and that have provided the foundation for the company’s success.
Be inspired by a story of guts and gumption, an unwavering commitment to quality, and the hard lessons that made Taylor Guitars the company it is today.
Q&A with Author Bob Taylor
Author Bob Taylor What inspired you to write this book?
The opportunity was presented to me, and the time just seemed right. Sometimes, I think, if you do these things too early, it’s a waste of time. In our case, it seems as if everything is right for people to want to read the book.
How would you describe Guitar Lessons to someone who has little knowledge of Taylor?
It’s a book of business lessons learned through experience and told in story form. It’s the story of starting a business as a teenager based on a craft I fell in love with, and really, how it turned into a major business by bringing great people in with me and persevering through the years.
Is there content in the book that will surprise existing Taylor Guitars owners?
I think people familiar with the company will see it as a more in-depth and candid story than what they are going to read in a blog, article, or company profile. In a book format, there’s enough time to go into depth. There are lots of Taylor guitar owners. We’ve sold a million guitars, and 750,000 of those have only recently joined our customer base in the last six or seven years. This will give them a better insight into our story and where we came from.
What lessons do you want readers to leave with?
The main lessons are that it takes perseverance and the ability to knock down obstacles as you go. There’s no singular thing that acts as a turning point in a business and gets you to finally “make it.” There may be 25 things that you need to solve for your business to be successful. Maybe you have to get to where eight or nine are solved just to stay in business, and then you go from there. But you must continue to own something, whether it means learning how to do production, marketing your products, or taking care of employees. You can run a car with six pistons, but it takes all eight pistons to fire for the car to really run great.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 4, 2011
6 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 8, 2017
Quite an enjoyable read considering I don't usually go for biography-style pieces. It might help that it was 100% about how the best guitar company on the planet came into existence. :)
October 15, 2013
very pleasant and readable. The first half of the book is an autobiography of Bob Taylor, cofounder of Taylor Guitars. The focus is on how he learned to build things, and how his parents and teachers taught him and nurtured his drive. later, it is about how he spent years work at his guitar company, barely scrapping by.
in the last half of the book he starts imparting specific lessons, though there are plenty of lessons to be gleaned from the earlier parts. The lessons are still driven by stories--no dry textbook material here.
I suspect that it helps when reading this book if you are a fan of Taylor guitars, or at least like guitars. He doesn't go into great detail, but I know each time he mentioned a feature of my guitar my interest perked up.
the latter part of the book should also interest anyone who has started a company, or worked in a start up, or considered starting a company. there are a lot of good lessons there for you.
3.5 stats. 4 if you are a guitar player.
in the last half of the book he starts imparting specific lessons, though there are plenty of lessons to be gleaned from the earlier parts. The lessons are still driven by stories--no dry textbook material here.
I suspect that it helps when reading this book if you are a fan of Taylor guitars, or at least like guitars. He doesn't go into great detail, but I know each time he mentioned a feature of my guitar my interest perked up.
the latter part of the book should also interest anyone who has started a company, or worked in a start up, or considered starting a company. there are a lot of good lessons there for you.
3.5 stats. 4 if you are a guitar player.
September 21, 2022
Absolutely loved this book about Bob Taylor, Taylor guitars, and Bob’s dream and execution of building a well-known and beloved business.
The beginning talked a lot about how Bob’s parents cultivated his curiosity and supported his endeavors, and he also discussed how he discovered his passion and how his interests merged into one path. I thought one of the more noteworthy parts about his life is that he eagerly learned from others and asked questions, and then gave back to people and invested in them. I also appreciated that Bob gave a lot of practical life advice too (such as it’s better to finish one thing well rather than have many things halfway done).
I really liked learning more about guitars (like how Bob totally reinvented guitar necks, making them thin and using New Technology), but I found myself underlining a lot about the business side of things. It took years for Bob and Kurt’s business to grow & support them, but they never gave up. It’s definitely inspiring (the epilogue alone is amazing).
The thought, work, and branding Bob covers in the book makes me appreciate my Taylor guitar and his business so much more.
•••
Favorite quotes:
“I would work with a little knot in my stomach much of the time. But work, I did. All day and all night, we’d keep going because someone would buy a guitar and tell us how much they liked it. I also kept going because I had decided that I was a guitar builder, so there was no other career choice for me” (57).
“We pressed on. Quitting was not an option…we owned a business and were serious about it” (63).
“Everyone can work hard…What we did early in our business was not something of genius, but more a story of having a goal and working there. It was fueled by passion and commitment” (69).
“You might have to remain in the wrong place for a long time in order for your opportunity to present itself” (123).
“Kurt and I immediately started planning for growth. I don’t mean we wished for growth, I mean we planned for it” (130).
“Every time a person comes in contact with something to do with your company, it should be an experience that builds the brand” (179).
“Don’t be discouraged if something doesn’t take off right out of the gate” (225).
“There are a lot of formulas for success out there…but what is common to just about all of them is the positive effect that hard work, dedication, and experience has on your success. Perseverance, believing in what you do, and having the passion is what will see you through tough times” (225).
The beginning talked a lot about how Bob’s parents cultivated his curiosity and supported his endeavors, and he also discussed how he discovered his passion and how his interests merged into one path. I thought one of the more noteworthy parts about his life is that he eagerly learned from others and asked questions, and then gave back to people and invested in them. I also appreciated that Bob gave a lot of practical life advice too (such as it’s better to finish one thing well rather than have many things halfway done).
I really liked learning more about guitars (like how Bob totally reinvented guitar necks, making them thin and using New Technology), but I found myself underlining a lot about the business side of things. It took years for Bob and Kurt’s business to grow & support them, but they never gave up. It’s definitely inspiring (the epilogue alone is amazing).
The thought, work, and branding Bob covers in the book makes me appreciate my Taylor guitar and his business so much more.
•••
Favorite quotes:
“I would work with a little knot in my stomach much of the time. But work, I did. All day and all night, we’d keep going because someone would buy a guitar and tell us how much they liked it. I also kept going because I had decided that I was a guitar builder, so there was no other career choice for me” (57).
“We pressed on. Quitting was not an option…we owned a business and were serious about it” (63).
“Everyone can work hard…What we did early in our business was not something of genius, but more a story of having a goal and working there. It was fueled by passion and commitment” (69).
“You might have to remain in the wrong place for a long time in order for your opportunity to present itself” (123).
“Kurt and I immediately started planning for growth. I don’t mean we wished for growth, I mean we planned for it” (130).
“Every time a person comes in contact with something to do with your company, it should be an experience that builds the brand” (179).
“Don’t be discouraged if something doesn’t take off right out of the gate” (225).
“There are a lot of formulas for success out there…but what is common to just about all of them is the positive effect that hard work, dedication, and experience has on your success. Perseverance, believing in what you do, and having the passion is what will see you through tough times” (225).
November 30, 2024
If you consider this from the perspective of an autobiography or a business how-to book, it's pretty plain vanilla. The parts with business advice are simplistic and basic. However, if you are a guitar enthusiast like me, the book has interest. I admire Bob Taylor's successful journey as a company owner, the early parts reflecting mine in many ways. I am not a Taylor guitar fan, but my experience of them is limited and reading the book has given me more respect for the brand.
August 8, 2019
Meet the man and the philosophies that drive him
In this book you'll learn a lot about Bob Taylor and the turning points and strategies that led to the success of Taylor guitars. I particularly appreciated his "third owner" analogy and its application to business and personal success. Worth a read! Check it out!
In this book you'll learn a lot about Bob Taylor and the turning points and strategies that led to the success of Taylor guitars. I particularly appreciated his "third owner" analogy and its application to business and personal success. Worth a read! Check it out!
May 29, 2021
This biography of Bob Taylor from Taylor guitars is a good read for guitar players, woodworkers, or people who like to work really hard. It is an inspirational book, but kind of a niche book. The story telling is just okay, but it presents an excellent example of how a company was built from the ground up.
January 28, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book. Fascinating story.
December 19, 2019
Easy to read book about the history of Bob Taylor and the guitar company he founded.
February 11, 2021
Be the third owner
June 2, 2021
I'm a big fan of Taylor Guitars. They are some of the best playing and sounding guitars. Anyone who loves guitars will love Bob's story. It's a great read.
July 30, 2011
"Bob, which would you rather have, one done guitar or 10 half-done guitars?"
Insightful and inspiring!
This book reads quite easily and fast. I can feel the passion of a craftsman and the warmth of a wise friend who has experienced the ups and downs of life. It makes me reflect about my life, work, and interests. Business lessons are scattered here and there among the life story and experience. Those feels better than a set of theory from an academic business textbook. Bob Taylor wrote about his struggle as lightly as his success. No dramatic, excessive self importance.
Insightful and inspiring!
This book reads quite easily and fast. I can feel the passion of a craftsman and the warmth of a wise friend who has experienced the ups and downs of life. It makes me reflect about my life, work, and interests. Business lessons are scattered here and there among the life story and experience. Those feels better than a set of theory from an academic business textbook. Bob Taylor wrote about his struggle as lightly as his success. No dramatic, excessive self importance.
September 5, 2011
3 and a half stars; the virtues of a biography mixed with straightforward business advice. Made me want to take out my guitar and not only learn to play the darn thing, but also look closely over the construction details and then go to a guitar shop and compare it to a Martin and a Gibson. Have been thinking recently about craftsmanship as a goal different than artistry and this was a good book to put into that thinking brew. Bob Taylor mixes hands on craftsmanship and the forward edges of woodcrafting technology to continue improving both his product and company.
February 2, 2012
Some very nice lessons, indeed:
1) "Most people walk into your life and you don't know them at all, and they deserve to be treated well."
2) "I like to say that time goes by whether you do something or not, so why not start?"
3) "I love Mexico. I love the people; they have taught me, through example, to be more polite when I talk to strangers... (They always) say hello first and exchange some pleasantries. It's nice. I do that now, and I learned it from those employees."
And more :)
1) "Most people walk into your life and you don't know them at all, and they deserve to be treated well."
2) "I like to say that time goes by whether you do something or not, so why not start?"
3) "I love Mexico. I love the people; they have taught me, through example, to be more polite when I talk to strangers... (They always) say hello first and exchange some pleasantries. It's nice. I do that now, and I learned it from those employees."
And more :)
April 9, 2011
Nice read about the Taylor Guitar Company from the co-founder and president, Bob Taylor. Part retrospective on the lean early days and growth of the company into the #1 acoustic guitar builder in the country and part inspirational discussion of how to be a success in life no matter what your passion is.
Highly recommended for any guitar player but especially for fans of Taylor guitars.
Highly recommended for any guitar player but especially for fans of Taylor guitars.
August 8, 2013
This was a great book. As a 25 year veteran guitar player, I expect to find out more about Taylor guitars. But this book was about the passion for guitar building that budded early on in Bob Taylor's life. It was an interesting book that was not so much about music as it was about music. All about finding and pursuing your passion.
March 18, 2014
Conversational and honest. This is a guy you'd want to buy a guitar, and learn something from. Not preachy like you'd expect in a business book. Less salesy than you'd expect from a business owner. Unapologetic about the use of machines in a craft that places value on the handmade and historic. Sees the room for improvement and urges you to do the same.
September 3, 2013
Thoroughly enjoyed hearing about how many years Bob perservered before his business took off. And did it ever! Truly a great story of sticking with your passion, no matter what. I now own three Taylor guitars and love every single one of them. Amazing story!
March 2, 2016
Great read for anyone interested in starting a business
This was a great read for me as I have recently started my own custom guitar shop, but it could be helpful for any new business owner. Showing what it takes to be successful in business and also things to look out for.
This was a great read for me as I have recently started my own custom guitar shop, but it could be helpful for any new business owner. Showing what it takes to be successful in business and also things to look out for.
May 16, 2015
Interesting history of Bob Taylor and Taylor Guitars, how they struggled for over a decade, but persevered to become one of the top guitar manufacturers in America. Makes me wish I could afford one.
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July 25, 2018Good
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews