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How to Win at the Sport of Business: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It
Mark Cuban shares his wealth of experience and business savvy in his first published book, How to Win at the Sport of Business, available now only as an e-book. Using the greatest material from his popular Blog Maverick, he has collected and updated his postings on business and life to provide a catalog of insider knowledge on what it takes to become a thriving entrepreneur. Cuban tells his own rags-to-riches story of how he went from selling powdered milk and sleeping on friends' couches to owning his own company and becoming a multi-billion dollar success story. His unconventional yet highly effective ideas on how to build a successful business offer entrepreneurs at any stage of their careers a huge edge over their competitors.
67 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2011
478 people are currently reading
6626 people want to read
About the author
Mark Cuban
43 books182 followersSince the age of 12, Mark has been a natural businessman. Selling garbage bags door to door, the seed was planted early on for what would eventually become long-term success. After graduating from Indiana University - where he briefly owned the most popular bar in town - Mark moved to Dallas. After a dispute with an employer who wanted him to clean instead of closing an important sale, Mark created MicroSolutions, a computer consulting service. He went on to later sell MicroSolutions in 1990 to CompuServe.
In 1995, Mark and long-time friend Todd Wagner came up with an internet based solution to not being able to listen to Hoosiers Basketball games out in Texas. That solution was Broadcast.com - streaming audio over the internet. In just four short years, Broadcast.com (then Audionet) would be sold to Yahoo for $5.6 billion dollars.
Since his acquisition of the Dallas Mavericks in 2000, he has overseen the Mavs competing in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history in 2006 - and becoming NBA World Champions in 2011. They are currently listed as one of Forbes' most valuable franchises in sports.
In addition to the Mavs, Mark is chairman and CEO of AXS tv, one of ABC's "Sharks" on the hit show Shark Tank, and an investor in an ever-growing portfolio of businesses. He lives in Dallas with wife Tiffany, daughters Alexis and Alyssa, and son Jake.
In 1995, Mark and long-time friend Todd Wagner came up with an internet based solution to not being able to listen to Hoosiers Basketball games out in Texas. That solution was Broadcast.com - streaming audio over the internet. In just four short years, Broadcast.com (then Audionet) would be sold to Yahoo for $5.6 billion dollars.
Since his acquisition of the Dallas Mavericks in 2000, he has overseen the Mavs competing in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history in 2006 - and becoming NBA World Champions in 2011. They are currently listed as one of Forbes' most valuable franchises in sports.
In addition to the Mavs, Mark is chairman and CEO of AXS tv, one of ABC's "Sharks" on the hit show Shark Tank, and an investor in an ever-growing portfolio of businesses. He lives in Dallas with wife Tiffany, daughters Alexis and Alyssa, and son Jake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 497 reviews
March 21, 2013
The best $2.99 I've ever spent. Mark Cuban breaks it down on how he has achieved being a multi billionaire. This is not a self help book, nor a law of attraction bs. It's a practical guide on how to save as much cash as you can so when you're ready to start a business or plan your next big move, you're not tied to a loan or a bank. This book was not written with pompous hot air, unlike other millionaires who have written books on how they did it; and end up writing more about how great or how much of a genius they are. Mark is the type of guy you'd want to grab a beer with and talk about money and sports.
My favorite takeaway from this book was cash is king. He says "the only way you should fund your business is through the margins you are making or from your pocket". It's refreshing to hear since the majority of people think of raising huge amounts of money first from investors before you start a business; like making some huge bet and cashing in on an acquisition. This is the type of hype you read on business magazines but they don't write the fact that more than 90% of businesses started fail within the 1st year (http://sbinfocanada.about.com/cs/star...).
Another great take is to live like a college student. You don't need to impress anyone with clothes, cars, or a fancy house that the bank owns anyways. Save cash, get a job in an industry you're interested in starting a business in, self fund your business, and be resilient. Like the book says, "you only have to be right once in the sport of business".
Ps. I suggest following his blog:
http://blogmaverick.com/2005/05/30/su...
My favorite takeaway from this book was cash is king. He says "the only way you should fund your business is through the margins you are making or from your pocket". It's refreshing to hear since the majority of people think of raising huge amounts of money first from investors before you start a business; like making some huge bet and cashing in on an acquisition. This is the type of hype you read on business magazines but they don't write the fact that more than 90% of businesses started fail within the 1st year (http://sbinfocanada.about.com/cs/star...).
Another great take is to live like a college student. You don't need to impress anyone with clothes, cars, or a fancy house that the bank owns anyways. Save cash, get a job in an industry you're interested in starting a business in, self fund your business, and be resilient. Like the book says, "you only have to be right once in the sport of business".
Ps. I suggest following his blog:
http://blogmaverick.com/2005/05/30/su...
March 27, 2012
This is an e-book and the author warns readers at the beginning that it is basically a collection of blog posts edited together. Heed the warning. If scattered thoughts, occasional tangents, and unintended repetition bother you, don't read this book.
If you are a young person wanting some good advice from a very wealthy individual who made his own way in the world, this is for you.
If you are a young person wanting some good advice from a very wealthy individual who made his own way in the world, this is for you.
July 5, 2015
Great Content but Needs Book Production Help
I read the first edition of this book from my local library. The contents are well-done and interesting from beginning to end.
Yet this book needs production help. I got it from a library-where most books are only visible from the spine--yet this book has no words on the spine of the book. I suspect it has to do with the small number of pages in the book. The contents and stories in this book could have easily be expanded to make a long enough book to have a spine.
I love Mark Cuban, his story and his valuable contribution to ABC Shark Tank. I wish someone had helped him to produce a better book--large enough with a spine that could have held the title.
I read the first edition of this book from my local library. The contents are well-done and interesting from beginning to end.
Yet this book needs production help. I got it from a library-where most books are only visible from the spine--yet this book has no words on the spine of the book. I suspect it has to do with the small number of pages in the book. The contents and stories in this book could have easily be expanded to make a long enough book to have a spine.
I love Mark Cuban, his story and his valuable contribution to ABC Shark Tank. I wish someone had helped him to produce a better book--large enough with a spine that could have held the title.
January 14, 2012
Someone raved about this book, I bought it. It's okay, but not great. It's a collection of blog posts about Cuban's business life, from early days as a kid selling TV repair franchises, tending bars, and selling software. He is a good salesman and aggressive to spot opportunities and grow his business. It was good to see that he's self-admittedly lousy with paperwork and the stuff that he has an assistant to handle; comforting that you don't have to be a do-it-all superman to succeed.
The chapters/posts are about inflexion points in his career: getting the first computer job, being ripped off, growing, selling, how money has or has not changed him. It's an adequate read as a story, but the overall effect is a montage rather than a narrative. This is because each blog post has to stand alone, so they tend to hew to the "here's an anecdote, here are the [n] rules I've learned from that event" formula more than would happen were he to actually write an autobiography or an actual business book.
Quick, okay read.
The chapters/posts are about inflexion points in his career: getting the first computer job, being ripped off, growing, selling, how money has or has not changed him. It's an adequate read as a story, but the overall effect is a montage rather than a narrative. This is because each blog post has to stand alone, so they tend to hew to the "here's an anecdote, here are the [n] rules I've learned from that event" formula more than would happen were he to actually write an autobiography or an actual business book.
Quick, okay read.
January 19, 2016
"Hi. I'm Mark Cuban and I am comfortable giving you Confucius-type tips to make you the BEST YOU CAN BE! Just try really hard and keep trying and you WILL WIN! Love, billionaire Mark Cuban."
But in all seriousness, though overly simplistic and cheesy at times, there are some good bits of wisdom in here. I think his brief lists are inspirational for what they are. I would like more in-depth examples of the stories that led up to those bold lines in his book for context, but obviously this is an 80 page book and a quick turnaround buck for Mr. Cuban.
He's still my favorite shark on Shark Tank and though a little arrogant in this book at times, I appreciate his brief, inspirational insights.
But in all seriousness, though overly simplistic and cheesy at times, there are some good bits of wisdom in here. I think his brief lists are inspirational for what they are. I would like more in-depth examples of the stories that led up to those bold lines in his book for context, but obviously this is an 80 page book and a quick turnaround buck for Mr. Cuban.
He's still my favorite shark on Shark Tank and though a little arrogant in this book at times, I appreciate his brief, inspirational insights.
July 3, 2014
I really hate the five star rating systems. The experience of reading any given book can't be so easily quantified.
I very rarely give 5 stars to a book. This one would be more like 3 if we were talking about a great book to read from front to front.
But, the way I used this book was to read bits and pieces while waiting for dinner, sitting on the bus, waiting in line...I just kind of nibbled at it, and in that capacity it was brilliant and a 5 star book.
Mark is honest and straight forward. He doesn't discount luck as a huge part success, which is a nice change.
He definitely got me thinking about a lot of things. For instance, he explains that our culture perceives "whining" as a bad thing, but it's actually a positive because it means we are continually demanding more and better for our lives.
The book is definitely worth the read.
I very rarely give 5 stars to a book. This one would be more like 3 if we were talking about a great book to read from front to front.
But, the way I used this book was to read bits and pieces while waiting for dinner, sitting on the bus, waiting in line...I just kind of nibbled at it, and in that capacity it was brilliant and a 5 star book.
Mark is honest and straight forward. He doesn't discount luck as a huge part success, which is a nice change.
He definitely got me thinking about a lot of things. For instance, he explains that our culture perceives "whining" as a bad thing, but it's actually a positive because it means we are continually demanding more and better for our lives.
The book is definitely worth the read.
January 7, 2016
I’ve had Mark Cuban blow up (or severely derail) two business deals I’ve been involved with so I have to admit I had a bad taste in my mouth about him. I thought of him as someone who didn’t actually have smarts but who was just media-savvy and someone who just focused on building his own brand. I lumped him in with Donald Trump.
This book was fantastic. The book was down-to-earth and pretty humble considering my expectations.
Here are some of the insights he gave that I have found to be particularly true in my own experience:
1. Nobody reads the manual. If you read the manual then you will actually be way ahead of the curve intellectually (the manual is whatever applies to your circumstances).
2. Read every single day (which is also what Covey says). Cuban reads three hours every day.
3. Live like a college student. Don’t entrench yourself with debt. Live lean. Most fancy cars people drive are bank-owned.
4. Learn how to sell and obtain sales experience, no matter what field you are in.
Perfect little e-book purchase.
This book was fantastic. The book was down-to-earth and pretty humble considering my expectations.
Here are some of the insights he gave that I have found to be particularly true in my own experience:
1. Nobody reads the manual. If you read the manual then you will actually be way ahead of the curve intellectually (the manual is whatever applies to your circumstances).
2. Read every single day (which is also what Covey says). Cuban reads three hours every day.
3. Live like a college student. Don’t entrench yourself with debt. Live lean. Most fancy cars people drive are bank-owned.
4. Learn how to sell and obtain sales experience, no matter what field you are in.
Perfect little e-book purchase.
April 24, 2012
It's just a collection of blog posts by Mark Cuban. I know he's been blogging forever, though I've never read his blog (otherwise I wouldn't have bothered), so I'm not sure why it's so short. As long as we're just copying an pasting, why not go hog wild! Maybe the emphasis was on posts that are autobiographical in nature and posts having to do with, ahem, how to win at the sport of business. I liked the parts about when he was a young IT professional on the come up down in Dallas, living on happy hour drink and bar food specials and trying to holler at chicks in his one good suit. I didn't have any use for the business advice personally, and I'm not sure how good it is anyway. It seems like the real key to winning at the sport of business is to get lucky or be related to someone who got lucky, just like the key to winning at the sport of, erm, sports is to be born bigger, stronger and faster than everyone else.
October 22, 2015
This is a collection of blog posts but it strings together quite well. But funnily enough maybe because they were so anecdotal and breezy, it has left less of impression on my mind than I expected.
I finished it a few weeks ago but I hadn't taken the time to add this entry (or the many other books) onto Goodreads. And I'm struggling to remember the top things I took away from the book! And recently I've read or listened to a number of books/articles of ambitious, hard-working white guys who have become rich and successful that the details are starting to meld into one rich white guy character!
Still I remember it as being a decent readable book and I felt goaded to get better at sales and to deepen my learning of my subject areas of decision-making and food.
I finished it a few weeks ago but I hadn't taken the time to add this entry (or the many other books) onto Goodreads. And I'm struggling to remember the top things I took away from the book! And recently I've read or listened to a number of books/articles of ambitious, hard-working white guys who have become rich and successful that the details are starting to meld into one rich white guy character!
Still I remember it as being a decent readable book and I felt goaded to get better at sales and to deepen my learning of my subject areas of decision-making and food.
March 13, 2016
I loved how Mark Cuban crunched his complete business success into such a small book. Mark has been such humble to share his struggling days and how he made his things work there after. He has been true to himself and sharing it so blatantly in his book. He is not fearful of letting know of his failures, things he is not strong at doing. Mark has been very open to share his fears, his inhibitions and shows how one can learn to be fearless and expand their strengths to make big in their life.
Happy Reading the book to learn how Mark made his dream a reality with all his fears along side.
Cheers!
Happy Reading the book to learn how Mark made his dream a reality with all his fears along side.
Cheers!
February 2, 2015
If you are looking for a numerated, step by step guide to the path of billions, move along.
As Mark states upfront, this is a collection of his blog posts. Which you should probably be reading already, truth be told.
Mark is well known for his shoot from the hip, no bullshit, intense personality. He's not going to make hard work, damn hard work, look easy. Unless of course, like him, your blood runs thick with damn hard work.
Whether you are starting college majoring in business or fifty years old and tired of the grind of whatever job you have, this is a must read.
As Mark states upfront, this is a collection of his blog posts. Which you should probably be reading already, truth be told.
Mark is well known for his shoot from the hip, no bullshit, intense personality. He's not going to make hard work, damn hard work, look easy. Unless of course, like him, your blood runs thick with damn hard work.
Whether you are starting college majoring in business or fifty years old and tired of the grind of whatever job you have, this is a must read.
December 6, 2015
It's simple, short, OK book.
You can almost read it in 3 hours and you get to know what's on the mind of this entrepreneur from his early stages.
I like his stories as a software salesman and some ideas and life lessons.
It's a good book to motivate and add some joy on our everyday work, but in no way this book is worth 10€. It's just too expensive. That's why I give 3 stars, other wise I would rate it 4 stars.
You can almost read it in 3 hours and you get to know what's on the mind of this entrepreneur from his early stages.
I like his stories as a software salesman and some ideas and life lessons.
It's a good book to motivate and add some joy on our everyday work, but in no way this book is worth 10€. It's just too expensive. That's why I give 3 stars, other wise I would rate it 4 stars.
May 10, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in getting a job they love. I like Mark Cuban; I like his philosophy of life. I am happy for his success. I found the book well written and reflected his personality.
I want both my grandsons to read this book; I am convinced that it will help them.
I read the book in two days; I would have read it in one day, but I had prior commitments.
I want both my grandsons to read this book; I am convinced that it will help them.
I read the book in two days; I would have read it in one day, but I had prior commitments.
June 20, 2017
This book is harmless enough I guess. It gives a look into how Mark Cuban thinks, so I guess it's ok. Just don't expect any life altering business advice, or anything you haven't heard a million times, but I guess it's good to be reminded, and like he says, "If he can do it, anyone can do it!"
(Also, I found it funny how we has trouble remembering so many small details. Couldn't he have rung up those people and asked or at least done a little research if he forgot?)
(Also, I found it funny how we has trouble remembering so many small details. Couldn't he have rung up those people and asked or at least done a little research if he forgot?)
August 24, 2023
Anyone can turn their dreams into real success, but it takes a lot of hard work. Stay dedicated, even if it means sleeping on a friend’s floor. Shoot for something realistic before breaking into your dream field, but never stop trying to get better and remember to pace yourself. Don’t forget that customers are the most important part of any business and, when the time is right, feel free to whine. If Mark Cuban did it, so can you!
May 26, 2012
I love Mark Cuban. That's the reason I was willing to shell out the three whole dollars for this Kindle book. If you find Cuban as intelligent, entertaining, and prescient as I do, then you should too. If not, then this expanded and edited collection of his blog posts will make you think he's even more of a douche than you already do.
July 23, 2014
Best $3 bucks you can spend if you get it via Kindle. I'm not a Mark Cuban fan, and I'm not a basketball fan. It doesn't matter though. I respect his business acumen. This is basically a collection of very casual blog posts. It's 100 pages maybe, but it is chock full of motivational stories. Seriously - pick it up.
March 10, 2016
It's a compilation of Mark Cuban's blogs and it is so refreshing. Straight from the heart. Reading books, gaining a knowledge advantage has been Mark's primary reason for success. That along with his sales skills. Never undermine the power of sales and create the buzz for your product yourself(no PR firms). A light read, a must read!
December 29, 2023
Surprisingly insightful.
July 15, 2015
Mark gets 5 stars for 3 reasons: 1-Quick and easy to read; 2-Contains pertinent startup advice; 3-Doesn't bloviate how great he is. Read it or lose.
July 7, 2019
A short and interesting book about how to make it in business.
My favorite quote is probably this one: "no balls, no babies".
My favorite quote is probably this one: "no balls, no babies".
January 30, 2016
How to Win At the Sport of Business
JANUARY 30, 2016
It's only fitting that with the addition to my expansion into the content market that I begin my digital foray of knowledge transference with Mark Cuban's, "If I Can Do It, You Can Do It." For a mere $4.99 on Amazon for your Kindle or $9.99 for the paperback you to can buy this short and fulfilling read, one in which I highly recommend.
Purchase here
I recently suggested to my fiancée to read one of my business books. While we both work in fields that are admittedly very different I feel that the language of business and creativity lend a hand to any pursuit, particularly in a nation built on capitalism, where sales is equally as important to the artist as it is to your family doctor. From my analysis after digesting countless biographies and autobiographies of those who have created some form of success for themselves, I have taken away several key points with one main feature calling loudly as though it were some sort of tribal right of passage. The willingness to BELIEVE in oneself and the proper PREPARATION.
Surely we've all been faced with the cartoon-like depiction of the human conscious weighing heavily on each side of our shoulders, often depicted as good and evil or in this case the voice of reason and of deception. To many times we cater to the latter, believing in our hearts that we are not good enough, that we cannot succeed, that we are to accept the fate handed to us with no sense of challenge. Stand in line; wait our turns.
Poor Homer.
Poor Homer.
The second voice we often chagrin as the impossible. The voice of reason can be misconstrued as the voice of deception, placing our hopes and dreams so far from grasp that they seem unattainable.
While you may feel very strongly about wanting to start your business and inclined to finally make a leap of faith to begin, the next step may be the most important part and translates to any endeavor we undertake, whether its starting a new business or playing a sport.
That step is preparedness.
"Everyone has got the will to win, its only those that have the will to prepare that do win."
Cuban quotes long time basketball coach Bobby Knight to give us some insight here which we can link to the sport of basketball. Its inevitable that to be great one must practice everyday, review changes to the game, strengthen the body and mind, almost to a degree that you have foresight during the game. This preparedness allows you to develop the edge. With the edge you will have the ability to see your opponents next move, steal the ball, pivot, and sink the open jumper. With it you will be able to lead.
On preparedness Mark, also describes others willingness to attain the level of preparation needed to compete. "They hadn't read it then and they still haven't started reading it. Most people won't put in the time to get a knowledge advantage." Mark attributes his success toward his willingness to outperform. While others at his job did not know how to use the product, or how and why it worked, Mark was spending countless hours doing just that. He was analyzing basic office structure and ways that productivity could increase. In other words Mark was always learning in order to attain a "competitive edge". And while this same knowledge (especially in the internet age) could in theory be attained by everyone he worked with, Mark began to realize that his coworkers were not willing to put in the time it took to gain this advantage. The result is that Mark became a master of his craft, no doubt the building blocks for his future companies.
"While everyone else is talking about nonsense like the will to win and how they know they can be successful, you are preparing yourself to compete so that you will be successful.
Through the proper level and balance of developing a mindset to go for your dreams and KNOWING that they are possible with the proper amount of preparation, dreams really are possible. And that is not to say that your business can still fail. Perhaps the industry is crippling, the economy is in the tank, or your level of no how isn't quite there. That is okay and for many of us the push and pull of "failure" will help us develop what it is we need to be doing.
To finish in the words of Mr. Cuban , remember, "You only have to be right once."
Alex
JANUARY 30, 2016
It's only fitting that with the addition to my expansion into the content market that I begin my digital foray of knowledge transference with Mark Cuban's, "If I Can Do It, You Can Do It." For a mere $4.99 on Amazon for your Kindle or $9.99 for the paperback you to can buy this short and fulfilling read, one in which I highly recommend.
Purchase here
I recently suggested to my fiancée to read one of my business books. While we both work in fields that are admittedly very different I feel that the language of business and creativity lend a hand to any pursuit, particularly in a nation built on capitalism, where sales is equally as important to the artist as it is to your family doctor. From my analysis after digesting countless biographies and autobiographies of those who have created some form of success for themselves, I have taken away several key points with one main feature calling loudly as though it were some sort of tribal right of passage. The willingness to BELIEVE in oneself and the proper PREPARATION.
Surely we've all been faced with the cartoon-like depiction of the human conscious weighing heavily on each side of our shoulders, often depicted as good and evil or in this case the voice of reason and of deception. To many times we cater to the latter, believing in our hearts that we are not good enough, that we cannot succeed, that we are to accept the fate handed to us with no sense of challenge. Stand in line; wait our turns.
Poor Homer.
Poor Homer.
The second voice we often chagrin as the impossible. The voice of reason can be misconstrued as the voice of deception, placing our hopes and dreams so far from grasp that they seem unattainable.
While you may feel very strongly about wanting to start your business and inclined to finally make a leap of faith to begin, the next step may be the most important part and translates to any endeavor we undertake, whether its starting a new business or playing a sport.
That step is preparedness.
"Everyone has got the will to win, its only those that have the will to prepare that do win."
Cuban quotes long time basketball coach Bobby Knight to give us some insight here which we can link to the sport of basketball. Its inevitable that to be great one must practice everyday, review changes to the game, strengthen the body and mind, almost to a degree that you have foresight during the game. This preparedness allows you to develop the edge. With the edge you will have the ability to see your opponents next move, steal the ball, pivot, and sink the open jumper. With it you will be able to lead.
On preparedness Mark, also describes others willingness to attain the level of preparation needed to compete. "They hadn't read it then and they still haven't started reading it. Most people won't put in the time to get a knowledge advantage." Mark attributes his success toward his willingness to outperform. While others at his job did not know how to use the product, or how and why it worked, Mark was spending countless hours doing just that. He was analyzing basic office structure and ways that productivity could increase. In other words Mark was always learning in order to attain a "competitive edge". And while this same knowledge (especially in the internet age) could in theory be attained by everyone he worked with, Mark began to realize that his coworkers were not willing to put in the time it took to gain this advantage. The result is that Mark became a master of his craft, no doubt the building blocks for his future companies.
"While everyone else is talking about nonsense like the will to win and how they know they can be successful, you are preparing yourself to compete so that you will be successful.
Through the proper level and balance of developing a mindset to go for your dreams and KNOWING that they are possible with the proper amount of preparation, dreams really are possible. And that is not to say that your business can still fail. Perhaps the industry is crippling, the economy is in the tank, or your level of no how isn't quite there. That is okay and for many of us the push and pull of "failure" will help us develop what it is we need to be doing.
To finish in the words of Mr. Cuban , remember, "You only have to be right once."
Alex
June 15, 2015
HOW TO WIN AT THE SPORT OF BUSINESS
A short book report by Ron Housley
Cuban is not quite as sharp as Andrew Breitbart, but he undertook to share with us (brag?) about being the same type of big drinker and partier in college as Breitbart — as the recommended foundation for entrepreneurial success.
I spent enough time at Indiana University to be a honorary Hoosier. IU gave me my start, you could say; and like a lot of alums, I take pleasure in seeing the successes of Bobby Knight, Janos Starker and even Mark Cuban.
I guess there was no misrepresentation here: this is a collection of blog-posts masquerading as a bona-fide “book.” The narratives are loosely connected together by a few common threads, but the content has clearly not been conceived to be part of a whole.
When Charles Krauthammer puts together a life-time of columns and essays and it becomes a national best-seller, at least the individual pieces are polished and present themselves with an air of integrity.
Nonetheless, we have here a flailing about of a successful individual; but there must be some “take-aways” for us here, like: investing 3 hours every day to read/study will help create an edge on the competition; don’t waste your time playing fantasy sports;
But Cuban is clear to tell us that he doesn’t read fiction (the same waste of time as playing fantasy sports) — and I suspect that he hasn’t discovered, or figured out, the soul nourishing aspect of exposure to other art forms, either. You could say it’s Cuban’s loss; you could suspect that a life devoid of exposure to fiction would be less dimensional, in spite of it being nourished by great wealth.
Note to Cuban: imagine the heights if only you made available to yourself the emotional fuel that comes from exposure to great art, including fiction.
And then he ends up with folksy tidbits of advice for us: like, have a gratitude list (“you are going to enjoy x”); like, know your core competencies and focus on those; like, time is more valuable than money. You know, that kind of thing. “Be the best!” And to think: we could have picked up one of those motivational self-help books.
A short book report by Ron Housley
Cuban is not quite as sharp as Andrew Breitbart, but he undertook to share with us (brag?) about being the same type of big drinker and partier in college as Breitbart — as the recommended foundation for entrepreneurial success.
I spent enough time at Indiana University to be a honorary Hoosier. IU gave me my start, you could say; and like a lot of alums, I take pleasure in seeing the successes of Bobby Knight, Janos Starker and even Mark Cuban.
I guess there was no misrepresentation here: this is a collection of blog-posts masquerading as a bona-fide “book.” The narratives are loosely connected together by a few common threads, but the content has clearly not been conceived to be part of a whole.
When Charles Krauthammer puts together a life-time of columns and essays and it becomes a national best-seller, at least the individual pieces are polished and present themselves with an air of integrity.
Nonetheless, we have here a flailing about of a successful individual; but there must be some “take-aways” for us here, like: investing 3 hours every day to read/study will help create an edge on the competition; don’t waste your time playing fantasy sports;
But Cuban is clear to tell us that he doesn’t read fiction (the same waste of time as playing fantasy sports) — and I suspect that he hasn’t discovered, or figured out, the soul nourishing aspect of exposure to other art forms, either. You could say it’s Cuban’s loss; you could suspect that a life devoid of exposure to fiction would be less dimensional, in spite of it being nourished by great wealth.
Note to Cuban: imagine the heights if only you made available to yourself the emotional fuel that comes from exposure to great art, including fiction.
And then he ends up with folksy tidbits of advice for us: like, have a gratitude list (“you are going to enjoy x”); like, know your core competencies and focus on those; like, time is more valuable than money. You know, that kind of thing. “Be the best!” And to think: we could have picked up one of those motivational self-help books.
January 6, 2021
12 mantras for success
1. Time is more valuable than money
2. Commit random acts of kindness
3. No balls, no babies
4. Work hard, play hard
5. Don’t let fear be a roadblock
6. Expect the unexpected, and always be ready
7. It’s okay to yell and be yelled at
8. Everyone gets down: the is how soon you get up
9. It’s not whether the glass is half empty or half full, it’s who is pouring the water
10. It’s not in the dreaming, it’s in the doing
11. Pugs get fat, hogs get slaughtered
12. You only have to be right once
“The thing you do need to do is to learn. Learn accounting. Learn statistics. Learn as much as you can about business. Read biographies about businesspeople. You don’t have to focus on one thing, but you have to create a base of knowledge so you are ready when it’s time.” 28
Get paid to learn:
“In every job, I would justify it in my mind, whether I loved it or hated it, that I was getting paid to learn and every experience would be of value when I figured out what I wanted to do when I grew up.”
“Most people won’t put in the time to get a knowledge advantage. Sure, there were folks that worked hard at picking up every bit of information that they could l, but we were few and far between. To this day, I feel like if I put in enough time consuming all the information available, particularly with the internet making it so readily accessible, I can get an advantage in any technology business. Of course, my wife hates that I read more than three hours almost every day, but it gives me a level of comfort and confidence in my businesses. At MicroSolutions it gave me a huge advantage. A guy with minimal computer background could compete with far more experienced guys just because he put in the time to learn all he could.”
1. Time is more valuable than money
2. Commit random acts of kindness
3. No balls, no babies
4. Work hard, play hard
5. Don’t let fear be a roadblock
6. Expect the unexpected, and always be ready
7. It’s okay to yell and be yelled at
8. Everyone gets down: the is how soon you get up
9. It’s not whether the glass is half empty or half full, it’s who is pouring the water
10. It’s not in the dreaming, it’s in the doing
11. Pugs get fat, hogs get slaughtered
12. You only have to be right once
“The thing you do need to do is to learn. Learn accounting. Learn statistics. Learn as much as you can about business. Read biographies about businesspeople. You don’t have to focus on one thing, but you have to create a base of knowledge so you are ready when it’s time.” 28
Get paid to learn:
“In every job, I would justify it in my mind, whether I loved it or hated it, that I was getting paid to learn and every experience would be of value when I figured out what I wanted to do when I grew up.”
“Most people won’t put in the time to get a knowledge advantage. Sure, there were folks that worked hard at picking up every bit of information that they could l, but we were few and far between. To this day, I feel like if I put in enough time consuming all the information available, particularly with the internet making it so readily accessible, I can get an advantage in any technology business. Of course, my wife hates that I read more than three hours almost every day, but it gives me a level of comfort and confidence in my businesses. At MicroSolutions it gave me a huge advantage. A guy with minimal computer background could compete with far more experienced guys just because he put in the time to learn all he could.”
April 7, 2013
This is a great little book, mostly a collection of Mark Cuban's blog posts over the years. Nothing wrong with that though, it's all collected it one place and nicely edited.
There's a lot of wisdom from the man, one of the main guys of Shark Tank and owner of the Dallas Mavericks. It details how he got to be successful and though that you get some great insight on running a business.
One of the tips is that it's ok to start slow. Cuban argues against venture capital because one you take it you give up some of your freedom. It's good to grow within certain confines and get big slowly.
Cuban also gives you a lot of impetus to get started on your own. What would you regret not doing? What if you're 90 and you never took a chance on your own business?
Other little things like "don't listen to customers" - don't listen to focus groups and just do your own thing. If Apple had listened to focus groups it's likely the iPhone never would have existed. Of course, there are many things you should listen to customers for, but it's good to not do EVERYTHING they say.
Anyway, for the price ($2.99 on Kindle) you can't go wrong with this book! Gotta love Mark Cuban.
There's a lot of wisdom from the man, one of the main guys of Shark Tank and owner of the Dallas Mavericks. It details how he got to be successful and though that you get some great insight on running a business.
One of the tips is that it's ok to start slow. Cuban argues against venture capital because one you take it you give up some of your freedom. It's good to grow within certain confines and get big slowly.
Cuban also gives you a lot of impetus to get started on your own. What would you regret not doing? What if you're 90 and you never took a chance on your own business?
Other little things like "don't listen to customers" - don't listen to focus groups and just do your own thing. If Apple had listened to focus groups it's likely the iPhone never would have existed. Of course, there are many things you should listen to customers for, but it's good to not do EVERYTHING they say.
Anyway, for the price ($2.99 on Kindle) you can't go wrong with this book! Gotta love Mark Cuban.
January 26, 2014
Mark Cuban offers a tour to his mind. It is one of the best book I have read to understand the thinking of the entrepreneur. Many times we are offered books with oversold stories about successful entrepreneurs and companies. Mark gives an honest uncompromised view of his journey and thinking, what he values and how he sets priorities.
As he points it out: "The point of all this is that it doesn't matter how many times you fail. It doesn't matter how many times you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and neither should you. All you have to do is learn from them and from those around you because ... All that matters in business is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are." - Mark Cuban
As he points it out: "The point of all this is that it doesn't matter how many times you fail. It doesn't matter how many times you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and neither should you. All you have to do is learn from them and from those around you because ... All that matters in business is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are." - Mark Cuban
June 20, 2017
Wow, I am truly shocked at this book's high rating. It is spectacularly awful. I knew absolutely nothing about Cuban before reading, I had never even heard his name. Now I can say that I find him to be a complete and utter douche.
My company bought this book for everyone to read leading up to our yearly kickoff. Almost no one finished it. It became the butt of the joke for the entire event, at least my co-workers bonded over mutual dislike, so that's something...
Mark Cuban, it seems you are successful due to pure persistence, good for you. I however, would never aspire to be such an arrogant idiot. Your writing is absolutely painful to read, it is almost as bad as the shirtless pictures you felt were imperative to include in this pamphlet.
My company bought this book for everyone to read leading up to our yearly kickoff. Almost no one finished it. It became the butt of the joke for the entire event, at least my co-workers bonded over mutual dislike, so that's something...
Mark Cuban, it seems you are successful due to pure persistence, good for you. I however, would never aspire to be such an arrogant idiot. Your writing is absolutely painful to read, it is almost as bad as the shirtless pictures you felt were imperative to include in this pamphlet.
October 28, 2015
Mark Cuban is the man! I like the fact that he doesn't hold anything back and tells you how it is. He gives you tips on how to make yourself successful by not focusing on money during your startup because of the potential influence a venture capitalist (VC) may have when you don't start making money right away, which isn't always the best sign of success. Sweat equity is more important. I'm not trying to be an entrepreneur anytime soon because I don't like the amount of work dedicated to this professsion despite being your own boss. But this advice can be applied to all aspects of life; think, act, and work harder than others to get an edge. Always thinking that others are trying to eat your lunch and don't expect handouts from others.
April 2, 2013
First and foremost, It is not a self-help book on what you should be doing with your life and other spiritual s**t. It's a book about life-experiences of Mark Cuban starting up and falling again & again. His learning and rules that he follows in life and in business.
A short book on how to kick-ass in life and have fun doing it. I'm a huge fan of Mark Cuban and like his approach to Business. Mark is unorthodox in his views, some are even extreme.
This book taught me the importance of Sales and the role of customer satisfaction in business. All in all, a very good book to just motivate yourself and learn some really neat rules.
A short book on how to kick-ass in life and have fun doing it. I'm a huge fan of Mark Cuban and like his approach to Business. Mark is unorthodox in his views, some are even extreme.
This book taught me the importance of Sales and the role of customer satisfaction in business. All in all, a very good book to just motivate yourself and learn some really neat rules.
July 4, 2014
De la existencia de Mark Cuban me enteré porque es dueño de los Mavericks de Dallas, un odiado rival de mis amados Lakers.
Me entero que tiene mucho tiempo escribiendo en un blog donde no pretende conocer la receta mágica, y tampoco la esconde, eso es lo que me gusto de este "libro" estoy seguro que hay Kindle singles más largos, cuenta que tuvo mucha suerte, siempre se esforzó y aprendió de sus fracasos.
Lo estuve citando mucho en amazon/twitter y facebook, y creo que vale la pena rescatar algunas frases, en lenguaje sencillo y de alguien que las ha vivido.
Lo único malo, es que tal vez sea muy breve...tal vez
Me entero que tiene mucho tiempo escribiendo en un blog donde no pretende conocer la receta mágica, y tampoco la esconde, eso es lo que me gusto de este "libro" estoy seguro que hay Kindle singles más largos, cuenta que tuvo mucha suerte, siempre se esforzó y aprendió de sus fracasos.
Lo estuve citando mucho en amazon/twitter y facebook, y creo que vale la pena rescatar algunas frases, en lenguaje sencillo y de alguien que las ha vivido.
Lo único malo, es que tal vez sea muy breve...tal vez
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