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All In
To be a successful entrepreneur, you don’t just need to know how to run a business. You need to know how to run your life when the boundary between work and personal time has essentially been erased. But while there are countless books on setting up a company, there hasn’t ever been a primer on navigating the unique emotional and personal demands of entrepreneurship. That’s what All In is all how to thrive in the entrepreneurial lifestyle—and how to avoid its pitfalls.
In All In, Arlene Dickinson tells the truth about the dangers of believing your own hype, listening to aysayers—and ignoring naysayers, too. Dickinson explains why the need for control is a double-edged sword that can get a business off the ground, then cause it to stall. She also discusses what the need for control does to a marriage—and how success can test family relationships even more than failure.
All In will open a new level of dialogue in the entrepreneurial community, bringing often-unspoken truths into the light and showing readers all the ways they’ll be tested in their new endeavour. Packed with Dickinson’s own hard-won lessons, and those of other successful entrepreneurs, All In is for every small business owner who’s ever felt like they’re the only one and every coffee-break dreamer wondering if they can hack it. At its best, the entrepreneurial lifestyle is all about independence—not just financial independence, but the psychological independence that comes from charting your own course—and All In will help readers achieve that freedom.
In All In, Arlene Dickinson tells the truth about the dangers of believing your own hype, listening to aysayers—and ignoring naysayers, too. Dickinson explains why the need for control is a double-edged sword that can get a business off the ground, then cause it to stall. She also discusses what the need for control does to a marriage—and how success can test family relationships even more than failure.
All In will open a new level of dialogue in the entrepreneurial community, bringing often-unspoken truths into the light and showing readers all the ways they’ll be tested in their new endeavour. Packed with Dickinson’s own hard-won lessons, and those of other successful entrepreneurs, All In is for every small business owner who’s ever felt like they’re the only one and every coffee-break dreamer wondering if they can hack it. At its best, the entrepreneurial lifestyle is all about independence—not just financial independence, but the psychological independence that comes from charting your own course—and All In will help readers achieve that freedom.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
14 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 28, 2017
I read this book in 3.5 hours, it's that good!
December 3, 2022
I really didn’t enjoy this book. While there were a few interesting nuggets, I felt she painted every entrepreneur with the same brush and really pushed stereotypes that, as an entrepreneur myself, I work hard to avoid those traps. She made it sound like those traps are inevitable and that if you want to be an entrepreneur, be prepared to work all the time, think about work all the time, and have your family life suffer for it.
November 18, 2014
"When Work Is Life"
This book has truly excellent advice on being an entrepreneur - not "practical" things like how to manage your finances, but more general ideas about the independent lifestyle. I loved recognizing parts of myself in the examples, as well as piecing together Arlene's story through the tidbits she shares.
Key messages from this book include:
- It's okay to be all in - that is, to devote all of your time and energy to your business. Work/life balance doesn't have to be the goal.
- People might not always understand and that's okay.
- Failing at traditional pursuits doesn't make you a bad person, it means you have a different path to follow. Even Arlene Dickinson has failed at many things.
- It's hard to be the partner of an entrepreneur, and many entrepreneurs struggle with romantic relationships.
- Success brings its own set of problems, such as not hearing honest opinions and not knowing who you can trust.
- Entrepreneurs are usually stubborn, with a deep desire to do things their own way.
- Entrepreneurs are like artists, expressing themselves through their business.
- Everyone sometimes has anxiety, gets stressed, and fears failure. You have to keep going anyway.
- The three Rs to master are roadblocks, rejection, and resilience.
This book has truly excellent advice on being an entrepreneur - not "practical" things like how to manage your finances, but more general ideas about the independent lifestyle. I loved recognizing parts of myself in the examples, as well as piecing together Arlene's story through the tidbits she shares.
Key messages from this book include:
- It's okay to be all in - that is, to devote all of your time and energy to your business. Work/life balance doesn't have to be the goal.
- People might not always understand and that's okay.
- Failing at traditional pursuits doesn't make you a bad person, it means you have a different path to follow. Even Arlene Dickinson has failed at many things.
- It's hard to be the partner of an entrepreneur, and many entrepreneurs struggle with romantic relationships.
- Success brings its own set of problems, such as not hearing honest opinions and not knowing who you can trust.
- Entrepreneurs are usually stubborn, with a deep desire to do things their own way.
- Entrepreneurs are like artists, expressing themselves through their business.
- Everyone sometimes has anxiety, gets stressed, and fears failure. You have to keep going anyway.
- The three Rs to master are roadblocks, rejection, and resilience.
December 8, 2014
I really enjoyed the first half of the book - - and found myself nodding constantly, being able to relate as Arlene talked about: the traits of an entrepreneur, the loneliness feeling of the entrepreneur, and the important of understanding what its like to be an entrepreneur. So, for someone who is even 'thinking' of becoming an entrepreneur - this book is a Must! Its a great Christmas/Birthday gift for someone on your listing who is thinking of jumping into the arena of Entrepreneurship. But, then the second-half of the book becomes redundant, and we appear to be re-hashing a lot of the first part of the book - just more in detail. Was I glad I read it? Absolutely! It confirmed a lot of what I already knew - I'm really not cut out for the Corporate World as we presently know it!
January 2, 2014
If you are an entrepreneur you know that it is an all-encompassing lifestyle. And no one understands this better than Arlene Dickinson, venture capitalist and host of the acclaimed award-winning CBC show Dragons’ Den. In her latest book, All In, she lays it all on the line for entrepreneurs, and helps them identify and confront their daily demons. Whether it’s facing fears of guilt, rejection or balancing personal and professional lives, Arlene shares firsthand experiences and stories from other entrepreneurs who have been there in the journey of trying to live up to their dreams.
For the complete review: http://thinkblink.ca/blog/?p=492
3/5 Sukasa Stars
For the complete review: http://thinkblink.ca/blog/?p=492
3/5 Sukasa Stars
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November 23, 2014I loved this book. I finally get some things about my personality--it's called an entrepreneurial spirit.
If you are thinking about becoming self employed or already are, you should read this book. While most business books discuss practices and tips for productivity, this book takes the bare-bones no nonsense approach to how it is going to affect your life on a personal and emotional level. It is like having someone point out and explain everything that is going on in your head--those things that you worry and wonder about. Arlene puts it into words and hands it to you.
This is the business book that has been missing from the business book bookshelves.
If you are thinking about becoming self employed or already are, you should read this book. While most business books discuss practices and tips for productivity, this book takes the bare-bones no nonsense approach to how it is going to affect your life on a personal and emotional level. It is like having someone point out and explain everything that is going on in your head--those things that you worry and wonder about. Arlene puts it into words and hands it to you.
This is the business book that has been missing from the business book bookshelves.
August 7, 2014
This book is great for those that want to hear from other entrepreneurs on their emotional struggles when going into business. It's an interesting and inspiring read for people who are thinking about going it alone, or for those that just need a little pick me up when they are not sure of their direction. I enjoyed the fact that I had actually heard of all the Canadian entrepreneurs she spoke with and it gave me further insight into the small business industry. It's an easy read and there aren't any earth shattering revelations, but I quite enjoyed it.
August 5, 2014
I love to watch Dragons’ Den, where entrepreneurs pitch their business or product ideas to potential investors. One of the “dragons” I admire is Arlene Dickinson, so when I learned she’d written a book about the unique lifestyle challenges faced by entrepreneurs, I bought a copy for my e-reader.
Read my review on my blog
Read my review on my blog
July 26, 2016
I read it very quickly, wasn't sure why I'd chosen it, except that I like her Persuasion book. Aimed at entrepreneurs and their family/friends, talks about the personal qualities of successful entrepreneurs and that mind-set or "lifestyle" - interesting, since I don't have that mind-set myself so I did learn something about people who are wired quite differently from myself.
March 18, 2014
A few good nuggets in this book. If you like the storytelling approach, then you might appreciate this. It's part glossary of qualities you'll need as an entrepreneur, part storytelling, part outlet for some of Arlene's past and present frustrations, and part promotional material for her latest project, YouInc.
February 10, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. An unique perspective from most business books as this one focuses on the psychological mindset of entrepreneurs. Delved into the motivations, characteristics and personal needs of business-oriented people. Also provided anecdotal examples of each.
March 3, 2015
A good general book. I would have preferred more stories from her life than all of the examples she uses of other entrepreneurs. Definitely more valuable to someone thinking of going into business than for someone already there.
June 5, 2014
Well written and insightful !
October 28, 2014
logical and easy to understand
November 19, 2015
I have a girl crush on Arlene, which figures favourably into this review. While the book borders on name dropping, reading it fired me up and inspired me.
Definitely not a bedtime story.
Definitely not a bedtime story.
April 9, 2016
I loved this book. It really helped me to shape a new perspective on how to live with an entrepreneurial spirit. Arlene explains what it means to be an entrepreneur in a understandable way.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews