The Business Romantic: Give Everything, Quantify Nothing, and Create Something Greater Than Yourself

by Tim Leberecht

 In this smart, playful, and provocative book, one of today’s most original business thinkers argues that we underestimate the importance of romance in our lives and that we can find it in and through business—by designing products, services, and experiences that connect us with something greater than ourselves. Against the backdrop of eroding trust in capitalism, pervasive technology, big data, and the desire to quantify all of our behaviors, The Business Romantic makes a compelling case that we must meld the pursuit of success and achievement with romance if we want to create an economy that serves our entire selves. A rising star in data analytics who is in love with the intrinsic beauty of spreadsheets; the mastermind behind a brand built on absence; an Argentinian couple who revolutionize shoelaces; the founder of a foodie-oriented start-up that creates intimate conversation spaces; a performance artist who offers fake corporate seminars for real professionals—these are some of the innovators readers will meet in this witty, deeply personal, and rousing ramble through the world of Business Romanticism. The Business Romantic not only provides surprising insights into the emotional and social aspects of business but also presents “Rules of Enchantment” that will help both individuals and organizations construct more meaningful experiences for themselves and others. The Business Romantic offers a radically different view of the good life and outlines how to better meet one’s own desires as well as those of customers, employees, and society. It encourages readers to expect more from companies, to give more of themselves, and to fall back in love with their work and their lives.  

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Leadership, Management

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 6, 2015

About the author

Tim Leberecht is a German-American author and entrepreneur, and the co-founder and co-CEO of The Business Romantic Society, a firm that helps organizations and individuals create transformative visions, stories, and experiences. Tim is also the co-founder and curator of the House of Beautiful Business, a global think tank and community with an annual gathering in Lisbon that brings together leaders and changemakers with the mission to humanize business in an age of machines.

Previously, Tim served as the chief marketing officer of NBBJ, a global design and architecture firm. From 2006 to 2013, he was the chief marketing officer of product design and innovation consultancy Frog Design.

His TED Talks “3 Ways to (Usefully) Lose Control of Your Brand” and most recently “4 Ways to Build a Human Company in the Age of Machines” have been viewed 2.5 million times to date.

Tim is the author of the book The Business Romantic (HarperCollins, 2015), which has been translated into nine languages to date. Tim’s writing regularly appears in publications such as Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, Inc, Quartz, Psychology Today, and Wired.

Reviews

[RYCJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing is passionate, and the messages a mix of challenging, rousing, and practical, while the moral is patently clear:: Quote:: “create love ‘in’ what you do,” which requires not only recognizing and understanding our individual skills, but building on those skills, nurturing them, and yes, ‘loving them’. This is what creates 'universal' transferable skills, an equivalent to achievement... our repayment to ourselves for nurturing the love in what we do. Nice concept.

[Marc Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Business can be so much and here Tim is showing us how to see the world fresh every day. This book is truly beautiful and a must-read. Not only is Tim a great author but he is also the co-founder and co-CEO of The Business Romantic Society, a firm that helps organisations and individuals create transformative visions, stories, and experiences. Tim is also the co-founder and curator of the House of Beautiful Business, a global think tank and community.
I had Tim as a guest on Inside Ideas and for more insights on this book you can listen to Tim on the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/qOlX1wLhEhc

Or check out the links below:
https://www.innovatorsmag.com/humanis...
https://www.innovatorsmag.com/inside-...
https://medium.com/inside-ideas/tim-l...

[Buse Kaçar · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's interesting that Tim starts the discussions from Lord Byron. Business romantic provides surprising insights into the emotional aspects business. Just relax and fall in love with what you do. Highly recommended !!

[Justin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Won the goodreads giveaway but never got the book and did not get a reply when messaged.

Possible rating change if the book ever shows up.

[Marvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dear Lord, I just can't...

[Cameron Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance for Business in Full Bloom.

There are few books like this one. It is both a very common and exceeding rare text. It’s common in that Tim Leberecht writes about a lot of things that have been covered extensively elsewhere like Apple’s design approach, the innovations in many leading design firms (including his former employer, Frog design), and others. What is rare is the way he speaks about the way these companies exist in a romantic way. The book can wander a little off the path it sets, but as I reflect upon the message of the book and the spirit behind it, I can’t think it would be truly romantic if we were just given the facts and left alone. This book inspires a way of being, seeing, creating, and doing that is a slight, but powerful, shift from the usual. It’s romantic. It’s practical in its embrace of aesthetics, whimsy, joy, and pleasure without getting goofy or ‘fluffy’. It’s a serious book that doesn’t take itself seriously. It’s focused, while also allowing for playful wandering about the ways we can work differently, with heart and soul, and still produce great things that are needed. It’s about good business without losing your soul. Not everyone will embrace the romance of business, but those who do are in for something special (and so are those affected by their businesses).

[Thomas Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting.

[Lynda Pires · Rating 1 out of 5]

A complete disappointment.

[Daniel Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Tim Leberecht refers to as being a 'business romantic,' the late Jim Rohn would have referred to as 'doing things with style.' In The Business Romantic, Leberecht outlines a philosophy for living that will transform your relationship with business AND give you a new way of living and moving through everyday life with a greater appreciation for the richness of it all.

[Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly embraced this book, as it's definitely words to live by. I've been self-employed since 2008 and run my business in a very romantic way: hiring friends, becoming friends with clients and loving every working day of my life so much so that "work" doesn't even feel like "work." It's so cool to read about someone who "gets it."

[Alex Devero · Rating 4 out of 5]

If businesses want engaged employees and loyal customers, they’ll need to make some changes. Whether it’s through altruism, creative challenges, exclusivity or a personal touch, companies that create authentic experiences within the workplace and customer service will lead the new Millennial market.

[Shivani Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice one with some new ideas. Stories, anecdotes and ideas from the business world. Research on only 13% people are satisfied by their job and 87% are either doing things forcefully or are totally disliking the things they do.

[Nick Woodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really made me think. While some people might question my judgement, I am an introvert and a romantic. So, this book really resonated with me. Being a business romantic would make the business world a whole lot more palatable.