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Gold in Your Backyard: Lessons in Life, Leadership and the Power of a Dream
How to succeed in business and in life?
How to take the first seeds of an idea and grow them into an exciting and prosperous company? And how do you create a company culture that prizes innovation and inspires your employees to become the very best they can be?
These are just a few of the questions that author Ron Rubin answers for us in this brilliant new book. And Ron is a true expert in entrepreneurship and business leadership. He took over The Republic of Tea in its infancy and built it into an industry leader and a pioneer in innovation, healthy living, and corporate social responsibility.
Then, in his 60s, Ron Rubin did it again. He bought a small winery in Sonoma County and built it into the River Road Family Vineyards and Winery, another bold, pioneering venture—and for Ron it was a decades-long dream come beautifully true.
As readers will see, Gold in Your Backyard is not a typical business book. It is a book of rare wisdom and inspiration, shining a bright light on how to live your life to the full and how to help others all along the way. It's a jewel, don't miss it!
How to take the first seeds of an idea and grow them into an exciting and prosperous company? And how do you create a company culture that prizes innovation and inspires your employees to become the very best they can be?
These are just a few of the questions that author Ron Rubin answers for us in this brilliant new book. And Ron is a true expert in entrepreneurship and business leadership. He took over The Republic of Tea in its infancy and built it into an industry leader and a pioneer in innovation, healthy living, and corporate social responsibility.
Then, in his 60s, Ron Rubin did it again. He bought a small winery in Sonoma County and built it into the River Road Family Vineyards and Winery, another bold, pioneering venture—and for Ron it was a decades-long dream come beautifully true.
As readers will see, Gold in Your Backyard is not a typical business book. It is a book of rare wisdom and inspiration, shining a bright light on how to live your life to the full and how to help others all along the way. It's a jewel, don't miss it!
248 pages, Hardcover
Published January 13, 2026
3 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 10, 2025
Gold in your backyard is no ordinary business book. Why? Because reading Ron Rubin’s masterpiece is like having a conversation with a close friend or next door neighbor whom you have known for years. It is that personal. Rubin does not hold back in sharing insights and experiences that have shaped his company, The Republic of Tea. Each chapter is filled with nuggets of acquired, genuine wisdom that Rubin shares with readers. It is replete with lessons that entrepreneurs can undoubtedly benefit from. It is a comprehensive playbook formulated with topics including taking risks, how to live your dream, strategic planning, public relations, advisory boards and podcasts and ChatGpt. Perhaps the most crucial lessons are the ones in which Rubin discloses his account of having a near-death experience due to a heart condition, and the tragedy of losing a colleague to motor vehicle accident. It is the aforementioned content that left this reader wanting more. Ron Rubin’s personal literary style and delivery earns Gold in your backyard an unequivocal five-star rating from this writer. Bravo!
May 5, 2025
In his book, Ron Rubin says that "I wrote it to inspire. I wrote it to touch hearts and light fires. I wrote it to share with you, my readers, the many lessons I have learned during my 70-plus years on this planet. And I wrote it with the hope that my own experiences might inspire you to follow your hearts, build your dreams and to always hold inside you, deep inside your being, those seven magical words: We can do it! Yes we can!"
In each short chapter he tells a story of one idea or concept that he learned while creating his successful businesses. His stories are so interesting that you forget you are reading a business book. So, pull up a chair and listen to Ron's life stories that will help you become successful.
In each short chapter he tells a story of one idea or concept that he learned while creating his successful businesses. His stories are so interesting that you forget you are reading a business book. So, pull up a chair and listen to Ron's life stories that will help you become successful.
May 18, 2025
Sippin tea with my mentor!
Each morning, while I sip a great drink from the Republic of Tea, I sit with my mentor Ron Rubin as he shares his wisdom with me from building and growing his companies. Well, that's what it feels like at least!
This is a true "coffee table book" meets daily mentor chat. Rubin's book is such a valuable addition and so incredibly produced that you not only want to buy it, you will also want to display.
I work everyday with entrepreneurs, so Gold In Your Backyard is going to be a consistent recommendation!
Each morning, while I sip a great drink from the Republic of Tea, I sit with my mentor Ron Rubin as he shares his wisdom with me from building and growing his companies. Well, that's what it feels like at least!
This is a true "coffee table book" meets daily mentor chat. Rubin's book is such a valuable addition and so incredibly produced that you not only want to buy it, you will also want to display.
I work everyday with entrepreneurs, so Gold In Your Backyard is going to be a consistent recommendation!
May 31, 2025
Thanks to the author & Weaving Influence for an ARC.
I've participated in several book launches, but this one took the cake (the tea?) - a gorgeous gift box with a hardcover book & a gift edition of tea from The Republic of Tea, one of my favorite tea companies though I couldn't have told you the name of the man behind the brand: Ron Rubin.
The book is somewhere between a motivational business book and a coffee table book. It's big, with glossy, gold-lined pages. The wisdom on those pages is gold-lined, too. It's easy to read, encouraging, story-based, & more fun than a lot of more traditional business books.
I've participated in several book launches, but this one took the cake (the tea?) - a gorgeous gift box with a hardcover book & a gift edition of tea from The Republic of Tea, one of my favorite tea companies though I couldn't have told you the name of the man behind the brand: Ron Rubin.
The book is somewhere between a motivational business book and a coffee table book. It's big, with glossy, gold-lined pages. The wisdom on those pages is gold-lined, too. It's easy to read, encouraging, story-based, & more fun than a lot of more traditional business books.
May 25, 2025
An inspiring leadership journey may not be what Ron Rubin set out to do; but that is exactly what he accomplished. Check out his book Gold in Your Backyard and you will gain leadership insights to make your journey inspiring.
June 18, 2025
I wasn't sure when i started this book, but ended up really appreciating the easy to read format and the pithy lessons. Chapter 14 3 Keys to success really resonated with me - Customers, Employees and Cash
June 26, 2025
In consistent style to the brands he owns, Ron Rubin has written a high quality book! From the elevated quality paper of each page to the conversational style of writing, Ron provides a lifetime of education in a book that quotes the greats widely and applies common sense liberally.
May 30, 2025
This book is unique in a couple of ways. At first read, it’s a fairly generic book on leadership—build your team, take risk, manage your finances, take care of your internal and external customers. Nothing really exciting there. Pretty much average stuff that you better know before attempting to build a business.
But an understated set of principles emerges. If you’re not careful you can miss them. And you don’t want to miss them.
Due to a serious health episode, he becomes acutely practical on issues of health, both for himself and his employees. As a result, he employed a unique life insurance strategy to ensure he had coverage when he needed it.
He constantly employed continuing education on a wide front, building his skill set and his knowledge base. He also read critical issue books that influenced his thinking. More importantly, he put that information to work. He didn’t just read the book for information. He found a way to implement what he read.
Rather than being overwhelmed by less than useful reports, he told his IT staff what he wanted to see and they developed the essential information he needed to see to make decisions and guide the business.
Then he turned and made some personal connections. The importance of a good manicure, being early rather than just on time, and the power of a handwritten thank you note.
He made mission critical hiring decisions for employees that remained with him for years and built his executive team.
A couple of things that were unusual is the number of times he said “lucky for me” or “good fortune.” It may be true, but most CEO’s won’t admit luck had anything to do with their success.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Highly recommended.
But an understated set of principles emerges. If you’re not careful you can miss them. And you don’t want to miss them.
Due to a serious health episode, he becomes acutely practical on issues of health, both for himself and his employees. As a result, he employed a unique life insurance strategy to ensure he had coverage when he needed it.
He constantly employed continuing education on a wide front, building his skill set and his knowledge base. He also read critical issue books that influenced his thinking. More importantly, he put that information to work. He didn’t just read the book for information. He found a way to implement what he read.
Rather than being overwhelmed by less than useful reports, he told his IT staff what he wanted to see and they developed the essential information he needed to see to make decisions and guide the business.
Then he turned and made some personal connections. The importance of a good manicure, being early rather than just on time, and the power of a handwritten thank you note.
He made mission critical hiring decisions for employees that remained with him for years and built his executive team.
A couple of things that were unusual is the number of times he said “lucky for me” or “good fortune.” It may be true, but most CEO’s won’t admit luck had anything to do with their success.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews