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Brillante en los negocios: Cómo crear riqueza, gestionar su carrera

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Durante décadas, la clase media ha creído que el camino hacia el éxito significaba trabajar duro y jugar por las reglas. Pero como la crisis económica de 2008 dejo en claro, las viejas reglas ya no se aplican y ese camino particular a la prosperidad se ha convertido en un camino a ninguna parte. Mientras que el valor neto de los hogares ha disminuido para la mayoría, líderes empresarios nacieron creando negocios propios acumulando una riqueza significativa. Entonces, ¿qué hace a estos más exitosamente financieros cuando otros están luchando para mantenerse al día? En Brillante En Los Negocios, Lewis Schiff combina una narración convincente que abarca el abrir los ojos, una investigación innovadora y una guía práctica para mostrar al resto de nosotros lo que los prósperos y millonarios de Estados Unidos ya saben. Él explota mitos comúnmente conocidos sobre la riqueza y explica cómo los empresarios de éxito como Richard Branson, Suze Orman, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, y el fundador del Cirque du Soleil, Guy Laliberte, se suscriben a un conjunto de prioridades completamente distintas a las de la clase media. Schiff identifica los siete principios distintos practicados por personas que pueden o no pueden ser más listos que el resto de la población, pero parecen entender instintivamente cómo se hace el dinero. Son negocios brillantes. El libro revela cómo desarrollarse en las zonas de trabajo en equipo, la gestión del riesgo, y el desarrollo de liderazgo para acumular sus riquezas. Schiff sostiene que es la sinergia y no la casualidad lo que produce el éxito. Él ofrece un práctico programa de cuatro pasos simples que los trabajadores pueden seguir para posicionarse para tener éxito más a menudo, desde la elección de un medio de vida y la localización de las habilidades para centrarse en la negociación de condiciones de trabajo y salario. Brillante En Los negocios desafía a los lectores a comparar su propia aproximación a los ejecutivos y empresarios que han navegado con éxito nuestra economía que cambia rápidamente. Brillante En Los negocios no se compromete a hacerlo rico, pero sin duda puede ayudar a que usted lograre mejores resultados en su carrera.

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 19, 2013

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About the author

Lewis Schiff

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for Teri Temme.
Author 1 book54 followers
March 28, 2013
Delightful book on how people think about money, success and failure.

Featured:

• Do What You Love, but Follow the Money
• Save Less, Earn More
• Imitate, Don't Innovate
• Know-How is Good, "Know-Who" is Better
• Win-Win is a Loser
• Spread the Work, Spread the Wealth
• Nothing Succeeds Like Failure
• Mastering the Mundane - with his LEAP Philosophy: Learning, Earning, Assistance and Persistence

Profile Image for Ed Barton.
1,303 reviews
December 30, 2020
Well Researched

While you’ll walk away with a lot of knowledge about the behaviors of self-made millionaires, the key to this knowledge is the extensive research conducted by the author. Starting each chapter with a surprising statistic, you are then taken through the research in a very readable way followed by anecdotes and stories. A great addition to the entrepreneurial library.
Profile Image for Caro Raciti.
195 reviews2 followers
March 29, 2018
Good case examples and the history of businesses and individuals that made a big impact, after struggling for a long time or by doing something else that brought unintended results. Like Cirque di Soleil and Pixar, or the story of the CEO/founder of Jet Blue. Grit, persistence and negotiation among other skills of course got them to achieve success. Something I found interesting is that the author mentions that per his research, for most people among middle class it's almost Tabu to speak about failure, but self-made millionaires talk about failure and what they learned from it without big concerns, plus they say 80% of their friends also feel comfortable taking about their failure. We all have had to deal with failure one way or the other so why is it so hard to speak about it?
3 reviews1 follower
October 29, 2017
Good for helping think about the old paradigm of increasing wealth and what really works. I don't espouse all thinking in this, but there is some good understanding to be gained.
Profile Image for Sam Klemens.
253 reviews36 followers
March 10, 2024
To summarize in a sentence: Business Brilliant teaches the practical skills that regular people use to grow their wealth, as well as the beliefs they inculcate to help them make more than everyone else.

In reading Business Brilliant I found one idea that hit me particularly hard…

Lewis Schiff explains that millionaires improve upon their core competencies, while letting their weaknesses fester. In other words, if you’re great at something you should spend all your time doing that thing. If you suck at something you shouldn’t try to get better; hire someone else to do it.

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I originally published this review on my Substack "The Unhedged Capitalist" - check out the original article to read this review with images and better formatting...

https://theunhedgedcapitalist.substac...

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That advice goes against the mainstream narrative, doesn’t it? It seems like society teaches us that we need to be well-rounded in all areas, and the best way to better ourselves is by working on our weaknesses. As commonsensical as that advice sounds, if you want to get wealthy you should do the opposite.

Schiff goes on to explain that millionaires do one thing over and over again, until they succeed. For example, one millionaire developed a timeshare project and successfully sold all the units. However, due to an exploitative business partner and a poorly worded contract, the man ended up with almost no profit despite selling dozens of condos.

Rather than start fresh in a new industry, the man used the lessons he learned from his initial failure to do the same thing again, only better. The second time around he sold all the units, but did so on far more favorable terms and made a bankload of money. As that example shows, the path to profitability lies in mastery. Every failure is a chance to learn how to not do it, such that each iteration gets better.

I would tend to agree.

I have designed and built more than a dozen websites, and I’ve started about half a dozen blogs. All of my previous publications failed either because they didn’t gain traction, or I pigeon-holed myself into a niche topic and ran out of things to write about.

I learned from those experiences, and have applied the lessons such that this Substack is the most successful writing venture I’ve ever undertaken. My experience in web design helped me to create (what I believe to be) a cool branding package. My previous writing experience taught me to keep things loose and open, which is why you’ll see me expanding on topics as diverse as trading bonds, philosophy, interest rates, Bitcoin, book reviews, energy stocks and macro commentary.

On to business

Another nugget of insight that I found valuable: wealthy people don’t start business concerns with their own capital, they seek outside investment. Warren Buffet got rich because he got people to invest with him back in the paleolithic period, when his career began. Wealthy people have investors so that if the project fails, they aren’t broke. They can dust off and give it another go.

Furthermore, the wealthy seek an equity stake in whatever they’re working on. For example, say that you start at a new company. Would you rather have a guaranteed raise in six months, or some stock options? The capitalist desires the equity so that he or she can participate in the upside. In general, a person who wishes to become wealthy should desire to benefit from the rewards of their hard work. That’s in direct opposition to a salary, which might not increase even if a company’s market cap quadruples.

More lessons

Other chapters of Business Brilliant explore why knowing the right people is better than having the best skills, and how successful entrepreneurs rarely come up with a groundbreaking innovation. Rather, they take an existing product and improve upon it. Or hell, they don’t even improve the damn thing they just do a better job marketing it. Imitation is common too, as you’ll see with Bill Gates the ostensible genius.

Also, you’ll find a reiteration of the truism that the people we spend the most time with shape who we are. Here’s a quote that I bookmarked.

So is success contagious? Does it help you to follow the money if the people within your network are also following the money? The answer to both questions is probably yes, since so many of the behavioral differences found between the middle class and self-made millionaires are highly social habits such as seeking equity, negotiating higher pay, imitating success in others, and finding investors. It makes sense that self-made millionaires with these habits of mind will gravitate toward and influence others with similar habits, especially because they share a common belief in the power know-who.


A consistent theme runs through Business Brilliant: wealthy people think and act different than their middle class counterparts. Whether it’s negotiating a deal, taking an equity stake or persistence in the face of adversity, there is a surprising amount of overlap in how the prosperous approach life.

Business Brilliant was a good read and well worth picking up at your local bookstore.
Profile Image for Liliana.
301 reviews15 followers
June 29, 2019
If there's anything I learned from this book it's that I'll probably never be a millionaire. And it's not because millionaires are smarter than the rest of us, it's because they are utterly Machiavellian.

This book explores the results of a survey comparing self-made millionaires and the middle class. Schiff draws on the stories of millionaires who came from middle class backgrounds like Bill Gates and Guy Laliberte to illustrate his concepts. Schiff argues that the only difference between the middle class and the business brilliant is mindset, although he doesn't say whether that is something that is inborn or taught.

Boiled down for simplicity, self-made millionaires are opportunists that given the chance seek to advance in any way possible, while the typical middle class individual is too concerned with the opinion of others to truly seek the advantage. He breaks this down into various situations. For example, people who become millionaires are more likely simply to ASK for what they want while the rest of us are too bashful to do so. Self-made millionaires are least likely to compromise while the middle class focus on a win-win situation (which Schiff argues doesn't actually exist as there will always be someone who got more). The middle class mindset would rather earn 50,ooo and be the top dog in a community, than earn 55,000 and be at the bottom of the ladder.

This was quite gripping and revealing and begged the question of what this means for cultural upbringing. He brushed by this on one occasion when he described how women are less likely to ask for more money than men, and when they do they are more moderate in their demands, but that is where he left it. Since the survey illustrates that the more independent and self-centered you are, the more likely you are to become a millionaire, what of middle class individuals who are raised in cultures where the community is more important than the individual?

Overall a thought provoking read that I would recommend.



78 reviews2 followers
May 15, 2023
This book is based off a survey done by the author Lewis Schiff that compared attitudes between millionaires and the middle class in regards to success in business. Details of the survey are dropped in various chapters that use case studies of various people to support the survey. The author successfully paints many CEO's as Machiavellian, takers and users. A good example used in the book is Bill Gates who is a notorious imitator, taking other people's ideas and successfully monetizing them. I liked reading some of the case studies because I am always fascinated on how various businesses succeeded. However, I am not sure how helpful it really is as a business book. There are interesting bits that may be helpful in a general way. However the book was published in 2013, so perhaps it is now out of date. A new survey would be in order to re-evaluate attitudes with a new political and economic environment.
14 reviews3 followers
October 3, 2018
Finally I have found something, someone who has taken the general ideas and lessons of entrepreneurship mindset and kind of flipped in its head. With each chapter I could better understand and see clearly in tandem with the other perspectives I've taken away from other works and authors. This is not a read that I'd advise anyone to just skim or read through simply. There's both some old, well known stuff and yet also some well pieced together examples, concepts and disciplines this author made very clear, exact and adamant. Will definitely have to go back and reread several sections. With this work, I feel a bit more organized as far as how to think as opposed to why and what to do. This the most pragmatic, straightforward book if come across so far on the subject of business and self-interest business -worth a five star.
17 reviews11 followers
September 20, 2020
This book dispels fairy tale endings and the mythology around success story businesses, big and small.
I was not surprised to hear that the multimillionaires surveyed had a higher-than-average incidence of Machiavellianism as, by chapter five, I had already noted its similarities to Machiavelli's seminal work. Like The Prince, it leaves the reader with a choice – if this is what it takes to be successful in business, do I really want to be successful?

If you're looking for a no-BS, no-hype business book, this is the one. This is the best book I have ever hesitated to recommend.
Profile Image for T. Laane.
757 reviews93 followers
May 3, 2025
A lot of good, sometimes even “profound” content, presented through engaging and repeated storytelling. The author excels at using stories, often circling back to the same examples from new angles - it’s not just storytelling for entertainment, but to hammer home different business concepts. This approach keeps things fresh and demonstrates how lessons interconnect.
FOLLOW THE MONEY. Ignore the cliché - don’t assume money follows passion; be passionate, but don’t ignore where the real opportunity (and cash) is.
REWARD KILLS INTRINSIC MOTIVATION. When you reward or pay people for something they used to do out of pure enjoyment, their real interest fades fast. Same for supervision and competition - it can all sap the intrinsic fun out of the work or action. As a parent or leader, be careful about “bribing” - You are killing their interest in the very same thing we are inviting them to explore.
PAYCHECK PARALYSIS. Working for a regular paycheck in a field you once loved can make you resent that field over time and kill your motivation.
NEGOTIATION AND VALUE. Always ask for more - double what you think is “outrageous.” Every offer is an attempt to get the best of you, so don’t take the first offer at face value. If you never hear “no,” you’re not pushing hard enough.
MYTH OF THE BIG IDEA. The media loves a rags-to-riches story about one genius idea, but most real business success is incremental, network-driven, and built on relentless execution. Don’t chase “garage myth” dreams - look for compound improvements and real mentorship.
NETWORTH IS NETWORK. Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and other icons succeeded through who they knew, not just what they knew. The richest business people focus on cultivating a very small, trusted core network, not just mass LinkedIn reach. You need intimate, trusted business allies - quality over quantity.
MENTORS, NOT JUST FRIENDS. “Follow the money” means follow the people with money, and find patrons or mentors to work under and learn from - don’t just seek more peers.
NETWORK LIKE THE RICH. Rich people are more likely to walk away from deals that don’t fit, while the middle class takes most offers. Be okay being the smallest fish in a bigger pond - it’s uncomfortable, but it’s where you grow. Most “returns” in networking come from connector-types, not just from adding more random people. If you’re not a connector, you’ll keep hanging with others who aren’t.
FAKERY AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS. In business, sometimes the “busy office” or “big budget” is smoke and mirrors for the benefit of outsiders and investors - playing the image game works.
NEGOTIATION REALISM. Win-win deals can easily become win-wimp if you’re not careful - if your partner is out for max gain, you might get steamrolled. The more you uncover what the other side really values, the more you can give them what they want without giving up your own priorities - empathy is a negotiation superpower. Find and play to their weaknesses, because they’re doing the same to you.
RECIPROCITY PSYCHOLOGY. Every effective negotiator knows the power of favors and friendship - they want you to feel “obliged” to make a return deal. They’ll praise you, make you feel good, then present a bad offer, betting you’ll accept to avoid appearing rude or greedy.
FOCUS ON STRENGTHS. Most middle-class folks obsess over fixing weaknesses, but the wealthy double down on their strengths and assemble teams to cover the rest.
HUMILITY & LISTENING. A wise exec starts every meeting with a “stupid, stupid, stupid” memo to themselves to remember: someone on the team might have a better idea. Get out of your own head - step back and see the big picture. Take time off to get clear perspective.
LOVE CAN BE BLIND IN BUSINESS. When people want you in a deal, remember - they will always offer you the bare minimum. Take your time before jumping in, and always try to view the deal as they do. If you bring in friends, don’t let love for the idea blind you - like a prenup, plan the business “divorce” upfront.
NETWORK SMART, NOT WIDE. Your truly active, intimate business network shouldn’t be more than six people - just like close friends. You should keep track of their details - companies, executive roles, charity work, families, goals, salaries, ambitions. Manage your network proactively and always be on the lookout for replacing “deadweight” with new, promising connections. Never let people just “add you” - you choose who’s in your circle. Before a networking event, decide how many new people you want to meet, and exactly which problems you want help with - no sales pitches, invite opinions and solutions.
THE POWER OF “1 DEGREE.” Odds are, anyone you need is only one introduction away. Think about every task you dislike or suck at, figure out its cost, and ask your circle who can cover it.
EMBRACE MISTAKES. Sharing failure is more educational than sharing success. Blog your mistakes and lessons - it helps others and sharpens your own thinking.
MICRO-DECISIONS WIN. Don’t wait for perfect info - even if just 51% of your decisions are good, you’re moving forward.
PERSISTENT EXECUTION. Every day, do what you’re best at, get paid for some of it, get help with the rest that You are not good at, and persist. Try a centering exercise: list your top talents, filter to your best three, and write three reasons for each.
1 review
February 13, 2020
Makes you want to start something right away.

Book is about principles and is not a how to book. But you should learn the habits of a multimillionaire to see what bias thinking you grew up with that has to change. I found it easy to read and while I read faster took 1.5 hours of my time. I would recommend for sure.
Profile Image for Kelleigh.
2 reviews5 followers
February 17, 2017
I skimmed some of the storytelling, all of the concepts were broken down into very useful ideas that I could apply to my career. Don't stop ready half-way, the last chapter is very actionable and gives specific tasks that can help you right now.
Profile Image for Casey Bell.
94 reviews3 followers
November 10, 2017
Really liked the contrast on perspective between the classes. Excellent suggestions and quotes. One quote that really stood out:

“In business as in life, you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.”
-Dr. Chester Karrass
Profile Image for Amanda.
89 reviews39 followers
January 23, 2018
Interesting stories, tips, & ideas. The tips/advice are a bit abstract, but I think that comes from the fact that it's hard to pinpoint an exact scientific method to why certain individuals are so successful.
Profile Image for scott tucholsky.
2 reviews
May 17, 2018
Focus on the 17 Essentials

Broke down the paths to hyper wealth creation through a series of segments that contain 17 essential characteristics and techniques that one should follow to excel
12 reviews
November 9, 2018
Very good and practical read

Entertaining and insightful book with practical ideas everyone can use. In fact, the lessons presented in the book can benefit everyone, from a salaried employee to an entrepreneur. Finally, the steps the author recommends to follow are very realistic.
Profile Image for Nathan.
Author 2 books53 followers
July 4, 2022
This really is brilliant. Finally got around to listening after so many people had recommended this book over the years and it didn't disappoint. Full of insight and an important read for anyone starting a business career. Ordered the physical copy to read again and for easy reference.
2 reviews
September 26, 2023
Great nuggets of wisdom all throughout this book!

So many things that I took notes on. Can't wait to dive into these chapters in more detail and really start applying some of these principles.
Profile Image for Connor Oswald.
494 reviews3 followers
May 5, 2018
Decent

I mean I probably won't use any of this information in my life but I had a good time, business.
Profile Image for Michael  Brajczewski.
50 reviews
July 30, 2018
Repeat and repeat and repeat...and then repeat again

OMG...how many times can we repeat, ad nauseam, the same basic point ??!! A decent point over stressed unbelievably !
9 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2018
Great read.

For anyone ready to take the leap into a buisness that will earn money. Easy to read and follow. Great anecdotes.
Profile Image for Venkat Vangala.
2 reviews19 followers
January 17, 2019
Excellent read.

Excellent and enjoyed reading this book. I like the way the author laid down the repeated failures drives them to success.
8 reviews
October 18, 2019
Great book!

Great read and book. Highly recommend. Lots of great information and very inspiring. Work to be done. So thank you.
Profile Image for Jose Luis  Cham.
10 reviews
June 22, 2021
Great research, awesome way to present the data, and good stories for showing the application of the principles
15 reviews2 followers
December 13, 2021
Straight to the point

This hook was an Easy read but very straight forward and applicable.
Would recommend. Really enjoyed this book start to end.
4 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2019
Insightful Business Read

I'd recommend this book to aspiring and long-time business people. Actionable and stackable insights that are backed up with the what might be stopping you details .
Profile Image for Libros Para Crecer.
12 reviews2 followers
May 19, 2020
En este libro su autor, Lewis Schiff, nos presenta un resumen de una encuesta realizada entre personas de la clase media y de millonarios hechos a si mismo. Esta en cuesta que se llama Brillantes en los Negocios rompe mitos tradicionalmente pensando por la clase media y dados por ciertos y que no son la realidad de los millonarios hechos a si mismo.  Conceptos comúnmente por la aceptados por la clase media como en una negociación buscar el todos gana, haz lo que te apasiona y el dinero llegara, la innovación en los negocios y el concepto del fracaso, entre otros nos muestra en este libro la falsedad de ellos a la luz de la encuesta realizada a los millonarios hechos a sí mismo. El libro esta divido en nueve capítulos. Estos capítulos son 1. Brillante en los negocios 2. Haz lo que te apasiona, pero sigue el dinero 3. Ahorra menos, gana mas 4. Imitar, no innovar 5. Conocer el cómo es bueno, Conocer el quien es aún mejor 6. El todos gana significa perder 7. Reparte el trabajo, reparte la riqueza 8. Nada como fracasar para tener éxito y 9. El dominio de lo cotidiano.
Ideas Principales
Tenemos muchas ideas y conceptos que hemos adoptados y nos han vendido como cierto en los negocios. El autor explica como ganar todos no significa ceder nuestros derechos para mantener un acuerdo, como la idea o imagen de negocios que nacen en garaje es falso y que la realidad es que las empresas nacen en las empresas, como para llegar a ser millonario no tienes que tener una idea revolucionaria sino tomar ideas ajenas y pulirla con una visión de negocios, como si haces lo que te apasiona solamente serás un empleado más de tu talento para otro porque tienes que hacer lo que te apasiona y seguir el dinero, como concentrarte en tus fortalezas y aprender a delegar las funciones o trabajos que no te vienen bien, como ahorrar es bueno pero no te llevara muy lejos cuando lo que tienes que hacer es aumentar los ingresos y no limitar tu vida pensando en pequeño pero sobre todo, que es la idea principal del libro, que sea que sea lo que hagas sigue el dinero. 
Opinión Personal
El libro es un libro ameno que es narrado de manera sencilla y directa. El autor recurre a ejemplo de personajes notorios de diferentes industrias como Bill Gates o de la historia como Cristobal Colon para resaltar los puntos que desea enfatizar de la encuesta. Esta versión a mi juicio seria un buen complemento al libro El Millonario de al lado, ya que trata sobre una investigación del comportamiento de millonarios hechos a si mismo. Aunque el libro es bastante completo en su organización un punto que me hubiese gustado mas que abundara con datos sería el manejo de riesgos entre los millonarios hechos a sí mismo. Por lo demás recomiendo su lectura favorablemente, en espacial si Usted se mueve o piensa moverse en el mundo del emprendimiento.
Sobre el autor
Lewis Schiff, es estadounidense, escritor y empresario. Es el Director Ejecutivo de Inc. Business Oweners Council, una organización de membresía para las mejores empresas y dueños de negocios familiares. También mantiene un blog empresarial Inc.com y ha sido coautor de dos libros más.   

Si quieres oír mi podcast ve a
anchor.fm/librosparacrecer

Si quieres descargar un resumen gratuito ve a mi blog
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
753 reviews10 followers
January 17, 2016
Well researched business book.

From the Amazon review By Irfan A. Alvi

The central idea of this book is that multi-millionaires typically become wealthy by focusing on their self-interest, particularly their financial interest, to a degree far greater than the middle class. This attitude leads to behaviors such as:

- Focusing on what they're interested in and good at (rather than trying to become well-rounded by improving areas of weakness)

- Delegating what they're not good at to others (rather than trying to do everything themselves)

- Having an equity share in their work (rather than strictly being hourly employees)

- Doing work with good potential for making money (rather than just doing 'what they love')

- Copying the ideas of others and executing them exceptionally well (rather than being a true innovator)

- Negotiating for their own interest and letting others fend for themselves, including exploiting weaknesses of others and being prepared to walk away if the terms aren't favorable to them (rather than seeking win-win outcomes and compromising substantially)

- Cultivating a small network of people in a good position to help them (rather than a large network of 'ordinary' people)

- Using the investment capital of others (rather than putting their own money at risk)

- Assertively asking for what they want (rather than just accepting whatever is offered to them)

- Being persistent in the face of setbacks and failures (rather than giving up because failure is too painful)

The author admits that this is all rather Machiavellian - you'll need to decide whether that bothers you. Likewise, you'll need to decide how much of a factor wealth is in your definition of 'success', and I can certainly appreciate that a life focused on sincere personal relationships, meaningful work, contributing to society, preserving the natural environment, appreciating beauty, etc. could be more satisfying. But if attaining wealth is the goal, my impression is that this is a credible book with genuine insights into how people typically attain it.
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