Big Things Have Small Beginnings: Learn to Play the Great Game

by Wes Berry

Small things matter if you want to achieve BIG things. In many businesses that fail, the small things are overlooked; they are the things that are often the easiest to implement, but at the same time they are easy to forget. It’s these small things that have the greatest impact in the long-term.

Neglecting small things can be the difference between failure and success.

This book is NOT about failing; this book is about preventing, limiting and continually overcoming the small failures and obstacles so that you can achieve great success because when you take care of the small details, the big stuff takes care of itself.

Do you find yourself missing the one thing in life that would help you achieve a desired goal, realize a long-held dream, or push you up the ladder to success?

Big Things Have Small Beginnings will give you the blueprint you need to achieve those goals and dreams sooner rather than later.

Some of what you’ll learn in this book

The common characteristic our great leaders had that you must possess;
How giving away flowers helped build a $60 million dollar company and go from surviving to thriving;
The difference between goals and objectives and which one is more important to your overall success;
How to be intelligently flexible so you can make massive progress;
Why learning a new language can improve your business aptitude;
How to grow a business when you don’t have the capital to do so;
The importance of keeping a high integrity business model;
And so much more!

Wesley Berry started working at his family’s Detroit-based florist shop when he was just a teenager. He quickly demonstrated a strategic style of management that propelled it from a $65K per year business to a $65 million-dollar international business operating in 130 different countries. In 2016, after 40 years in business, he sold it to “retire” and follow other passions.

Through the years, he's provided consulting services to over forty businesses and has appeared as a guest on NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The London Times, Entrepreneur and Time magazines, Fox News, Neil Cavuto, Geraldo Rivera, and John Stossel, to name a just few.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The law of nature is, Do the thing, and you shall have the but they who do not the thing have not the power.”

If you want the power and the keys to success, click the BUY NOW button and be the one who wins and has the power.

Genres: Business, Productivity, Self Help, Entrepreneurship, Startup, Amazon, Nonfiction

278 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author Wesley Berry started working at his family's Detroit-based florist shop when he was a teenager. He quickly demonstrated a strategic style of management that propel it from a $60K per year business to a $60 million-dollar international business operating in 130 different countries. In 2016, after 40 years in business, he sold it to "retire" and follow other passions.

Garnering from his years of experience working with radio stations, Wes is currently the host of The People's Voice, a weekly radio talk show that features both controversial and unifying topics.

As Wesley himself says it, "As the show's host, I'm being guided by the principle that reasonable people can disagree without being disagreeable. Polite discourse of controversial subjects is fundamental to a civil society, and The People's Voice is committed to providing a forum where opposing views can be respectfully exchanged."

Through the years, he's provided consulting services to over forty businesses, served as Headmaster of a state-licensed private vocational school, and worked as a licensed real estate agent, having participated in over thirty commercial transactions.

Wes has collaborated on designing sets for both ABC and CBS television shows, has appeared as a guest on several talk shows, and has been interviewed countless times by broadcast and print media. His many media appearances include: NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The London Times, Entrepreneur and Time magazines, Fox News, Neil Cavuto, Geraldo Rivera, and John Stossel, to name a just few.

Wes has received many honors and awards, including:

* 2003 - Pheasant Ring Autistic Community Ring of Hope Community Service Award

* 2008 - NAACP Oakland County Chapter's Corporate Leadership Award

* 2008 - Florist Review Magazine's Retail Florist of the Year for Community Involvement

* 2008 - Chamber of Commerce honoree as Business Person of the Year

* 2011 - Inc. Magazine's Top 500|5000-ranked Fastest Growing Retailer

* 2011 - Optimist Club's Person of the Year

* 2012 - Optimist International's Business Person of the Year Michigan District

* 2014 - Civil rights organization United We Walk's Community Leader Award

* 2016 - Commissioned Honorary Naval Commander (O-5) by Michigan Governor Schneider

Wes has held memberships in: The Detroit Economic Club, Adcraft Club of Detroit, Rotary International, Optimists International, NAACP, Shriners International, Wabeek Country Club, Detroit Athletic Club, Detroit Gun Club, NRA, and at Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church, where he's taught Sunday School, ushered, and served on its Board of Trustees. He has also served on the boards of an Educational Foundation, Community Youth Assistance, and Henry Ford Hospital.

Wes is a Freemason and currently serves as a Trustee of the Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation. He also volunteers with a community group that provides wheelchair ramps to those in need. He's a graduate of Oakland Technical Center, having completed their Floriculture & Agriscience Program.

A dog lover, Wes enjoys fishing, and is constantly humbled by his golf game. He and his wife Mia have four sons and have been married for thirty years. They reside in Michigan.

Read more at his website: www.wesleyberry.co

Reviews

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Polite discourse of controversial subjects is fundamental to a civil society’

Michigan author Wesley Berry is the host of The Success Factor, a weekly radio talk show in Detroit’s “The Patriot”. In Wesley’s words, “As the show’s host, I’m being guided by the principle that reasonable people can disagree without being disagreeable. Polite discourse of controversial subjects is fundamental to a civil society; and The Success Factor is committed to providing a forum where opposing views can be respectfully exchanged.” Wesley has provided consulting services to over 40 businesses while simultaneously establishing a retail franchise system that operated 30 units in five States. Additionally, he’s served as Headmaster of a State-Licensed Private Vocational School, as a licensed real estate agent, having participated in over 30 commercial transactions, and as an entrepreneur, Wes demonstrated a strategic style of management by building a multi-million dollar brick-and-mortar business. Among his many honors - 2003 - Pheasant Ring Autistic Community Ring of Hope Community Service Award, 2008 - NAACP Oakland County Chapter’s Corporate Leadership Award, 2008 - Florist Review Magazine’s Retail Florist of the Year for Community Involvement, 2012 - Optimist International’s Business Person of the Year Michigan District, 2014 - Civil rights organization United We Walk’s Community Leader Award, and 2016 - Commissioned Honorary Naval Commander (O-5) by Michigan Governor Schneider. . He’s a graduate of Oakland Technical Center, having completed their Floriculture & Agriscience Program. Yes, Wesley Berry is a Florist – and it is this beginning that launches his excellent book on how to succeed in business and in life – a book so rich in plain sound advice that setting it aside would be an significant error in judgment.

Wesley’s writing technique is straightforward honest communication. His book is rich is memorable quotes, gems like the following few examples:
‘- every successful person I’ve met and every successful leader I’ve studied, has in some way or another borne out the same truth. That is, successful people seem to spend a lot more time and energy on small things that unsuccessful people so often seem to neglect.
- when you take care of the little stuff, the big stuff has a real nice way of taking care of itself. And what I hope to help you with in these few pages is to help you take better care of all that little stuff.
- everyone sees things through their own perspectives; and, if you don’t pay attention to the details that they’re paying attention to than you’re going to have the pay the price for your neglect
- The strength, the courage, the perseverance it takes to pick yourself up time and time again, to my mind at last, comes from having a good family and a good support group.
- You have to find your “why,” because you’re going to need it if you really want to get serious about learning to play in the great game.
- whatever you want to accomplish, it is up to YOU. It is up to you alone to become the person who has the willingness to do what it takes to achieve the success you desire. It is up to YOU to build within yourself the determination and the positive attitude that will guide you safely on the journey that you choose. It is up to you. Always remember that there is no such thing as failure. All setbacks are temporary. The Great Game never ends ...unless you decide to quit. So I urge you, get yourself into the Game, and have the time of your life!
- there is good in every experience that life has to offer, and it is our responsibility to seek out that good and advance to the next square on that checkered board of life
- I’m talking about managing your hours, your days, your weeks, your months, and then your years, one after the other. Don’t let them get away from you. You never get them back.
- we gotta open our eyes to what’s around us. We really miss the little stuff at our own peril, in both business and in life. We’re talking here about learning to play in the great game; and the game is business, and the ultimate game is life.’

In other words, Wesley Berry teaches us to be aware, deal with setbacks and overcome obstacles, say no to failure and yes to achieving success. ‘We have all experienced some adversities in our lives. We can choose to handle them in one of two ways. The first way is that we can learn from them. That is, we can grow in our understanding of things, and thereby advance our body of knowledge. This path will most assuredly lead to the continual growth and improvement of our character.’

Wise and warm counsel from a man who knows the steps and paths and little things that are the small beginnings that can blossom into success. Wesley Berry is real – as real as the successful entrepreneur, coach, teacher, family man, and friend can be. Listen up!

[Amie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably one of the least ‘businessy’ business books I have had the opportunity to read. Wes Berry, is more than qualified to speak as an authority on best practices in business, having proved himself by taking his family’s struggling flower company from barely supporting his parents to a multi-million dollar operation. He could write volumes on profit/loss margins, marketing strategies, or current market trends, instead he writes with conviction and passion about doing the right things, the right way; finding your ambition; tracking your motivation; and developing strong interpersonal skills.
He makes no qualms about the fact that success comes only on the heels of hard work. Wes Berry’s dedication to doing the little things well; within the formative years of his involvement in his family’s business paid off huge dividends down the road. I love that this book moves away from the classic format of business books containing some supposed secrets to success or long lists of steps to success that by the time you get to the end of the book you can not remember step one, not to mention implement it. Instead each major life/business lesson is delivered in context of either a personal story or a retelling of a historical event. This approach changes the tone of the text from an authoritative ‘I am successful so listen to me’ voice, to that of an approachable, more experienced relative that really has your best interest at heart. Anyone, whether a business person or not, could pick up a copy of this book and glean life changing information. This is not just a book about business, but a book full of great life advice that you can apply to business.

[Esther Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This book is open and honest, the author writes honestly and from his heart. Great down to earth advice which seems to be obvious, but it needs to be read to internalize this authors message. Besides learning how to succeed, you will respect this author for his brutally hard work and dedication to earn his own success. After doing what he did I am sure we can succeed too.

[P.G. Sundling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part memoir, part business primer, Big Things Have Small Beginnings delivers on its main premise. The author refers to competing in business as the Great Game and you have to make the right moves to win. It's an apt description and perspective, written in an approachable conversational style.

The book includes a lot of time-tested advice that I know from personal experience works. With visualization, positive thinking, and the power of intention, I've achieved a lot of my goals in life. Even really specific goals like wanting to be a member of a small team to win a PC Magazine Editor's Choice Award. I visualized it and it happened!

I've noticed my own life seems momentum based. Things go well and I'm on a roll for a while. Then something bad happens and I'm a derailed train. It takes a while to get back in the groove. I'd never figured out why that happens until I read one piece of advice from the book. Forgive yourself when things get off track, or you'll derail your positive thinking. Crap! That's what I've been doing wrong my whole life. It was worth reading the book just for that one insight.

While I’m not generally a believer in American exceptionalism, Wesley Berry makes a strong case for why America is such a great place to do business. America isn’t always number one in everything, but in business, it truly is number one. By the end of the book, I felt luckier to be American.

I loved reading the story of how the author approached a problem many businesses have of how to improve their business without spending money. Constraints like that often drive creativity. The way he used advancing technology and adapted to changes in the business environment showed just how the small beginnings built on each other. From a $60K to $60 million, Wesley Berry built a flower empire and we get to come along for the ride.

The book covers leadership and I found the section on understanding alternative viewpoints especially relevant in these polarizing times. Some believers of American Exceptionalism don’t see value in understanding other cultures or viewpoints, so I’m really glad this was highlighted.

He uses an eclectic mix of anecdotes and historical examples to drive his points across. I was unfamiliar with some of this background and it added depth to the material. I was intrigued enough to read up on Elbert Hubbard and found it ironic how a man that was so against American involvement in World War One was killed, including what the book mentions was his intention at the time. I can also recommend the PBS documentary the author suggests. It's not often that a book engages me enough to read the source material.

A major section of the book goes over the type of employee to look for and nurture, a "Rowan." These traits for success also apply to business owners. I’ve seen some of these approaches to keeping morale high and preventing burnout used successfully in past technology jobs. The advice definitely applies outside the flower business.

This book left me energized, optimistic, and ready to face the world to grow my business.

While I’ve read a number of business books over the years, I was still able to cull new and useful information from Big Things Have Small Beginnings. I’m rating this gem 5 out of 5 stars for a quick easy read that engaged me enough to do additional research and left me with an insight to potentially improve my life.

[Alan Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit; I have never read this genre (motivational/instructional/self-help). Most of my non-fiction reading was either science or history. I came away very impressed with the book and its overall message. Berry does a great job in this book illustrating his points both by drawing from his own experiences and experiences of others.


Big Things Have Small Beginnings is a quick read. It is divided into three main parts. In the first part, Berry goes through some foundational building blocks for success and lays the groundwork for the rest of the book. There he has a discussion about ambition and motivation that I found interesting.


Part two is where the book really started to pick up for me. Berry gives us his life story. Being a lover of fiction, I’m partial to stories even if they are about real life. He does a wonderful job in this part hitting the high notes of his life experiences without being too drawn out or including too much about himself that isn’t necessary.


Part three he goes over business management and keys that he used to succeed. I found that his discussion of how to find the right people to work for you, to be the most useful part of the book. I own my own business and I have made a lot of mistakes in hiring people and will incorporate a lot of what he talks about in my practice.


I only had one issue with the book. Nevertheless, I still gave it five stars. I thought that the personal retrospective found in the middle of the book should have been at the beginning. I’ll admit I did not read the author bio or the about the book before I started reading. Halfway through Part I, I was wondering to myself, “Who is this guy and what has he done?” At that point I read the bio, but I did not relate to it nearly as much as I did when he went into his life story.


The overall writing is very good. The book flowed and was well edited. The author admits at some point in the book to not being a “Harvard or Yale” trained business man, but I came away very impressed with his writing style and his business acumen. He did a good job keeping the book diverse by drawing from many different examples and historical figures. He even quotes movies and pop culture; I especially like his reference to the movie The Untouchables.


The book is very instructive. I went to business school myself and I found that what you learn in the real world is far more valuable than any theory you find in any text book. Foundationally, I completely agree with the Author’s message. The small things and the consistency in doing those small things day in and day out are really what separate people in the real world. The Author is himself living proof of that very ideal.


I think this book is a good read for anyone. It is marketed to help those in business for themselves or looking to open a business, but I really think a lot of the discussion is applicable to any career. As the Author learned so much from others in becoming a success in his life; his readers will no doubt come away with some valuable knowledge after reading this book.

[Susan Keefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A practical and informative guide as to how to succeed in business.

The author of this enlightening and extremely informative book writes from a lifetime in business. His vast span of knowledge encompasses the whole spectrum, from starting out, learning the hard way, choosing your market, employing the right sort of people, and the importance of dedication and attention to detail.

It is this attention to detail which he emphasises throughout the book, highlighting that it is the little things to one person, which matter so much to someone else. This is a very important message, and this book is littered with examples of good business practice which he has excelled at, or failed in, but through the experience he learnt where he went wrong, and passes the information down to you, the reader.

A patriotic American, a husband, and father of four sons, Wes Berry was given a 10% share of his parents flower business as a young man. Ambitious, self-disciplined, and driven by a determination to succeed, he was encouraged by his father to implement his new ideas into the business, as long as they didn’t cost money…

Right from the beginning there is so much to learn from this book, and it is all there just waiting for the hungry would be businessman or woman to ingest. From mapping out your future goals, to meeting deadlines and targets, and the strategies you will need to utilise to achieve them.

He looks at what gets you up in the morning, and encourages you to determine what your motivation is, to grasping those dream and making them happen. Gives examples of famous influencers throughout history in many fields, and encourages us to embrace the messages which have become their legacy.

There can be no doubt that ‘A Message to Garcia’ by Elbert Hubbard, which is included in the book, has had a deep impact on the author, especially with regard to employing people. Before reading this I admit I had never heard of it, however, once read, it is easy to understand the importance of employing and encouraging employees with the ‘Rowan Trait’ which simply explained is a no-holds-barre commitment to getting a task done.

Jam packed with information from cover to cover, this book contains all the motivation, and advice anyone could need to succeed in their chosen business career.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take care of the little things and the big things take care of themselves. By using history, proven methods that get you thinking outside the norm, and real life examples, the author explains how you can take your business to the next level – beyond what you think possible at the moment. Rather than spout textbook theories and methods, he tells us what worked for him and gives sound and repeatable advice on setting goals and objectives, growing a business with minimal spending required, and channeling ambition so that you get maximum results for your business. The author gives great advice through telling us stories about what worked for him and how he went about setting goals for himself in order to build his own business bit by bit. One thing that he stresses ad that is true not only in business but in life is that you must manage your days, month, years, etc. because you only get them once and you don’t get to do them over once they’re gone. The drive must come from you and the passion must come from you – you must have the determination to steer your ship in the direction you want to go. I loved all of his advice not just because I own a small business myself and am always looking for ways to be more successful, but because I love hearing from other successful people about how they made it. Every time, the advice they give is good advice for the game of life – not just the great game of business, and this author is no exception. What is the exception in this book is that it’s written from the heart and with a genuine interest in the reader – and that makes it golden in my opinion.

[Pamela Gossiaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Top-Notch Strategy for Upping Your Game in Business and Life! Very Inspiring!

As a small business owner, I have read plenty of business books, but this one gives a fresh new perspective on the topic. Pulling from the strategies of military minds throughout history, such as Julius Caesar and General MacArthur, Berry lays out a strategy for success that simply makes sense. Lay out a battle plan, take care of the little things, and the victories will come.

A family man with integrity, patriotism, and a big heart, Berry writes in such a conversational dialogue that reading his book made me feel like I was sitting across the table from him at a coffee shop. He explains in concise detail what worked for him, and what didn’t. His book is divided up into three parts, and the middle section was full of new ideas I had never encountered before. That’s where the topic of a Rowan comes in.

A Rowan is an individual who will “get the job done,” and is named after one such fellow who delivered a message into the jungle of Cuba in the middle of a war. These like-minded individuals (called Rowans in the book, after the soldier’s name) are what you need for your business. Berry tells you how to find them, how to keep them, and how to acquire their characteristics for yourself. This information about Rowans was all new to me, and I found it fascinating and a great tool to improve a business.

I really enjoyed this read. This inspiring book is full of compelling stories and savvy business experience to propel you to the top of your game. Highly recommended.

[Yakov Pyatnitskov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start? First I was close to dropping it because of the first couple of chapters on leadership. I am glad I didn't as the book got much better. So if you feel irritated (or you are not from the US and/or don't share the author's enthusiasm over certain aspects of capitalism) just stick with the book.
I loved the language, very easy and conversational, just the author and the reader talking. That was good. Don't expect any advice on how to get rich but rather how to BECOME a man with principles that can make you accomplished. If you do your thing and keep playing the Great Game as Wes calls it.
The Message to Garcia chapter on the importance of delivering what you promise was eye-opening to me and for it alone I would buy the book.
Overall, great book from an accomplished author with an intention to share what he knows and not to upsell you anything. A thing rare these days by itself.

[Stephanie H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been trying to get my business up and going for a while now, but it’s always felt like something was missing from my efforts. I’ve read a lot of business books and websites, and while they all provide critical information, they haven’t given me the inspiration or boost that I’ve needed to get the ball rolling. Wes Berry’s Big Things Have Small Beginnings, though, seems different.

This book doesn’t focus necessarily on the technical aspects of starting and running a business. Becoming an LLC or sole proprietorship, copyrighting names and logos, paying taxes, all those aspects of running a business (a small business in particular) are not really discussed here. However, Berry does give advice on setting goals and objectives, growing a business with minimal spending required, and channeling ambition in a productive manner, among other topics. With a combination of famous examples and his personal experiences, he shows people exactly how small beginnings can cause big successes in one’s business and life and how best to pursue the small things in order to maximize the benefit.

The author’s unique perspective on business and how business people succeed sets this book apart from others on the same topic. He doesn’t focus on the “big picture” as other resources do nor does he overuse business jargon. Instead, he makes everything accessible to novice and experienced business people alike and shows everyone something new, whether it’s information on how best to franchise or it’s hiring employees who will be as passionate and dedicated to your business as you are. A combination of humor and the author’s own stories creates a personal, light-hearted tone which is engaging and reignited my excitement for starting and running my own business.

This book might not be a good source for the legality or technical side of running a business, but it is crucial for the personal side—THE OWNER’S side—of it. I highly recommend Big Things Have Small Beginnings as an inspirational supplement to your business knowledge and as a bag of tips for untraditional ways to grow your business. It might just be the kick-in-the-pants you need to start a successful enterprise.

[Mrs. Varela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Business expert Wes Berry shares a wealth of valuable information in his book Big Things Have Small Beginnings. The author chose to stay in Detroit rather attend college in California to help maintain his parents livelihood running their flower shop. Having made this decision he ultimately grew the business far beyond his father's expectations. With self-taught business acumen, he increased earnings from $60K a year to a $60 million-dollar international business.

Berry gives business leaders and entrepreneurs guidance that will create better leaders, improve business and employee morale. He begins with basic concepts and qualities needed to succeed in the "great game" of business. Ambition and drive will lead a business person far if they set goals. Berry states that "goals are strategic". Reaching goals require planning. The author continues along this line of thinking adding that discipline will keep you organized.

By applying the aforementioned concepts and qualities the author was able to learn how to use the internet at its inception to his advantage to grow his family's flower business. At this time other businesses had not yet grasped the power of the internet when it came to marketing and sales. He shares how he devoted himself to learning all he could to create a new more profitable way to increase flower sales around the world.

The final chapters discuss a story written long ago that has been used by the military and business leaders throughout the world. The moral of the story has become a business model and the some of the most important principles Berry uses to keep his business running in an organized manner. It is a worthwhile story for people in any field of employment to read.

I found Mr. Berrry's book to be personable, honest and quite compelling when it comes to business advice. In fact, some of the principles he speaks of can be applied to life skills as well. If I were to recommend a book to someone seeking business advice, I would say this book may be a good place to start.

[Adam E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This self help book is written for anyone who is considering starting their own business or honing their skills in the business world. There are inspirational quotes from successful people included throughout the book.
The first chapter is about ambition. The driving force inside of us that is the reason most of us work so hard to be successful. The author asks us to think about what our ambition is? What is it that gives most of us the determination to work at a job that may at times be stressful? Generally, people are ambitious because they want to help their families and to eventually get promoted. All successful people throughout history were ambitious. Berry uses Julius Caesar as an example of an ambitious leader who ruled the Roman Empire during the first Century and helped it become a prosperous civilization.
Berry reminds us that ambition needs balance. If we have too much ambition, we will always be discontent and if we have too little, nothing will get accomplished. He writes that the best ambitions help society. I had never really thought about ambition that much, so I found this chapter interesting.
In Part II, there is a chapter on business strategy. He explains that all businesses require a strategic long-term goal that should be broken up into short-term goals. Target dates and time management are very important for these short-term goals. Even if the job or task is not perfect when completed by the target date, now you can analyze the process to see what changes need to be made to be more efficient the next time.
Overall, this is a helpful book, especially for young entrepreneurs who are looking for a game plan and business advice from a businessman who has had a successful career running a chain of flower stores. There is a lot of wisdom in his writing and it is inspiring to read.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you want to be a successful businessman or even a Tycoon?

If so, then read the book entitled, “BIG Things Have Small Beginnings: Learn to Play the Great Game (Win with Wes Success Series Book 1)” by Wes Berry.

Wes Berry is a successful businessman and has some great information and tips to share about how you can become successful as well!

Wes Berry grew up working in his parents’ flower shop in Detroit, MI. As a young man, he faced the challenge of increasing business “as long as it doesn’t cost any money”. Wes rose to the challenge and succeeded! As a result, their business continued to grow until they exceeded “$60 million in annual sales”.

Wes Berry knows what is needed to run a successful business. The information he shares comes from his own experience. There are several topics of discussion in his book. Some of which include:

- Character traits of a successful leader.
- Finding and keeping the right employees to run your business successfully.
- Providing a quality product or service.
- Developing positive business relationships.
- Setting your goals and accomplishing them.
- Discovering your “why”.

Do you have ambition?

Learn about ambitious people like: Julius Caesar; George Washington; Abraham Lincoln; General Douglas MacArthur; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Henry Ford; Andrew Summers Rowan and others.

Wes Berry also includes a chapter on his personal favorite “inspirational leader”, Elbert Hubbard.

Do you appreciate American exceptionalism?

Wes Berry also gives some good advice about keeping an open mind when you face overwhelming odds and how to manage your time effectively so you can enjoy your life, too!

[Kim Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all start somewhere...

Big Things Have Small Beginnings is a business management novel that reads like a memoir. Although it is geared for business owners and management, it offers important insights for everyone. In his book, Wes Berry takes us through his childhood in Detroit and the inherited family flower business that he grew to an international chain. Berry sprinkles his life story with his triumphs and failures in the business world.  More importantly, he finds a way to teach us how to be active participants in our lives and how to be successful leaders and humans, not just at work, but at life as well. While at times the writing is somewhat like reading a research paper, the meat of the book is memorable and uplifting. Berry hammers home the idea that making long lasting relationships and following through on your word is a must if you are going to be successful in business. He also discusses the importance of putting people in the right roles for their skills, and making appreciation for coworkers known. It's also important for supervisors to not be afraid of the strengths of the individuals they supervise.  I leaned a lot about Elbert Hubbard, and appreciated many of his quotes, which were shared in the book. One of my favorites is actually featured in the movie National Lampoon's Van Wilder starring Ryan Reynolds, and has been a favorite of mine for years: "Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive." I actually found myself Googling him to learn more and read more of his quotes. I really enjoyed the anecdotal stories and references Berry  chose.

[Usha F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I believe that success in business is dependent on a lot of variants, Wes Berry presents some very interesting points in this book. It starts with the author discussing some of the basic principles behind running a successful business and he speaks a little about his own experience in his flower business and how it expanded as a result of practicing these principles. Very inspiring!

I especially enjoyed his references to his own flower business, personal experiences and military cases in point that brilliantly illustrate his points. As a business owner myself, a lot of his advice resounded with me such as opening one's mind to new possibilities (often easier said than done), maintaining an aggressive attitude, engage potential customers and competition, master electronic tools, build trust, express appreciation and the list goes on. In addition, the last few chapters which talks about the Rowan character - named after Lieutenant Andrew Summers Rowan of the US Army offers some guidelines in hiring the type of employees that would help build your business while at the same time urging the reader to identify and cultivate some of the admirable qualities of a Rowan. The reader would also benefit from a few book titles that Wes Berry recommends as a follow up reading.

My take away from this book is to not give up and keep at something until you achieve it- big things have small beginnings after all. This is a realistic self help book with true life illustrations and I recommend giving it a read.

[Liz Melton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big things come in small packages

“Big Things Have Small Beginnings: Learn to Play the Great Game” by Wes Berry is a very smart and entertaining book. The author does. Good job of explaining his background from the very beginning and how he was able to turn his small family business into a $60 million dollar international success and how he believes he did that also what we as an audience can learn from his experience to grow our own business or “game”. Wes Berry as an author comes off so authentic and true that I would get caught up in his stories about
His family, his past, and all the quotes he supplied that supported his statements. The author
Described how he did such a turn around on his business but he utilized his “resources “, his staff, and chose to hire members that would be most like a person/ character he spoke of as a Rowan. In order not to spoil the book I will not give you al
The details of this “Rowan”, where he stemmed from but I will say the characterization of this type
Of person is definitely some one I would want working for me. I think the author has written an amazing book that gives so many huge keys to a successful business most of us today would possibly over look! I would recommend this book to anyone especially someone who owns their own business

[George Shuman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Big Things Have Small Beginnings: Learn to Play the Great Game” by author and successful businessman Wes Berry, is an enlightening look at “the game” of building a business and building a life.
Although I am nearing retirement, I have also owned several businesses over the years and only wish I had had Mr. Berry’s advice long ago. The ideas of paying attention to the little details and of forgiving your own mistakes are two of the book’s keys to business growth and success.
This book is written in a friendly, advice-filled way, and touches on everything from business startup, development, paying attention to ‘the little things’, and having the best employees. Mr. Berry’s success in transforming a flower business into a sixty-million-dollar international corporation is proof that his methods absolutely work.
I enjoyed this book and recommend it to any business owner and to any person contemplating opening their own business. It is a quick read and will be worth every minute spent on it. The bits of advice between these pages can help turn your ideas into gold.
I am happy with my purchase, would gladly buy it again, and intend to share it with younger members of my own family, for their business success.

[Nicole L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a quick read, and has some good anecdotes that are easy to understand. I like some of his points about giving yourself deadlines and having distinct goals. I think these points are important not only for work-related tasks, but also in everyday life. However, I think quite a bit of the book is more directed towards businesses that have multiple employees. I could see the relation in some of the concepts to my job as a physical therapist within a hospital network, but I couldn't see it relating it to me in my side hustles of photography and dog-sitting because I am the only employee. For example, a large part of the book focuses on finding the right employees, but I am the only employee. I won't be looking to hire anyone. Maybe if I get up into a managerial role in the future in my full-time job it will help me more. 

In general, I felt some parts of the book were very well written and thought out. However, some topics were very belabored and made me hope for the end of the chapter. I think as a first book on this topic for this author, it is a good book. He has a lot of experience to bring to the table, but I think it could use some fine tuning in the delivery.

[Mehrnaz Siavoshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very straightforward book that gives concrete advice on how to take a business to the next level and succeed in the "Great Game." This book is a hybrid between a business book and a memoir as Wes Berry uses the story of how he transformed his family's $60k a year flower company to a $6 million a year company to teach readers how to help their own businesses.

My main concern with this book was that there were quite a few places where the book could have gone into more concrete details on how to improve productivity. He only lightly touches on how one can improve their own work. Adding more of this information in would elevate this book to the next level.

Ultimately, the book does an excellent job throughout the book of giving concrete examples where small things add up to have a big impact on how companies succeed.

[Mike Morgenstein · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to admit, I didn't finish the book. I've gotten more than half way through it, but found it so laborious, so boring, that I really couldn't finish it. It's a pet peeve of mine to not finish a book, and let alone review it, but this is one of the rare ones I did not finish. I'm not going to censure it as being the worst book I have ever read, because it wasn't. But it was definitely a tough read, because it felt repetitive (as my review right now probably is) and was so dull. Oh well, reality didn't meet expectations. Based off the title I had expected an inspirational rags to riches story but what I had instead gotten was an author who had found every reason to justify how "big things have small beginnings". Maybe his 60 million dollar flower business did, but his "life lessons" were unimpressive to me.

[Larry Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting in how it showed a person, the author, overcoming difficulties in growing a business and demonstrating that success is not an overnight event. The author, writing from his experience, demonstrates how with perseverance, one can overcome the difficulties thrown at them with patience and thinking.

I really enjoyed the last sections of the book where Wes Berry spoke about the Rowan type personality. To someone who has not read the book, this may make no sense, but after reading it I found myself desiring to be a Rowan type person. A person who does not let obstacles stand in their way.

If you own a business or want to, this is a great book to get your mind in the right frame of reference to grow.

[Peter Prime · Rating 5 out of 5]

North South East & Wes...

This book and the information therein struck so many nerves and came from every direction. Love the Rowan’s test, the poems, the examples, but most of all I enjoyed Wes’s honesty, humor and maturity... And Wes was right... I don’t give a rats ass about perks, promises or prizes... I just prefer to be tired than fired. Plus I don’t own a watch. I get paid for value, not time.

[Suresh Vijendran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wes shares lots of stories that reinforce the title Big things have Small beginnings. The story of Garcia will really help people in being and identifying who can help the organization to grow.

The main point of the book (for me) was, Message to Garcia. It talks about Rowan, who completes a job without questioning or doubting the intention of the commander.

[Sipho Ngidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of life

We’ve met a Rowan character in our business life, and often dismissed them as some ‘smart ass’. This book tells me how I could benefit from embracing such characters. More than this it will stop me from trying too much to make it big but rather building it BIG a brick at a time.

[Shhhhh Ahhhhh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book. I think the most valuable thing I got from this was the distinction of a 'Rowan', a la A Message to Garcia, and how to identify them for the purposes of hiring, as well as how to treat them. Other than that, this seemed like a vaguely original treatment of achieving success in life and particularly in business. Not sure I'd recommend it to anyone.

[Ashur Sada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was attracted to this book from its title which appealed to me! I am a strong believer of small things could lead to big results if done properly and consistently.

I love the author’s humble and friendly way of talking about things, you feel as though you are listening to friendly advise from a father or a good friend rather than a stranger.

[Juan Manuel Vera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, inspirating and educational.

Good book, inspirating words and examples from Wes and anothers life..
I find very useful the sections about wow the find and identify collaborators,Finally, I agrree with Wes: Big things have small begins...

[Kwame Bonsu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational and has actionable steps

I really enjoyed this book especially that part about "a message to Garcia". I've learnt so much. I highly recommend this book

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I liked about 1/3 of this book

[Marco · Rating 4 out of 5]

"To focus
To preserve
To seek creative solutions for complicated problems"