Building a Business the Buddhist Way: A Practitioner's Guidebook

The above title would be as good as calling it "the buddhist way". Contrary to most books that help you write a business plan, this book focusses on your future company's most important asset: YOU. As this book states, making sure your business is compatible with who you are (your values, your mission), are key elements to build a sustainable business, as are making sure you are ready to do what it takes (having the entrepreneurial attitude). Also, contrary of many dot-com era business books, it sees growing a business in a slow way (without requiring millions of Venture Capital) as a viable option.So why it didn't I give 5 stars? I think that some of the techniques we teach in our book are better to think about one's mission and values (and to discover them). Also, the way certain topics are introduced as "Buddhist" may put of some readers, which is too bad, given the overall value of this book.Recommended as compatible with my own writings! This book will guide you through the process to come up with a business plan. Comes complete with worksheets.Patrick E.C. Merlevede, MSc. -- co-author of "7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence"

In the first few pages I knew that my desire to open a business I could feel really good about was not some fantasy. The more I read the more I realized that my dream is more feasible than I really thought. I read it through once (quick and easy read), loved it, now I will read it again and go through all the exercises. If it does not prove to be helpful I'll write another review but she gives many other sources for information and guidance that I can't imagine, with the right amount of passion, it can't be done!

Don't let the title fool you. What may sound like a hippie-dippy, touchy-feely, new age book for the Birkenstock crowd is actually a serious, fact-filled planning tool. If you believe that your business can be successful and still be built on principles then this book will not only reinforce that belief, but walk you through how to go about setting it up that way from the beginning. If you're already in business, you can still use this information to change your direction and refocus your goals. Geri Larkin's book grew from her own business career, her experiences as a Buddhist seminarian, and as a trainer. Basically, the idea here is that your values merge with your work. That you strike a balance between having a business and having a life. The steps are easy: 1) simplify your life; 2) make money honestly; and 3) work is one of the most powerful spiritual practices. If you run your business by your own principles, success will naturally follow. Even if you are not a Buddhist, the planning tools alone are extremely useful. Yes, there are sections about setting your goals and discovering what you want out of your life and business. But it's much more. This is essentially a workbook. It's full of checklists, worksheets, charts, and formulas. Beginners will find this book most useful, but don't dismiss it if you're already in business. There are entire chapters devoted to cash flow calculations, setting up a marketing plan, and writing a business plan. You know. A business plan. We ALL have one, don't we? I did remember balance sheets and income statements, but I sure had forgotten how to do a cash flow analysis, how to figure mark-ups, and how useful a budget can be. This is a book best read with a pencil in hand and a calculator close by.

Buy this book. Read it now, especially if you want to start a business which is meaningful and valuable, whether if you are a Buddhist or not. I was among the members of the first class that Geri taught on this topic -- which forms the backbone of the book. It changed my life as an entrepreneur and has changed those of others. I can not recommend it more highly -- it is written in a frank and practical and funny style AND it tells you the real truth about creating your own business using Buddhist ideas. The Budhist component is not overwhelming: this is not a "Zen and the Art of Lucre". It is a truly useable and profound look at the way we can live our lives through our livelihood.