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Stephen Giles, Franchise Lawyer & Senior Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright. Australia
I really enjoyed reading “Be Your Own Boss”, it was very personal, engaging, and informative. This is the sort of content that is sadly missing these days in franchising.
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David Tran, OPerations Manager, National Facilities Management, Sydney, Australia
Thank you for sharing your story on your business journey and the wealth of knowledge gained in 50 years of business.
“Be Your Own Boss” is a must-read for anyone who is looking to venture out in starting their own business. The author provides practical advice and tips on how to start and grow a successful business. What sets this book apart from other business books is the author's focus on entrepreneurship as a mindset, taking risks, and being open to new opportunities.
The book provides a step-to-step guide on how to start a business, from identifying what type of business is right for you to completing comprehensive research on the business you are interested in, the type of business models that are most suited to you along with how to write an effective business plan and much more!
The author's writing style is engaging throughout the book and I found myself motivated and inspired to take action after reading each chapter.
Overall, I highly recommend “Be Your Own Boss” to anyone who wants to start a business or take an existing business to the next level. This book provides practical advice, real-world examples, and an entrepreneurial mindset that is essential for success in today’s business world.
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Simon Lord, Franchise Magazine NZ
Pulling no Punches. This new book by a franchise veteran provides good advice for anyone wanting to be their own boss.
You don't get to build a multi-award-winning international business by pulling your punches, and in "Be Your Own Boss" Bill McGowan, the founder of Fastway Couriers, delivers some hard-hitting advice for anyone thinking of starting their own business or buying a franchise
The book is designed as a guide to help people organize their thoughts and to decide whether being their own boss is really for them. Along the way, Bill shares a bit of family history, explains how he got into the business, and tells a lot of memorable tales about the effort that went into creating Fastway - all in Bill's typically blunt fashion. The tale of how he got revenge on a reluctant bank manager made us genuinely laugh out loud.
Bill also translates his experiences of researching opportunities, overcoming obstacles, and teaching other people how to operate their own businesses into checklists, questionnaires, and advice. He recognizes that starting a new business is complex at the best of times, and he has aimed to make this process as manageable as possible for the intending entrepreneur. The book covers # Going into business on your own. # Goal-setting. #Business Planning. # What does a banker really want to see? #Marketing. # Franchising. # Business Structure. # Your personal wheel of fortune.
AS Andrew Terry, professor of Business Regulation at the University Sydney Business School said "Every person who aspires to be their own boss will benefit greatly from the business wisdom that Bill shares - wisdom which is practical and accessible and which has been forged from his own hands-on- experience in identifying a business opportunity and developing, managing and growing it."
This review is published in the April 2023 edition of Franchising Magazine New Zealand.
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Be Your Own Boss by Bill McGowan is a great read and is full of tips for potential business owners drawn from Bill's 50 years of business experience and his successes in franchised business
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Chiwelite Obioma Mgbeoji OnlineBookClub.org
Bill McGowan is a retired businessman who has mentored and is still mentoring newbies in business; he has been in the business world for over fifty years with a lot of experience. He is peculiarly fond of the franchise business. He has won many awards over the years and has earned his place in the business world. He has traveled the world while expanding his business.
In the book Be Your Own Boss, he leads us through his business story. He endears us to him with details of his struggles as a young business owner, and he doesn't stop there. He lets us know his struggles before the business started and the risks he took. Also, he lets us know how draining expanding a business can be when it comes to management in connection with the different cultures of people. He doesn't lie or make running a business easy. He tells us of the work we have to put in to enjoy financial safety and freedom. Bill encourages us and takes us through a step-by-step procedure to make this journey easier.
Be Your Own Boss is more than a good read; I loved every page of it. To start with, the pictures and caricatures were amazing. The images served as evidence and made for easier understanding. The author related all that was written easier with illustrations while, on the other hand, the caricature was fun, and this is one of the reasons I kept reading the book. I was never bored, and this enhanced my reading experience. Another positive aspect I must not forget to mention is the details. Bill couldn't have done a better job. He used subchapters or subheadings to explain every term more. I never got confused, and understanding was not stressful.
Furthermore, This book was truly eye-opening; it was a three-in-one course on economics, accountancy, and (business) management. I had my jotter next to me, taking in all I read, which made me keep reading, and the feeling I had was that of curiosity and close to the suspense. As I stated earlier above, Bill didn't in any way make us feel that starting and running a business was a piece of cake but instead, he made us fully aware of the hurdles along the way in and he was realistic in his explanation. I am grateful for that.
Last but not least is the question and answer sections/survey. I didn't just learn about economics, accountancy, business, and management. I also learned about myself, discovering my weaknesses and strengths. I learned what life will suit me presently in the business world and what I should do to achieve a particular state. With the help of this book, I was able to complete surveys like Personal Strengths and Weaknesses Form, Personal Questionnaire, Business Suitability Form, and Personal Wheel of Fortune.
If you have dreams of owning your business and being your own boss, this book is for you. If you are not certain if you want to be an employee for life or if you are at a crossroads on which path to take, this book is a must-read for you. If you want financial freedom and want to retire and not worry about finances while your mates are still employees, you can't miss out on this one because this book is definitely for you. If you want to examine yourself, learn about your weaknesses and strengths, and if you want a step-by-step procedure on how to maximize your strengths and work on your weaknesses, then this book is also for you.
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Be Your Own Boss
Author Bill McGowan.
The Author of this book sold me his story as early as 1989, and I hung on every word then, to better my life and be my own Boss.
Well I can safely say that Bill,s book published this year was, “wow” what a great read, and the facts have refined themselves greatly over the years, and are undeniably factual and true if one wants to embark on his/her own business and have a better than average chance of Succeeding.
The book is also a great personal story of how Bill,s determination to succeed won the day regardless of how much sleep he had or not, or what day of the week it was, to build a major force in the Franchising World.
The book sets out clear objectives for motivated individuals, with the desire to better themselves, so Bill,s advice in this book to work hard and follow your goals gives us all a clear message that ‘aggression plus goal setting = motivation’.
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Greg Nathan, Founder, Franchise Relationship Institute. www.franchiserelationships.com
I have enormous respect for Bill McGowan and what he has achieved in business. This book is packed with practical tips and checklists, delivered in Bill's straight-shooting style. I particularly liked the first chapter where Bill shares his real-life journey in establishing from scratch one of the world's leading courier franchises. And I loved the last chapter titled "Your Personal Wheel of Fortune" which provides an invaluable personal assessment for anyone in business. Thank you Bill McGowan for sharing your practical business experience in such a comprehensive manner.
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Noemi Toth - OnlineBookClub.org
Be Your Own Boss by Bill McGowan delivers advice to anyone who wants to start a business. It is a guide to help. The author shares how he started the business and also writes about his family. He has more than 50 years of experience. The writer presents his entire business journey. He tells about the difficult beginnings, the struggle, and the risks. It shows that the business world is not easy at all and encourages you to achieve your goals step by step.
The book contains a lot of useful information. Bill shares a lot of details about his life, which makes the ready more personal. The writer’s knowledge and life experience help the reader. He covers several topics, such as marketing and organization.
What I really liked about the book were the illustrations; they made reading more interesting for me. The caricatures were entertaining. The structure of the entire book is demanding. As I read the lines, I felt that the writer takes his message seriously and that passing on knowledge is important to him. The book is a quick read with collected information. It provides practical advice, such as how to write an effective business plan. What makes it stand out from other books is the author’s personality and his focus on mindset and open-mindedness.
While reading, I learned not only about economics and accounting but also about myself. It is a positive experience for me, which helps me grow and get to know my personality better. Bill did almost everything to get his point across. He also showed the difficulties, so it was realistic; he didn’t want to present false hopes. How’s “Your Personal Wheel of Fortune?” was my favorite part. I learned from the questionnaire what kind of place I would have in the business world.
It is a well-constructed book with a valuable message. I was motivated after reading the chapters.
I recommend the book to people who would like to know themselves better and are interested in the world of business. If you want financial independence, to learn about your strengths and weaknesses, and to organize your thoughts, this book is definitely for you. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to start a business from scratch. The book gives practical tips to those who want to be their own boss.
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