Eva Minotti Jeff Lerner Review
Meet Eva Minotti. She is an outside-of-the-box thinker who knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur and was introduced to ENTRE through a friend. She had really big dreams that she needed help putting together. She loves the 3 P’s of self-development and with ENTRE, has made her trip to ‘the awesome life’ a little bit shorter. And she’s willing to do the work!
How I bought a failing business for $2 and turned it into a million-dollar agency with Eric Siu.
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Welcome to another episode of Millionaire Secrets!
For today’s episode, I have the pleasure of hosting someone who has already hosted me on their show—marketing genius Eric Siu.
Eric is the chairman of Single Grain, a full-service digital marketing agency, as well as the creator of Clickflow, an SEO experimentation tool.
He’s also the author of the BRAND NEW book Leveling Up: How To Master The Game of Life, released February 24, 2021. In his book, Eric outlines 15 personal power-ups that will help you unlock your passion and level up your life.
In addition, Eric is the host of both the Leveling Up podcast and co-host of the Marketing School podcast with Neil Patel.
Both professionally and personally, Eric is helping others to master the game of life and improve.
In stark contrast to the success Eric has achieved today, Eric was not academically or socially successful in his early life.
BUT he was a serious high-level eSports and poker player.
Eric ultimately found how to convert his focus and success in gaming into a very successful career in marketing.
His unexpected success didn’t end there.
Single Grain, as it’s now known, wasn’t always a huge success. In fact, Eric bought the failing SEO agency for just $2 in 2014.
Prior to purchasing Single Grain, Eric had already helped an online education company grow and succeed when it only had a few months of cash left in the bank.
Using that same marketing expertise, Eric nurtured and transformed Single Grain into the top digital marketing agency it is today.
Fast forward to today, and it’s fair to say that Eric has mastered the game of life. And now through his book Leveling Up, Eric teaches you how to start winning at life!
Discover How To Level Up With Eric Siu!
Check out his BRAND NEW book, Leveling Up below❗
📖 Leveling Up: How To Master The Game of Life 👉 https://www.levelingup.com/
You can find more of Eric's content here 👇
💻 Single Grain: https://www.singlegrain.com/
💻 ClickFlow: https://www.clickflow.com/
🎙️ Leveling Up Podcast 👉 https://www.singlegrain.com/leveling-up-podcast/
🎙️ Marketing School Podcast 👉 https://marketingschool.io/
📒 Blog 👉 https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/author/eric-siu
📲 Text 👉 310-356-3916
ℹ️ LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericosiu
📺 YT 👉 https://www.youtube.com/EricSiuLevelingup/
🖥️ FB 👉 https://www.facebook.com/ericosiu
⌨️ Twitter 👉 https://twitter.com/ericosiu
📲 IG 👉 https://www.instagram.com/ericosiu/
Eva Minotti Reviews
The Win Without Pitching Manifesto
Audible Audiobook – Unabridged
Blair Enns (Author), Shannyn Lee (Narrator), Gegen Press (Publisher)
4.8 out of 5 stars
A Must Read For Any Creative Entrepreneur
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2018
This has been a complete game changer and I would consider it essential reading if you are in the creative space and need guidance on how to position yourself as an expert. Blair's writing style is engaging and easy-to-read. He's able to distill big concepts into bite-sized, highly actionable, nuggets of gold. Easily could be priced over $100 and still be a bargain in the knowledge you gain. Buy this book. Read it. Re-read it. Apply what you learn and crush it!
86 people found this helpful
Helpful
Be empowered and inspired to be better
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2019
This book has helped me tremendously, it’s change the way I look at, talk to and deal with any clients. Selling yourself, your work and your abilities is not taught in college. It seems almost taboo to talk about, at least where I’m attending. While watching a video on YouTube trying to figure out what I did wrong with dealing with a client I came across Chris Do of The Futur. He went over exactly what he read and learned most with this book. I realized that it wasn’t so much what I did wrong, but how I needed to sell, appreciate and position myself and not just be a designer, but rather be a problem solver. Without giving it another second thought I purchased this book immediately. Once I started reading couldn’t stop, I was so engaged on what he was saying. Blair Enns style is so easy to read and he doesn’t pull any punches. Right away on first page and I can’t stress this enough, but it went word for word what I was dealing with and had gone through with some clients. The more I read it was like Blair Enns knew my thoughts, questions and put it all down with ways to go about it differently. I’ve read this book a few times now I’ll keep reading it because there’s always something new that I take away from it. There’s never a moment where it’s not in my bag, I’m constantly bringing this up in different conversations with all of my professors and fellow classmates. I also tell them to watch the Money Talk series Chris Do has on the Futur YouTube channel because he lead and suggested this book to me plus he goes over a lot of other good stuff. I’ve read a good amount of other kinds of graphic design books and or what/how to be a graphic designer and none of them comes close to going over what this book does. This is not just a must read but a must have for any graphic designer or really anyone dealing with sales and business strategy.
9 people found this helpful
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Start Your Own Creative Business Revolution With This Instant Classic.
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2016
There are books. There are good books. There are really good books. There are bestsellers. There is even the Good Book. And then there is this kind of book. A true classic. A Thomas Paine's Common Sense for creative business owners and bus dev people. More in the company of Paine, Jefferson, Lincoln, Twain, Franklin, Marx... you know, truly great manifestos. And look, I've read a lot. And you just don't read things this good very often. If you are in the creative professions, you are going to hang on every word, love every sentence and compulsively turn every page. If you happen to own an agency or design firm or web shop or... well you get the point... you are going to find the answers to the questions you've been struggling with - and you're going to find the answers to even better questions you hadn't yet thought to ask.
Yes: "The forces of the creative professions are aligned against the artist." However, with this slim, succinct Molotov Cocktail of a book, you can create your own successful revolution, one artist, and one creative firm at a time.
27 people found this helpful
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A great book on professional services and corporate buying
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2016
As someone who spent more than a decade in professional services and over a decade on the other side, buying professional services, this is a great book with practical examples that are useful to everyone.
In particular - the fact that you should walk away from RFP processes where you don't have the inside tracks, and that the big "surprise" presentation is a bad idea. Also great is the focus on talking money early to establish value and that change orders and small incremental bills kill the relationship much more than the "big" bills that justify the engagement in the first place.
For all business people, the key insights are to SPECIALIZE and gain expertise in your craft. There is no way to compete as a generalist in an RFP situation except on price and this is the road to the bottom and bankruptcy.
A great book and pithily written and well worth your time. I would pair this with books by Maister on Managing the Professional Service Firm.
14 people found this helpful
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If you charge by the hour, stop. Read this.
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2018
If you get paid for the power of your thinking, this is a must-read. The 12 proclamations are deceptively simple if you only read the ‘look inside’ part of the book. The actual text puts each of those proclamations into a context that makes their wisdom undeniable, and gives examples of how each one comes into play. You will see both positive and negative outcomes based on how well you apply the proclamations to your own business. Simply put, just read this. Likely, more than once.
8 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2018
I’ve been running my own design agency for almost a decade and this is the first book that I’ve read that has had me emphatically agreeing throughout its entirety that “OH MY GOD THIS GUY GETS IT.”
It is abundantly clear from the first few pages that Mr. Enns has worked extensively with ‘creative types’ across the spectrum and has a great love for this industry. He addresses so many of the common pitfalls that creatives run into: namely, how to set yourself apart from the myriad of technicians who are willing to do free/spec/cheap work for those who do not value their skills and the creative solutions they bring to the table.
If you want to position yourself as an expert at your craft, read this book as soon as you can. And bring a highlighter and a notebook - you’re about to get 12 great lessons on how to win at what you do without having to subject yourself to the constant demoralizing pitch.
8 people found this helpful
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This will fix what is wrong with you
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2021
I've been a creative entrepreneur for just over 20 years and I have seen a lot and read a lot, but this is 138 pages of absolute fire. Even though I had years of experience under my belt and have been very successful, these 12 proclamations are my business "articles of faith." Wow, I was doing things very wrong and sabotaging my ability to do better for myself and my clients. Almost immediately I began applying the ideas of each proclamation and was astounded at how effective they were.
There are a lot of business books but this one cuts out all the fluff and gets right down into the meat of what will help you be successful as a creative. I'm so impressed with this book, I am requiring every student of my new course on how to start a creative agency to read it before I'll accept them into the program.
I listened to the audio book first and I have a hard copy that I've marked up with tons of notes. Great work, Blair, this is truly a masterpiece.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2019
So much value, succinctly delivered. That I appreciate!
Every consulting / creative company should be paying attention to this collection of teachings and advice. For a non-business guy like myself, in a small company trying to compete, I’m now armed with knowledge that’s going to make a huge difference in my life and those I impact with my work. This book has eliminated many fears and answered so many questions for me in terms of being focused, selecting clients, pricing, talking about money, holding strong and more. The author has brought confidence and courage to my doorstep. It’s “GO!” time.
One person found this helpful
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At last: The secret to being creative AND sucessful
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2010
This succinct and beautifully written book clearly conveys what whole armies of consultants and self-help gurus have tried in vain for years to teach. You will learn something just by reading the table of contents; what Enns calls The Twelve Proclamations. I have spent 30+ years practicing the alchemy of matching the gifts and talents of creative people with clients who so desperately need them. During that time I have witnessed and even encouraged the growing tendency of creative firms to give away their best work for free to win new commissions. I knew there must be an alternative. Surely this strategy of mutually assured destruction could be replaced with something better. Never, until now, have I seen the secret shared so thoughtfully and so well in this (literally) little black book.
The message here is for all creative businesses who want to move away from being "order-taker suppliers to expert advisers" and want to forge "a more satisfying and lucrative way of getting and doing business." The transformation begins with a willingness to focus and then articulate that focus through a consistent claim of expertise, working continuously "to add the missing skills, capabilities and processes necessary to support our new claim." Enns first audience is marketing communications firms, yet the fundamental truths and lucid examples he shares are completely applicable to the creative enterprises I am most familiar with, architecture and photography.
Enns is clear about the difficulty of beginning and sustaining the transformation, both personal and business, that is required to move from a commodity provider forced to give away their best thinking for free in order to win new work to to expert adviser whose cost of sales is essentially zero. His insight into the hearts and minds of creatives and the culture in which we are trained and have practiced for so long comes from first hand experience. Sadly, he observes that "not everyone has the heart or stomach for revolution."
The last proclamation, "We Will Hold Our Heads High", is written with the conviction of a prophet, calling to his people at a crossroad: "On the one side, the process of design is finally being seen as the last great differentiator of business and economics; while on the other, the outputs are increasingly seen as commodities". He invites we creatives to accept our unique mission: "We didn't choose our craft; it chose us. And we were never in this for the money. Like all creative people we only seek to create, and in doing so, somehow change the world." This manifesto provides the blueprint for building a sustainable business model that creatives of every type can implement to win the work they want, gain the respect they deserve, make a profit, and have more fun.
13 people found this helpful
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MUST HAVE FOR CREATIVE SERVICES (marketing, finance, legal, tax, anything)
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2021
WOW WOW! In the financial industry and I am going to begin buying these to give out to my fellow advisers. I bought this book thinking it was a long pitch to attend Blair's boot camp (like so many of these are). Not at all what I was expecting! This book is MEAT and more MEAT. It does not at all "sell" you on anything...it just gives you great nuggets and how to begin changing your business. It is clear the author cares and is passionate about helping his readers. I am going to attend his boot camp because he gave so much in the book it can only get better. Took 2 weeks in the first chapter (30 minutes each am) just slowly digesting and taking copious notes. If you are in ANY creative / service based business, you MUST BUY THIS BOOK and make the "most important business decision" (CH1).
An Empowering New Way to Think
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2019
This book is such a pleasure to read. As most great products/ideas do; this book doesn't simply solve a problem, it changes the way you think about the world. Win Without Pitching is equal parts manifesto, strategy guide, and practical advice... and that is a very rare combination. These elements are evenly dispersed throughout the book. I think that's why it's such a refreshing book to read.. It's a manifesto, a movement, which is empowering and inspiring...and yet it also shows you how to do what it proposes, amazingly well. You won't regret reading this book, that's for sure.
One person found this helpful
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Must read for creative people that strive to be an asset, not a commodity
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2018
I was guided to "A Win Without Pitching Manifesto" by Blair Enns through the content provided by Chris Do and The Futur. I also heard the podcast with Blair Enns which further committed my decision to read this book. It definitely helps to reframe your thinking and likely most everything you've come to learn about business development and how to price yourself within your market and your clients. It's a fast, easy read that provides a clear method of thinking about your approach to building your client roster that is profitable and fulfilling.
One person found this helpful
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Best book on the subject I've ever seen.
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2016
What a great book. Blair has clearly and succinctly articulated the framework necessary to build a great services business. I've asked my entire company to read this. If you run a services company, this is the most value you ever will get per time spent. Yes, it's that good.
4 people found this helpful
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This should be on every graphic designer's bookshelf. If ...
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2014
This should be on every graphic designer's bookshelf. If you've been in the business very long, you will be nodding your head and saying "Yep, that's exactly how it is" as soon as you start reading it. In the beginning, Enns talks about how a presentation is really a performance that the client judges -- and how wrong it is to try to sell your services that way. Then he goes on to explain how to not do that and how to garner the respect that our craft is lacking. I will be reading this book over and over again because there is so much to learn from it. I've been in the business for 17 years and I shared this book with a colleague who has been around even longer, and he can't put the book down.
7 people found this helpful
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A critical guide for agencies who want to command respect
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2020
The principles in this book, while difficult to implement in the fray of day to day selling, are essential to building a successful agency. Anyone who has run an agency long enough may inherently know many of these things, but will inevitably fail to implement them without constantly being reminded.
Blair, through his podcast and now this book, helps build our confidence to have the difficult, but necessary conversations we need to properly serve clients. He creates a manifesto that agency leaders can reference when the difficult decisions and positions need to be taken.
I am requiring sales, accounts, and leadership in my organization to read this book in order to build the confidence we need to hold out for the right clients and to reimagine the relationships we can create with all clients.
Helpful
A brutal wake up call that's straight to the point
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2019
I was skeptical when I started reading this (as I suspect most creative business owners will be). The title seemed written from a place of naivety and the 'manifesto' declared at the beginning had me almost ready to abandon reading all together.
But an interesting thing happened after the first few pages - the book turned into a mirror of my own firm's business relationships with clients. With sharp concise writing, Blair Enns let's you use YOURSELF as an example of how you have compromised and what you should be doing better.
I heartily recommend this to anyone jaded by the Creative Agency business looking for way to do better, smarter business - with dignity.
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This is not highly recommended BUT a must read
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2020
Blair Enns has only written one book. This one. It is so focused. So crystal clear. Transform from order taker to expert. We will not solve problems before we are paid.
Straight talking with an incredible level of insight. Are you looking to start for yourself as a creative business. You really need to read this.
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Blair Enns holds up a mirror to design.
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2019
Many companies that claim to have a process more than likely have something that resembles a series of bad habits. This cutting little piece is a great bit of encouragement on solid leadership thinking and toys with the concept that, if we don’t make our own choices and define our own principles, they will be made for us. I definitely caught myself looking back on past decisions and experiences and groaning.
The book is well-written and to the point without being condescending or overly preachy, which is the tendency of state-of-design critique books these days.
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Best book I've read on design/marketing firm business development
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2011
I am a design firm principal. I've read many books on agency management, business strategy, and sales. I just finished reading this slim book cover-to-cover, having highlighted about three-quarters of the copy. It's not an exaggeration to say that I've come away with a renewed sense of hope about the future of our business.
Enns writes in a very accessible style, and his insights are bang-on. He identifies with excruciating accuracy challenges, pain points, and outright failures that are very familiar (if your experience is like mine, you'll feel that the book was actually written for you).
His prescriptions are not esoteric. The question is: do we have the guts to try putting his ideas into action and discover the professional and financial success that awaits us?
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2020
Everything in this book is essential to creating a thriving creative practice. I love the bit about “death to change orders” and could not agree more with this and all the other proclamations in this book. This book has given me the confidence I need tp “sell” and a clear path in which to do it!
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2021
This book is beyond inspirational and a must for every creative who has a business. It out things in the right perspective and I can’t recommend it enough.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2019
I'm a software developer and digital marketing consultant. For years I have been working in this field, charging people by the hour and for years I have wondered why I'm doing the thing that I love yet still unhappy. Now I know why.
What I thought of as being professional and being fair to clients of all sizes was wrong, completely wrong. If I had read this book earlier, things could have been way different. But now I still have the time to change, and I will do. Thank you.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2013
I don't like business books. Oftentimes I cannot get through the introduction and I find them to boring and obvious.
This book however just clicked. It is very short and does a great job getting to the points. Having worked for the past number of years in small agencies, this book changed the way I think about the work that we do. It is the single book that i recommend to all of my colleagues.
Honestly, I would give it 5 stars just for the quality of the physical book itself. It is gorgeous. Beautiful paper printing in a perfect typeface. Buy the hardbound, its worth it.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2019
This book is a really good read. I am currently thrusting myself into the realm of graphic design, by starting my own studio, and this book really gives me the courage and the know-how to go about dealing with clients, and running my business from within. It explains well, the use of communication, as well as making difficult business decisions, but above all, it reinforces the ability to say NO!!. I recommend this book to anyone who are trying start creative businesses in general.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2019
For someone who already knows the value of a great book....this one fits the bill. It helps me open my mind in ways I needed to grow my business. What more could I ask for? My business is and will continue to reach new heights because Blair Enns took the time to make this book a reality. I think a 'Thank You!!!" is in order :) Oh and so far, my favorite page is pg 17 :D
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Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2020
Scripture from beginning to end. This book gives you a life changing perspective shift, it's authoritative and methodical, no fluff. It teaches you to rethink your own fundamental beliefs about how people would/should interact and respond to well-considered positioning and expert confidence. It's so enlightening because it has already spun me into consideration about the very interactions I have with clients right now. AMAZING.
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Becoming to understand, believe, and convey my value
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2016
This book has been essential in helping me overcome my challenging of a scarcity mindset professional. Applying the principles in the book, with much practice, I for the first time understand what it means to be in interviewing potential clients instead of being the desperate "I serve all clients"'professional.
2 people found this helpful
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Challenging. Impactful. Motivational.
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2021
The seminal ideas in this challenging and impactful book will develop and empower anyone in the creative services. Applying the principles can move you to deeper business success. Its message is clear and conversational, and unquestionably motivational. Worth every star given in this review, and more.
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Game Changer for Creative Agencies
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2019
This book offered so much insight into how us as agencies can streamline our operations to gain the upper hand that we deserve in our client interactions. It provides very clear narrative into how to change our dinosaur ways to achieve a more fulfilling and rewarding creative process. I also follow their podcast 2 Bobs. It s a great foray into the world of creative professionals.
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This book came highly recommended by friends and colleagues
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2014
This book came highly recommended by friends and colleagues, and I'm sorry that I didn't read it sooner. I am a father, husband and CPA firm owner, and while this book was written (I believe) primarily for agency owners, I found so much valuable insight for my business that I had to read it a second time. Thank goodness my Kindle app allows me to highlight and make notes. I think that every professional firm owner should read this book. I'm already implementing some of the things I learned and I fully expect them to be life and game changers.
3 people found this helpful