Jeff Lerner Review by Mark Tomaszewski

Useful, inspiring AND fun to read? Yes. A rare find.

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2017

I rarely read nonfiction. I never read books that are not in my field (psychology, social work, psychotherapy). I only give five stars for reads that move me significantly.

So, now I'm blown away, moved to action because of a fascinating, sensible, approach to growing a business (or anything worth having--a child, a garden, your dog's good behavior, a marriage, etc). Michael makes one of the driest subjects personal, fun, poignant and juicy. I felt like I had a personal and professional coach encouraging me to take the risks necessary to be successful in any field. I will buy any book he writes. Enjoy the read and the very exciting, sensible advice on your way to financial independence.

26 people found this helpful

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Darrin Briggs

Having permission to treat different customers differently and to focus efforts towards the best possible outcome is liberating

Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2017

The irony of this book is that we grow pumpkins in our backyard and as I have been reading this book and watching my pumpkin plants grow, I just want to go outside and completely hack down all of the needless green vines and small pumpkins so I can grow REALLY big ones...but my daughter doesn't want that to happen. Anyway...I get it Mike. The idea is to focus on the "REALLY big ones", i.e. those clients who are the biggest and best to work with so that you can win the big prize of success in your small business. I think the best part of the book is that we as SMB owners are always afraid of losing customers that we forget that the best thing we can do in many cases is to "fire them" and just stick with those clients who have the potential to become our big pumpkins. Every strong luxury brand in the marketplace does just that...they decide that they only want to work with the best and most discerning of clients and are able to demand a premium price point as a result. But you don't have to be a premium or luxury brand to act that way, rather you can quickly identify which clients are your "pumpkin" clients that you want to nurture and grow into those "PRIZED" clients and which ones you would just as soon have your competitors work with. I'm grateful to Mike and the Pumpkin Plan book because I believe it has given me permission to be extremely discerning and choosy when deciding which clients to keep, which ones to "fire" and which ones to focus on the most so that I can help them grow into a huge prize-winner!

21 people found this helpful

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Amazing Book!

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2017

The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz is an incredible book in all aspects. The book has so many strategies and important topics that any business owner or an individual starting up can utilize to create a deep foundation of understanding of the business world. This book is essentially a simple guide for beginning entrepreneurs to follow on how to plan their business and grow and expand their company. The book covers some pretty unconventional methods of how to row a business that are incredibly useful for any entrepreneur. The main example in the book is of the business strategies and methods used by award winning pumpkin farmers. Although the example seems a bit crazy, it exemplifies the business world. While the pumpkin example is the main one, the author has made other examples that cover different industries and businesses. While the book is useful for any business owner, it is most beneficial for aspiring entrepreneurs.

16 people found this helpful

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justin kowarsch

Simple and Effective!

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2019

This book, as well as being entertaining, cuts right to the core of what you can do to improve your company's effectiveness in the world by implementing The Pumpkin Plan.

This guy is so much fun to read that you can put down the book, and you can't help but learn very important concepts along the way. Mike is energetic and down to earth and such a cool dude, that he gives you his email address in the book and says to email him. He promises to respond (eventually) and I'm pretty certain it's actually him who responds back. I've done it and I've struck up a short conversation with him, and his energy pervades even his short email replies. It's hard to mimic that! Really hard.

At any rate, the info delivered in this book on improving your business is indeed invaluable. In it he breaks down key steps (not in a dorky overused 12-step plan style) to improve your business by reshaping the way you think about and do things.

I highly recommend this as a small business owner who has lots to learn and little time for the tedium of textbook style "how tos"! Great work Mike! Now get busy with another book!

3 people found this helpful

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Michael S Franzyshen

Amazing Business Book!

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2020

I'm not sure what else can be said about The Pumpkin Plan that hasn't already been said by the previous 600+ reviewers. Here's a quick run-down: This is a very fast read but requires substantial effort to implement the steps detailed in this book. This is not a quick fix solution for a failing business, but it is a solution. You'll understand why your business is failing or not growing. Why your customers are driving you crazy. Why you have no life outside of your small business! The author takes an innovative approach to building a solid, profitable, and sustainable business. This book will change your perspective on running a business (small or large), In addition, the author brings substantial humor to what could be an otherwise dry subject. Some will like this, some will find it distracting. I really liked the humor (and some sailor-like language) that made the book far more enjoyable. Read this book and start growing your own award winning pumpkin!

5 people found this helpful

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tim nyberg

A book Every small business owner needs to read!

Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2020

One of the things I've liked about the Pumpkin Plan is that it is straight forward with no BS and to the point. Easy to understand and implement. It is easy reading for something that is so important. In fact, I might stay it is almost to easy to read for how important it is. Don't overlook the significance of this process.

I loved The Pumpkin Plan and I recommend it and Profit First all the time to my clients, I volunteer with SCORE as a Business Coach. These books are just the foundation of good business practices.

Mike's books should be on every business owners shelf!

4 people found this helpful

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Kirk Drake

80/20 Rule with some excellent strategies to make it happen!

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2017

I first saw Mike talk on the Pumpkin Plan and then read the book about 3 years ago. Let me start by saying this book changed my entire perspective on growing and building a company and is required reading for all new employees. Historically I believed that all customers, all capital, and all business was good business. Consequently, I had built a $10 million + business providing technology to credit unions. We were losing money, clients hated us, employees were working their butts off, and we were stuck. Then I read and more importantly implemented the Pumpkin Plan.

We first categorized clients using Mike's framework. We had a LOT of tough conversations. What surprised me most was that in 7 years prior we had never talked that much about our clients...kind of crazy really. Once we identified our "Pumpkins" we began really focusing on them. We showed up in the right places, listened to them, made changes and focused on our best customers. We also went out and fired a couple. That went really bad - because it turns out the only one that can fire the client is the CEO or the one that signed them. Having a henchman try to do it was very painful. One of the clients is now a pumpkin, completely changed and now spends over $30k a month with us. The other went away. Which is fantastic!

3 years later, we have more than 20 "pumpkins" because we like that many of our clients. Clients are bringing us business. Our ticket volume is down and we are growing again (25% for 2017). While this book is a good take on the traditional 80/20 rule, the authors expertise in implementing the strategy was spot on and made a big difference. My favorite part 3 years later - none of my board or clients know that we did this....that is the ultimately secret from the book! Anyway, I highly recommend it (and regularly buy people copies!)

33 people found this helpful

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Alexis

Motivational, insightful book, taught me so much! Would recommend to any entrepreneur!

Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2017

This is one of the best business books I have ever read! It is simple enough to be easily understood, but it stills challenges you and gives insight into the experiences and strategies of a very successful business man, Mike Michalowicz. The Pumpkin Plan is a strategy used to scale your business that may seem counter-intuitive at times. However, it seems that the results speak for themselves. This book inspired me so much to continue fighting for my dream of becoming a successful business owner by implementing proper techniques and processes in my business that make it grow instead of simply surviving while draining all of my emotional and physical energy. I learned that it possible to scale your business while still having time for the important things like family and personal time. I would recommend this book to anyone who is even considering the idea of owning their own business because it makes the idea seem so much more feasible! Thank you Mike Michalowicz for this incredible read!

4 people found this helpful

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Amy Driver

A Practical Guide on How To Stop Letting Your Business Run Your LIfe

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2021

I only wish I had this resource available to me 10 years ago when I started my business. The advice is simple, yet effective. If you are like me, and many other business owners and your business is running your life instead of you running your business. Make the time to read this book (or listen to it in your car). You and your customers will be so glad you did!

Mike gives you quick, practical steps to take after each chapter. I read through the whole book and now I'm back to the beginning to follow the steps all the way through. I've already implemented some of his advice and found that it really works. Thank you Mike for investing in the business owners of the world and saving us from ourselves!

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Paola Riera

One of the best business books I've read!

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2016

The Pumpkin Plan is one of the most entertaining, relevant, and intelligent analysis I have read on startups and business management. Mr. Michalowicz was able to use the clever example of pumpkin farmers and apply it to all types of business, and find the main traits and philosophies that those successful businesses have in common. One of the concepts most detailed in the book is the 80/20 rule, famously theorized by Pareto, and explained here quite clearly and easy to grasp. The AOI, or Areas of Innovation, another critical metric for companies to be successful, was also quite fascinating, and was a theory I had never heard before. I would highly recommend this book for everyone, not just those with entrepreneurial aspirations, but to anyone interested in understanding what makes or breaks a company, alongside the wit and never boring writing style of the author, which makes it even more enjoyable.

3 people found this helpful

Reese Jones

Who knew a pumpkin could change your life?

Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2019

Who knew a pumpkin could change your life? Mike Michalowicz did, now I do, and so can you! This book is absolutely incredible, imbedded with real life stories along with humor that will keep you engaged. I read this book is 4 days! I would have read it faster but I had to implement the gold nuggets that are inside each and everyone of this book’s pages! I even emailed Mike and he responded! This busy man clearly cares about changing industry norms and inspiring entrepreneurs to transform their businesses.

There is plenty in here that is worth your 20 something dollars that you will pay to order this book. I found myself laughing out loud, and putting the book down to contemplate and implement this STEP by STEP plan to change not only my business life, but the rest of my life. What are you waiting for? Do yourself a favor and add this book to your cart and Pumpkin Plan your business today, you owe it to yourself.

One person found this helpful

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The Pumpkin Plan is the way to go to grow a business.

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2018

I love this book.

After reading Mike's book "Profit First," I just had to move on to the others, such as the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, and now The Pumpkin Plan. Mike Michalowicz uses the analogy of how growers produce prize-winning pumpkins to show you, the hopeful reader, how you can grow your business to epic proportions and dominate. Not only dominate, but bring in a healthy profit, find your niche so that you are working with people you love to work with, and free yourself up so that your business is actually bringing benefits to you rather than making you have to slave away within in.

He outlines the components of the plan clearly and entertainingly. Along the way, some aspects of the book I appreciate are action steps so that you can put your knowledge to use right away, and several examples of people in different industries who put these principles to work to grow or turn around their business for the better.

And Mike is such a hilarious author. It's like having a fun conversation with a good, funny, and incredibly intelligent beer buddy.

I am in the planning stages of starting a business, and this is the playbook I'm going to follow. Heck, when I was still an employee, I wish I followed aspects of this book when it came to my relationships with clients.

If you're in business of any kind, don't hesitate and get this book right away!!

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D. Moore

The book I should have read (and followed) ten years ago

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2021

I can't recommend this book enough. I've been stuck in a rut with my business (48 year old business, mine for 11 years) and this book immediately spoke to ME. I am currently working my Pumpkin Plan and can tell you that just starting the plan immediately lowered my stress levels.

Get. This. Book.

One person found this helpful

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Darren Cioffi

Clear, Concise and Simple to Implement

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2021

As a business advisor we spent years perfecting our offering to small businesses, especially startups. It was not until I came across Pumpkin Plan that I finally found a way to easily communicate and implement the systems they needed regardless of the size of their business. We have worked with a number of other systems with our clients and to be honest those authors and companies make it to complicated to work with.

Mike's book is straight forward, easy to read (even with the corny jokes) and easy to understand. My clients love it and we have implemented it in our own firm as well as made it part of our service offering.

One person found this helpful

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Jason Spencer

Are you paying attention?

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2012

Like many early reviews of The Pumpkin Plan , I received an advance copy of the book direct from Penguin Publishing in early June. I had actually been a follower of author Mike Michalowicz's blog for the last year, which was how I found out about the opportunity to be one of the first to read his new book.

First and foremost, he does lean on several concepts discussed in his prior book, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur . The good news, he actually will recap the gist of those concepts so you don't have to go back and read the other book. I hadn't read it prior to The Pumpkin Plan, though it is easy to use them both as a powerhouse set of blueprints.

I am a solo-entrepreneur, meaning that I own my own company and do just about everything myself. I really never saw it any other way. While I was doing okay at incorporating some concepts in the book, such as the Tapping The Vendor Well (Page 170), I still had a dim light bulb when it came to getting out of the 72-hour workweek.

Michalowicz discusses Systematization and how it will help you free up some of that time. He helps you tear apart your current business plan so that you can reconstruct a leaner company with all the perks of profit. Yeah, profit, not paycheck-to-paycheck.

As a Wedding Master of Ceremonies, I saw my talents as a solo-artist. But Michalowicz planned for that, too. In every chapter, he sets up segments called "Pumpkin Plan Your Industry." On page 108, he actually uses a rock band to provide one for Artists. There's still a roadmap to growth, no matter how unique your offering, and he shows you the light at the end of the tunnel.

I also struggle with the ability to finish books, event great ones. I managed to read this no-nonsense, straight-forward approach in less than two weeks. I mostly would pick it up before bed and read a chapter, though some was done on the first leg of a flight from San Jose to Chicago. I finished it in no time, and immediately went back into it with a highlighter to narrow my focus as I apply the principles in this book.

Bottom line: It is a MUST read for any entrepreneur or small business owner.

6 people found this helpful

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Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2022

The Pumpkin Plan is unlike any other book I have read. It’s the meat and potatoes that cures the hunger of starving entrepreneurs.

Most importantly, it’s a fresh look to mountains we all face, have faced or will face. The Pumpkin Plan is the boots that help you attack, and conquer your business goals and aspirations.

Using examples that are consistently found in today’s business, Michalowicz hits the nail on the head, again and again!

READ THIS BOOK! Let the principles saturate into your mind where exciting them, becomes second nature, and not work.

I personally identified with the “How to Pumpkin Plan Your Industry — …..” You can learn from others in their issues, failures and successes.

Again, READ THIS BOOK!

Great job, Mike!

- Jason

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Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2021

All man "(MIKE)" i love your book your the best brother thanks for telling me your story, the one ball man makes me laugh everytime I hate that guy too, im glad I got this book so I never end up like him. This was one of the best books 📚 I ever read, I'm all about the "PUMPKIN PLAN SYSTEM", I'm all about becoming an entrepreneur I'm not one yet but one day soon, I remember you said you aren't an entrepreneur intell you don't have to work anymore where you can put systems in place and hire other people todo the job YES. THANKS AGAIN

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M. Iuculano

Excellent Book for Small Business

Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2021