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The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

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The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Written by: Ben Horowitz
Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly
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About this listen

Ben Horowitz, cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz and one of Silicon Valley’s most respected and experienced entrepreneurs, offers essential advice on building and running a startup - practical wisdom for managing the toughest problems business school doesn’t cover, based on his popular ben’s blog.

While many people talk about how great it is to start a business, very few are honest about how difficult it is to run one. Ben Horowitz analyzes the problems that confront leaders every day, sharing the insights he’s gained developing, managing, selling, buying, investing in, and supervising technology companies. A lifelong rap fanatic, he amplifies business lessons with lyrics from his favorite songs, telling it straight about everything from firing friends to poaching competitors, cultivating and sustaining a CEO mentality to knowing the right time to cash in.

Filled with his trademark humor and straight talk, The Hard Thing About Hard Things is invaluable for veteran entrepreneurs as well as those aspiring to their own new ventures, drawing from Horowitz’s personal and often humbling experiences.

©2014 Ben Horowitz (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers
Management & Leadership Personal Success Small Business & Entrepreneurship Business Career Witty Building Business
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What listeners say about The Hard Thing About Hard Things

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Puts struggle into perspective

I'm not planning on running a tech company in my future, but this book kept me engaged. The methods portrayed reflect the battles of Silicon Valley tech companies to stay alive. The principles, however, can be applied to all facets of life. If your mind can dream something great, it will take something great to achieve it. Something great often envoles three aspects: 1) You and your companies values and how well you stick with them; 2) The vision/outcome/dream; and 3) Belief that against all odds the vison can be achieved!

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Great techniques for new CEO’s

While the book focused on startups in the tech sector, a lot of the situations can be applied anywhere. I particularly enjoyed the viewpoint from a CEO who ran an organization from founder/start up to billion dollar exit sale and the many different intricacies of scaling.

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Essential curriculum

If you are a CEO or an executive in any size company this is essential literature to have in your library. This book is NOT a dear diary entry gloating about his abilities. It is a roadmap showcasing the intertwined and never ending issues that are universal to business.

This book removes you from your limited view of your particular issues and shows you that they are not only common but conquerable. It has offered me stress reduction and revitalized depleted energy and focus.

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amazing

in a world where everyone wants to be an entrepreneur very few people are talking about the challenges and the heartaches associated with starting and running a company. it is all done by sharing stories which makes the book very informational but also fun!

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A startup must!

A startup must! Great content, perfect story.
Identify the real problem of the CEO and their solutions.

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Excellent book about the hard decisions to make in business.

Excellent book about the hard decisions to make in business. A rare book based on insights from someone with experience in the field for a long time and a lot of experience.

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Can't miss

Don't miss this book. It is incredible. A must have for any entrepreneur or manager of small and large organizations.

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great book.

great narrator. amazing book. definitely worth a listen for anyone who wants insight in entrepreneurahip

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No sugar coating

Honest reflection about the challenges faced and how Ben responded as a person and a leader.

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Great eye opener to the startup world

#Audible1 this book really put things in perspective for me. it set the tone for how founders should conduct themselves.

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