Built to Sell
Run your company. Don’t let it run you. Most business owners started their company because they wanted more freedom—to work on their own schedules, make the kind of money they deserve, and eventually retire on the fruits of their labor. Unfortunately, according to John Warrillow, most owners find that stepping out of the picture is extremely difficult because their business relies too heavily on their personal involvement. Without them, their company—no matter how big or profitable—is essentially worthless. But the good news is that entrepreneurs can take specific steps—no matter what stage a business is in—to create a valuable, sellable company. Warrillow shows exactly what it takes to create a solid business that can thrive long into the future.
Stats for nerds
18recommend
25mentions
22people
2011–2026years
84% recommend16% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- "Built to Sell" is a better book, starting with the premise that your company needs to be positioned to be bought, not sold. If you are reaching out to someone to buy you, you are effectively accepting an 80% price cut.
- Read the book "Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You"
- I read the book 'Built to Sell'[0] recently. It's written for founders, but gives you insight into how buyers think and what they are looking for.
- Re-read Iain Banks' The Algebraist.
Titanium Noir, Nick Harkaway
Built to Sell, John Warrilow
- Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss, on negotiation tactics. Much better than "Getting to Yes".
The Genius of The Few by Christian and Barbara Joy O'Brien, an alternative take for garden of eden and Anunnaki compared to Sitchin
Built To Sell by John Warrillow, on how to build a business you can exit with a profit.
I read 30+ books in the last and this year so there are others but three is enough for this list.
- For me, I'd be nowhere without these.
In sort of curriculum order:
- Built to Sell - really easy gateway
- The E-Myth Revisited (withstand the writing style, glib observations)
- The Business Model Generation book- massive leap in understanding after this
- Traction (Gabriel Weinberg). Marketing entrypoint zeroed into today
- Managing the Professional Service Firm (Maiser) (incidentally related to what I do but so useful)
- Thinking in Systems (Meadows)
- An Elegant Puzzle (Engineering management book by Will Larson. Actionable and bite-sized)
- Measure What Matters (Doerr)
- Crossing the Chasm
- Blue Ocean Strategy
- Never Split the difference (eh)
- Design of everyday things (not as niche as I thought, perspective altering)
Some sales books (I held my nose while reading, but useful insights)
- The Science of Selling
- S.P.I.N. Selling
- The Challenger Sale
