Growing a Business by Paul Hawken

Growing a Business Reviews

• 
  Lena

  I first read this book shortly after starting a small business in the late 80's. At that time, I found it wonderfully encouraging. While not a memoir, Hawken excels at clear-eyed sharing of many practical lessons he learned along the path of starting his own first company, Erehwon Natural Foods, as well as his more famous later business, Smith & Hawken, which grew into a multi-million dollar gardening supply company.
  
  In addition to his own experiences, Hawken tells educational tales of success spawned by the creative thinking and customer focus exhibited by then upstart companies such as Patagonia and Ben & Jerry's. His theory that there will always be room in the American landscape for people who create products out of passion and who chose to genuinely care for their customers still holds true 30 years later, as corporate America still struggles to maintain authenticity and quality service in a landscape dominated by mass market malls.
  
  While the book was inspirational to me the first time around, it was less practically useful for the small scale service industry I was in at the time. Now that I am the co-founder of a company that makes minimalist footwear and has multiple employees, however, I found many of his ideas more directly applicable. His discussion of how too much money is more dangerous to a small business than too little was particularly interesting, as were his thoughts on building a company that cares for its employees as well as it does its customers.
  
  Originally written in 1987, the book does show its age in places. The strategies and systems Smith & Hawken set up to deal with a pre-internet catalog company with minimal PCs will seem quaint to some and totally foreign for younger readers, but many of the lessons still resonate - the technical details of the issues may have changed, but the principles of the solutions they put in place have not.
  
  In other areas, however, the age of the book casts a shadow over some of the stories Hawken highlights. I am old enough to remember the original Banana Republic stores Hawken sings praises of, but there isn't the slightest hint of those original creative theme park environments that so successfully invoked the mystery of travel in the current, minimalist sea-of-beige version that is so well camouflaged by corporate conformism I didn't even notice there was one in our mall for years. Smith & Hawken itself lives on only as a Target brand acquired after the corporate owners who gained control of the company after Hawken's mid-90's retirement oversaw its slide into bankruptcy in the following decade.
  
  The sobering perspective offered by knowing the less than happy endings to these stories leaves me, at the current stage of my own company, with as many questions as the book answers. Despite that, I would recommend it, as it remains an encouraging and realistic guide to anyone looking to take the plunge into starting a business, and also offers many useful lessons to those who are already far enough in to have realized they may have gotten more than they bargained for.
  
  
• 
  Sonja

  Wow, lots of others have felt as clueless and discombobulated starting a new business as I did.
  
  Wish I'd known about this book when Mom and I started
  Friends Fabric Art
  ...late is better than never!
• 
  Julian

  I read this book at least fifteen years ago and its messages about entrepreneurship stuck with me: if you are skilled but unhireable, small business may be the best way for you to create a niche for yourself; business is as much about giving people fulfilling work as it is turning a profit; there is an alternative to growth at all costs. After reading many other business and entrepreneurship books in the intervening decade(s), coming back to this one was refreshing.
  
  It is in re-reading it that I am amazed at how relevant it remains, even to today's software startup world. All the ways in which I've watched great companies fall apart are depicted clearly in Hawken's book, and much of his advice (particularly around how opportunities for new businesses, hiring, and fixing things) I thought I had rediscovered, not realizing I must have read it here first. I guess seeing it all in practice, again and again, has made it much more true.
  
  As I was reading it, I wondered what happened to the business he was growing at the time of the book, Smith & Hawken. Of course, it was a success under his leadership, then he stepped away, the company got acquired by a much larger one, and was gradually destroyed. The unfortunate modern cycle of the otherwise-sustainable small business.
  
  Apparently this is associated with a PBS series but I've never seen the series. The book stands on its own. If there is a single book anyone considering starting a business should read, it's this one.
• 
  Lamec Mariita

  Such an amazing book. It's a must read if you are starting a small business. It will help you build value and profitability. The book has marvelous insights made all the better because its author is the owner of a well-known business, Smith & Hawken. By focusing on the inner business, Hawken helps any business person create an enterprise that is ideally suited to its owner. The author ,Mr. Hawken, gives some great advice and makes it seem like anyone can succeed in business if they treat people right.
• 
  Brian

  Sort of a how-to book for someone who owns a small business and wants to make it grow larger. Well written, with good anecdotes and solid advice about what works and what doesn't. Reading books like this make me want to run out and start a business.
• 
  Elizabeth Lund

  A pleasant, reassuring, common-sense book about "small" business (anything from a small grocery store to Patagonia) with some interesting ideas. Focuses more on general approaches than specific recommendations, and has aged fairly well.
• 
  srutherford81

  Great account of how to start and grow a business intelligently, slowly and organically.
  
  The do's and dont's in plain language. No business school jargon or hard to read advise.
• 
  Carol Palmer

  Interesting read, but it was written before the internet so much of the material is out of date.
• 
  Nick

  Great book about the ethics and framework around running a successful business. Loved the definition of "tradeskill" and the 5/15 reports and Go-For-Brokes.
• 
  Robert King

  Great book. Paul breathes life into a subject that all too often is boring a dull. All in all a great down to earth look at business and how to set your self up for a win in both life and business.
  
• 
  Madiyar Kubriyanov

  If you’re just starting a business, read it!
  
  Loved the idea that having too much money when you’re just starting is worse than too little. That’s what I keep telling all my friends who are starting their own business. The other idea I liked is that the bigger is not always the better :)
  5/15 reports is something I might start using now :) as I feel it will keep me updated and I will know what’s going on in my business, and it will definitely be a lot shorter than long traditional meetings.
  
  I can go on and on but you have to read it for yourself— you might find it really helpful and informative and you can find answers to your questions.
  
  I did like the book and the ideas but since I was reading it in Russian I couldn’t help feeling something was missing — that’s why I’m giving it four stars now.
  I put it to the translation — I feel there were a couple of things that the translator was not able to convey.
  
  I’m definitely rereading it — but in English next time :)
• 
  Randy Stapilus

  First read this back in the late 80s. It was the first thing I read that made me think I might actually fit doing some kind of business. It is human level and feels real, the kind fo commentary you seldom hear from people about business, even small business. And while a few bits and pieces haven't held up (mainly in the way of predicting trends), nearly all of it has. What Hawken has to say here is timeless.
• 
  Lauren

  This easily read and highly accessible book presents a kinder and gentler approach to creating and running a successful business. Though it was published in 1987, much of the author's advice is doubly important these days.
• 
  Blaine Stepanov

  While the book might be considered “old”, and it is, in places, the ideas from it are still relevant today. For me, it was really helpful, and among the first books I read on the subject, also my favorite.
• 
  Charles Lee-Khan

  In hindsight, some of the things he wrote about seem like common sense. But some things were helpful to put things in perspective. There is a lot of anxiety when starting your own business, and this book helped relieve some of it.
• 
  kamal

  Practical Advice
• 
  Luqman

  The book is quite dated, but the business advices still relevant till today
• 
  Costin Fasie

  Business explained in plain and straightforward language. A truly valuable experience on growing a business with ethical attitude.
• 
  Leah

  Really enjoyed this book, which validated concepts I had considered. Early examples of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Appreciated learning about 5–15 reports and “Go For Broke” Septembers.
• 
  Ricardo Pipa

  Simple but important ideas if you’re planning on creating your own business.