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Bo Peabody

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Lucky or Smart?: Secrets to an Entrepreneurial Life Hardcover – December 28, 2004

by Bo Peabody (Author)

4.2 201 ratings

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At twenty-seven, Bo Peabody was an Internet multi-millionaire. In the heady days of the late 1990s, though, when every cool kid had an IPO, that wasn’t very remarkable. What is remarkable is that he’s even more successful today. He has co-founded five different companies, in varied industries, and made them thrive during the best and worst of economic times. Through it all, the one question everyone asks is: Was it his smarts that made him an entrepreneurial leader, or was it just plain luck? The truth is, Bo was smart enough to know when he was getting lucky. And he wants you to have the same advantage.

With proven methods for success and a witty, conversational voice, Bo takes the reader through the lessons his experiences as an entrepreneur have taught him. At the heart of Bo’s manifesto is a mantra that everyone, whether working for a multinational corporation or a solo start-up, should heed: If you want your business to be successful, make sure your work is fundamentally innovative, morally compelling, and philosophically positive.

Lucky or Smart? will teach you how to put yourself in a position to get lucky, create the right situations for success, and take advantage of every opportunity. It is the first truly authentic guide to an entrepreneurial life, a must read for anyone looking for his or her own road to fulfillment.

Print length

80 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Random House
Publication date

December 28, 2004
Dimensions

5.84 x 0.54 x 8.16 inches
ISBN-10

9781400062904
ISBN-13

978-1400062904
See all details

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For anyone looking to spend an hour or so conversing one-on-one with a successful Internet entrepreneur, Peabody has put his end of that conversation in writing. As founder of a startup, Tripod, Inc.and a reaper of pre-Internet Bubble richesPeabody graciously provides his thoughts on how and why hes been so successful. Heartfelt and conversational in tone, his is a very thin book, reflecting both a lack of egoPeabody will never be mistaken for Donald Trumpand his belief that entrepreneurs possess limited attention spans. Also, he feels they are better off spending their time building their own businesses rather than reading about others. While Peabody shares advice on avoiding the mistakes that trip up many would-be entrepreneurssuch as having too much faith in their own pressmost of his several dozen pages are spent providing examples of the role luck plays in success, and how smart entrepreneurs work to improve their odds. For instance, he puts great stock in surrounding oneself with A students for managers while relying heavily on B students to drive innovation. With their penchant for provocative declarationi.e., that a companys mission is more important than its business modelPeabodys theories on management arent exactly the stuff of a business school curriculum. Which is only appropriate since he also takes a very dim view of the notion that entrepreneurial skills can be taught or acquired. Peabody believes that entrepreneurship is an aptitude one either possesses from birth or never possesses at all. Ultimately, Peabody speaks to a niche marketentrepreneurs willing to accept that there are no magical formulas for success, just the kind of focus, drive and energy that, if one is lucky, occurs at the right time, in the right place.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Peabody, a successful entrepreneur, offers a guide to those thinking of starting their own business. We learn that while we cannot create luck in our everyday lives, we can create it in business. Lucky things happen to entrepreneurs who start fundamentally innovative, morally compelling, and philosophically positive companies, creating something interesting and valuable rather than strictly seeking money. A mission communicated with charisma and passion will attract and inspire smart people who work hard; in that environment, the entrepreneur must be smart enough to stay out of the way and let luck happen. Treat other people fairly and give them clear action plans and latitude to exercise creativity. Other advice from the author: control your ego, always remain gracious no matter what the situation, and B students become entrepreneurs while A students become managers. This small book is a terrific roadmap for prospective entrepreneurs as well as corporate executives who want to replicate the spirit and creativity found in successful new ventures. A great read. Mary Whaley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Inside Flap

At twenty-seven, Bo Peabody was an Internet multi-millionaire. In the heady days of the late 1990s, though, when every cool kid had an IPO, that wasn t very remarkable. What is remarkable is that he s even more successful today. He has co-founded five different companies, in varied industries, and made them thrive during the best and worst of economic times. Through it all, the one question everyone asks is: Was it his smarts that made him an entrepreneurial leader, or was it just plain luck? The truth is, Bo was smart enough to know when he was getting lucky. And he wants you to have the same advantage.

With proven methods for success and a witty, conversational voice, Bo takes the reader through the lessons his experiences as an entrepreneur have taught him. At the heart of Bo s manifesto is a mantra that everyone, whether working for a multinational corporation or a solo start-up, should heed: If you want your business to be successful, make sure your work is fundamentally innovative, morally compelling, and philosophically positive.

Lucky or Smart? will teach you how to put yourself in a position to get lucky, create the right situations for success, and take advantage of every opportunity. It is the first truly authentic guide to an entrepreneurial life, a must read for anyone looking for his or her own road to fulfillment.

About the Author

BO PEABODY is a well-known entrepreneur. His first company, Tripod, was the eighth-largest site on the Internet when it was sold to Lycos in 1998 for $58 million. With co-founder Matt Harris, he built and raised capital for Village Ventures, which is now a network of fourteen venture funds with more than $250 million to invest in high-growth companies in emerging technology centers around the United States. Bo also co-founded WaterFront Media, Mezze, and Radiovoodoo, three successful (and lucky) start-ups.

Bo has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, BusinessWeek, People, and Spin, and speaks about technology and entrepreneurship at conferences and business schools around the world. He lives in Williamstown, Massachusetts, with his wife, Caroline, and is on the board of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Prospect Foundation, and the Academy at Charlemont.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Bits of wisdom from LUCKY OR SMART by Bo Peabody

“Good entrepreneurs are not, per se, lucky or smart. They are just smart enough to know when they are getting lucky.” (pg.5)

“Greatness is exactly the wrong thing for entrepreneurs to strive for. I tell my colleagues: ‘Never let great be the enemy of good.’ A good decision made quickly is better than a great decision made slowly.” (pg. 19)

“As an entrepreneur, you’d better like odd people, because that’s who’s going to agree to work you. These are the smartest, most interesting people on the planet…” (pg. 26)

“Train yourself not to shut down when you hear the word ‘no.’ That is in fact just the time to really start fighting.” (pg 32)

“In every meeting, in every situation, you must always, always, always be gracious. The business world is a small place: what goes around comes around.” (pg. 38)

“The best use you can make of a BlackBerry is to buy them for all of your competitors. They’ll never have time for another creative thought.” (pg. 45)

“Your ego is both the most dangerous and the most useful weapon in your entrepreneurial arsenal. Use your ego when it is called for and check it at the door when you sense that it will get in the way.” (pg. 56)

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 140006290X
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House; 0 edition (December 28, 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 80 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781400062904
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1400062904
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.84 x 0.54 x 8.16 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #507,981 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,337 in Motivational Management & Leadership
- #2,419 in Inspiration & Spirituality
- #2,690 in Business Motivation & Self-Improvement (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 201 ratings

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4.2 out of 5

201 global ratings

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Dan Wallace

A Fortunate Find

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2009

Verified Purchase

The premise of Bo Peabody's book is the smart people don't become entrepreneurs, but entrepreneurs can be smart if they can recognize when they have been lucky. This loopy but wise premise is the entry point for many keen observations, including my favorites:

- "Lucky things happen to entrepreneurs who start fundamentally innovative, morally compelling, and philosophically positive companies."
- The entrepreneur has two tasks: 1) Create an innovative environment where smart people will gather; 2) Be smart enough to get out of the way and let luck happen."

Disarming humility, offbeat humor, and frank assessments are woven into this fast-moving narrative. I have read many books, web posts and articles on entrepreneurship; heard dozens of speakers; and I've have had the good fortune to work with many smart, and lucky, entrepreneurs. Among all of these influences, Lucky or Smart is one of the best. Recommended reading for anyone contemplating an entrepreneurial adventure, or for anyone who works, loves, or is friends with an entrepreneur.

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is a short and easy read. Great insight into some of the skills that come in handy as an entrepreneur - and how luck is sometimes just as important.

Wonderful anecdote about applying to and getting in to college.

Helpful

Michael Jones

Concise, humble, and insightful

Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2020

Verified Purchase

This was a quick but valuable read. Bo has some great insights on what makes an entrepreneur and signs that you might not be one.

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Nicolo

A First-read for the First-Time Entrepreneur

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2013

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This book is interesting enough if you haven't read a lot of other start-up or entrepreneur books. I like the tone, the quickness and the good choices of anecdotes and advice.

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Reid

Great description of luck as a strategy within entrepreneurial context

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2015

Verified Purchase

Although I've heard a lot of people acknowledge the importance of luck, Peabody does the best, compact job of framing luck as an active strategy. Kind of like an entrepreneurial version of Taleb's Black Swan in that respect. Also, there are very nice metaphors and turns of phrase in here that package common advice in insightful ways, such as the distinction between entrepreneurs and managers, normal people and odd people, knowing and uncertainty, etc.

Helpful

Gary Treer

Invaluable Book for Entrepreneurs, Executives and Managers

Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2006

Verified Purchase

This is one of the best business books I've ever read. It conveys highly insightful, meaningful ideas in a remarkably concise and common-sense way. No droaning on with complex business models or contrived new management theories. Peabody simply shares his views of what makes a successful entrepreneur and manager, and the importance of understanding the value of diverse personalities and skill sets. The ideas it contains are motivating, entertaining and invaluable. I've purchased several copies for colleagues. I highly recommend it.

2 people found this helpful

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Anna Louise Agerup

Entertaining read

Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2013

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A very entertaining read from someone who knows what he's talking about. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. The only issue would be that it advocates a pretty narrow perspective and doesn't offer any alternatives. "This is the way it is and no other way" type of attitude reigns over the book. A very good read though for anyone interested/working in business, not just entrepreneurs!

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2017

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Gives insight on various situations that actually happened on his path to Riches. Short but sweet. Anyone can clearly understand the point and purpose of this book. Imo.

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Top reviews from other countries

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Hudson Vipond

No Comment

Reviewed in Canada on August 23, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book was one that I ordered from my daughter. She found it useful, but I have nothing further to add beyond her 4 star seal of approval.

Karan

Useful quick -read

Reviewed in India on May 6, 2018

Verified Purchase

Very Good content for prospective entrepreneurs in terms of making successful business decisions and staying on top of your team.

Victor Vazquez

Muy bueno

Reviewed in Mexico on April 25, 2016

Verified Purchase

Claros consejos para aquellos que quieran o estén emprendiendo.
Aprender a tolerar el no, usar el potencial del equipo que tienes, son algunos de los temas tratados en el libro.
Facil de leer

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Amazon Customer

Good read - very easy

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 8, 2016

Verified Purchase

Interesting read. Enjoyed it