The strength of George Foreman’s personality is what carries his book, Knockout Entrepreneur. He’s a likable guy, loaded with dozens of interesting stories, and these stories are organized well by writer Ken Abraham to support the main point of the chapters they appear in. The book is sound, though not profound. It doesn’t contain a lot of revolutionary business information; it’s more autobiography than textbook. But after reading Knockout Entrepreneur, you’ll feel as though you know George Foreman a little better, and you’ll be glad to have met him. He seems like a very fun, positive, determined person.
Boxing as a metaphor for business
Foreman uses boxing as a metaphor for business (and life). His chapters sport titles such as “Listen to Your Corner,” “Know Your Foe,” and “Keep Answering the Bell.” I don’t know anything about boxing, but that didn’t keep me from understanding the point of each chapter. Foreman uses plenty of real-life stories to illustrate his principles.
Support from “the Good Book”
He also draws liberally from Scripture— “the Good Book”— to reinforce his message, which I found refreshing. No deep doctrines or intricate interpretations, just simple application of common-sense Truth. For example:
- “According to the book of Proverbs, a good name is rather to be chosen than fine gold. That’s true in every area of life, but especially so in business.” (p.58)
- “Failures and disappointments may come; you may feel down, but never allow yourself to stay down. …The Good Book says that weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Push away the weeping so you can be productive again.” (p.62)
- “When you pray, don’t ask God for stuff; ask Him for solutions.” (p.68)
- “Of course, I was quick to give God the credit He so rightly deserves. Anyone who is truly a Knockout Entrepreneur knows where the success begins and to whom the praise and honor should return.” (p.86)
- “One of my favorite Bible verses is ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’ Not that they will conquer the earth, but that they will inherit it. It isn’t necessary to destroy another person’s business, career relationships or reputation so you can succeed. You don’t have to coerce, steal, or cheat to get what you want. Do it God’s way, and you’ll inherit it.” (p.118)
A nice, warm feeling
If you’re looking for an entertaining, uplifting affirmation of some basic business truths, Knockout Entrepreneur is a delight. Each chapter is filled with memorable stories from Foreman’s interesting life, and he is careful to offer “Knockout Ideas” to help you apply the chapter’s teachings. Even if you don’t consider yourself an entrepreneur, there’s plenty to enjoy about the book. It probably won’t change your life, but it will give you a warm feeling to know that people like George Foreman are in the world—people with integrity, who believe in hard work, and who are eager to help others find success in this life and the next.
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