Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 21-25 of 28
 Wonderful Inspirational Ride May 19, 2009
Dave Carpenter (Atlanta, GA)
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
I loved this book and believe it has the potential to be one of the most important business books published this year.
Sure, there are deeper "how to" business books. There is a constant parade of sucessful executives who have a ghost writer package some homilies into a business "how to" in an effort to burnish the image of the author and pave their way on the corporate speaking circuit. And, then there are the academicians who package their latest business theories.
This book is in sharp contrast to those books. This is a book that gives hope and inspiration to every blue collar worker who yearns to make a better life for himself or herself. Author Paul Teutul, Sr., has built a very successful business, while also bootstrapping a noteworthy brand (Orange County Choppers). And, he has done it the old fashioned way, by hard work and disciplined adherence to basic life and business values.
If that alone was not inspirational enough, along the way to this success, Teutul has also overcome drug and alcohol addictions which threatened both his business and his life.
With so many jobs being eliminated due to what I expect will (regretfully) be a prolonged economic downturn, blue collar workers (and white collar workers) need role models of hard working men and women who have bootstrapped themselves to success. Few potential role models have more inspiring stories than Teutel's.
Caveat: I don't hear Paul Teutul holding himself out as some perfect role model, and I am certainly not doing so. Teutul is refreshingly blunt about his strengths and weaknesses.
In a world of "role models" who so often show that there is a huge gap between their image and reality, Teutul is a very refreshing study in authenticity.
Got a blue collar worker friend who has lost his job, gift him -- or her -- this book. You will be doing your friend an important favor. And, together we will be helping America's workers to contribute to the revitalization of America through small businesses that are (hopefully) focused, nimble and efficient.
The Perfect Book for Overcoming in both Life and Business! May 8, 2009
Will Estell, Author, Wisdom & Wisecracks for the Aspiring Business Owner (Oxford, Alabama)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
With "The Ride of a Lifetime" Paul Teutul, SR. comes across- as he does on television as well- as a "real" man with real problems, obstacles, hurdles and (more than anything) belief in overcoming and moving past it all. Whether it be overcoming a design problem or overcoming his previous addictions Teutul has mastered what it takes to rise above and succeed in both life and business.
It is literally remarkable that this man of simple means and a less than appealing childhood could rise up from so many negatives throughout his first 35 years of life and become such a well known business personality, loving father (you can see it is there, even when he screams at Paul Jr. and Mikey) and caring person (whether he wants to admit it or not, many of Paul's and his son's charity events prove that his heart is as big as his biceps).
As a writer and magazine publisher myself, I come in contact with quite a few first written works and I must say that whatever this book may lack in writing style or experience it far makes up in real, helpful, down-to-earth information that, in my opinion, would be some pretty useful required reading in both business and life.
Kudos to Paul for becoming all he can be while helping his sons to also get where they are going and breaking the cycle in which he was once a part of in his earlier years.
I would actually love to have this product packaged with my first title,
"Wisdom & Wisecracks for the Aspiring Business Owner" (by Will Estell) and give these two books (maybe even free!) to everyday normal people of all ages who aspire to become more in the world of business while maintaining balance in life and family. I have a feeling these two simple to read books from simple guys from simple pasts would work wonders for many. I say buy and read "The Ride of a Lifetime" today and it will make you a better person tomorrow.
Will Estell
Author,
Oxford, AL
Wisdom & Wisecracks for the Aspiring Business Owner
The Ride of a Lifetime: Doing Business the Orange County Choppers Way
Excellent Place to Mine For Gold May 1, 2009
Michael Gooch (Texas, USA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I gave a similar review to Mike Krzyzewski's book - The Gold Standard: Building a World-Class Team's. As a corporate director of human resources, I am continually looking at various books for business and leadership advice. More often than not, I find the real gold nuggets embedded not in management books but tomes covering a wide array of genres. For me, this is one of those books. Most management books are simply repackaged repeats of the same drivel so we must look outside of own arena.
Teutrul has built a company that has a tremendous amount of passion and creativity. I believe there are lessons to be learned from this enterprise. From this book, I was able to find these golden nuggets:
* Work Hard
* Demand Hard Work from Others
* Embracing Creativity
* Team Member Roles
* Team Support
* Using Conflict Positively
If a person can forge an entire group of eccentrics into a highly successful, cohesive team, then I am willing to listen and hopefully learn.
For those who like relating bikes to business, I would suggest reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values (P.S.). It is old still very relevant.
I hope you find this review helpful
Michael L. Gooch, SPHR - Author of
Wingtips with Spurs
Never give up April 29, 2009
Book Magnet (Nashville, TN)
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
Great Book. It has great suggestions on how to run your business through several years of learning on the job as he grew his business from a one man shop to what it is today. Best part of the book is how he overcame life's obstacles and never gave up on his dream.
Ride of a Lifetime Paul Teutal April 20, 2009
Patricia Fletcher (Leesburg VA USA)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book "had me" from page one - Paul Teutal, Sr. is honest about everything - he failures and his successes. He is easy to relate to and I feel that I know him - he is that honest and interesting!
Showing reviews 21-25 of 28
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