This outstanding book from multihyphenate Abrams and business partner Hodgson is essential reading for every current and potential small-business owner. Over the span of approximately 10 years, Abrams and Hodgson created three markedly different businesses. The two initially started a small consulting firm then pivoted to a product-based business manufacturing and selling specialized bottled water and eventually founded a unique and inventive financial-technology company. They share the many lessons learned from both their successes and their failures and provide information about networking and financing resources, particularly for minority- and female-owned small businesses. Abrams and Hodgson strike a perfect balance in addressing both the abstract and practical aspects of small-business ownership. There are several especially compelling topics throughout the book. First and foremost, small businesses often act as temporary lenders for large corporate buyers because of the typical payment terms involved in sales transactions. In addition, many small businesses end up failing because, for a multitude of reasons, they simply cannot scale up successfully. This brilliantly written, deeply insightful look at small-business ownership is a must-have for public and academic libraries.

A fresh take on entrepreneurial endeavors and a love letter to small businesses everywhere. Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. But at a time when increasing numbers of workers are reconsidering where they fit in light of the "Great Resignation," straight talk and advice from anyone who has "been there" is a welcome addition. Using the story of the three businesses that they ran--consulting, bottled water, fintech payment service--Abrams and her business partner, Hodgson, blend their personal narratives with hard facts and lessons to create an easily digestible how-to for running a business. Readers learn about such principles as the Three C's of Growth ("Consumers + Commerce = Capital) and how that growth can be stymied by not having an adequate plan in place. The end of each chapter contains "Level Up Lessons," which sum up the key findings and emphasize concepts the authors believe are particularly important, making the narrative accessible to any reader looking for business advice. The authors could have easily taken the safe route by simply sharing the story of how one thing led to another with their businesses or providing a straightforward, chronological account of their success. Instead, they dig deeper and offer candid exploration of nearly every aspect of their businesses, including good, bad, and occasionally devastating outcomes. Throughout, the authors open up in an appealing way, owning up to their mistakes, and they directly address many currently accepted principles that work against small-business owners--e.g., the difficulty gaining access to capital. They also show us how to manage unexpected changes in partnerships, which they navigated during Abrams' political rise. "With Stacey's responsibilities at the Capitol heating up," writes Hodgson, "we approached this new phase of our partnership and personal goals with the same discipline and efficiency we always did. We had a frank discussion about how her expertise served the new company." A book packed with insight and inspiration from two successful entrepreneurs. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Though the deck is stacked against small businesses, persistence and creative thinking can get entrepreneurs past tough times, advise politician and voting rights activist Abrams (While Justice Sleeps) and Hodgson, cofounder of an invoice payment company, in this pithy survey. The authors draw on lessons they learned running a small company that sold spill-proof water bottles for young kids, which closed in 2011, a casualty of lack of cash flow and leverage: they had to scale quickly but weren't able to. Here, they look to help leaders face "the systemic hurdles challenging small businesses more than ever," and cover what they learned about supply chain, design, scaling (leaders should focus on "really listening to the people closest to products"), promoting a product (trade shows are helpful), staffing (patience is key, in employees and in leaders doing the hiring), and getting paid on time. Helpful lessons round out each chapter ("successful partnerships require extreme candor," for example, and "get comfortable with ambiguity"), and the authors' cheerleading and assurance that "it's not you, it's them" is enormously validating and backed up by easy-to-implement tips. Small business owners who feel lost in the trenches should give this a look. (Feb.)