The Secrets of Business

The Secrets of Business is the first in a series of books intended to coach ordinary people with an entrepreneurial spirit to become the masters of their own businesses. This one lays out several “business secrets” that the author has learned through his own experiences in the business world, and in which he overcame his poor circumstances to become a multimillionaire in a self-created business empire.

The introduction and first chapter, “Business is Full of Secrets,” are written with a great deal of enthusiasm, meant to be encouraging to anyone hoping to start out in business. They are, but read like listening to an infomercial or reading a new diet book.

However, starting with Chapter Two the author hits his stride as he begins to share his personal experiences. He came to America with no money and no English language skills, but through his dedication, perseverance, and hard work (and obvious intelligence), he was able to realize his extremely lofty goals. His story is inspiring, and told well, perfectly illustrating and humanizing the chapters of “secrets” he wants to teach his readers. My recommendation: skip the introduction and Chapter One.

I loved the remainder of the book. The secrets he reveals include the importance of being quick; using leverage in everything you do; being able to see both the big picture and the details, as well as making decisions based on former knowledge and gut instinct, even without all the information; controlling your own mind and reactions; finding the right business opportunity for you; and expanding your business empire. He makes excellent points and expands on them in detail, with easy-to-remember bullet points and questions to consider. In many instances, Atalla explains very convincingly why the “common sense” about business is wrong and will not get you to your goals. He shows many pitfalls people encounter, and how to avoid them. He is also careful to teach readers to regard money as a tool, rather than an end in itself; he advocates caring for family, volunteering, and philanthropy. His writing is clear, friendly, and easy to follow. You get the sense from the author that he really is interested in helping others succeed where he already has. It is a fascinating and helpful book for everyone interested in going into business for themselves.