Kinko’s founder Paul Orfalea and his writing partner Dean Zatkowsky visibly bristle when asked what new ideas can be found in their book, Two Billion Dollars in Nickels: Reflections on the Entrepreneurial Life.
“What is this obsession with new ideas? Why don’t you ask us what GOOD ideas are in the book?” Snaps Orfalea.
“You want to talk about new ideas?” Adds Zatkowsky, “How about credit default swaps and collateralized debt obligations?
“But believe me,” interrupts Orfalea, “these good ideas will be new to a lot of people.”
Point taken. The duo’s collection of essays includes a lot of counterintuitive recommendations, such as using generous profit sharing to give owners a smaller slice of a much bigger pie, or increasing productivity by paying employees to take longer vacations. They also seem to suggest that entrepreneurs should ignore the competition.
“Control freaks can make Paul’s ideas sound frivolous,” says Zatkowsky, “but these ideas took Kinko’s from a hundred square foot shop to a multi-billion-
The slim, 110-page book is divided into three sections on Ownership, Judgment, and Self-Knowledge. Orfalea explains the divisions thus: “Thinking entrepreneurially integrates your life. Too many entrepreneurs think they own their business, when really the business owns them. In my books, I try to help people balance the tripod of work, love and play. That’s what makes you a success, instead of just the richest person in the graveyard.”
Or, as Zatkowsky puts it, “Entrepreneurship is the driver of all prosperity, and the path to personal independence. Our advice on subjects like hiring, coworker development, and the merits of innovation versus competition is intended to make that path easier.”
Sounds like a good idea. Two Billion Dollars in NIckels is available from Amazon.com.
