Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain

How I Went from Gang Member to Multimillionaire Entrepreneur

By: Ryan Blair, Don Yaeger

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

Ryan Blair knows about building a business from the ground up. Like many entrepreneurs he had no formal business education. But he had great survival instincts, tenacity, and, above all, a "nothing to lose" mindset. Blair's middle-class childhood came to an abrupt end when his abusive father succumbed to drug addiction and abandoned the family. Blair and his mother moved to a bad neighborhood, and soon he was in and out of juvenile detention, joining a gang just to survive.

Then his mother fell in love with a successful entrepreneur who took Ryan under his wing. With his mentor's help, Blair turned himself into a wildly successful businessman. He started his first company, 24/7 Tech, at the age of 21, and since then has created and sold several companies for hundreds of millions of dollars.

Now Blair teaches listeners how to start and grow their own profitable businesses by following his often contrarian philosophies. For instance:

• In juvenile detention, In juvenile detention, if you let someone take your milk the first day, they'll start taking it every day. The same is true in business
• When you're dealing with an investor's money, you have to act as if God himself wrote you the check.
• Most business plans aren't worth the paper they're written on.
• Efforts don't pay the rent. Have no sympathy for employees who talk about how hard they're trying.

Entrepreneurship is great because you can set your own hours - any 17 hours of the day, 7 days a week. But if you're doing what you love, it doesn't drain you as much as the 9 to 5 death cycle.

©2011 Ryan Blair (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"His failures and successes, along with a little input from his gurus, coupled with his solid commonsense advice and entrepreneurial life lessons offer an inspiring and helpful story." ( Publishers Weekly)

It's Was Okay

Honestly this book was cool but it was like a Blend of life and business, based on the preview I though it was going to talk about how he made a come back with Vi.

It really didn't have anything to do with that it's about the business lessons he learned and how though of nothing to lose from being in a gang help him to be successful in business.

Like I said it's a okay book, it's not something I would listen to again, honestly it might be a little to much truth for me, with his life and background.

At some points I wasn't sure how the story related to business, but I get it- he wanted to remove all excuse from people not being able to build a business and letting their past get in the way.

That's why I gave it a four star and would still recommend this book.

Amazing

Very thorough book and relief and relatible. So much advice on the upbringings and how strong mindset 2nd effect someone success

Hardships are your greatest assets

Through personal experience, Ryan was able to bring home the idea that the hardships of your past is what became a your greatest assets and what builds the story that is your unique proposition to the world.

Thanks for the great reminder Ryan

Uplifting! Positive! Tons of Wisdom! Inspiring!

Now I understand why I had to go through pain to become a greater person

Finally a entrepreneur without all the get rich quick hype

Ironically I heard of Ryan Blair on a daytime reality TV show my wife just happen to have on while on lunch break at our home. It was a real estate show where Ryan met with the realtor to sell one of his houses. For the 5 minutes I watched this entrepreneur talk with the realtor about listing his house I was intrigued on how he made his money. Seemed like a down to earth guy. I looked up his net worth that day and biography and had seen he wrote two books. Curious, I read about his books and the reviews then purchased the book that day. I read a lot of business and entrepreneur books. Being an entrepreneur myself I’m intrigued how these people build their businesses and make their money. Unfortunately, most all books I read are a bunch of hype and selling their own product within the book. I always get something out of them, however this book was different. Ryan Blair is a down to earth guy with true stories of success and failure. Not about a bunch of hype on getting rich fast. Just honest and true hard work your way to success. If you don’t want any sugar coat hype and the hope of getting something out of business success book then this is one you should read. This book is the real life on how to start at the bottom and work your way to the top with ambition. Like Ryan says it’s not for the faint of heart entrepreneur. If your afraid to loose it all then maybe being an entrepreneur is not right for you. But what if the reward is greater than the risk then would you risk it all? I’m definitely keeping this book in my top favorites and excited to start his other book!

WOW Awesome Book

Any additional comments?

Great life story filled with valuable lessons. I really enjoyed it. This was the kick in the butt I needed. Perfect timing! Seriously there are NO excuses for not living up to our potential.

would definitely recommend

great book. would definitely recommend to new and seasoned entrepreneurs. sheds new light on business

great listen!

enjoyed listening. I have a feeling that I will listen many more times to come.

Great business book!

Ryan's story and lessons are priceless for business, life and mindset. Going to reread it again just to make sure I soaked it all in.

Good

Entertaining and informative :) I will definetivel come back and listen to it again... Too much useful information to absorb in just one sitting ...