How to Ruin a Business

MJ Gottlieb

with MJ Gottlieb

Co-Founder Hustle Branding

How to Ruin a Business

How to Ruin a Business 900 900 33Voices

Moe and MJ Gottlieb discuss how to run a business by knowing what “not” to do.

What NOT to Do to Succeed in Business

In his Essay collection, Mindfire: Big Ideas for Curious Minds, Scott Berkun does an eloquent job of reminding us to appreciate each of our mistakes, and to never take for granted the discoveries that they often reveal.  Learning from your mistakes requires humility and resolve, still it’s these three things that are likely to inspire learning:

  • Putting yourself in situations where you can make interesting mistakes

  • Having the self-confidence to admit to them

  • Being courageous about making changes

MJ Gottlieb has spent his life building businesses — five to be specific and a non-profit — and rarely will you find someone more candid about his missteps.  In his book, How to Ruin A Business Without Really Trying, he chronicles 55 lessons that, if you’re ever try to build a business, you’re likely to find scary familiar.  

Here’s a glimpse of the topics he and I explore:

  • How winners gain their edge

  • The keys to managing your emotions

  • How not to handle money

  • The right pitch to potential investors

  • The golden rules of attracting and retaining top talent

  • Why you shouldn’t grow too quickly

  • The characteristics of a modern brand