Book Review: All In

Book: All In

Author: Arlene Dickinson

Publisher: HarperCollins Canada

Pages: 272

Price: us$5.99

It's not often that books create lasting impressions, like Alex Haley's Roots, JK Rowling's Potter series, JRR Tolkien's Hobbit or even Ayn Rand's writings. But there is still enough to choose from in the fiction and mythology categories. However, with legions of self-help books out there sermonising on what to do and what not, and at times advocating outlandish ideas, there aren't many that are exceptional in the genre. Arlene Dickinson's All In, then, is a revelation of sorts. The book is an experience and replete with anecdotes from real-life people and instances, which makes every word believable and an affirmation.

Thrust into our family-managed business by circumstances, today I am 'All In'. Though I am not an entrepreneur in a true sense, I have been able to glean many life lessons and business mantras from the book.
The brilliance of the writing lies in the array of concerns dealt with, concerns that are inherent in any entrepreneur's life. "You are not alone" is the cornerstone of the book. Every entrepreneur at some point has to face roadblocks and rejections. Arlene talks about how resilience will see you through, just like it has helped many others. However, the biggest myth buster is the notion of work-life balance. She explains how it is so overrated.

Entrepreneurship is quite straightforward. You work hard, put in longer hours, pay the price and savour the fruits. When you are working for yourself and your family, why should you be concerned with balance? We are not in some stereotypical job requiring us to punch in and out times, trying to fill in the interim period with some amount of work while not being entirely responsible for the outcome.

Another underlying element in the book is the importance of teams — finding the right mix of people to realise your vision and the critical element of delegating, thus losing control and opening up to possible debacles (or not). I earlier thought we need people like us to create a cohesive team ,but I was happy to be proven wrong in this book. Arlene professes the need for people who complement us rather than being identical copies of our temperamental self. People with diverse skills bring variety to the table, thinking up perspectives and solutions different from ours rather than zealously executing our unilateral vision.

The crux of any entrepreneur's survival is how s/he faces obstacles and overcomes them. Arlene considers problem solving an art, insisting that people separate the trees from the woods, identify the bigger problem from the small and prioritise them. We cannot solve all problems at the same time, and things whose outcome cannot be influenced should be consciously set aside. Handling anxiety is elementary for any entrepreneur. The book gives a lot of examples to this effect, which is enlightening.

Arlene is spot on when she says that entrepreneurship is a marathon. We have to be patient, informed and cannot always be scientific in our approach. We need to listen to our instincts and act rather than pore over countless reports and consult a gamut of experts. Her own career is a case in point.

The author shares ample insights into dealing with failure. This is highly relevant considering the number of ventures that fail for every single sustainable one.

When we spend hours every day focusing on the business while often missing out on family events, occasions and discussing sales figures on the dining table, there are moments of guilt and pain. Relationships go through tests and strain. The book is worth the time, and the author nails it perfectly. There are many parts you can identify with and come out wiser. Entrepreneurship is not as glamorous as it sounds or seems. It is often lonely, uneasy and filled with moments of angst. All In helps you process a lot of these feelings and radiate a sense of assurance and calm.
 

The book is available in US and Canada.

About Arlene Dickinson
Arlene Dickinson is an entrepreneur, author, TV personality and CEO of Venture Communications. Ranked as one of Canada's Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs, her recent initiatives include the likes of You Inc., a website where entrepreneurs talk about their journeys and lessons learnt.