Ivy Sea: Big Vision, Small Business

"5 Stars! Outstanding...absolutely my favorite book on entrepreneurship. I still frequently refer to it for inspiration. The page edges are worn (something I can't say about any other business books on my shelf)!" says About.com Entrepreneur's Guide.

"Thought-provoking ... you'll come away with lessons you can use," says National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE).

"Essential reading for entrepreneurs," says Library Journal.

"A well-organized road map for a successful small business. This book will change your perspective," says Maine Midcoast Review

"... offers a strong focus and expert advice that the intelligent entrepreneur will embrace," says Phil Hall, New York Resident magazine

This is a question that author Jamie Walters asks — and answers — in her thought-provoking and critically acclaimed book, Big Vision, Small Business: 4 Keys to Success Without Growing Big (Berrett-Koehler Publishers). While most of the business world worships what’s big and often brash, Walters’ book celebrates the art—and power—of small.

Walters—herself a big-vision, small-business owner and "lifestyle entrepreneur" since 1992 — spoke with more than 70 small-business owners and advocates from throughout the U.S., and shares inspiring anecdotes, insights and practical tips from her own and others’ experiences in Big Vision, Small Business. Vision-inspired small-enterprise owners come to realize that they can achieve success — their way — without getting lost in the perpetual (and, too often, meaningless) cycle of quantitative growth.

"Making your business successful without becoming the goliath on the block is a balancing act. Now there's a book that can help, Big Vision, Small Business: 4 Keys to Success Without Growing Big. Author Jamie S. Walters explores how solo entrepreneurs and small businesses can stay small while remaining vital and successful. Walters draws on her own experiences as a small-business entrepreneur and more than 70 interviews with small-biz owners to cast light on the rewards and how-tos of staying small. The book covers growth options and alternatives, communication, relationships, management and vision. It's a thought-provoking read. And you'll come away with lessons you can use to build a better business while staying small." — Entrepreneurial Connection (National Association of the Self-Employed)

"Five stars! Walters provides an excellent balance between research, stories, and personal insight, and the result provides a great balance between inspiration, motivation, and steps for practical action. Both inspirational and practical, Big Vision, Small Business is a must-read for the entrepreneur who sees his business as an instrument for dramatic and meaningful change in his life, his community, and the world. Well-researched and inspiration, it's one of the best books for entrepreneurs." — Scott Allen, Entrepreneur Guide, About.com Entrepreneur Portal - Read the full review

"This important work is essential reading for entrepreneurs and students of business. Strongly recommended to both public and academic libraries with business collections." — Library Journal Review

" ... provides invaluable advice on running a smaller company. Walters wisely points out that smaller companies actually have two bottom lines: the obvious financial consideration plus the emotional vision that incorporates the entrepreneur's lifestyle and experience into the ebb and flow of the firm. Positive without becoming pollyanna-ish, Big Vision, Small Business offers a strong focus and expert advice that the intelligent entrepreneur will embrace." — Phil Hall, Book Editor, New York Resident magazine

"Using “Do Well-Do Good-Stay Small” as its mantra, Big Vision, Small Business is as much an inspirational book as it is a well-organized road map for a successful small business. Taking a more holistic approach to developing your business into a thriving engine that can not only drive your revenues, it provides solid principles for integrating your business life with personal fulfillment and satisfaction with your life as well.

In the words of Dr. Wayne Dyer, “Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.” If you’re tired of chasing money and feeling guilty about it, feeling like you have to justify trying to make a living doing what you love, this book will change your perspective; you’ll begin to look at doing business as “right livelihood” with practicality and clarity. Ivy Sea Online also provides a wealth of resources for the entrepreneur." — Ria Baily, Editor, Maine Midcoast Review - Read the full review.

"As a small-business owner who has struggled to find the balance of running a small business, having a life and giving back to the community, I read with great interest Jamie Walters book, Big Vision, Small Business. I found it to be the best book I have ever read about small business, from someone who understands what it is like to be a small-business owner. I would strongly encourage anyone interested in the future of our economy and the role of small business to read this book. For future small-business owners, it should be considered their bible." — Scott Hauge, President, CAL-Insurance, Former Chair of the California Small Business Association, and Past-President and Founder, California Small Business Network.

"Big Vision, Small Business should be the first book you read before becoming an entrepreneur. The book provides a rich, inside look at what operating a small business is about today. It makes me proud to be part of the entrepreneurial movement. My first reaction upon reading Walters' book was one of awe — it is a book that expresses many of my thoughts about small business in a clear, inspiring way. Doing it justice in a review is almost impossible." — Judith Kautz, Ph.D., Small Business Notes.

"Big Vision, Small Business is wonderfully engaging, meaningful, a source of heart in daily living, and thorough. The book is about people, service to others, and appreciation of life around us. And it is also about business. I've described it as being intellectually delicious, a phrase coined just for Walters' book." — Bettina Grahek, Education Administrator and Founder, Edu-Leadership.

"The most thought-provoking book I have read in a very long time. Every business owner should read this book. The idea of creating a personal vision which includes learning, balance, value and integrity is so powerful you will praise the author for taking you on this journey." — Cynthia Jones, Founder and President, The Ladies Club 2000.com

"Jamie Walters knows that the best things come in small packages, and she's given us an engaging giftbox of insights and interviews about an often-overlooked force of the New Economy — small business. Big Vision, Small Business is a a refreshing inside look at the who, what, how — and most importantly, why — of smaller firms, and is valuable tool and essential reading for anyone in business." — Terri Lonier, author, Working Solo, and founder, Working Solo, Inc. and SOHO Summit. Read the recommendation from Working Solo.

"Among … entrepreneurs, there is a small but growing movement that looks at business in a new light. Jamie Walters is one of them. We used to think that the ultimate economic struggle was between capitalism and socialism. Now we see that it is between competing visions of capitalism itself. Ms. Walters and her fellow lifestyle entrepreneurs offer one glimpse of a possible business future." — Terry O’Keefe, Executive Bookshelf

"Wow! We have a breakthrough in mindfulness and business — This is the best book of the year! Big Vision, Small Business is an inspiration and "must read" for every entrepreneur and small-business owner. It is also "very large!" It provides valuable insight for every CEO and corporate executive on the issues of personal success, satisfaction, balance, authenticity, integrity, values, business growth and what is truly meaningful and important. Congratulations Jamie Walters for your outstanding work!" —Rick Sidorowicz, Founder, High Performance Retail, and Publisher of CEO Refresher Read the full-length CEO Refresher Review

"This book is an inspiration and ''must read' for every entrepreneur and small business owner. Big Vision, Small Business challenges you to reflect on what is important to you and your enterprise in terms of quality of service, quality of relationships, and quality of life. Within a context of mindfulness and authenticity you create your definitions of business growth, business success, personal satisfaction and balance." — SOHO Business Solutions

"This is the book for those who want to dream big, but still pay the bills. Every small business owner who wants to create an enthusiastic, productive workplace should read this thought-provoking and informative book. I only wish I’d had Big Vision, Small Business when I began my first business over three decades ago." — Claude Whitmyer, Author of Running a One-Person Business and Mindfulness and Meaningful Work, and co-founder of The University of the Future