First of Its Kind

How can you make a book about entrepreneurship interesting? By turning it into a novel. This would be a brand new genre which I have never seen anyone pulling it off.

Until now.

International speaker and multi-awarded entrepreneur Ardy Roberto is no stranger to book writing, best known for topics in finance and relationships. He also mentors fellow wordsmiths through his sought-after Project Author workshops. What makes his latest book, The Happy Entreprenuer, unique is that this is his first work of fiction.

It is an auspicious debut. He starts with how seasoned novelists do it: gripping tension. We immediately meet the protagonist, Eddie, bent on committing suicide. With failed business and love life, he stood ready to throw himself in front of a rushing MRT train. Obviously, he didn’t die; otherwise, we will be holding a book with over 270 blank pages. (Sorry, as in all my book reviews, no spoiler here. But I found myself chuckling at the realism of how his suicide attempt was frustrated.)

The plot proceeds with Eddie meeting Tim, a successful entrepreneur. He asks Tim to be his mentor and after some struggle, Tim decides to take Eddie under his wing. Again, this is shrewd storytelling: never make it easy for the characters. Ardy injects just the right dose of conflict to make the reader keep turning the pages.

The Happy Entrepreneur reminds me of fictionalized mentoring as found in, say, Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie or Kirosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad. It is about time a Filipino steps up to the plate, with glowing endorsements coming from fellow thought leaders like Boris Joaquin, Bo Sanchez, Jayson Lo, Dean Pax Lapid, and yours truly.

Ever seen those movies where a real-life celebrity plays himself? Ardy does the literary version. As Eddie and Tim go on an adventure of teaching and learning, they meet John Gokongwei, Dylan Wilk, Dodong Cacanando, Iliac Diaz, Paolo Tibig (whom Eddie laughingly called “Tubig”), even Richard Branson, among others.

The device is usually a Go-Negosyo / Mentor-Me type of seminar, with a notable exception of the pair having a chance encounter of Big John inside an airplane. Tim also shares some secrets of his own. Check out his PISO on page 224. If you are after secrets of business success, read these portions as if you are eavesdropping on the conversation. One aside: I wonder if you will find certain idioms outdated. “Lodi”, anyone?

Have you noticed the “Happy” in The Happy Entreprenuer? That’s because, through Tim as his mouthpiece, Ardy shares life lessons aside from business secrets. There are the affirmations such as being grateful, always think of what is possible, and protecting your integrity. But the narrative also has a strong spiritual flavor, as Ardy clearly believes that life is more than making the big bucks and ultimately has to do with one’s relationship with God. Those who share his Christian faith will also recognize evangelistic content, woven as dialogue.?

Ardy also clearly understands the technique of having flawed characters. Eddie is not some troubled-but-virtuous Daniel to Tim’s Mr. Miyagi.?This may make some readers uncomfortable, but Eddie struggles with a serious addiction which he calls “medication”. Again, no spoilers here, but consider this as a reality among some entrepreneurs in crisis.?Business is so bad, the pressure is so strong, the shame is so deep, that they resort to some form of escapism or abuse. Ardy, through Tim, shows the path to liberation.

Tim also has his inner demons which, as it is revealed towards the end, helps us understand why he agreed to mentor Eddie and more. While I won't say what it is, for certain sensitive readers, be ready to have a box of tissues nearby.

If for anything else, stay for the dialogue. You can practically feel the eager hunger in Eddie’s words and the patient wisdom in Tim’s.?The book also triggers self-reflection. As Edric Mendoza mused, the world is full of Eddies and Tims. We can be Eddie as we wrestle with our share of hardship and heartache until a Tim crosses our path.?Another searing question would be: ?how can we be a Tim to some desperate soul?

All told, Ardy has shown himself to be an Eddie, through his vulnerability, and a Tim, through his wisdom. This is a rare how-to book that instructs, entertains, and inspires at the same time. Heed the lessons in this book and you will not only be on your way to be a successful entrepreneur. You will be a lot happier, too.

For more about the author:?Ardy graduated from and attended Ateneo de Manila, Sophia University (Tokyo), Asian Institute of Management, Stanford University (California) and at the Mt. Carmel School of Ministry in (Haifa, Israel). He co-founded two top training and learning events companies, Salt & Light Ventures, Inc. and Inspire Leadership Consultancy, Inc., He was also named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 10 Entrepreneurs as well as the Microsoft Most Inspiring Entrepreneur awardee in 2006.

Visit his website www.ardyroberto.com and https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/ardy-roberto-0a92024/

Order your copies via https://ardyroberto.com/books/ for the hard copies and Amazon.com for the Kindle editions.

About the reviewer:?Nelson T. Dy is an author, speaker and trainer on career, relationship, and spirituality issues. His day job is being an Assistant Vice-President running two factories for a well-known beverage conglomerate. Follow him at Linkedin as he continues to share his insights through articles such as the one you just enjoyed.