Business Audiobooks | Biography & Memoir

Four Seasons: The Story of a Business Philosophy

The founder of Four Seasons Hotels shares the philosophy and values that have made his legendary brand How did a child of immigrants, starting with no background in the hotel business, create the world's most admired and successful hotel brand? And how has Four Seasons grown so dramatically, over nearly half a century, without losing its focus on exceptional quality and unparalleled service? Isadore Sharp answers these questions in his inspiring memoir. He started out in Toronto, the son of a modest builder from Poland, but ambition and fate rapidly took him beyond his father's three-man construction business. Sharp learned the hotel business by trial and error. His breakthrough was a vision for a new kind of hotel, featuring superior design, top-quality amenities, and, above all, a deep commitment to service. Today, Four Seasons is widely recognized as the world leader in comfort and luxury-in fact, it sets the standard by which every luxury hotel is measured.

Isadore Sharp (Author), Jeff Semple (Narrator)

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Grow: 12 Unconventional Lessons for Becoming an Unstoppable Entrepreneur

Align people with profits and watch your business thrive Sustainable companies are the ones that turn a profit. But in an ever-evolving world, gearing yourself up for entrepreneurial success means looking beyond the ledger. Because a business isn’t built by financial statements, it’s built by the person in the mirror, for the betterment of society. In Grow: 12 Unconventional Lessons for Becoming an Unstoppable Entrepreneur, Mike Fata details his journey from high-school dropout to successful CEO and how his achievements (and failures), led him to create a guide that will put entrepreneurs on a pathway to success. Spoiler alert: it isn’t a fancy business degree, a high-flying network, or tons of investment capital. By stressing the importance of passion, integrity, and community, these 12 easy-to-follow lessons will highlight how to grow intentionally and build a business that is both authentic to you and relevant to the current landscape. A landscape that values not only the health and well-being of the bank balance, but also of people and the environment. It may seem scary to stray from the conventional business-model, but Fata knows that it is possible to build a sustainable, health-giving business that is also financially viable—because he has done it. And he wants to help you do the same. There is a successful entrepreneur inside everyone. The question is, are you ready to discover yours?'

Mike Fata (Author), Mike Fata (Narrator)

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Cage Kings: How an Unlikely Group of Moguls, Champions and Hustlers Transformed the UFC into a $10 B

A cultural and business history of the UFC, tracing the unlikely rise of mixed martial arts from what was derided in the '90s as 'human cockfighting' - more violence than sport - to a global pop culture phenomenon. Senator John McCain once decried mixed martial arts as 'human cockfighting,' while the New York Times despaired that the sport offered a 'pay-per-view prism' onto the decline of western civilization. But the violent spectacle of cage fighting no longer feels nearly as scandalous as it did when the sport debuted in 1993. Today, it's spoken of reverentially as a kind of 'human chess' played out in real-time between two bodies and the UFC is one of the most valuable franchises in the world, worth more than any team in the NFL, NBA, or MLB and equal to what Disney paid to acquire Marvel Comics. Once banned in thirty-six states and hovering on the edge of bankruptcy, the UFC has evolved into a $10 billion industry. How did cage fighting go so mainstream? A rollicking behind-the-scenes account of one of the most spectacular upsets in American sports history, Kings of the Cage follows the desperate fighters, audacious promoters, fanboy bloggers, fatherly trainers, philosophical announcers, hustling sponsors, and three improbable twentysomething corporate titans on a darkly comic odyssey to normalize a new level of brutality in American pop culture-and make a fortune doing so. Stylishly written and poignantly observed, the book offers a provocative look at how the hollowing out of the American dream over the past three decades and the violence endemic to modern capitalism left us ready to embrace a sport like cage fighting.

Michael Thomsen (Author), Patrick Harrison (Narrator)

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Through the Firewall: The Alchemy of Turning Crisis into Opportunity

Boyd Clewis has defied the odds and gravity. He was born dead, changed schools and homes as a child more times than he can count, became a teenage father and a track star, had more than one close brush with the law, and endured unimaginable family tragedy – all by the time he was barely old enough to drink. He found a brief silver lining in the darkness. When it didn’t last, he found himself unable to even get a job in the produce section at Wal Mart. He refused to fail, and in the process, learned how to turn crisis into opportunity – over and over again. As he relentlessly pursued success, his trajectory shot straight upwards: international success, speaking on major stages – and love. Even then, there were days he couldn’t get out of bed. Yet again, he reinvented himself, failed, and learned from it. Then, from a place most would consider their peak, he started from scratch to build his own business from the ground up. In the process, he learned what it truly meant to manage success. It can fulfill or destroy you, and it can bring your family closer, or tear it apart. It can isolate you from your community, or raise everyone around you up. For better or worse, what you focus on determines your character and the trajectory of your life. Focus on any one thing to the exclusion of others, and everything you built can fall apart. There are two sides to every coin, and every seeming misfortune contains a lesson. There’s an alchemy to turning adversity to wisdom, and curses into blessings, and this is the story of how it worked for Boyd, and how it can work for you.

Boyd Clewis (Author), Malik Rashad (Narrator)

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Wildflower: A Memoir

This extraordinary memoir of struggle and perseverance offers new ways of envisioning economic equality for everyone—from a leading activist and fashion pioneer. Aurora James’s story is not a “success story.” Or at least, it shouldn’t be told that way. Having dropped out of high school, struggled with body image, and dabbled in street racing, her eventual arrest might have been her rock bottom. But as a visionary and optimist, that experience became one of many that reshaped her way of thinking about the world. After a brief modeling stint, James discovered the real power in creating for the runway and started her own business in a flea market, a sustainable fashion line showcasing traditional African design that would become an award-winning international brand. Then she founded one of the fastest-growing social justice nonprofits, the Fifteen Percent Pledge. But none of this came from a desire to “succeed.” It came from a desire to forge a new creative path—and to lift others up alongside her. Already a rising star in fashion and the first Black American female designer to win a CFDA Award, James was inspired by the activism that swept the nation in the summer of 2020 to think bigger about how to empower Black business owners. With an idea and an Instagram post, she founded the Fifteen Percent Pledge, which challenges retailers to commit 15% of their shelf space and spending power to Black businesses. To date, more than two dozen of the world’s most recognized retailers have taken the pledge, redirecting $10 billion in revenue to Black brands. Empowering and full of heart, Wildflower is the story of how Aurora James got to where she is now and a rallying cry for those eager to make change.

Aurora James (Author), Aurora James (Narrator)

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Turnaround Time: Uniting an Airline and Its Employees in the Friendly Skies

Wall Street Journal Bestseller Go behind the scenes with the CEO who led United Airlines’ remarkable turnaround. Around the world and around the clock, the people of United Airlines are locked in a struggle against time to ensure your aircraft lands and takes off for another flight safely and efficiently. This “turnaround time” is the heartbeat of an industry in which the margin for error is nil and success is measured by fractions of a second. Turning around an aircraft and turning around an airline are very different challenges in most respects, except one: it takes a united team to perform it well. In 2015, when Oscar Munoz took the helm of this iconic brand, its culture was anything but united and its reputation was in free fall. A merger with its onetime rival Continental had stalled, operational and financial performance was badly trailing those of its competitors, and the bonds of trust with shareholders, customers, and employees had reached a breaking point. Setting out an ambitious plan to rejuvenate the company, Oscar learned that there was nothing wrong at United that couldn’t be fixed by championing what was right—the employees themselves. Meanwhile, only a month into the job, Oscar suffered a near-fatal heart attack that set in motion a race against the clock to find a heart transplant to save his life, even as he fought to salvage his vision for United’s revival. The health emergency might have been the end of the story—until employees and union leaders rallied around Oscar, inspiring him to pull through, something he did within weeks following a successful procedure. Oscar and the people he led, both with new leases on life, would go on to weather more turbulence, overcoming battles with investors and navigating several PR crises—including a global pandemic—to deliver top-tier operational performance, strong returns to shareholders, and ascending levels of customer satisfaction. By the end of his tenure, the people of United were finally flying together as one team, defying pessimism from industry insiders and rekindling optimism from employees and the customers they served. With candor, humor, and heartfelt wisdom, Oscar reveals how he rose from humble immigrant origins to lead United Airlines through one of modern business’s greatest corporate turnarounds. He offers soulful, much-needed leadership lessons for today’s world: listening with empathy, standing up for employees, building durable cultures that are profitable because they’re principled, and advancing a vision for a genuinely inclusive economy for the future.

Brian Desplinter, Oscar Munoz (Author), Christopher Salazar, Oscar Munoz (Narrator)

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The When The Heavens Went On Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach

Brought to you by Penguin. A momentous look at the private companies driving the revolutionary new space race, from the 3-million copy, New York Times bestselling author of Elon Musk In 2008, Elon Musk's SpaceX became the first private company to build a low-cost rocket that could reach orbit. Suddenly Silicon Valley, not NASA, was the epicentre of the new Space Age. Start-ups and investors began to realise that the heavens - ungoverned and unregulated - were open for business. When the Heavens Went on Sale tells the remarkable, unfolding story of this frenzied race to control access to outer space. Ashlee Vance follows four pioneering companies - Astra, Firefly, Planet Labs and Rocket Lab - as they attempt to launch thousands of low-cost rockets and satellites into orbit. While the space tourism ambitions of billionaires such as Bezos and Branson make headlines, these under-the-radar companies are striving to monetise Earth's lower orbit; to connect, analyse and monitor everything on Earth. With unprecedented access to private company headquarters, labs and top-secret launch locations - from the US to New Zealand, Ukraine to India - Vance presents a gripping account of private jets, communes, gun-toting bodyguards, drugs, espionage investigations and multimillionaires guzzling booze as their fortunes disappear. This is the most pressing and controversial technology story of our time, a tale of fascinating characters chasing unimaginable stakes. Welcome to the new Wild West above the clouds. ©2023 Ashlee Vance (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Ashlee Vance (Author), Ashlee Vance, Robert Petkoff (Narrator)

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Business Box: [2 Books in 1] Discover the Steps, Strategies and Tools You Need to Launch and Grow Yo

Looking to start or grow your business? Look no further than the Business Box audiobook! This comprehensive guide includes two books in one, offering you all the steps, strategies, and tools you need to launch and grow your business, make money doing what you love, and achieve your entrepreneurial dreams. Here's what you can expect from this incredible audiobook: - Two books in one! You'll get a comprehensive guide to launching and growing your business, plus a book on how to make money doing what you love. - Learn from successful entrepreneurs who have been there and done that. The authors have a wealth of experience and knowledge to share with you. - Discover the best strategies for building your brand, marketing your business, and attracting customers. - Get expert advice on how to create a profitable business model that will allow you to achieve your financial goals. - Master the art of time management and productivity so you can work smarter, not harder. - Gain the confidence and skills you need to succeed as an entrepreneur, even if you're starting from scratch. Whether you're just starting out or you've been in business for a while, the Business Box audiobook has something for you. It's the ultimate resource for anyone who wants to make money doing what they love, and achieve financial freedom and flexibility. Don't wait any longer to launch or grow your business. Get your copy of the Business Box audiobook today and start building the life and career you've always wanted!

Mark J. Cooper (Author), Laura Lewis, Michael Allen (Narrator)

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Sam Jonah And The Remaking of Ashanti

Sam Jonah and the remaking of Ashanti recounts the inspirational life of one of Africa's most prominent black businessmen. From working underground as a shovel boy to his appointment as the CEO of the trailblazing African gold mining company, Ashanti Goldfields Corporation, Sam Jonah's determination to surmount every obstacle in a career strewn with hurdles makes for compelling reading. Frenzied deals, boardroom cliffhangers, political scandal and private battles punctuate this unique account of the challenges of conducting 'First World' business in the 'Third World'. Through Jonah's corporate leadership we explore the paradox that a continent so richly endowed with gold and other minerals should find itself in such dire poverty. It is a hopeful story about breaking the confines of one's circumstances, not just for Africans but for individuals the world over.

A.A. Taylor (Author), George A Richter-Addo (Narrator)

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The Railroad Robber Barons: The Lives of the Magnates Who Dominated America’s Rail Industry in the 1

The Gilded Age and the dawn of the 20th century are often remembered as an era full of monopolies, trusts, and economic giants in heavy industries like oil and steel. Men like Andrew Carnegie built empires like Carnegie Steel, and financiers like J.P. Morgan merged and consolidated them. The era also made names like Astor, Cooke, and Vanderbilt instantly recognizable across the globe. Over time, the unfathomable wealth generated by the businesses made the individuals on top incredibly rich, and that in turn led to immense criticism and an infamous epithet used to rail against them: robber barons. Dozens of men were called “robber barons”, and the industrial might wielded by some of these men in the late 19th century directly led to a public backlash and made President Teddy Roosevelt the “trust buster”, and there has since been countless regulations to attempt to avoid the types of monopolies found over 100 years ago. However, many 20th century historians and writers pushed back against the allegations hurled at the “robber barons” and even took issue with the name. Libertarian writer John Stossel argued, “They weren't robbers, because they didn't steal from anyone, and they weren't barons - they were born poor...” Ironically, one of America’s most famous robber barons, Andrew Carnegie, epitomized the American Dream, migrating with his poor family to America in the mid-19th century and rising to the top of the business world in his adopted country. And like Carnegie, railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt set a precedent of sorts with his philanthropy, most notably his gift to Vanderbilt University, which bears his name. Similarly, the West Coast's most famous railroad mogul became Leland Stanford, who also bequeathed a prestigious university after making it to the top of the industry.

Charles River Editors (Author), Bill Caufield (Narrator)

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Science Titans: Einstein, Hawking, Newton, And Tesla

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Are you ready to delve into the fascinating world of science and technology with the greatest minds of all time? Look no further than the Science Titans bundle, featuring four iconic scientists who have revolutionized our understanding of the universe and shaped the course of history. Book 1 takes you on a journey through the life and work of Albert Einstein, whose theory of relativity transformed our understanding of space and time. Explore the mind of a true genius ahead of his time, and discover the insights that shaped his vision of the world. In Book 2, we delve into the brilliance of Stephen Hawking, one of the most renowned physicists of the modern era. From his groundbreaking work on black holes to his insights into the origins of the universe, Hawking's mind was a beacon of knowledge and inspiration to countless scientists and enthusiasts. Book 3 takes you back in time to the era of Isaac Newton, the legendary physicist and mathematician whose insights paved the way for modern physics and engineering. Explore his work on gravity, light, and calculus, and discover the ways in which his theories continue to influence science and technology today. Finally, Book 4 introduces you to the visionary genius of Nikola Tesla, the man who invented the future with his groundbreaking work on electricity, wireless communication, and more. From the Tesla coil to the Wardenclyffe Tower, Tesla's legacy continues to shape our modern world and inspire new generations of innovators. Individually, each of these books offers a glimpse into the mind and work of a true scientific titan. But taken together, they offer an unparalleled opportunity to explore the cutting-edge of human knowledge and discover the ideas and insights that have shaped our world. Whether you're a science enthusiast or a curious learner, the Science Titans bundle is an essential addition to your library. So don't wait – order your copy today!

A.J.Kingston (Author), Digital Voice Madison G (Narrator)

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Brochero, el hombre

Brochero, 'el cura gaucho': un hombre que movilizó las almas y los brazos de toda una región. Cuando el Papa Francisco lo beatificó, su nombre ya llevaba más de cien años en el corazón de las personas creyentes de Córdoba, sobre todo de las más pobres. El sacerdote de estilo frontal y descontracturado que había asistido a los enfermos de cólera, y al término de sus días aún tomaba mate con los leprosos, recibe su merecida biografía gracias a la pluma de Lucio Yudicello (que no por casualidad vive hace años en Villa Cura Brochero). Una mirada desde el siglo XXI al pionero que a fines del XIX impulsó la increíble construcción del 'camino de las altas cumbres' para unir el valle de Traslasierra con la capital provincial, entre tantas obras que le dieron vitalidad al castigado oeste cordobés. - Lucio Yudicello (Córdoba, Argentina, 1950) es un escritor y abogado argentino. Es el autor de las novelas 'El derrumbe' (1985), 'Las voces' (1992), 'El sangrador' (2006) y 'Judas no siempre se ahorca' (2011); libros de cuentos como 'Los nombres de la furia' (1994), 'Las partidas del juez Belisario Guzmán' y 'Barrio plateado' (2009); la colección de ensayos 'Ernesto Sábato. El revés de la utopía' (1999). Por esos libros recibió varios premios. Sus relatos y artículos han aparecido en la revista 'Estafeta literaria', en los diarios 'Clarín' y 'La voz del Interior' y otras publicaciones, además de ser incluidos en distintas antologías.

Lucio Yudicello (Author), Jorge Mansilla (Narrator)

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Business Audiobooks in Biography & Memoir