The Power of Starting Something Stupid
"Richie Norton has written a book about courage. The courage to do work that matters and to do it with your heart and your soul. Go make something happen."— Seth Godin, author ofThe Icarus Deception"Perfect book for these uncertain times."— Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media“Today I have over 120 million YouTube views; it only seems like yesterday when people thought that following my dreams could only be a hobby. Fortunately, as Richie teaches, ‘stupid’ was the smartest thing I could do.”— Devin Graham, content creator for the YouTube channel devinsupertramp“Once in a great while a new author bursts on the scene to light a fire under us. Richie Norton is that rare spark. His certainty that the secret to success is tostart something stupidis right on and will alter your future. Thirty publishers thought Chicken Soup was stupid before it sold over 100 million copies. This new book could not have come at a better time and Richie’s urgent and authentic style is readable, convincing and a compelling blueprint for success. Be smart: readThe Power of Starting Something Stupid.”— Jack Canfield,New York Timesbestselling author ofThe Success Principles,and cocreator of theChicken Soup for the Soul®series“I absolutely love this book. I love how it makes me feel. It energizes me, inspires me, and gives me confidence. It reminds each of us that all things are possible. . . .This book disrupts conventional thinking—in a smart way.”— Stephen M. R. Covey,New York Timesand the #1Wall Street Journalbestselling author ofThe Speed of Trustand coauthor of the #1 Amazon bestsellerSmart Trust“When I wroteThe E-Myth Revisited,I wasn’t an author and I really wasn’t interested in business, but I had discovered something about business that nobody else seemed to see, or understand, and I decided to write a book about it. It came like a gift, a huge aha from out of nowhere, and I ran with it. Today, that ‘stupid’ idea (everybody told me it wouldn’t work!) has created the most successful book on small business ever written because of that one, great stupid idea. I thought I was just lucky. Richie just told me that I’m in really good company. Find out why stupid is now the New Smart. Read it, you’ll love it, you’ll find out why thinking stupid makes the best sense in the world.”— Michael Gerber, the world’s #1 small-business guru and author of the bestsellingThe E-Myth Revisited“More than just a call to action. This book is a demand for it. One chapter in I felt an involuntary impulse to reexamine my life. Later chapters held my hand as inevitable considerations came up from that process. An important, compelling and authentic read.”— --Joseph Grenny,New York Timesbestselling coauthor ofCrucial ConversationsandChange Anything“This warm, wonderful book will inspire and motivate you to do more in your life than you ever dreamed possible.”— Brian Tracy, author ofThe Power of Self-Confidence“Sometimes a book shines a light on a topic in such a unique way that you find yourself slapping your forehead and saying to yourself, ‘Now that’s simply brilliant! Why have I never thought of it that way before?’ And then you keep reading, and discover more and more ‘stupidly brilliant’ insights. This book makes you look forward to starting something stupid. That’s the genius of it. If success in life is a goal of yours, you’d be smart to read this book ASAP.”— Robert G. Allen, author of theNew York TimesbestsellersNothing Down, Creating Wealth, Multiple Streams of Income,andThe One Minute Millionaire"The Power of Starting Something Stupidteaches one of the truths that I have found in life and business: whenever I think something is a totally genius idea, it is not, and when I take a chance to do something that may seem like it will turn into nothing, that's when things turn out to be successful. So many great, successful ideas started as a whim—as something stupid. Because of this, I just keep trying. I just keep putting things out there. I just keep taking chances, even though they scare me."— Gina Bianchini, CEO of Mightybell.com; cofounder of Ning.com“Richie Norton has taken the fundamental principles of learning, living and thriving and integrated them in a most engaging and practical manner. His message and its relevance to every entrepreneur will be immediately apparent, but it is equally valuable and valid whatever endeavors and dreams you may have and at whatever age you find yourself. As he so compelling explains, each of us can have a more engaging, rewarding and fulfilling life by applying these principles in pursuit of our most worthy goals. I would recommend this book to young and old alike who want to have each day be an exciting and rewarding adventure.”— Dr. Steven C. Wheelwright, president of BYU–Hawaii; Edsel Bryant Ford Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus at Harvard Business School"Richie Norton uncovers the paradox of stupid as the New Smart and shows us how success can be one idea away. Watch out: the energy inThe Power of Starting Something Stupidis contagious. You may just find yourself starting something stupid and living your dreams."— Andy Andrews,New York Timesbestselling author ofHow Do You Kill 11 Million People?, The Noticer,andThe Traveler's Gift"From the very first chapter,The Power of Starting Something Stupidopens your mind to the possibility that you're not living up to your full potential. Richie Norton's powerful words provide the motivation and energy you'll need to start something stupid. Something amazingly, courageously, stupid!"— --Andy Beal, coauthor ofRadically Transparent,CEO of Trackur.comIn this era of negativity, less, limitations and no,The Power of Starting Something Stupidoffers hope, inspiration and profound advice for moving toward our own positive futures. Richie Norton has tapped into what is good, positive and worthwhile in all of us. Richie's perspective should be read and understood by all.— Mary Teagarden, professor of global strategy and editor, Thunderbird International Business Review at Thunderbird School of Global Management“There's magic to this book: ideas which seem to be stupid often turn out to be brilliant—they only looked stupid because we hadn't seen them before, and it was the courage of their creators to stick to their visions and bring them to light. Learning to curate, cultivate, and play with ideas that others don't understand (or are openly critical of!) is a hallmark of great innovators. Richie helps us to realize that fear of looking stupid can stop us from participating fully in life and from finding significant ways to help others. By showing us how this ‘stupid to brilliant’ pattern is at the heart of continuous innovation and renewal, he encourages us to trust ourselves and to bring our own unique contributions to our homes, our communities, our workplaces, and the world.— Steve Hargadon, founder of Classroom 2.0 and Future of Education"F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, ‘The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function,’ and understanding the New Smart is starting something stupid. When people like Fred Smith (FedEx), John Bogle (Vanguard) and Richard Branson (Virgin) created businesses that went in the opposite direction of the marketplace, they were once called stupid. All of these people transformed their industries and rose to the top as they focused on seeking the less obvious and taking the road less traveled. Richie takes readers on a journey to explore why starting something stupid may be the smartest thing you can do."— --Aaron Bare, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Thunderbird Global School of Management; Former CEO and Chairman, National Association of Sales Professionals