Review of When Business Is Love

[Harshitha G B]

[Following is a volunteer review of "When Business Is Love" by Jan Ryde.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Jan Ryde's book "When Business is Love" explores his business experiences, personal growth, unique family business stories, practical applications and approaches, moral ideas, and, most importantly, the macro- and micro-topics crucial for company success.

Pehr Adolf Janson, his grandpa's grandfather, founded Hastens Bed Company on the belief that love and passion can drive economic success. His primary belief was “To learn and master a profession of your choosing that will let you give people something they need.
And by doing so, you will always be able to look after the ones you love.”
For decades, Hastens Company has operated on love and devotion, believing in generational philosophy and values. "We are Hästens, and we have a singular mission: to make our world a better place by building the world's most wonderful beds." It's their purpose, and for millennia, love and passion have been key to their family business success.

In this conversation on business basics, the author highlights the importance of preserving the craft, maintaining uniqueness, and adapting to client needs, all of which drive the creation of new products. Managing a family company requires additional responsibilities, such as addressing unresolved family concerns, dealing with familial pressure, and seeking assistance in negotiating their differing perspectives. The author realistically discussed these themes, highlighting the numerous challenges faced by family-run enterprises and emphasizing the importance of continuous awareness.

In addition, the author discusses raw supplies, their horsehair processing mill, and the critical procedures they took to ensure the company's success. These phases included efficient costing, marketing, targeting particular clients for product creation, balancing loss-gain graphs, and responding to changing market needs to preserve quality. Consumers seek low-cost items, while others offer second-hand materials that the author's family doesn't utilize. The obstacles include multiple levels of competition, pandemic challenges, reaching the lowest point, and starting over with fresh perspectives. The author's comprehensive explanation of these elements highlighted the importance of understanding the foundational aspects of business, including techniques, tactics, and learning both inside and outside the chosen business, rather than entering blindly. The author advises on departmental prioritization, problem-solving, and maintaining originality.

In addition to technical aspects, the author guides mental practices that can enhance a business. These practices include hiring the right development staff by interviewing people who genuinely want to help, as well as reaching the right customers through effective marketing strategies. Limiting beliefs, customer feedback, state of mind, competitive attitude, the value of listening to others, recommendations, opening to advice and accepting generational principles, self-belief, self-love, and building a healthy working environment were covered. All of these reasons boosted the company. The author showed the importance of small details and behind-the-scenes aspects, such as simple, open conversations with customers that generate many ideas, a positive environment that maximizes their return, and self-belief as the first step to success.

I rate this book 5 out of 5. The book's clear chapter organization and subject segmentation are helpful for readers to understand easily. The author details the family business's ups and downs, adjustments, development, contributions, and problems from start to finish. Ideas, opinions, and thoughts about competitiveness are useful, and the author deserves appreciation for being realistic and honest because the book is full of facts, ideas, and proposals. I liked the book's narrative style and didn't discover any flaws or undesirable topics. The editing team presented an error-free book for a comfortable reading experience.
For its ideas and guidance, I recommend this book to businesspeople who are planning to enter the business world.

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When Business Is Love
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Anu Anand]

Hi, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book. I'm not much of a business person, but I enjoy reading stories about others in different fields. Your detailed and insightful review has piqued my interest, and it seems like I'll enjoy this book. Great review!

[Charmaine Mahlangu]

I can't believe you finished that book. Well done. This is a good review it is so spot on and straight to the point. You summarised the book really well.

[Abhishek3m4]

This review highlights the strengths of Jan Ryde's "When Business is Love," praising its clear organization, practical insights, and realistic portrayal of family business dynamics. The book's focus on foundational principles, strategic management, and personal growth offers valuable guidance for aspiring businesspeople. Highly recommended for its engaging narrative and comprehensive advice.