THE BOOK
DO NOT: Start or Run a Business My Way
DO NOT: Start or Run a Business My Way is a business and life lessons book by Oklahoma City business coach Michael D. Morrison, built from the real mistakes he made building a multi million dollar company from an $8,000 loan and $329 in the bank.
He’s rebuilt his life around what he’d do differently. This book hands you those lessons early, before they cost you what they cost him.
“I have known many business owners and Michael Morrison stands out as one of the innovators. His business ethics, forward thinking, and positive attitude attribute to his success. His character is among the best and I would not hesitate to recommend him or his talents to anyone looking to grow their business.”
MICHAEL D. MORRISON
25+ Years as an entrepreneur, building and growing businesses
Top 10% Globally ranked podcast, Small Business Pivots
10,000+ Entrepreneurs coached, mentored, and educated
About the Book
DO NOT: Start or Run a Business My Way is Michael D. Morrison’s account of the real mistakes he made building his first company, the kind no one warns you about until they’ve already cost you something. He founded that company in 1999 with an $8,000 home equity loan and $329 in the bank and grew it into a multi million dollar marketing firm. Along the way he learned the hard way what an unprotected marriage, an untrained bookkeeper, a handshake partnership with no legal papers, and years spent working in the business instead of on it can cost a business owner, lessons this book hands you before they cost you the same.
This isn’t a success story. It’s twelve real mistakes and the specific fix that turned each one around, written for the business owner who feels like they’re working harder than ever and getting nowhere, the same place Michael was for the better part of a decade.
About the Author
Michael D. Morrison founded his first company in Oklahoma City in 1999 and grew it into a multi-million-dollar marketing firm, recognized four years running as one of Oklahoma City’s fastest growing privately owned companies and named a National Innovator of the Year by the United States Postal Service. Today he’s a business coach in Oklahoma City who works with small business owners who are good at the work but stuck on the business side of it. He hosts Small Business Pivots, a top 10% globally ranked podcast, and coaches owners through his I Am Possible Program and the GPS framework he built from his own years in business.
WHAT’S INSIDE
What You’ll Learn From This Book
01: Why Michael Tells You Not to Read This Book
The book’s own first chapter warns you it won’t help, unless you do one specific thing with it. You’ll learn exactly what that is, and how to actually use it.
02: The Insult That Followed Him for Years
One sentence from a stranger shaped how Michael saw himself, and his business, for over a decade. You’ll learn how to spot that same voice in your own head, and shut it down faster than he did.
03: The Two Contracts He Should Have Signed First
A costly divorce and a handshake partnership taught Michael the same lesson twice. You’ll know exactly which two documents to get in place before either one costs you your business.
04: The Bank Account the IRS Froze
One decision about who handled the books put everything Michael had built on the line. You’ll learn what to look for in a good accountant, and get it right before the IRS notices.
05: The Free Help That Cost Him the Most
Trying to save money on who he hired turned out to be one of the most expensive decisions he ever made. You’ll learn how to tell a good deal from an expensive mistake before you make it.
06: The Day He Stopped Working In His Business
One shift in how Michael ran things is what actually let the company grow. You’ll get the exact systems that made it possible, so you can make the same shift faster.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about the book, before you buy it.
What is DO NOT: Start or Run a Business My Way about?
It’s Michael Morrison’s real account of building a multi million dollar marketing company from an $8,000 loan and $329 in the bank, and the twelve mistakes along the way that taught him the most. Written so other business owners can learn them without paying the same price.
Who should read this book?
Small business owners, especially those good at the work but stuck on the business side of running it. It’s also useful for anyone considering starting a business who wants to know what tends to go wrong before it does.
Who is Michael D. Morrison?
Michael founded his first company in 1999 and grew it into a multi million dollar marketing firm, recognized four years running as one of Oklahoma City’s fastest growing companies. He’s now a business coach in Oklahoma City, hosts the podcast Small Business Pivots, and coaches clients through his I Am Possible Program.
Where can I buy the book?
Use the Order Your Copy Today button on this page, or order directly on Amazon.
Does the book connect to Michael’s coaching programs?
Not directly. It’s not a workbook for any one program, think of it as an introduction to how Michael thinks. If the lessons resonate, his podcast Small Business Pivots, his I Am Possible Program, and one on one coaching are the natural next step.
Already living a chapter of this book?
Let’s talk through it before it costs you what it cost Michael.
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