[Review] The Transformational Entrepreneur

Many startup books focus on the nitty-gritties of actually setting up, running and growing a business. “The Transformational Entrepreneur: Igniting The Mind, Heart, & Spirit For Breakthrough Business Success“, by Terry Murray, takes a different approach. The professional business coach, and founder and managing partner of business training and development solutions provider Performance Transformation instead looks at the “softer” aspects of the business, and focuses especially on the one element that is largely ignored in business: the human being. As what the book’s strapline suggests, Murray takes a more critical look at the human consciousness and then works on how to employ that in business.

But it’s not fluffy castles-in-the-air theory. In the book, Murray draws evidence-based correlations between traditional business methods and how the human spirit was a consistent, contributing factor in successful endeavors. He highlights real examples of how this “softer side” is crucial in counterbalancing hard business processes, leveraging on his over 25 years of real-world experience, especially in the biotechnology and medical devices industries.

For example, Murray depicts in one example how a clear and impassioned vision impregnated into the right culture has transformational power and can turn a small player in a competitive space into a dominant one. On the other hand, he also demonstrates how narrow-mindedness can destroy the promise of even the best product. And if you’re in a leadership position, “The Transformational Entrepreneur” attempts to help you be self-aware and how you can weave a “human touch” in your company’s strategy and culture.

“The Transformational Entrepreneur” is not an easy book to go through. I found the book too conversational in some parts, and too unstructured in others. And like most consultant types, Murray relies on some concepts – proprietary ones used in his management practice, no doubt – that can either be too difficult to understand, or also employed by others but couched somewhat differently.

I’m not sure if the book is truly targeted at entrepreneurs, as it comes across more as a tome on leadership and management. But if you’re a thinking leader who’s always looking at new or different ways of maximizing your company’s potential (especially if all you’ve ever done is focus on the hard aspects of business), “The Transformational Entrepreneur” can be an interesting option.