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  • The Messy Middle

  • Finding Your Way Through the Hardest and Most Crucial Part of Any Bold Venture
  • By: Scott Belsky
  • Narrated by: Scott Belsky
  • Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (94 ratings)
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The Messy Middle

By: Scott Belsky
Narrated by: Scott Belsky
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Summary

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Messy Middle, written and read by Scott Belsky.   

Silicon Valley is full of start-up success stories; every day stories emerge of a new company with the potential for a billion-dollar valuation and plans for global domination. 

But what can we really learn from these stories? How many of these start-ups are genuinely successful in the long term? When nine out of ten start-ups end in spectacular burnout, how can we ensure our own success story?  

While most books and press focus on the more sensational moments of creation and conclusion, The Messy Middle argues that the real key to success is how you navigate the ups and downs after initial investment is secured. It will give you all the insights you need to build and optimise your team, improve your product and develop your own capacity to lead. Building on seven years of meticulous research with entrepreneurs, small agencies, start-ups and billion-dollar companies, Scott Belsky offers indispensable lessons on how to endure and thrive in the long term.

©2018 Scott Belsky (P)2018 Penguin Audio

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What listeners say about The Messy Middle

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Really very good

Tonnes of great advice here, I'm giving it a second listen as way too much here for just a casual once over. This man has done his homework. Not a light book so be prepared to focus!

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Unbelievably good

This book is definitely a must listen. I found it insightful and enjoyable throughout. There are many many useful points and I suspect I will be returning several times to listen again. Highjy recommended

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Thoroughly enjoyed listening

A must listen for anyone in the process of starting or running a business. Some incredible references that inspire and teach along the way.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

brilliant listen

loads of great take aways no matter what stage of business your in

I recommend it thoroughly

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A bible

Scott shares incredible amount of tips and nuances here. One of the most comprehensive pieces about digital ventures. Consider textbook to capture all details too.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Of all the books I have read and listened to concerning the journey of an entrepreneur, for me this has been profoundly the most helpful. the most thoughtfully and richly written and the one I will be listening to again and again over the years to come. I am very grateful to Belsky for writing it. Other readers criticised his intonation in his previous audio book but I warmed to his voice quickly enough and found it all the more powerful that he was speaking his book himself. I imagine that’s not an easy to decision to make sometimes but in the case I believe it was correct and adds a great deal. I think this honest and multilayered book deserves to displace the reams of Silicon Valley fantasy tales that link the drama of initial idea to big exit, skip over the reality between and attribute success to whatever personal or company hero narrative fits the brand vision. At heart, I absolutely bloody loved this book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing insights into the period of scaling up

This is up there with Rand Fishkin's lost and founder as a must read for all entrepreneurs knee deep in the mud. Scott outlines all of the struggles he's experienced as an entrepreneur and investor in startups and then details how to handle those situations. I'll be going through this again many times.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Must read for anybody in a startup

Fabulous book with so many insights. I will have to listen again and again to jot them all down.

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In My Top 3 for entrepreneurship

I have read a lot of books on entrepreneurship, this one is in my top 3. Tons of wisdom and practical insights. Great work dear Scott.

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    5 out of 5 stars

I learnt a lot.

A great book with lots of insight. I have learnt so much, thank very much.

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