A Paperboy's Fable: The 11 Principles of Success

by Deep Patel

Overview

A young man learns that there is more to being successful than the bottom line.

A Paperboy's Fable is a concise, entertaining fable that makes revolutionary points using age old principles. Whether someone is opening a lemonade stand or leading a startup software company, the 11 Principles of Success make A Paperboy's Fable a timeless tale that is as fresh as it is universal.

A Paperboy's Fable also features interviews with many professors, entrepreneurs, CEO’s and General David Petraeus.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682610046
Publisher:	Post Hill Press
Publication date:	06/07/2016
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Deep Patel is a serial entrepreneur, investor and marketer. Patel founded Blu Atlas, the fastest-growing men’s personal care brand, and sold it for eight figures in 2023, less than 18 months after its launch. Previously, he had founded wellness brand Penguin CBD, which was rated the No. 1 CBD brand of 2020 by Snoop Dogg’s Merry Jane and was acquired in May 2021.

Table of Contents

Introduction 9

The First Principle of Success: Recognizing Opportunity 12

The Second Principle of Success: Investing in Success 17

The Third Principle of Success: Harnessing Ingenuity 23

The Fourth Principle of Success: Overcoming Objections 31

The Fifth Principle of Success: Adding Value, Reducing Costs 39

The Sixth Principle of Success: Creating Raving Fans 47

The Seventh Principle of Success: Crushing it with Consistency 56

The Eighth Principle of Success: Scaling for Growth 62

The Ninth Principle of Success: The Power of Diversification 69

The Tenth Principle of Success: Delegating Authority 78

The Eleventh Principle of Success: Branding for the Future 85

Applying These Principles 91

Q&A | Entrepreneurs, Professors, and Business Leaders 93

General David Petraeus 93

Josh Linkner 97

Heidi Gardner 103

Anthony Ameen 107

Derek Lidow 111

Niko Bonastsos 116

David Perry 120

William Kerr 122

Robert P. Miles 128

Jonathan Feinstein 131

Rus Yusupov 136

Robert Chess 140

Gina Smith 145

Sanjay Parthasarathy 150

Laura Huang 154

Acknowledgments 157

About the Author 159

Editorial Reviews

"A Paperboy’s Fable is a fun read. I was rooting for Ty Chandler as he made his way from opportunity to success. The bonus is a set of lessons for every entrepreneur."

Sanjay Parthasarathy

This straightforward yet insightful book will shoot directly from Mr. Patel’s heart and into yours. At once a solid business book and inspirational fairytale, it could be read by anyone interested in entrepreneurship, self-help and personal growth.”

MeiMei Fox

"A Paperboy's Fable is a great book for entrepreneurs of all ages. It is a fun read and packed with valuable insights."

Derek Lidow

"What Deep Patel has to say, on the basis of his research, interviews and reflections, is a true inspiration for millennials—and well worth pondering."

The Huffington Post

"A Paperboy's Fable epitomizes Warren Buffett's investment philosophy. It is an inspirational, entertaining and educational read."

Seeking Alpha

"Deep is wise beyond his years! A Paperboy's Fable is a hidden gem full of rich entrepreneurial insight that only somebody like Deep could tell in an enjoyable and educational format. I highly recommend this book to anybody with the entrepreneurial itch!"

Jeff Boss

"Prescient and insightful well beyond his years, Deep Patel provides a delightful account of entrepreneurship and the ingredients for success. Budding entrepreneurs and experienced veterans alike will learn and be inspired from the story of Ty Chandler and the lessons embedded therein."

William Kerr

"Prescient and insightful well beyond his years, Deep Patel provides a delightful account of entrepreneurship and the ingredients for success. Budding entrepreneurs and experienced veterans alike will learn and be inspired from the story of Ty Chandler and the lessons embedded therein."

Professor William Kerr

2016-04-05
A parable reveals several business truths through the eyes of an enterprising paperboy. Budding entrepreneurs and small-business owners should find this short story about a paperboy who employs 11 principles of success to be enlightening. They may also find it humbling that the fable was written by a debut author who is all of 16 years old. Patel says he modeled this tale after his father's stint as a paperboy at age 16, realizing that he could weave in "universal business truths." The narrative describes how Ty Chandler, anxious to raise money before going off to college, uses his ingenuity to acquire and service newspaper subscribers. The boy's experiences are recounted in brief chapters, each of which illustrates a particular principle. For example, in the chapter "Investing in Success," Ty takes some of his own money out of his bank account and invests it in greeting cards and photos so he can introduce himself to customers, engage them, and encourage their loyalty. The chapter "Delegating Authority" demonstrates how Ty recognizes that his booming business (which now includes a neighborhood lawn service) requires an additional worker. Every chapter is further enriched by a passage extracted from interviews the author conducted with 15 entrepreneurs and business professors. The construct of this entertaining book is ingenious; the cleverly devised tale depicts a business at its most basic level, dramatizing how even a paperboy can use proven strategies, skills, and techniques to grow a thriving enterprise. The author relates the business truths with a skill and sophistication that belie his age. An undercurrent of the story is also a nice touch: that it is possible to breathe life into a dying medium, the printed newspaper, by demonstrating its value to subscribers, supplemented by superior, personal service. The carefully chosen interview excerpts validate the principles, adding credibility to the approach. The complete interviews, each offering key insights, are included at the end of the book. Every principle, whether it is "Harnessing Ingenuity," "Overcoming Objections," or "Scaling for Growth," should strike a chord with readers. A finely crafted business fable steeped in meaning; made all the more remarkable by the author's youth.

Kirkus Reviews