Guitar Lessons : A Life's Journey Turning Passion Into Business (Hardcover)--by Bob Taylor [2011 Edition] ISBN: 9780470937877

The inside story of the founding and growth of Taylor Guitars, one of the world's most successful guitar manufacturers Bob Taylor mixes the details of his experience as a tradesman and cofounder of Taylor Guitars, a world-famous acoustic and electric guitar manufacturer, with philosophical life lessons that have practical application for building a business. From the a-ha moment in junior high school that inspired his very first guitar, Taylor has been living the American dream, crafting quality products with his own hands and building a successful, sustainable business. In Guitar Lessons, he shares the values that he lives by and that have provided the foundation for the companys success. Be inspired by a story of guts and gumption, an unwavering commitment to quality, and the hard lessons that made Taylor Guitars the company it is today. Q&A with Author Bob Taylor Author Bob Taylor What inspired you to write this book? The opportunity was presented to me, and the time just seemed right. Sometimes, I think, if you do these things too early, its a waste of time. In our case, it seems as if everything is right for people to want to read the book. How would you describe Guitar Lessons to someone who has little knowledge of Taylor? Its a book of business lessons learned through experience and told in story form. Its the story of starting a business as a teenager based on a craft I fell in love with, and really, how it turned into a major business by bringing great people in with me and persevering through the years. Is there content in the book that will surprise existing Taylor Guitars owners? I think people familiar with the company will see it as a more in-depth and candid story than what they are going to read in a blog, article, or company profile. In a book format, theres enough time to go into depth. There are lots of Taylor guitar owners. Weve sold a million guitars, and 750,000 of those have only recently joined our customer base in the last six or seven years. This will give them a better insight into our story and where we came from. What lessons do you want readers to leave with? The main lessons are that it takes perseverance and the ability to knock down obstacles as you go. Theres no singular thing that acts as a turning point in a business and gets you to finally make it. There may be 25 things that you need to solve for your business to be successful. Maybe you have to get to where eight or nine are solved just to stay in business, and then you go from there. But you must continue to own something, whether it means learning how to do production, marketing your products, or taking care of employees. You can run a car with six pistons, but it takes all eight pistons to fire for the car to really run great.

Bob Taylor knows what it takes to make a great guitar. He also knows what it takes to make 500 great guitars every single day. It takes perseverance, hard work, a willingness to learn, and dedication to your life's passion.

Guitar Lessons delivers a story of having what it takes—not just to succeed eventually—but most importantly, to survive those grueling early years. Nearly every successful company came from meager

beginnings, and Taylor Guitars is no exception. In 1974, Bob Taylor and his partner, Kurt Listug, then just a couple of kids, embarked on a journey to own their own guitar company. They instantly found themselves tempest-tossed, bailing water out of a leak-prone workshop, constantly struggling to make a buck, and tackling ever more complex problems.

Taylor shares each epiphany, each nugget of wisdom that encouraged him to overcome the obstacles, shaped his knowledge of manufacturing, and helped him transform his passion into a lucrative business. Today, Taylor Guitars is one of the world's most successful and highly regarded acoustic and electric guitar manufacturers. This is the story of how it all came to be.

The inside story of the founding and growth of Taylor Guitars, one of the world's most successful guitar manufacturers

Bob Taylor mixes the details of his experience as a tradesman and cofounder of Taylor Guitars, a world-famous acoustic and electric guitar manufacturer, with philosophical life lessons that have practical application for building a business.
From the "a-ha" moment in junior high school that inspired his very first guitar, Taylor has been living the American dream, crafting quality products with his own hands and building a successful, sustainable business. In Guitar Lessons, he shares the values that he lives by and that have provided the foundation for the company's success.
Be inspired by a story of guts and gumption, an unwavering commitment to quality, and the hard lessons that made Taylor Guitars the company it is today.

Introduction. Rust never sleeps Life's little lessons My very first guitar Inspiration The American dream On our own Early successes and early failures Sweat equity Figuring it out, one guitar at a time Finding our place Gaining traction On the move Making our case We're all in this together Embracing technology Building our brand Innovation Artists and celebrities In 10 years we'll be glad we did The third owner. Presents an inside story of the founding and growth of Taylor Guitars, one of the world's most successful guitar manufacturers. The author mixes the details of his experience as a tradesman and cofounder of Taylor Guitars, a world-famous acoustic and electric guitar manufacturer, with philosophical life lessons. Presents the life of Bob Taylor, a co-founder of one of the world's most successful guitar manufacturers, discussing his experience as a tradesman with philosophical life lessons that have practical application for building a business.