Me, Inc. : Build an Army of One, Unleash Your Inner Rock God, Win in Life and Business

The quintessential self-made man, master of brand identity, New York Times bestselling author, and award-winning executive—KISS's Gene Simmons—shares his manifesto for business success. KISS did not become one of the most successful rock bands in history by accident. Long before they first took the stage, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley had a clear-cut operating plan for their business. Over the past forty years, KISS has sold over 100 million CDs and DVDs worldwide and manages over 3,000 licensed merchandise items. In addition to KISS, Simmons' lucrative ventures include two hit reality shows, a professional sports team, a restaurant chain, and a record company. A recipient of the Forbes lifetime achievement award, this brilliant executive runs all of his businesses on his own—no personal assistant, few handlers, and as little red tape as possible. In Me, Inc., the marketing and finance wizard gives aspiring entrepreneurs the critical tools they... Me, Inc. features a black simulated-leather cover with gold foil stamping and a black ribbon bookmark.The fact that KISS is one of the most successful rock bands in the world is no accident. From the beginning Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley had a clear-cut vision of what they wanted to do and how they wanted to operate KISS as a business well before they ever first took the stage. Since deciding with Paul to manage the band themselves, Simmons has proved himself to be a formidable businessman, having sold over 100 million CDs and DVDs worldwide, overseen over 3,000 licensed merchandise items, and starred in the longest running celebrity reality show to date. More impressive is that he handles all of his business ventures on his own—no personal assistant, few handlers, and as little red tape as possible.In Me, Inc., Simmons shares a lifetime of field-tested and hard-won business advice that will provide readers with the tools needed to build a solid business strategy, harness the countless tools available in the digital age, network like hell, and be the architect for the business entity that is you. Inspired by The Art of War, the book dispenses Simmons'in-depth insights via thirteen specific principles for success based on his own experience, triumphs, and instructional failures in business—from finding the confidence within yourself that's necessary to get started, to surrounding yourself with the right people to partner with and learn from, to knowing when to pull the plug and when to double-down. These thirteen principles are a skeleton key into a world of success, freedom, peace of mind and, most importantly, financial success. Foreword by John Varvatos Preface Part I : Me. A young entrepreneur Coming to America Discovering TV and American culture Discovering junior achievement and learning about the capitalist business model My early jobs and their influence on me as an entrepreneur Who am I? KISS Learning about branding and the music business I am an entrepreneur Gene Simmons family jewels Philanthropy/Giving back Part II : You. Who are you? You-the me, inc. business model Role models Vacations, holidays, and other wastes of time Priorities/Practice what you preach Single or married? Career or family? Brilliant stupid ideas/Designing the right business model for you The importance of being able to sell yourself and tell your story Speak English Women entrepreneurs Kid entrepreneurs Failure : What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Investing In summary Acknowledgments. The KISS co-founder discusses the entrepreneurial philosophies that have shaped his successes in a range of industries, outlining how to build a solid business strategy, make the most of today's digital tools, and create an effective network and brand.