LEVEL UP

A fresh take on entrepreneurial endeavors and a love letter to small businesses everywhere.

Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. But at a time when increasing numbers of workers are reconsidering where they fit in light of the “Great Resignation,” straight talk and advice from anyone who has “been there” is a welcome addition. Using the story of the three businesses that they ran—consulting, bottled water, fintech payment service—Abrams and her business partner, Hodgson, blend their personal narratives with hard facts and lessons to create an easily digestible how-to for running a business. Readers learn about such principles as the Three C’s of Growth (“Consumers + Commerce = Capital) and how that growth can be stymied by not having an adequate plan in place. The end of each chapter contains “Level Up Lessons,” which sum up the key findings and emphasize concepts the authors believe are particularly important, making the narrative accessible to any reader looking for business advice. The authors could have easily taken the safe route by simply sharing the story of how one thing led to another with their businesses or providing a straightforward, chronological account of their success. Instead, they dig deeper and offer candid exploration of nearly every aspect of their businesses, including good, bad, and occasionally devastating outcomes. Throughout, the authors open up in an appealing way, owning up to their mistakes, and they directly address many currently accepted principles that work against small-business owners—e.g., the difficulty gaining access to capital. They also show us how to manage unexpected changes in partnerships, which they navigated during Abrams’ political rise. “With Stacey’s responsibilities at the Capitol heating up,” writes Hodgson, “we approached this new phase of our partnership and personal goals with the same discipline and efficiency we always did. We had a frank discussion about how her expertise served the new company.”

A book packed with insight and inspiration from two successful entrepreneurs.