Today's guest: Michael J. Coles
Michael J. Coles, the cofounder of the Great American Cookie Company and the former CEO of Caribou Coffee, did not follow a conventional path into business. He does not have an Ivy League pedigree or an MBA from a top-ten business school. He grew up poor, starting work at the age of thirteen. He had many false starts and painful defeats, but Coles has a habit of defying expectations. His life and career have been about turning obstacles into opportunities, tragedies into triumphs, and poverty into philanthropy.
In Time to Get Tough, Coles explains how he started a $100-million company with only $8,000, overcame a near-fatal motorcycle accident, ran for the U.S. Congress, and set three transcontinental cycling world records. His story also offers a firsthand perspective on the business, political, and philanthropic climate in the last quarter of the twentieth century and serves as an important case study for anyone interested in overcoming a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Readers will also discover practical leadership lessons and unconventional ways of approaching business.
On this episode:
Amber is joined by author and entrepreneur Michael Coles for a conversation on knowing poverty, growing through struggle, and achieving your dreams."
Tweetable Quotes:
"We should strive for a life that we wouldn't trade for anything." -Amber Fuhriman
"My story is much more about things that went wrong than things that went right." -Michael Coles
"There's no such thing has devoting too much time to building your team... the people around you are essential to your success." -Amber Fuhriman
"The difference between success and failure is how we react to the unexpected." -Michael Coles
Michael J. Coles:
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