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Don't Suck at Business: How to build a formidable business with speed, strategy, and a healthy dose of sarcasm by Kara Laws

November 19, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Kara Laws

Book Review

Don't Suck at Business: How to build a formidable business with speed, strategy, and a healthy dose of sarcasm, written by Kara Laws, is a business book for the brave humans who want to create a successful business but have exactly zero idea how to make said money and hold onto their sanity. This book is for the people who don't know ridiculous terms like COA, ROI, CRM, KPI, CMS, TOF, etc. This book is for the average small business owner who isn't sure they know what they are doing or how they thought they could start a business anyway. Most small business owners feel a little lost and in over their heads. Welcome! You are not alone.


Kara Laws has written her new book, Don't Suck at Business: How to build a formidable business with speed, strategy, and a healthy dose of sarcasm, for all those business owners who don't take themselves too seriously, who want to laugh, and who want to make money. She believes that building a business is different than simply selling some stuff - instead, starting a real business requires so much more than having a product. The “so much more” is what this book is about. And it is more than that. Don't Suck at Business is a step-by-step guide to creating a solid business foundation. A solid business foundation saves you time, makes you more money, and helps you avoid expensive mistakes.

Kara says that Don't Suck at Business is not a lecture, it is not a book of her achievements. Instead it’s a book that brings a combination of Humor, Sarcasm, Step-by-step guidance and Empathy. It is written for the everyday business owner who is busting their butt every hour of the day. This is for the business owner who is tired of making mistakes, tired of ending up in sticky situations. Countless business owners find themselves in sticky situations. This is the business book hundreds of business owners asked Kara to write when they realized those sticky situations were avoidable.

Author Quotes

This book is for the average small business owner. The regular Jane/Joe who isn't sure they know what the crap they are doing or how they thought they could start a business anyway. 

Most small business owners feel a little lost and in over their heads. Welcome! You are not alone.

This book is for business owners who don't take themselves too seriously, who want to laugh, and who want to make money.

There are humans all over the world who want profitable businesses but have no idea how to get there. If you are one of those humans, this book is for you.

About the author

Kara Laws is a business educator and the founder of LaunchedAcademy.com. Kara has built six businesses, sold four, and still runs two. Kara has worked with over 600 business owners and has personally coached some to hit over 1 million in revenue. Kara wrote her book Don’t Suck at Business because she was getting the same feedback from the women that she taught. Kara created a program and wrote a book to teach business owners HOW. How to open a business, how to avoid expensive mistakes, how to start growing, and how to do everything in the right order. Kara’s wit and sarcasm that got her in trouble in grade school are what she uses to keep business owners from falling asleep today.

www.launchedacademy.com


Why LoA loves it…

As women entrepreneurs, we need to constantly keep ourselves open to new ideas, new insights, new approaches that will help us to build our businesses and grow them to become the success stories we envision. Kara Laws brings a breath of fresh air to business coaching, helping entrepreneurs to navigate the world of business building and avoid making the usual mistakes that can be costly, time consuming and energy sapping. If you are looking to read a different kind of business book, one that combines advice and information with a good dose of humour included, then Kara’s new book could be for you. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa

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LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORIES

LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Vanessa Mhlom, a South African wellness brand builder
Vanessa Mhlom, a South African wellness brand builder
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Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi, an agripreneur focused on climate-smart solutions
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Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas
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Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy

IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

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Heritage-inspired accessories…Michelle Hammond is the founder and ceo of accessories brand, Ruahh. Her Ghanaian heritage has provided a rich source of inspiration and symbolism that she is rightly proud of. Today, Mic
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Premium Coffee Experience…We love a great cup of coffee in a morning at Lionesses of Africa, and so we are fans of Dvyn Treat Batamba’s great coffee brand in Mozambique, co-founded by Emilia
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Tantalizing textiles…We love these eye-catching cushions, created by Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera who founded Glo Creations in Rwanda in 2008. Her textile design business also produces fashionable clothing and home
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African luxury couture…For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Dibo Ndumbe Eyoh, co-founder and co-creative Director of Eloli, an award-winning luxury African fashion brand in Cameroon, has just what you need.
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Jewels and gems…Katy Valentine is a South African jewellery designer creating jewellery collections inspired by African and Indian cultures. Katy Valentine Collections was born out of a love for I
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Marvellous macrame…We have always been big fans of the wonderfully talented Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, co-founder of luxury Zimbabwean accessory brand, Vanhu Vamwe, together with husband Simba Nyawiri. This show-stop
Image of the Day / Eloli

African luxury couture…For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Dibo Ndumbe Eyoh, co-founder and co-creative Director of Eloli, an award-winning luxury African fashion brand in Cameroon, has just what you need.
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Sustainable Shawl Glamour - If you want to wear a shawl that makes you feel and look glamorous, Rayana Edwards, founder of Harem in South Africa, offers a range of fabulous shawls made from sari fabrics. She has be
Image of the Day / The House of Agness

An elegant floral gifting idea… Mariana Agness Francisco Eria is a creative force in contemporary floral design. Her business, The House of Agness, is a luxury florist and gifting boutique nestled in Map
Image of the Day / Ruahh

Heritage-inspired accessories…Michelle Hammond is the founder and ceo of accessories brand, Ruahh. Her Ghanaian heritage has provided a rich source of inspiration and symbolism that she is rightly proud of. Today, Mic Image of the Day / Dvyn Treat Batamba’s

Premium Coffee Experience…We love a great cup of coffee in a morning at Lionesses of Africa, and so we are fans of Dvyn Treat Batamba’s great coffee brand in Mozambique, co-founded by Emilia Image of the Day / Glo Creations

Tantalizing textiles…We love these eye-catching cushions, created by Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera who founded Glo Creations in Rwanda in 2008. Her textile design business also produces fashionable clothing and home Image of the Day / Eloli

African luxury couture…For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Dibo Ndumbe Eyoh, co-founder and co-creative Director of Eloli, an award-winning luxury African fashion brand in Cameroon, has just what you need. Image of the Day / Katy Valentine Collections

Jewels and gems…Katy Valentine is a South African jewellery designer creating jewellery collections inspired by African and Indian cultures. Katy Valentine Collections was born out of a love for I Image of the Day / Happy Coffee

Happy Coffee Experiences…If you are a fan of great coffee you will love Happy Coffee, founded by Princess Adeyinka Tekenah in Nigeria. She is a Coffee Entrepreneur and a Mom, and the founder of this growing ind Image of the Day / Vanhu Vamwe

Marvellous macrame…We have always been big fans of the wonderfully talented Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, co-founder of luxury Zimbabwean accessory brand, Vanhu Vamwe, together with husband Simba Nyawiri. This show-stop Image of the Day / Eloli

African luxury couture…For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Dibo Ndumbe Eyoh, co-founder and co-creative Director of Eloli, an award-winning luxury African fashion brand in Cameroon, has just what you need. Image of the Day / Sari for Change

Sustainable Shawl Glamour - If you want to wear a shawl that makes you feel and look glamorous, Rayana Edwards, founder of Harem in South Africa, offers a range of fabulous shawls made from sari fabrics. She has be Image of the Day / The House of Agness

An elegant floral gifting idea… Mariana Agness Francisco Eria is a creative force in contemporary floral design. Her business, The House of Agness, is a luxury florist and gifting boutique nestled in Map

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Gladys Kgorane, an entrepreneur creating special events and wellness retreats for those looking for rest and relaxation

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