WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BE YOUR OWN BOSS
TESTIMONIALS
This book isn’t built on theory. It’s built on experience. And the response reflects that.
From business leaders to first-time readers, the feedback has been consistent. Clear. Practical. Honest.
“I loved Bill’s Fastway story. It’s very comprehensive but I enjoyed it so much that I wanted more. Not everyone who reads Bill McGowan’s book ‘Be Your Own Boss,’ will build a business as large and prominent as the franchised courier business that the author developed internationally, however, every person who aspires to be their own boss will benefit greatly from the business wisdom that Bill shares — wisdom which is practical and accessible and which has been forged from his own hands-on experience in identifying a business opportunity and developing, managing and growing it.”
PROFESSOR ANDREW TERRY
LLB Hons (Cant. NZ); LLM Hons (Cant. NZ)
Professor of Business Regulation, The University of Sydney Business School
“Bill McGowan gave me the manuscript to read prior to the book being published and I can confidently state that ‘Be Your Own Boss’ is a most intriguing, absorbing, and informative read, very well-written and well-researched throughout. It is immersive and comprehensive with the ability to fascinate even the less experienced reader on starting a new business. The sustained analysis and the variety of topics discussed relating to being your own boss and business strategy make the work compelling and it shows the author’s deep knowledge and understanding. This book is also very well organized into sections, allowing for a cohesive read. The personable writing style throughout makes this work accessible to a wide audience and it will fascinate those with interests in starting or buying a business, or in business-related endeavours more widely. ‘Be Your Own Boss’ will succeed within its market.”
JAMES BLAKEMAN
“Thank you for sharing your story on your business journey and the wealth of knowledge gained in 50 years of business. ‘Be Your Own Boss’ is a must-read for anyone who is looking to venture out in starting their own business. The author provides practical advice and tips on how to start and grow a successful business. What sets this book apart from other business books are the author’s focus on entrepreneurship as a mindset, taking risk and being open to new opportunities.
The book provides a step-to-step guide on how to start a business, from identifying what type of business is right for you to completing comprehensive research on the business you are interested in, the type of business models that are most suited to you along with how to write an effective business plan and much more.
The author’s writing style is engaging throughout the book and I found myself motivated and inspired to take action after reading each chapter. Overall, I highly recommend ‘Be Your Own Boss’ to anyone who wants to start a business or take an existing business to the next level. This book provides practical advice, real-world examples, and an entrepreneurial mindset that is essential for success in today’s business world.”
DAVID TRAN
Operations Manager, National Facilities Management, Sydney, Australia
“Bill McGowan is a retired businessman who has mentored and is still mentoring newbies in business; he has been in the business world for over fifty years with a lot of experience. He is peculiarly fond of the franchise business. He has won many awards over the years and has earned his place in the business world. He has travelled the world while expanding his business.
In the book Be Your Own Boss, he leads us through his business story. He endears us to him with details of his struggles as a young business owner, and he doesn’t stop there. He lets us know his struggles before the business started and the risks he took. Also, he lets us know how draining expanding a business can be when it comes to management in connection with the different cultures of people. He doesn’t lie or make running a business easy. He tells us of the work we have to put in to enjoy financial safety and freedom. Bill encourages us and takes us through a step-by-step procedure to make this journey easier.”
BREM ELLINGHAM
“Be Your Own Boss Author Bill McGowan. The author of this book sold me his story as early as 1989, and I hung on every word then, to better my life and be my own Boss. Well I can safely say that Bill’s book published this year was, ‘wow’ what a great read, and the facts have refined themselves greatly over the years, and are undeniably factual and true if one wants to embark on his/her own business and have a better than average chance of succeeding. The book is also a great personal story of how Bill’s determination to succeed won the day regardless of how much sleep he had or not, or what day of the week it was, to build a major force in the Franchising World.
The book sets out clear objectives for motivated individuals, with the desire to better themselves, so Bill’s advice in this book to work hard and follow your goals gives us all a clear message that ‘aggression plus goal setting = motivation’.”
KEVIN HOARE
Queensland
“Be Your Own Boss by Bill McGowan delivers advice to anyone who wants to start a business. It is a guide to help. The author shares how he started the business and also writes about his family. He has more than 50 years of experience. The writer presents his entire business journey. He tells about the difficult beginnings, the struggle, and the risks. It shows that the business world is not easy at all and encourages you to achieve your goals step by step.
The book contains a lot of useful information. Bill shares a lot of details about his life, which makes the read more personal. The writer’s knowledge and life experience help the reader. He covers several topics, such as marketing and organization. What I really liked about the book were the illustrations; they made reading more interesting for me. The caricatures were entertaining.
The structure of the entire book is demanding. As I read the lines, I felt that the writer takes his message seriously and that passing on knowledge is important to him. The book is a quick read with collected information. It provides practical advice, such as how to write an effective business plan. What makes it stand out from other books is the author’s personality and his focus on mindset and open-mindedness.
While reading, I learned not only about economics and accounting but also about myself. It is a positive experience for me, which helps me grow and get to know my personality better. Bill did almost everything to get his point across. He also showed the difficulties, so it was realistic; he didn’t want to present false hopes. How’s ‘Your Personal Wheel of Fortune?’ was my favourite part.
I learned from the questionnaire what kind of place I would have in the business world. What detracted from my enjoyment of reading were the spelling mistakes. So, my rating is 4 out of 5. Despite the grammatical errors, it is a well-constructed book with a valuable message. I was motivated after reading the chapters. I recommend the book to people who would like to know themselves better and are interested in the world of business.
If you want financial independence, to learn about your strengths and weaknesses, and to organize your thoughts, this book is definitely for you. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to start a business from scratch. The book gives practical tips to those who want to be their own boss.”
NOEMI TOTH
OnlineBookClub.org
“I have enormous respect for Bill McGowan and what he has achieved in business. This book is packed with practical tips and checklists, delivered in Bill’s straight-shooting style. I particularly liked the first chapter where Bill shares his real-life journey in establishing from scratch one of the world’s leading courier franchises. And I loved the last chapter titled ‘Your Personal Wheel of Fortune’ which provides an invaluable personal assessment for anyone in business. Thank you Bill McGowan for sharing your practical business experience in such a comprehensive manner.”
GREG NATHAN
Founder, Franchise Relationships Institute
“Be Your Own Boss is a comprehensive and practical outline and guide for anyone setting up and/or buying a new business. It is an excellent tool for any wannabe purchaser or setter-upper of a business. This book is very well done.”
JIM MCCRACKEN
Melbourne, Victoria
“I really enjoyed reading ‘Be Your Own Boss,’ it was very personal, engaging, and informative. This is the sort of content that is sadly missing these days in franchising.”
STEPHEN GILES
Franchise Lawyer & Senior Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright, Australia
“Be Your Own Boss” is an information source for people thinking of starting or buying a business based on Bill McGowan’s 50 years of business experiences. The book has been designed as a guide to help people organise their thoughts and to decide whether being their own boss is really for them. Bill has tried to use everyday language and tried to make the book easy to understand. Starting a new business is complex at the best of times and his aim has been to make this process as manageable as possible. Bill’s personable writing style and extensive knowledge in starting businesses from scratch, makes this book a most intriguing, absorbing, informative and a must-read.
AUSTIN MACAULEY
Publisher
In “Be Your Own Boss” by Bill McGowan, readers are taken on a journey through the eyes of a young entrepreneur who took a remarkable leap of faith by giving up his current lifestyle to embark on establishing a courier transportation company. This book offers a unique perspective on entrepreneurship, as Bill McGowan recounts how he relinquished everything in his life to pursue his dream. His focus is on catering to small businesses, offering cost-effective solutions, and solving the challenges clients face when dealing with courier companies. Bill McGowan doesn’t sugarcoat the process. He provides a candid and detailed account of his entrepreneurial journey. He shares not only his successes but also his struggles and the creative problem-solving required to overcome obstacles. From the initial stages when he had to feign being an established company to attract new clients, to eventually growing the business into a global franchise company, Bill McGowan’s story is testament to dedication and resilience. His firsthand account of the challenges and triumphs encountered along the way serves as a source of inspiration and valuable lessons for those embarking on their own entrepreneurial journey. It offers a comprehensive breakdown of the entrepreneurial experience, shedding light on the harsh realities of starting a business versus being an employee. Bill McGowan’s narrative is rich in practical insights and strategies that can be invaluable to anyone contemplating taking the same first steps of their own.
JADE KUHNERT
Bill McGowan, your book “Be Your Own Boss” has provided me practical advice, confidence, and the strategies I needed to start my own business. I have read the book 4 times and completed all the practical exercises. I love the first section of your book when you took me through your story of how you became such a successful global entrepreneur. I purchased the book last June off Amazon and have never looked back. I am 28 years old and started my new venture offering the door-to-door sale of commercial cleaning products and equipment on the 1st February 24. Sales have exceeded my budgets and I have now taken on an additional 2 sales staff, and I am even considering franchising down the track. Thank you so much for writing the book and sharing your business experiences. The book was the catalyst for me in starting my own business venture. I would highly recommend anyone considering going into business to buy and read this book.
JOHN M.
Los Angeles, USA
I have always wanted to be my own boss, and I can honestly say that after reading Be Your Own Boss it has given me the courage and guidance to point me in the right direction in making this happen. Working as a Travel agent for over 20 years has given me all the practical skills I needed in my career. I just needed to take a leap of faith and start working for myself independently. I actually keep the book on my desk so I can refer back to things like strategies and marketing or anything else I may need some guidance on in the future. Page 69 and 70 (A few basic questions to ask yourself) once I answered those questions, I knew I was ready. I worked out my business plan and what I wanted my business to look like. So, I then aligned myself with an entrepreneurial mobile based company specializing in luxury travel. Your book can teach you something new each time you read it. I now have my own mobile business Luxebyitravel which I know will be a success. Thank you, Bill McGowan, for writing this book and sharing your valuable knowledge and experiences in the business world.
SHARON GODDEN
Sydney Australia
Bill McGowan is a retired businessman who has mentored and is still mentoring newbies in business; he has been in the business world for over fifty years with a lot of experience. He is peculiarly fond of the franchise business. He has won many awards over the years and has earned his place in the business world. He has travelled the world while expanding his business.
In the book Be Your Own Boss, he leads us through his business story. He endears us to him with details of his struggles as a young business owner, and he doesn’t stop there. He lets us know his struggles before the business started and the risks he took. Also, he lets us know how draining expanding a business can be when it comes to management in connection with the different cultures of people. He doesn’t lie or make running a business easy. He tells us of the work we have to put in to enjoy financial safety and freedom. Bill encourages us and takes us through a step-by-step procedure to make this journey easier. Be Your Own Boss is more than a good read; I loved every page of it.
To start with, the pictures and caricatures were amazing. The images served as evidence and made for easier understanding. The author related all that was written easier with illustrations while, on the other hand, the caricature was fun, and this is one of the reasons I kept reading the book. I was never bored, and this enhanced my reading experience. Another positive aspect I must not forget to mention is the details. Bill couldn’t have done a better job. He used subchapters or subheadings to explain every term more. I never got confused, and understanding was not stressful.
Furthermore, this book was truly eye-opening; it was a three-in-one course on economics, accountancy, and business management. I had my jotter next to me, taking in all I read, which made me keep reading, and the feeling I had was that of curiosity and suspense. As I stated earlier, Bill didn’t in any way make us feel that starting and running a business was a piece of cake but instead, he made us fully aware of the hurdles along the way and was realistic in his explanation. I am grateful for that. Last but not least is the question-and-answer sections/survey. I didn’t just learn about economics, accountancy, business, and management. I also learned about myself, discovering my weaknesses and strengths. If you have dreams of owning your business and being your own boss, this book is for you.
CHIWELITE OBIOMA MGBEOJI
OnlineBookClub.org
Pulling no Punches. This new book by a franchise veteran provides good advice for anyone wanting to be their own boss. You don’t get to build a multi-award-winning international business by pulling your punches, and in Be Your Own Boss Bill McGowan, the founder of Fastway Couriers, delivers some hard-hitting advice for anyone thinking of starting their own business or buying a franchise.
The book is designed as a guide to help people organize their thoughts and to decide whether being their own boss is really for them. Along the way, Bill shares a bit of family history, explains how he got into business, and tells a lot of memorable tales about the effort that went into creating Fastway — all in Bill’s typically blunt fashion. The tale of how he got revenge on a reluctant bank manager made us genuinely laugh out loud.
Bill also translates his experiences of researching opportunities, overcoming obstacles, and teaching other people how to operate their own businesses into checklists, questionnaires, and advice. He recognizes that starting a new business is complex at the best of times, and he has aimed to make this process as manageable as possible for the intending entrepreneur. This review was published in the April 2023 edition of Franchising Magazine New Zealand.
SIMON LORD
Franchise Magazine NZ
Shamans the world over will tell you that the remedy for many tropical poisons and plants is often found within inches of the offending agent. Or, that opportunity, money, and success are, like air and water, super abundant: they are all around. The art and magic is knowing how to catch them. Look around you. Franchises are everywhere.
Bill McGowan, a forward thinker and entrepreneur-extraordinaire from Australia, takes us on a delightful and supremely informative tour of his formative business years in which he saw opportunity everywhere — and did something about it. McGowan became the founding father of Fastway Couriers, an international company based on reliable, expert handling of courier mail, business mail, and packages.
With humour and a heart of gold, Bill McGowan generously provides readers with sketches, theory, working plans, questionnaires, and bullet-pointed to-do lists. Like-minded readers can stand on McGowan’s shoulders and strategize their very own business journeys. Be Your Own Boss is organized into two major sections. First there is the backstory of the company and McGowan’s rise to success; then there is the useful workbook which follows. The take-home lessons in this book are extremely valuable — not only to business-minded readers, but to any reader seeking personal, career, and financial liberation.
DAVID ALLEN
Pacific Book Review
Over the span of two decades, Bill McGowan has meticulously crafted a masterpiece with Be Your Own Boss, a valuable resource tailored for individuals contemplating business launches or acquisitions. Drawing from five decades of personal business acumen, McGowan presents an encompassing guide for those seeking to crystallize their thoughts and evaluate the viability of the entrepreneurial journey.
The book earnestly aims to provide insights that tangibly elevate the odds of success. What sets this book apart is its seamless blend of business insights with humour and introspection. Amusing illustrations counterbalance weightier business content, while thought-provoking questions encourage readers to delve deeper into contemplation.
Interwoven within the narrative are the author’s firsthand accounts of overcoming challenges, from navigating government regulations and obtaining operational licences to mastering cost management and facilitating growth. Ultimately, the book underscores the reader’s agency in shaping their path. I highly recommend this book to all aspiring entrepreneurs and individuals contemplating the path of self-employment.
KGAUHELO CHABALALA
Be Your Own Boss offers a wealth of valuable information on building a business and getting into franchising; it is clear and user-friendly, offering important foundations for both business and life. Bill McGowan recounts his time as a business owner and, more specifically, as the founder and chairman of Fastway.
He walks readers through advice on how they can break into business, set and meet effective goals, plan business operations, and market their products and services. The content of the book is delivered with exceptional pragmatism — both in style and organization. The first standout feature of the book is just how comprehensive it is.
McGowan gives you everything you need to get started in business, at least in terms of learned insight and guidance. His writing is straightforward, and he does a fantastic job of drawing connections between each subtopic that he covers. The expansive narrative sharing McGowan’s personal history bears relevance, establishes credibility, and illustrates many of the principles covered in the book. Be Your Own Boss could be classified as one of the greatest contributions to its genre. It is definitely well worth the read.
BOOKEXCELLENCE.COM
Be Your Own Boss recounts the inspiring journey of Bill McGowan, who defied the odds despite his humble beginnings. The narrative unfolds as a testament to McGowan’s unwavering determination, propelling him to achieve success through calculated risks.
McGowan’s generosity shines through as he shares the wealth of experience he gained along his path to success. One notable aspect of the book is its lack of negativity, as the author’s passion permeates every page. The central theme of the book revolves around the concept of being a goal getter, encouraging readers to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
The book distinguishes itself by its practical orientation, providing real-life approaches to achieving success in the business realm. The glowing 5 out of 5 rating I give reflects my satisfaction with the book’s content and its potential to guide others toward a fulfilling and self-directed professional journey.
OMOTAYO VICTORIA
OnlineBookClub.org
This book is a must-read for anyone looking to start their own business, especially if they want to go into franchising. The author has in-depth, insightful, and personal experiences of great value for would-be entrepreneurs. I enjoyed reading about how he started his business; the mistakes he made, the wins, and the risks. His strategic and creative methods of achieving his goals are inspiring and illustrate his tenacity and natural ability to establish and build a successful business.
The book is mostly well-written and worth reading. The author's personal story is quite detailed; he starts by telling the story of his humble beginnings in business and describes each step he took in his quest to establish a business that grew to be a global enterprise. What fascinated me about his story was that his quest began purely out of simple curiosity about the cost of sending a parcel. His curiosity became the spark that lit his drive to build his business. It is quite clear that he had great ambition from the very tender age of thirteen years old when he started his lawn-mowing business. Although he was young, he worked at it and established a solid customer base, then eventually sold it.
Over the last few weeks, I have been hearing a lot about the importance of setting goals. Having been someone who has always struggled with this, I was drawn in by the story when the author introduced the concept of having a goal book, as well as how he demonstrated his ability to set his goals clearly and then went ahead to strategically achieve each one that he had set for himself. Reading about how this translated into his business, left me asking why it was so difficult for me to do something that seemed so simple. I can honestly say that this was the most significant takeaway message and lesson for me to learn.
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Despite the typos and unintentional errors, I found that there is a lesson for every person no matter what their ambitions or areas of improvement they are pursuing in business, personal, and professional capacity. I liked that he included the various activities in the book that anyone can use to help them answer the questions everyone asks themselves when contemplating if they should go into business.
In conclusion, this a good handbook of a step-by-step how-to guide of what to consider, the steps to take, the types of business ownership that exist along the advantages and disadvantages of each listed option. The style of writing is to the point allowing the reader to easily understand, and the book itself is not so long that one will lose interest. As a visual person, I particularly enjoyed the use of illustrations to add an element of fun to the subject of business.
NQOBILE AYANOU
In Be Your Own Boss by Bill McGowan, the author delves into how a person can manage to become their own boss. Many people around the world have dreams of owning their own businesses and not working under someone else, even though they may not know how to achieve this. The writer of this book has been his own boss and has decided to outline how he was able to achieve this great success.
Bill, who was born in New Zealand, started his own lawn mowing business at the age of 13. After selling the business at age 18, he decided to venture into the transport sector. Bill continues to share the steps and decisions he took to become the global company he is today. The first chapter of this book shares Bill's success story, while other chapters detail how to achieve similar success. The writer believes that there are many reasons why people would like to own their own business, but the main reason is to make money. This book contains insights on how to start your own business, goal setting, business planning, and marketing.
This book is highly informative and educational. The writer leaves no stone unturned, providing a comprehensive guide on how to start a successful business and become your own boss. I believe this book would be of great help to people who are tired of working under someone, whether due to dissatisfaction with their workspace, inadequate pay to cover expenses, or disliking their boss's attitude, and who have plans to start their own business.
I found nothing to dislike about this book. As someone who also dreams of being my own boss, this book has been extremely helpful. I appreciated the diagrams and cartoons used to illustrate some concepts in the book. I would rate this book five out of five stars because of its clear narrative and language. In conclusion, I believe this book is for everyone. I would personally recommend it to those who love educational and informative literature.
ANGEL OKAFOR
As I turned every page of "Be Your Own Boss" by Bill McGowan, I felt an excursion that tallied very much with aspirations and echoing insecurities about life and making it in the business and entrepreneurship world. The transition story of Bill's business from being a lawn mowing business to one that established a footprint in the transport business captured me from the very start. It's like I was walking with him all along, picking up lessons along the way on how he ventured on his businesses. His openness on the nitty-gritty of franchising in Australia was quite enlightening, but I could also get encouraged and think out of the box of traditional lines of doing business.
Bill’s narrative is profound in its simplicity and depth. He has managed to brilliantly bring into touch the basic questions of why a person should venture into a business idea and how the financials are maneuvered in the backing of banks. And this part of the storytelling demystifies to me the often-scary part of financing. Moreover, down-to-earth advice on marketing, with all the details of steps one needed to take to start a business, was kind of a compass guiding me through the fog of startup uncertainties.
The chapters on expanding a business through franchising and the associated legal requirements were enlightening. Bill's methodical, monotonous approach to explaining the most apparently daunting and complex of apparent legalities made the surprisingly manageable task of understanding laws on franchising. His advice on structuring a business was the cornerstone of my learning experience. Having a business idea is one thing but structuring it for success is a totally different ball game; on this, Bill's insights have been very valuable.
The exceptional editing and grammatically flawless writing of the book added to my enjoyment and ease of reading. In those very few books, like treasures themselves, they are written for easiness in reading. Every chapter, every page has been an experience of learning, void of errors or cumbersome sentence structures. Clearly, Bill gave the same amount of precision and care to the business venture that he gave to crafting this book.
Not once did I find myself disliking any part of the book. This is a perfect mix of personal business narrative with practical entrepreneurial advice. It has struck just the right balance of sharing personal experiences and imparting business wisdom.
It has not inspired me only; rather, it inspired and empowered my entrepreneurial spirit, for I came out enlightened and equipped with knowledge and tools to be able to confidently pursue my business dreams. In reflecting on my journey with "Be Your Own Boss," I see it not just as a book but as a mentor. Bill McGowan weaves his own success story, underlining actionable business strategies that are imprinted on my entrepreneurial outlook. Lessons from his life experiences are those kinds of treasures which I will pack in the carry-on as I take off into my very own business venture. The sheer fact of resilience, strategic thinking, and courage to be one's boss. The journey from lawns to logistics that Bill undertook is not a business success story. It's an inspiring guiding light for entrepreneurs like me. I rate this book five out of five star.
WAJIDA BEGUM
Thank you so much for writing “Be Your Own Boss” and sharing your business experiences. My mother gave me your book for my birthday earlier this year in January. I have always wanted to be my own boss, and I can honestly say that after reading Be Your Own Boss it has given me the courage and guidance to point me in the right direction and actually making this happen.
I have been a qualified plumber for 13 years and it was only after reading your book that I had the courage to start my own business using all the business skills I gained from the book. I started out on my own in May this year and have not looked back. I recently took on an apprentice, and I now have so much work that I am about to employ another plumber. I would highly recommend anyone considering going into business to buy and read “Be Your Own Boss”, it has changed my life for the better. Thank you, Bill.
PAUL FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Bill McGowan, thank you so much for writing your book “Be Your Own Boss”. I was born in England and immigrated to Miami, Florida in 1993. I purchased your book last year on Amazon and I have to say it was the best investment I have ever made. I completed all your checklists, questionnaires, and the Wheel of Fortune exercise. Your book was definitely the catalyst to my starting my own local guiding business. I had limited working capital at the time and was an unemployed seasonal bus driver. Your book got me thinking about what I was good at, which was my knowledge of Miami area. Yes, I could start my own local guiding business.
Firstly, I did additional research on the local arts, sporting events, food, nightlife, sightseeing, off the beaten path areas and every aspect of the area’s history, culture & heritage. I then set my goals for the next year and developed a goal book as you recommend in the book. From the research I had obtained, I developed numerous detailed itineraries of the Miami area, to suit all budgets and interests.
I phoned, then sent detailed itineraries to Cruise line offices, tour package operators, information centres and hotel concierges. I also registered on-line with a guiding App. Within a week I was inundated with work and got fantastic feedback from my customers. Six months on, I have advance bookings and have had to employ a Spanish speaking guide to assist me.
I am now financially secure thanks to the motivation and confidence I got from reading “Be Your Own Boss”. I would highly recommend anyone contemplating starting a business, read this book. Thank you again Bill McGowan, you have changed by life.
HENRY C.
Miami, Florida, USA