The Knack: How Street-Smart Entrepreneurs Learn to Handle Whatever Comes Up

Unlocking the Real Rules of Business Success Nobody Tells You

Norm Brodsky

8 Key Insights

About This Book

Step off the beaten path of business advice and discover what actually creates lasting entrepreneurial achievement. By embracing the real numbers that drive your business, mastering the psychology behind decision-making, and avoiding common pitfalls, you'll transform both your results and your sense of control. Grounded in hard-won experience and unconventional wisdom, this guide delivers powerful principles and behind-the-scenes lessons that challenge traditional thinking. Move from uncertainty to confidence as you learn how to spot invisible risks, create enduring customer relationships, shape winning company cultures, and align your business to truly support the life you want.

About the Author

Norm Brodsky is a serial entrepreneur who has started and grown multiple successful businesses across decades, including companies recognized by the Inc. 500. Renowned for his hands-on approach and sharp instincts, he offers survival-tested advice rooted in both his triumphs and failures. Co-author Bo Burlingham, acclaimed business journalist and editor-at-large at Inc., brings deep understanding of leadership, culture, and the real stories behind business legends. Together, they blend street-level realism and strategic insight, trusted by new founders and seasoned pros alike.

Biggest Takeaway

You will master the critical business fundamentals—like reading essential numbers and managing cash flow—that most overlook, but which make the difference between survival and lasting success. You'll develop the professional mindset needed to control emotional decisions, build resilient and scalable teams, and foster trust internally and externally. Expect to gain sharper judgment, more effective negotiation skills, the ability to identify genuine opportunities (while avoiding traps), and a practical roadmap for aligning your enterprise with your life priorities.