Thursday, January 30, 2014

Book Review: Ingredients for Success by Joseph James Slawek


My most recent book for review was Ingredients for Success: 10 Best Practices for Business and Life. It was written by Joseph James Slawek, the founder and CEO of FONA Inc., an international company that produces flavorings for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

A devout Christian, Slawek has {unsurprisingly} based his business on Biblical principles, many of which he shares in his book. The book itself is a quick read at just over a hundred pages and ten chapters, each devoted to a specific principle or practice. I have to admit that I found some of the principles listed somewhat elementary--principles such as "Plan Ahead but Be Ready for Surprises" and "Know, Develop, and Use Your Unique Abilities" seem to be inherent to most successful companies, Christian-based or not.

I did, however, appreciate some of the other principles that may not be the "typical" ones that come to mind when thinking of such companies--for instance, "Aim for Excellence, Not Perfection", which is a refreshing take in a world where so much emphasis is placed on the end result.

At times the book felt like an advertisement for FONA (which I had never head of until reading this book). Overall, I'm not sure that there are any revelations within the book that would take a CEO or would-be entrepreneur by surprise, but it's perhaps more of a good reminder of how ancient Biblical practices still have relevance and importance in today's world.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Handlebar Publishing book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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