Asia Marketing and Management (AMM)

This is a wonderful book. Like one of the reviews states, it is mostly philosophizing. However, I think that is a good thing. You can find a million books that tell you the individual steps required to start a business, but how many books tell you how to remain sane when the phone doesn't ring? And, trust me, it will not in the beginning. Think of this book as having your very own guru to go to for inspiration when you're really depressed and questioning yourself for taking the entrepeneurial path.

This book is for self-employed people who work from their homes. and for those considering this adventurous step. It is not a how-to book. It provides good information but is more philosopical. For instance, Mr Chan offers four main benefits of self-employment: personal satisfaction, autonomy, deliverance from office politics, and freedom to make your own mistakes instead of being forced to carry out the misjudgments of others. He writes, "I'm a captain of industry myself, though my craft is more like a rowboat than an ocean liner. My empire is small, but I do rule it." He does acknowledge that working for an organization provides many benefits that one should consider before leaving to experience the joys of self-employment. The book offers food for thought and options for the courageous and daring wannabe entrepreneurs.

It should be mentioned up front that although the title leads you to believe that it's a book about working from your home, it's far more about being a "Tycoon" (a master of your own fate) than it is about working from a "Spare Room".

When I transitioned my career from freelance writer to publishing a newsletter, I prepared myself by reading a number of books that I considered appropriate to the subject. Spare Room Tycoon was the best of them. James Chan tackles some of the thorniest issues of self-employment, including self-confidence and realistic pricing of your services. I found the section on how to price your services extremely valuable.

The entire book is full of insights like this. James Chan's tone throughout the book is of having met an interesting new acquaintance and choosing the spend the weekend together getting to know one another.

After reading the book, you'll have a much more realistic view of how well you're likely to do as a "Spare Room Tycoon". I highly recommend this book.

"Tycoon" is about throwing off the shackles of working for someone else, and finding (or creating) a livelihood of your own, based upon your talents, values and passions. The book has captured the essence of the self-employment experience, with its dreams and aspirations, nightmares and setbacks, and small and major victories. This is a book about making a personal declaration of independence, and all of the freedoms, rights and responsibilities that follow. Chan candidly tells his own story and the stories of others who have chosen the independent path. From these experiences he distills the hard lessons learned, offering useful counsel about the nuts and bolts of starting up and sustaining a successful business; and welcome inspiration for sustaining one's spirit throughout the journey. James Chan's book achieves a wonderful balance between head and heart. "Tycoon" is a thoughtful, helpful and buoyant companion for both the aspiring and the experienced self-employed.

While many business publications purport to help independent enterprises, James Chan's unique book goes several steps further by probing the challenges, frustrations, elations and especially motivations behind successful entrepreneurship. It's almost as if Chan had read my mind, telegraphing very specific (and what I had assumed to be unique!) impressions of running an enterprise. Evidently we entrepreneurs may feel isolated, but our experiences are univeral--and have been captured succinctly in this work. Readers who are making the crucial transition from conventional employment to self-employment should consider Spare Room Tycoon their business Baedecker: it will make the journey far more pleasant and successful. Established entrepreneurs will immediately recognize many familiar situations. Finally, I urge you to buy this book and give it to your family--so THEY'LL FINALLY UNDERSTAND what motivates you to be YOU!

Excellent book! I could not put it down. I read the whole thing - not because I had the time - but because it was so darn interesting and true that I could not stop reading. Not only is James Chan a great speaker, (I heard him at a breakfast meeting), he is a great writer too. My story is so similar to those of the "tycoons" in this book it's eerie. The 70 lessons are right on target, and I have made copies of them and put them by my desk.

Having been self employed for about 10 years, I felt that James Chan accurately depicted the highs and lows of self-empoyment - and working from your home.

While reading the first few chapters, I felt inspired and validated. There are many books and inspirational speakers who romanticise and glorify "striking it on your own" to pursue the American Dream. Chan balances this notion with pragmatic examples of the challenges one experiences not only in the day to day routine of being self-employed, but also in the life-cycle of an independent professional. The array of examples that Chan cites through his subjects give interesting insight into how other independent professionals in different industries operate.

The book can scare away a person who is "dreaming" about being their own boss. Conversely, this book can inspire the person who has commitment and passion to follow their destiny. Chan challenges societal's pressure of thinking that one must be making "meg-bucks" to be considered "successful". Chan raises up those who dare to think differently from the commonly held definitions of "success".

Spare Room Tycoon is a refreshing book for the realist who needs just a gentle push to blaze their own trail towards personal fulfillment through entrepreneurship.

This is a very good book for those thinking going out on their own and also for those who are already entrepreneurs. Dr Chan tells about the psychological aspects of a business. He then provides real life examples of several persons and their businesses, and how clients and projects sometimes appeared when the consultant least expected it. This supplements other books on having your own business. I recommend it to anyone thinking of starting a business of their own. JJF

Mr. Chan's "Spare Room Tycoon" isn't a typical "How To..." book with a blueprint for success but rather a book that shares the trials and tribulations of those many people who have drive and desire to be the captains of their own destiny. Mr. Chan tells the true life stories of many individuals who ride out the rough waters of the business world to either sink or swim with their ideas, their dreams, their hopes. Real life situations--some heartwarming; some heartbreaking, but all inspirational. I can tell you from personal experience that Mr. Chan is right on target with his interviews because my son's story is part of this wonderful book.

I enjoyed this book very much. I felt this book gave a new perspective to a beginning entreprenuer. Not everyday is a good day and there will be times that you will have to know when to start over. The examples and situations that this book mentions allows for one to get a chance to know the road that similar people have had to go down. This book is an easy read for anyone and offers advice to the beginner. The best feature of this book is that it does not sugar coat the toil involved in starting and running your own business.