Money Makers!: The Secrets of Canada's Most Successful Entrepreneurs

Vernon V. Kakoschke was a lawyer in the law department of Canadian Pacific.

This book is a collection of short stories, all of them true, about some of Canada’s most successful entrepreneurs. The authors met many of these men and women, whom they refer to as “money makers,” on “Everybody’s Business,” the Global Television Network’s business and financial affairs program. Everett Banning is economics editor and anchorman-commentator for Global, while Kenneth Barnes is a consultant who is also the executive producer of “Everybody’s Business.”

The book is divided into five parts, each containing a number of profiles built around a common theme. For example, all of the family business ventures are collected in one part, where the roles and involvements of various family members are described. Another part examines the extraordinary efforts of several individuals who challenged the status quo and built up their own sole proprietorships. A select group of whiz kids and certain visionaries are also covered in separate parts. All of the stories conclude with a brief discussion of the reasons for their success.

The main point that the authors try to make in each of the success stories is that there is no real secret to starting your own business: all it takes is hard work, some imagination, and a strong desire to achieve. Although the authors do set out certain golden rules that could act as useful guidelines for anyone considering taking the plunge, they should not be taken too seriously. The first rule to keep in mind, according to the authors, is that there are no golden rules; everybody does it his or her own way.

The authors hold certain economic views that come out loud and clear throughout the book, particularly in the final chapter, where the focus shifts to a macroeconomic level. Their theory that small business (as opposed to big business) is the foundation of our economy and the only true creator of jobs loses some credibility when it is touted as the prescription for many of Canada’s economic woes. Nevertheless, the book provides some fascinating examples of money makers who made it against all odds, and it may inspire some readers to do the same.