MAKING BOLD MOVES

Rising entrepreneur shares his principles for propelling any business to new heights.

Despite facing a competitive market and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, Parrish managed to steer his fledgling construction management company, NobleStrategy, to $1.7 million in sales in about 500 days. He did it by making what he calls “bold moves”—deliberate risks backed up by careful planning. While NobleStrategy is still a few years away from reaching its goal of becoming a $100 million company, Parrish believes the lessons he’s learned so far can help other entrepreneurs achieve multimillion status in less than two years. This is what separates Parrish’s book from countless other business tomes. It’s not the story of a tycoon who has reached the peak, but rather advice from someone still climbing the mountain. Part autobiography and part how-to manual, the book succinctly outlines 14 “rules” for ramping-up and effectively engaging the marketplace. Would-be moguls are told to coordinate their business, personal and family lives to get “buy-in” from everyone who will support their efforts. Using his own successes and mistakes as examples, Parrish offers practical tips on financing, exploiting a niche, leveraging social media and the value of community service. He also shrewdly discusses the role politics plays in business. “Remember, all things being equal, people do business with people they know and like,” he cautions, “so yours is the never-ending task of displaying your magnetic personality to win friends and influence people—in the office, boardroom, or at the presentation table.” Certainly the book gives Parrish’s firm an image boost, but it is far from shameless self-promotion. His philosophy of creating “wins” for clients and the community first is vigorously argued and applicable to any field. But those looking for a get-rich-quick recipe will not find it. Above all Parrish advocates hard work and commitment—as his “Recommended Reading” list of 54 books in 500 days attests to.

A well-crafted balance of instruction and inspiration, penned by a dedicated businessman still fighting for his dream.