How breakthrough ideas emerge from small discoveries

"When grandiose planning/strategizing" becomes an integral part of top executives' job spec. and the pursue of certainty is ingrained so deeply into whatever system we are in, the evolution trial and error mindset pitched by the author is destined to be neglected. Thanks to that, I can thrive "for years" as a professional trader whose success depends solely on the repeated and consistent failure of others. In case you feel for what I had just written, this book is for you."

Pardon my lack of creativity. The above is copied from my own review I did in Jan for the book "Adapt: Why success always starts with failure". The two are similar, yet this is even better.

p.s. Below please find some of my favorite passages for your reference.

Most successful entrepreneurs don't begin with brilliant ideas - they discover them. Ironically, this would include the biggest business idea to come out of Stanford in decades. Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin didn't set out to create one of the fastest growing startup companies in history; they didn't even start out seeking to revolutionize the way we search for information on the web. Their first goal, as collaborators on the Stanford Digital Library Project, was to solve a much smaller problem: how to prioritize library searches online. Pg4
Unlike most CEOs, when trying something new, Jeff Bezos and his senior team (known as the S Team) don't try to develop elaborate financial projections or return on investment calculations. "You cant put into a spreadsheet how people are going to behave around a new product," Bezos will say. This certainly hasn't been easy: Bezos and his team have had to endure significant criticism over the years for failed experiments. Pg6
Chris Rock, the Google founders, and Jezz Bezos and his team are examples of people who approach problems in a nonlinear manner using little bets, what University of Chicago economist David Galenson has dubbed "experimental innovators."....They use experimental, iterative, trial-and-error approaches to gradually build up to breakthroughs. Experimental innovators must be persistent and willing to accept failure and setbacks as they work toward their goals. Pg7
Beethoven made music that sounded like everyone else's until he used experiments to gradually differentiate his style from Mozart's established brand of composition. The creative process he adopted, driven by hundreds of little bets, allowed him to explore new styles and forms with audiences. His surviving manuscripts are riddled with pockmarks, corrections, changes, and cross-outs, some so deep that he would even puncture the manuscript paper with his quill. Pg8
Fundamental to the little bets approach is that we: Experiment - learn by doing; Play - a playful, improvisational and humorous atmosphere quiets our inhibitions; Immerse - take time to get out into the world to gather fresh ideas and insights; Define - just as the Google founders did when they realized that their library search algorithm could address a much larger problem; Reorient - be flexible in pursuit of larger goals and aspirations, making good use of small wins to make necessary pivots and chart the course to completion; Iterate - repeat, refine and test frequently armed with better insights, information, and assumptions as time goes on, as Chris Rock does to perfect his act. Pg14

Having read and reviewed True North, a book Peter Sims co-authored with Bill George, I was curious to know what he has to say about "how breakthrough ideas emerge from small discoveries." I was pleased but hardly surprised that Sims has a great deal of value to share, much of it (as he duly acknowledges) gained from conversations with or rigorous study of various thought leaders and they include a few surprises. Chris Rock, for example. His routines are the result of an exhausting process of continuous (mostly failed) experiments, constant modification, and subtle refinement. Other experimental innovators and thought leaders include the store's Jeff Bezos, Larry Page and Sergey Brin (co-founders of Google), Saras Sarasvathy, Pixar's Ed Catmull and John Lasseter, Chet Pipkin, Frank Gehry, Bing Gordon, U.S. Army Brigadier General H.R. McMaster, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Steve Jobs, Jeffrey Dyer and Hal Gregersen, Richard Wiseman, and Eric von Hippel.

As Sims explains, his book's proposition is based on an experimental approach that involves a lot of little bets and certain creative methods to identify possibilities and build up to great outcomes eventually, after frequent failures. (Actually, experimental innovation has no failures; rather, there are initiatives that have not as yet succeeded, each of which is a precious learning opportunity.) "At the core of this experimental approach, little bets are concrete actions taken to discover, test, and develop ideas that are achievable and affordable. They begin as creative possibilities that get iterated and refined over time, and they are particularly valuable when trying to navigate amid uncertainty, create something new, or attend to open-ended problems."

Constant experimentation ("learn by doing") is fundamental to this approach, as indicated, as are a playful, improvisational, and humorous environment; immersion in unfamiliar situations, localities, circumstances, etc.; definition of specific questions to answer, specific problems to solve, specific objectives to achieve, etc.; flexibility amidst ambiguity and uncertainty in combination with a willingness to accept reorientation; and, as indicated, constant iteration (reiteration?) to test, evaluate, refine, test again, etc. Those who are curious wish to understand what works. Experimental innovators have an insatiable curiosity to know what works (or doesn't), why it works (or doesn't), and how it can be improved.

It is important to understand that, as Sims explains, "we can't plot a series of small wins in advance, we must use experiments in order for them to emerge." That is, conduct lots (I mean LOTS) of small experiments (betting small amounts of hours and dollars) and then, as small (modest) "wins" occur, increase the "bet" and see what happens...or doesn't. This process is iterative and never ends. The fundamental advantages are obvious. It allows people to discover new whatevers through an emergent, organic process of frugal but sufficient investments, and, it allows for all manner of adjustments (course corrections, additions/deletions, increases/reductions, etc.) at any point throughout the process.

If your organization is in need of breakthrough ideas, why don't you provide them? Peter Sims provides in this book just about everything you need to know to understand the process and what must be done to initiate and then sustain it. However, the discoveries cannot be made until the experiments occur. If not you, who? If not now, when?

Little Bets is an amazing book and I really enjoyed reading it. Peter Sims lets you step inside the mindset of an entrepreneur by using examples of Steve Jobs, Chris Rock, Frank Gehry and others who have used "little bets" to test their ideas before investing all of their time, energy, and money into their successful business's/products. I like the fact that Sims explains how by not focusing on fixed methodologies, great stuff and ideas are achieved. He focuses on 5 fundamental ideas which include… 1. Experiment (fail quickly to learn fast) 2. Play (a fun environment never snuffs out or prematurely judges the ideas) 3. Immerse (get out with customers and learn from the ground up) 4. Reorient (make small wins and necessary pivots) and 5. Iterate (repeat, refine and test frequently). There is one thing that I didn’t like about the book and that would be the fact that all of the stories in it became similar/repetitive and towards the end got kind of boring. Even with that being said, I would still recommend this book to other entrepreneurship students because of the overall message it portrays (Test your ideas before hand and don’t give up!). I am currently a student enrolled in an Entrepreneurship class at the University of Baltimore, and this book was one of my assigned readings. I’m glad I got the opportunity to read this book because it honestly has changed my perception and increased my knowledge on what to do when I want to start my own business in the future.

Little Bets: How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small DiscoveriesLittle Bets: How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small DiscoveriesI had to read this book for my entrepreneurship 300 class at the University of Baltimore. I think the book was a good read. I enjoyed it because sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the big picture of trying to have the perfect business plan. The concept of the little bet is to have trial and error to figure out the bigger picture. If one idea fails, then try a different one. It was interesting to learn that Steve Jobs, Chris Rock, and Frank Geary all had small failures and learned from them. There journeys didn’t just happen overnight, it was a learning process filled with adjustments. They didn’t have the perfect idea and everything didn’t just happened for them overnight. They experimented, tried new things, the whole process they were able to learn through these little bets. I found it especially interesting how Sims used a comedian as an example. You wouldn’t assume that it takes 6 months to a year to develop an hour long act. The book also refers to those in the military who have to use little bets to plan the most effective way to be successful. Of course I have to mention Pixar because I love Pixar. They started as a computer hardware company and evolved into being partnered with Disney making full length films. I think this book can bring comfort and excitement to those who want to start their own business. They will understand that it is okay to fail, and will be able to learn from every little bet, win or fail. Even though this was an assigned reading, I did enjoy learning about this new outlook and think that it will benefit me in my future entrepreneurial endeavors. I recommend this book.

According to Sims, innovation rarely happens with big, block-buster ideas. Rather, it happens with small steps. Innovators experiment, and while they don't like to fail, they understand that failure is a necessary part of the creative process. They fail quickly and adapt/adjust appropriately. They immerse themselves in the customer experience and doggedly question the status quo. They develop broad networks and expose themselves to diverse experiences, which helps them come up with solutions to problems.

Sims references a good deal of theory to support his premise and he also provides quite a few real life examples of little bets from a variety of industries. He even uses the military. The examples are used multiple times throughout the book, making it easy to understand the concepts.

The good news is that one does not need to be a genius to innovate. We can all get better at it, and Sims demonstrates how. So, ante up, and give Little Bets a shot. It will get your creative juices flowing.

--Nick McCormick, author, Acting Up Brings Everyone Down and Lead Well and Prosper

I am a University of Baltimore student enrolled in the survey Entrepreneurship course and that this was my recommended reading. The overall goal of this book was to teach new entrepreneurs the importance of taking small risks in business ventures. It was about not going into business thinking that you will get everything right and have all the answers. Little Bets is just that, taking small risks that test the ideas and goals of your business. I liked the references to real life entrepreneurs like Chris Rock. He is a comedian and not one someone would initially consider a "business man". However his decisions to test smaller crowds in different areas and demographics enabled him to reach millions of people with his comedy and build a brand. He got on the customers level and saw what they expected from him and was then able to multiply it to reach bigger more financially beneficial audiences. The only thing I didn’t initially like about the reading I think it in some ways takes away from the importance of planning and strategy. Taking risks are good but planning and organization can make or break a business, it is important to have a balance. This book can be useful to other entrepreneur students because it gives insight on the process of starting a business. It allows for trial and error and does not hold a new business owner to the standard that every decision made will work out and every business idea will initially be perfect. It gives credibility to the process of building a solid foundation so that a business can have longevity.

"Little Bets" explores how we can begin to think like master entrepreneurs. He asserts that the "creative process of discovery" can assist in the creation of some of our biggest and best ideas; Sims believes that this process can be learned and actualized by taking small achievable, affordable actions he calls, Little Bets. I really enjoy how Sims makes the connection between how we were taught to think and the way that training interferes with the creative process that we all have the potential to tap into. To elaborate further, Sims believes that our educational systems' emphasis on avoiding errors and having the right answers actually inhibits the creative process of discovery, which is inherently uncertain, and unpredictable. He encourages entrepreneurs to try a lot of possibilities and to be willing to be imperfect, and fail. Sims's argument about starting small and failing fast can be useful for entrepreneurs who are unsure of what steps take at the beginning of their venture journey. If I could have added anything, I would have spoke about connecting motivation to the theories he stated earlier in the text. What might motivate one person take small bets, and another big bets? What motivations or tactics should a rigid person with fixed mindset be aware of, in order to develop a growth mindset? Over all I really enjoyed my recommended reading for my entrepreneurship class, and I believe people among various fields would find his research useful in their lives.

A great collection stories and anecdotes on "how innovation really happens", and how to go about applying it in your own life or enterprise: prototype, fail quickly, adapt. Nobody starts with the "big idea" upfront, instead the innovators stumble, take wrong turns, adapt, measure and iterate - yes, success is not a given, but assuming you are generally right about the direction, then you are bound to make progress. Still waiting for that perfect moment or for all the components to fall into place to execute your idea? Hopefully this book will persuade you to change your approach.

A great read, with many great stories (Pixar, Google, Chris Rock, and dozens of others). A small word of warning: if you are already familiar with the history of the likes of Google, Pixar and Ebay, and have been following the "customer development" threads, then you might find this book rehashing what you already knew. Otherwise, a great business book for the wider audience.

The idea is simple enough: avoid large super-detailed plans; instead try many small things, see what happens, learn the lesson, and adjust the course accordingly. This book makes a very convincing case that this latter approach, which is empirical rather than theoretical and well rooted in scientific method, produces hugely better results. Countless convincing (and famous) examples are presented, in entrepreneurship and other fields. Applying the lesson of this book is less easy than it sounds, because it goes against a certain common doctrine which favors grandiose top-down planning, but I believe it can give revolutionary result in all domains of action. Recommended.

If you think you have nothing in common with comedian Chris Rock, the late Steve Jobs, the store's Jeff Bezos, architect Frank Gehry, or the geniuses at Google or Pixar, think again. Each of these stars from the worlds of business and entertainment achieved success through "little bets" - a creative, small-steps approach to thinking that helps them develop their products, services, or art. Innovators who use little bets are not afraid to experiment, to take chances or even to fail. They don't start out with a big idea - they discover it along the way. In this brightly written, fast-paced book, author and entrepreneur Peter Sims explains the secrets of small risks and how they can help you realize your dreams in business, art, or whatever field you choose. getAbstract learned from this eye-opening primer on creative thinking and places a little bet that budding entrepreneurs will, too.

I am a University of Baltimore student enrolled in the survey Entrepreneurship course and that this was my recommended reading. The overall goal of this book was to teach new entrepreneurs the importance of taking small risks in business ventures. It was about not going into business thinking that you will get everything right and have all the answers. Little Bets is just that, taking small risks that test the ideas and goals of your business. I liked the references to real life entrepreneurs like Chris Rock. He is a comedian and not one someone would initially consider a "business man". However his decisions to test smaller crowds in different areas and demographics enabled him to reach millions of people with his comedy and build a brand. He got on the customers level and saw what they expected from him and was then able to multiply it to reach bigger more financially beneficial audiences. The only thing I didn’t initially like about the reading I think it in some ways takes away from the importance of planning and strategy. Taking risks are good but planning and organization can make or break a business, it is important to have a balance. This book can be useful to other entrepreneur students because it gives insight on the process of starting a business. It allows for trial and error and does not hold a new business owner to the standard that every decision made will work out and every business idea will initially be perfect. It gives credibility to the process of building a solid foundation so that a business can have longevity.

#ENTR300 This book was such a great book because gained so much personal experience. I really enjoyed Little Bets because it made me think about marketing, branding, and creating my own business. Steve Jobs examples were excellent and he is my favorite entrepreneur of all time. I am so thankful for the technology he has created in this lifetime. I learned the strategic tactical methods involved by learning about the failures that came between the unexpected. Believing in key ideas, and having a mind of my own is a really important part of this book that influences me. I try to allow myself to problem solve and focus these methods in my creation of a new product someday. I am in the process of keeping my ideas to myself because there are enough entrepreneurs stealing other peoples ideas. There are way too many similar stores, and by creating and thinking as an entrepreneur myself from these lectures from Tiago and I want to use these marketing tools to my best ability to be the best of the best in today's economy. That is why the puzzling analysis and quilts on the first day of class was the best activity to do on the first day because it let our minds guide our development into working together and problem solving.

The main takeaway: focus on the doing the little bet, rather than spending too long planning or trying to know everything before action. It's like agile software development versus the traditional waterfall process. The book motivates us to be more dynamic, quicker to act, adapt, or pivot if required in our everyday life. This might be the most practical lesson I learned so far.

As a student at the University of Baltimore, I am enrolled in The Entrepreneurial Experience. Throughout the course we are given certain articles and novels to read. “Little Bets” By Peter Sims happened to be a required reading.

Through many detailed situations, Sims pinpoints the idea that all of these men mentioned have taken small experimental steps to expand on enormous ideas. Sims relays the idea that it is fine to fail; failing while making small investments and learning quickly are essential and small critical wins are significant to ones success.

This novel was very eye opening. I enjoyed that Sims focused on failure in some Chapters, Sims had actual detailed situations of how successful individuals have failed, and also how there were a lot of great ideas to help those with an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset.

Some things that I did not care for that the examples of individuals are repetitive, this book was a very short read and although there were many great ideas presented “Little Bets” lacked a little substance in not being very detailed.

This is very useful to Entrepreneurship students; it helps students to understand that to be successful does not mean to make enormous decisions. Instead they are taught to make small affordable decision. Sims focuses on failure and helps students to understand that it is acceptable to fail; failure is essential to ones success. By knowing this, students will be able to tackle obstacles and make good decisions regarding their future business.

At the essence of this book, Peter Sims breaks down how in fact successful companies and people ultimately achieve success. What is a little bet? It's exactly what it sounds like -- taking small bets or low-risk actions to discover, develop and test an idea. Most people never talk about the process in which people undergo to see an idea come to fruition. And by process, I mean the failures that they encounter along the way, which contribute significantly towards their success.

In Little Bets, you would be surprised to learn about some of the people and companies that adhere to this principle of continuously testing their ideas, launching them into the world, iterating upon them, and figuring out what works and what doesn't. For example, did you know that renowned American comedian Chris Rock experiments with all of his new material in public venues, with audiences of around 50 people to test their reactions to see what sticks and what doesn't? Pixar, the animation studio's motto is "going from suck to nonsuck". Pixar's chief creative officer John Lasseter expresses his perfectionism as "we don't actually finish our films, we release them." Frank Gehry, a Canadian American Pritzker Prize-winning architect applies the same principles when thinking about design. The list goes on and on.

This is why I believe Little Bets should be a must read for everyone, especially young people who are not traditionally taught to experiment with things, fail at them, and see what works and what doesn't. Peter has expressed one main life long lesson in this book that's supported with in-depth examples and research -- and it's to make little bets.

When you change your view, you change your life. Peter Sims impressively demonstrates why some of the most successful among us started small and later emerged with a breakthrough idea, product, or service. Of course, these same people were also willing to submit to temporary set-backs, personal embarrassment, and professional frustration as a small price to pay for their ultimate success. This isn't as much a business book as it is a power life-lesson for young and old alike. The book is well written and engaging throughout. Little Bets is a testament to the power of thinking big, starting small, and learning fast.

Bill Wiersma, Author--The Big AHA and The Power of Professionalism

Quick read with engaging stories and insights. The main take-home points: little bets to innovation, openness to experience, and having a growth mindset. Realize these messages may not be earth shattering, but they're right on and truth is more important than novelty.

What's distinctive are Sims' choice of stories and insights, and wide applications. I enjoyed hearing about the Pixar's genesis as a computer company, Starbucks start where everyone wore bowties, opera music played non-stop, and there were no chairs. The use of anthropologists in the new tactics of warfare was also interesting. A catalyst for people thinking about doing something new. Kudos, Sims!

Highly recommended. A key challenge organizations face is how to foster innovation as a company grows larger. Little Bets explains that breakthrough ideas are often the result of an iterative, "fail fast, fail forward, fail cheap" process -- classic thinking amongst the best Silicon Valley start ups. The book does a great job of laying out key principles and illuminating case studies that bring the principle to life. Examples range from Nobel Laurette Muhammad Yunus and his 'little bet' to make small loans to women in Bangladesh to Pixar's little bet to make a full length animated film.)

Reflecting on my own career at PayPal and Kiva, I've found a lot of the lessons in this book to ring true, and I learned a lot of new ideas that I'm eager to put into practice. I'd put this up there in the business book pantheon with Collins "Good to Great", Guy Kawasaki's "Art of the Start", Chip and Dan Heath's "Made to Stick" and the Lencioni series. I choose my words carefully: any leader who worries about how innovation really works should pick up this book. It's an enjoyable read -- again, highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book immensely since it reaffirmed by belief that if you break things down into smaller parts, you'll reap big benefits. Big ideas can change the world, but constantly refining small ideas can work just as well. Many successful technology companies are highlighted; HP, the store and Apple.

These concepts will ring familiar to those familiar to agile development. Take a project and manage it in small parts. Apply constraints that are required. Have teams complete these parts and make corrections as they go. Manage with little direction or long-term planning as necessary.

Yes, great things can happen from small discoveries.

I really liked Little Bets. I definitely use a lot of the principles and find that most complex issues are best addressed by the strategies and tactics defined in this book. People make these giant leaps or commitments when confronted by something that doesn't work well or they think it doesn't.

I find we would mostly be better served by using the approaches and tools from this book. Failing fast is one of my favorite ways to progress. Sound counter intuitive? Then read this book.

A great book that illustrates the concept of doing things incrementally and not being afraid to fail. The book is easy to read and contains plenty of examples and relevant material. The book also features plenty of resources for further reading and study.

I perhaps would have liked to seen the book be a little bit longer and in depth but as a starting point it is good. It is certainly a book that will demonstrate that not all successes come from huge developments, many in fact start out small and grow rapidly once they have been affirmed.

If you are starting up in business or looking to take some risks then the philosophy of keeping it small and simple goes a long way.

I have read more than my fair share of "business" books. Some have helpful material, but too many either lack creativity or substance.

Little Bets is a breath of fresh air. It is well-written, contains wonderful illustrations, and truly offers a fresh angle on not only work issues, but the whole of life.

Highly recommended from someone who prefers history, biography, and other genres to the ubiquitous "business" books.

Excellent insights for every entrepreneur! Little Bets describes an increasingly popular approach in Silicon Valley that promotes low-risk action, testing and iteration to create game-changing ideas and products.

Not just for the business crowd - the Little Bets concept is relevant to any creative process, from childhood education to architecture to stand-up comedy. It is filled with a wide variety of stories from several well-known names and brands that reinforce the approach.

Reading this book was a refreshing reminder of the importance of failing fast, keeping an open mind, and being curious. It inspired me to continue to think creatively and embrace the possibility of failure as an acceptable, positive outcome, because it has been a platform for so many demonstrated successes in the past. I highly recommend this book for a variety of audiences, from business-savvy tech entrepreneurs evaluating their strategies to parents who are considering early childhood education options.

Chapter 2, The Growth Mindset, helped me reframe my perspective on a new role in my job, and helped me learn to embrace change. Saying "yes, and" was also particularly helpful as I accepted managerial responsibilities.

This is a great affirmation of the times you wonder if you should have... Take a little risk// does not have to be an all in... many time small little chance can lead to a great reward. Not all of us are ready for huge risks... so this is a great way to learn, be inspired and remember to take a chance. Worth the time to read it and the money to buy it! I would highly recommend getting this for a student headed to college or leaving college... Or anyone looking at a career change etc.

This book has some interesting anecdotal stuff. I especially liked the stories on Pixar, and the creative process as it relates to learning in young children.

That said, most of the time when I flipped the page and saw the referenced person - Muhammad Yunnus, General McMaster, or Malcolm Gladwell - as I reader of Tom Ricks' Fiasco, Banker to the Poor, The Tipping Point, and books on Lean Start-Up and Customer Development, I already knew where the author was headed and was left underwhelmed.

I'm not usually moved to review books on the store, however, I honestly believe the book is overrated as it stands with a lot of four and five star reviews. The book has a great title that certainly drew me in, yet I didn't find anything groundbreaking inside.

Excellent book! Illuminates the fact that most successes are not pre-ordained or even planned. E.g., Google had no idea they'd monetize search with Adwords. Most successes are the result of tiny little iterations. The more you do the more you discover that informs what you do next.

While this book is a business book, and will have a huge audience in the business community, I found it to be an incredible insight into how we should be raising our children. So much today is about the test, the right school, blah, blah...but Little Bets--in it's discussion of how some of the most successful innovators work, actually gives you a tool box that you can use in parenting. The chapter on play, featuring the genius of Pixar, is especially compelling. I highly recommend this book and hope it gets an audience who will allow their children to give up their tutors and get out and create!

I wish there were more examples in the book (rather than the same handful repeatedly offered), but the message is clear. Try things out, using limited resources where possible, and see what works. Consumer behavior can't really be predicted.

Little Bets is the type of book that will encourage and inspire more than just entrepreneurs such as myself. The anecdotes are very relevant to today's ever-changing and increasingly competitive professional world and serve to help understand how successful individuals analyze, plan and execute flawlessly. Peter Sims' description of Chris Rock perfecting his standup routine provided me with many lessons on topics such as risk taking (i.e. preparing for success) and reading your audience (i.e. targeting a market). I highly recommend this book and know you will enjoy reading it.

I'm reading this book now and finding new revelations on each page. I've actually starting to use the information I'm learning from the book already. The premise sounds subtle but it's incredibly meaningful. I highly recommend this book to anyone running a business or thinking about founding one.

Peter Sims offers many amazing insights that you can apply in companies large and small. As a COO, I found this book incredibly instructive and it gave me a ton of great stories to share with my team as we strive together to find new ways to solve old problems. Little Bets is a great resource for general managers and entrepreneurs a like. This book does a great job explaining how established art/design principles can have an amazing impact on business outcomes. I highly recommend this book!

Little Bets by Peter Sims was a refreshing read for me as an entrepreneur and stand up comedian. Highlighting the approach of Chris Rock and the comedy artform was particularly fun to see. The lessons here are endless. Same with the Pixar and military examples. His argument is clearly stated and the examples drive the point home. I have already suggested this book to my own friends, clients and fellow comics. Way to go Peter Sims.

Bringing dreams to reality is hard work. Sims tells how well-known companies like Pixar, Hewlett-Packard, Google, Apple, & the store have used little bets to make incremental gains to create blockbuster results.

David Shaywitz's review of Little Bets (Wall Street Journal, April 22, 2011) had it right. This excellent book is enthusiastic and example rich. Of equal consideration is the potential for Little Bets to help focus our attention on the nonlinear process of discovery, and in so doing, change prevailing paradigms. This is an important work.

Really inspiring and informative book. I feel, however, that some subjects could have been more developed through the book (it's really short), and that's the only reason I'm not giving it the 5th star.

Spent most of my plane flight to Chicago picking up the book then setting it down to digest some of the ideas and how the pertain to my on going business. Clear ideas for altering both thinking and business practices in each and every chapter. Sims style is approachable and engaging but in no way lightweight. Good stuff!

This book is alive and full of great insight, ideas, and support in helping you to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true. The author's voice is genuine and its fun to read, I loved it all. Highly recommended!!!

I highly recommend Little Bets. The book is insightful, inspiring and practical. The book left me with a very useful "take aways" that I can apply constantly in my daily work.
I love Peter Sims vie that failure teaches as much a success... For me this is a must read!

Very few books encapsulate a strategy to mitigate risk and move forward. It is my new mantra. Peter Sims has created a book that shares great success stories of little bets and creates an approach for people to follow.