Going for It!: How to Succeed As an Entrepreneur

Overview

Going for It! is a lively, anecdote-driven manual for people who want to start, grow, or rescue a business. Victor Kiam blends memoir and how-to advice, using episodes from his own career to illustrate broader lessons about making decisions, selling products, and staying resilient through setbacks. The tone is conversational and often witty, aimed at readers who prefer direct, experience-based guidance rather than abstract theory.

Author and perspective

Victor Kiam writes as a hands-on entrepreneur who learned by doing. His name became widely known after he took personal ownership of a consumer product company and turned a recognizable shaver brand into a marketing story that emphasized personal conviction and directness. Kiam's perspective is unapologetically pragmatic: success is framed as the result of clear priorities, relentless selling, and an ability to simplify problems under pressure.

Core themes

A central theme is the primacy of sales and customer focus. Kiam repeatedly returns to the idea that no matter how clever the product or efficient the back office, a business falters without effective selling and a keen sense of what customers value. Related to this is his emphasis on product quality and reliability; a satisfied customer becomes a repeat customer, the foundation of sustainable growth. Kiam also stresses the moral dimensions of business: honesty, fair dealing, and keeping promises, all of which he treats as practical strategies for building reputation and reducing friction.

Practical advice

Advice in the book ranges from concrete tactics to broad managerial habits. Kiam advocates getting close to the market, talking to distributors, retailers, and end users, to learn what actually moves product. He emphasizes cash management and warns against overexpansion driven by ego rather than demand. On hiring and leadership he favors people who can execute and sell, arguing that entrepreneurs often succeed by surrounding themselves with doers rather than theoreticians. Marketing guidance is straightforward: craft a simple, memorable message and repeat it relentlessly.

Style and use of stories

Narrative and anecdote carry much of the book's force. Kiam recounts personal blunders as readily as triumphs, using those episodes to make lessons feel earned rather than preachy. The writing is direct and plainspoken, with a tone that mixes humor and blunt advice. Readers will find the texture of the book refreshing compared with dry manuals; the stories serve to illustrate points but also to model an entrepreneurial mindset: risk-taking, rapid correction, and a willingness to make public commitments.

Strengths and limitations

The book's greatest strength is its candor. Kiam's willingness to share gritty details and to admit mistakes makes his recommendations credible and actionable. The practical orientation benefits entrepreneurs who want clear starting points rather than academic models. Limitations include a tendency toward anecdotal generalization and occasional U.S.-centric assumptions about markets and distribution channels. Some tactics reflect the business environment of an earlier era and may need updating for modern technology-driven markets, but the core attitudes, persistence, customer obsession, and plain dealing, remain relevant.

Who will benefit

Going for It! is best for aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners, and managers who prefer learning from real-world examples and straightforward counsel. Those looking for step-by-step frameworks or deep financial modeling will need supplementary resources, but readers seeking motivation, common-sense tactics, and a seasoned entrepreneur's voice will find the book both entertaining and useful.