Skip to main content

Keep Going for It!: Living the Life of an Entrepreneur

Overview
Keep Going for It!: Living the Life of an Entrepreneur continues Victor Kiam's frank, energetic account of his life in business, expanding the practical and philosophical lessons first introduced in his earlier memoir. The narrative blends memoir and manual, moving from personal anecdotes about buying and rebuilding brands to broader reflections on what it takes to start, run, and scale ventures. The book emphasizes resilience and a hands-on approach, arguing that entrepreneurship is less a series of tidy rules than a way of confronting uncertainty with curiosity and grit.

Central themes
Persistence and optimism are portrayed as the core operating system for an entrepreneur, with Kiam repeatedly insisting that setbacks are signals to adapt rather than reasons to stop. Branding and reputation receive sustained attention: Kiam treats a company's public identity as a living asset that demands constant cultivation. Decision-making under pressure, the readiness to seize opportunities, and the value of direct customer focus also recur, all framed by a belief that leadership means taking responsibility and being visible when stakes are high.

Practical advice
Kiam offers concrete guidance on growth and management without losing the conversational tone that made his earlier writing appealing. There are chapters on cash flow discipline, hiring people who complement an owner's strengths, and knowing when to delegate versus when to stay involved. Marketing recommendations favor simple, bold messages and a thorough understanding of the customer's experience. Financial prudence is balanced with an encouragement to invest in strategic risks that can create decisive momentum.

Anecdotes and examples
The narrative is laced with stories drawn from Kiam's own ventures, illustrating points with vivid, often self-deprecating detail. Episodes about rescuing brands, confronting naysayers, and navigating boardrooms provide texture and credibility to the advice. Rather than presenting sanitized case studies, Kiam shares missteps alongside wins, showing how a willingness to admit mistakes and correct course can be an entrepreneur's competitive advantage. These personal episodes serve to humanize strategy and make abstract lessons concrete.

Voice and style
Kiam writes with the blunt charm of someone who has spent a lifetime in negotiations and public life. The prose is conversational, brisk, and frequently humorous, with a preference for direct aphorisms and memorable one-liners. That style makes complex managerial concepts accessible to a wide audience, though readers seeking academic rigor or exhaustive frameworks may find the book's approach more intuitive than systematic. The book reads like advice from a seasoned mentor who values candor over jargon.

Audience and legacy
Entrepreneurs at early and mid-stages will find the book especially useful: it is aimed at people who are building businesses, confronting growth challenges, or seeking a pragmatic mindset for leadership. Advisors, small-business owners, and managers looking for motivational yet actionable counsel will also benefit. Keep Going for It! reinforces Victor Kiam's public persona as a hands-on dealmaker who believed in learning by doing, and it remains a spirited endorsement of perseverance, practical judgment, and the belief that entrepreneurial life rewards those willing to keep moving forward.
Keep Going for It!: Living the Life of an Entrepreneur

A follow-up to Going for It!, delving deeper into the world of entrepreneurship and offering more advice for business success and growth, drawing from Kiam's own experiences.


Author: Victor Kiam

Victor Kiam's journey from Yale graduate to Remington owner, highlighting his entrepreneurial success and philanthropy, inspiring modern business minds.
More about Victor Kiam