Overview

""An intelligent exploration of the psychology of the entrepreneur and the toxic effects of authoritarianism."" -Kirkus Reviews ""An intriguing economics text addressed to post-Soviet Bloc audiences who are interested in business development... a compelling picture of the changes wrought by economic shifts."" -Foreword Clarion Reviews Westerners today grow up with abundant opportunities to determine their own values, identities, and roles in society. But for generations, millions who lived under Soviet rule in the USSR had these essential freedoms withheld, determined instead by a central authority that claimed the right to choose for them and enforce compliance. Thirty years after the Soviet Union's decisive collapse, the old communist paradigm continues to limit those who come of age in a post-Soviet world. Everyone Is an Entrepreneur showcases the experience of an American author acclimating to life in the developing post-Soviet economy of Armenia in a rural area called Kalavan village. Along the way, he examines how the intelligent and hardworking people he lives among are stuck in a state of transition away from all-encompassing, bureaucratic control. They struggle to adjust to the responsibilities of economic self-determination because they have never learned how to see the world through entrepreneurial eyes. Entrepreneurship is a principled way of seeing the world, a paradigm that applies to people in all cultural and economic circumstances: Artists, office workers, doctors, teachers, farmers, and laborers alike. By adopting this universal outlook, anyone can produce more wealth, accomplish bigger goals, and take control of their life like never before.

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9781945884689

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The book is well-researched and provides a lot of real-world examples set in a business context to aid the professional to reconsider how things are done and challenge current thinking. It is I think unique in its approach to discussing economic in this way and provides an interesting insight. Reedsy Gregory Diehl vividly renders what life is like 30 years post-Soviet rule. He offers not just a fascinating perspective, but a multi-generational warning about the life stealing power of central control. Gregory is a man who fights the societal and cultural lobotomy where he is. His book, in my opinion, is an important work that belongs on your bookshelf, not just on a Kindle. The Kyle Keegan Radio Show By reading this book, Western readers will gain a newfound appreciation for the opportunities we have due to our ability to be entrepreneurial. For others around the world, they'll learn about economics, human nature, and what it takes to be an entrepreneur. The Rewired Soul I grew up in a third-world country and moved to the West in my 20s, and the mental barriers Diehl describes are issues I still see every time I return to my home country. The book is intelligently written without being pretentious and will be comfortable to digest by even the most reluctant of readers. Diehl, who has chosen to live in Armenia, is a first-hand authority on witnessing the failings of the barrier and the success of those who can knock it down. I most connected with chapter eleven and its focus on a social structure that smacks down a productive spirit, which speaks of cultural anti-entrepreneurial attitudes with profound honesty. Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite Everyone Is an Entrepreneur explains how the world works, in terms of exchanging value, and how people can benefit and improve their lives from having this knowledge. Gregory V. Diehl's decision to migrate to Armenia exposed him to the limitations of a post-Soviet economy that still experiences the consequences of the restrictive government in the USSR. Gregory expresses that dictatorship discourages people from thinking as an entrepreneur would and optimally employing available resources. Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite There are many passages that explain the shortcomings with the way (Armenians) are taught to think about ourselves and how we live our lives, and it's written with great intellect and precision about this sensitive subject. What the author does is connect many implicitly understood limitations of the 'post-Soviet' or communist paradigm with principles of economic self-determination. It was fascinating for me to compare the 'Western' mentality to that of my fellow countrymen and beloved Armenians. Saida Badeyan

Author Information

Gregory V. Diehl understands the transformative power of the right book in the right hands. He writes with the hopes that his work will make its way to those who need it: deep thinkers unsatisfied with ordinary approaches to important subjects. His work often deconstructs and challenges cultural narratives that keep people from establishing and embodying who they really are. When he's not writing, Gregory offers alternative education and mentorship informed by his wealth of diverse cultural experience across the globe. Residing now in a scenic village in Armenia, amidst a backdrop of books and felines, Gregory's preferred pastime is silent contemplation.

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