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The Pumpkin Plan

A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field

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The Pumpkin Plan

By: Mike Michalowicz
Narrated by: Mike Michalowicz
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About this listen

Each year, Americans start one million new businesses, nearly 80 percent of which fail within the first five years. Under such pressure to stay alive—let alone grow—it’s easy for entrepreneurs to get caught up in a never-ending cycle of "sell it—do it, sell it—do it" that leaves them exhausted, frustrated, and unable to get ahead no matter how hard they try.

This is the exact situation Mike Michalowicz found himself in when he was trying to grow his first company. Although it was making steady money, there was never very much left over, and he was chasing customers left and right, putting in 28-hour days, eight days a week. The punishing grind never let up. His company was alive but stunted, and he was barely breathing. That’s when he discovered an unlikely source of inspiration—pumpkin farmers.

After reading an article about a local farmer who had dedicated his life to growing giant pumpkins, Michalowicz realized the same process could apply to growing a business. He tested the Pumpkin Plan on his own company and transformed it into a remarkable multimillion-dollar industry leader. First he did it for himself. Then for others. And now you. So what is the Pumpkin Plan?

  • Plant the right seeds: Don’t waste time doing a bunch of different things just to please your customers. Instead, identify the thing you do better than anyone else and focus all of your attention, money, and time on figuring out how to grow your company doing it.
  • Weed out the losers: In a pumpkin patch, small, rotten pumpkins stunt the growth of the robust, healthy ones. The same is true of customers. Figure out which customers add the most value and provide the best opportunities for sustained growth. Then ditch the worst of the worst.
  • Nurture the winners: Once you figure out who your best customers are, blow their minds with care. Discover their unfulfilled needs, innovate to make their wishes come true, and overdeliver on every single promise.

Full of stories of other successful entrepreneurs, The Pumpkin Plan guides you through unconven­tional strategies to help you build a truly profitable blue-ribbon company that is the best in its field.

Includes exclusive author commentary throughout the audiobook and a bonus author interview at the end of the program.

©2012 Mike Michalowicz (P)2020 Penguin Audio
Business Development Entrepreneurship Leadership Small Business Business Business Plan

Critic Reviews

"Every page, every chapter, as I read this book, I asked myself, ‘Michael E. Gerber, how come YOU didn’t think of that?’ Just remarkable! Just absolutely a remarkable book. A pumpkin! Who would have thought? Every one of you—entrepreneurs, business owners—read it! Do it now!" (Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth and creator of the E-Myth Evolution)

"Another great read from Mike Michalowicz! Mike’s off-the-cuff sense of humor and business savvy ensure that The Pumpkin Plan is a book that entrepreneurs should read for years to come." (Guy Kawasaki, author of Enchantment and The Art of the Start)

"Hard-hitting advice aimed directly at the entrepreneur who is stuck being a wandering generality instead of a meaningful specific. Plenty of seeds worth planting." (Seth Godin, author of We Are All Weird)

What listeners say about The Pumpkin Plan

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Great insight in its simplicity

I have listen to this book twice and will again at least once more. Every time I listen I pick up something new. Our organisation has a strategy day on the 2nd May 2023 and we are all excited about how this could/will transfer the business. The day consists of the two owners and myself and we are on board and will hold each other accountable to the plan. Thank you and a very exciting journey.

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great book. essential for every entrepreneur.

very helpful mindset book to transition from doing everything for everyone to being clear on the one thing you do really well.

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Informative

I’ve listened to many business books, the concepts in this book are great, highly applicable to business and easily understood. I’ve listened to several of Mikes books and they never disappoint

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What a Legend

Mike is epic. I have avoided entrepreneur literature because I hate the hustle grind money culture around it — this book is not that. Solid wisdom to make your business more aligned with your dream and have success add enjoy it!

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Mike MyCowShits knows his stuff!!

Mike clearly knows his stuff and has the experience to back it. can't wait to use the pumpkin plan in my next venture.

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Excellent book

I listen to this book frequently for a reset, to remind myself how to keep focussed in my new business and to hear and develop new ideas as I work on earlier ones I was ready to hear. A definite book to accompany Profit FIRST. And to follow with Clockwork.

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Inspiring and easy to follow

Fun and easy to listen to.
Continuing to implement all the strategies and overhaul my business.

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great read

This book was as helpful as id hoped it would be. I read Profit First and now this both very easy to grasp, very easy to listen to and extremely useful in business.

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Inspiring

The ideas and delivery of this book has inspired and motivated me.
I can't wait to implement these strategies.

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Entertaining and interesting

A very entertaining and interesting listen. The author/narrator was captivating and easy to listen to. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to start a business or grow an existing one.

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