Copy This!, Paul Orfalea
Copy This!, Paul Orfalea
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Copy This!
Lessons from a Hyperactive Dyslexic Who Turned a Bright Idea Into One of America's Best Companies

Author: Paul Orfalea, Ann Marsh

Narrator: Paul Michael

Unabridged: 8 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/30/2005


Synopsis

Copy This!, Paul Orfalea's inspiring personal story of turning lessons into lemonade, may be the most unusual business memoir ever published.

Paul Orfalea struggles mightily to read, to write, and to sit still through business meetings. So what's the problem? By working with the obstacles life dealt him–he call his dyslexia and ADHD "learning opportunities"–he grew a 100-square-foot shop named Kinko's into a $1.5 billion-a-year company that Fortune named one of the best places in America to work.

The is the story of a boy who flunked out of second grade–a boy who was fired by a gas station for writing illegible receipts. But it's also the story of a boy who learned from the world directly, who was brave enough to fail, who knew he had to rely on other people. When Paul Orfalea first looked out on the worried, hopeful faces of his customers, he knew that he was in the problem-solving business–at four cents a page. Kinko's doesn't much handle paper as it handles dreams.

Paul Orfalea really did do it his way. With humor, wisdom, and compassion, he shares his invaluable experiences and unorthodox business lessons with the millions of those who are just a little bit "different," and who wonder if there's a place for them in the world. There is: at the top.

About The Author

In 2000, Paul Orfalea retired from his position as chairperson of the company he named in honor of his childhood nickname (he had kinky hair). He frequently teaches at the University of Southern California and talks to educational and business organizations around the country. Both USC and Cal Poly plan to dedicate business schools in the Orfalea name in honor of his ongoing contributions. Through the Orfalea Family Foundation, Mr. Orfalea supports a broad range of educational initiatives. Orfalea is also deelply involved in increasing public awareness of the need for family-friendly work/life policies, including flex time and quality early care for children of working parents. He lives with his family in Santa Barbara, California.Ann Marsh first met and wrote about Paul Orfalea as a staff writer for Forbes magazine. She lives in Costa Mesa, California, and now freelances widely.Paul Michael is a stage, screen, and television actor of international status. His TV credits include leading roles in a number of British sitcoms. He has acted onstage in plays ranging from Macbeth to The Wizard of Oz.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Trisha

Interesting ideas in business and in life. The story flows somewhat chronologically, but is mostly conveyed in thought/lesson sections, so it was hard at times to figure out where the business was at the point of the story. On the other hand, it was nice to have a specific theme and hear the example......more

Goodreads review by Rob

I read this based on a coworker's recommendation, and I wasn't disappointed. It's entertaining and an easy read, and provides insight into Kinko's and its founder (Paul Orfalea). Orfalea is dyslexic, bombed at school, built a tremendous business, and made a ton of money. His approaches and philosoph......more

Goodreads review by Marie

From what I can remember from this book, it was an interesting story about the evolution of Kinko's. Orfalea has ADHD and dyslexia, yet he started the world's most ubiquitous reprographics companies. It was a quick, easy read. He could be a bit dictatorial and temperamental in running his company, b......more