The Monk and the Riddle: The Art of Creating a Life While Making a Living by Randy Komisar

The Monk and the Riddle: The Art of Creating a Life While Making a Living by Randy Komisar is a must-read book for entrepreneurs and those aspiring to be their own bosses. Komisar, an experienced entrepreneur and venture capitalist, shares stories from his journey and his advice for those taking the same path. He introduces the idea of a “monk’s riddle,” which aims to provide a way to balance living a meaningful life while making a living. The Monk and the Riddle provides readers with thought-provoking questions, stories of success and failure, and practical advice to spur readers on in their journey to create their own lives.

One of the concepts highlighted within The Monk and the Riddle is that of a “monk’s riddle.” This is a metaphor used to explain the conflict between work and life satisfaction. Komisar’s explanation of this ‘riddle’ is that there are two paths available to the aspiring entrepreneur: “The first path is to focus on material gain through commerce and spending, while the second path is to build a life of meaning and fulfillment, hopefully with the help of commerce.” The book goes on to discuss how both paths could play out in an individual’s life as well as how both paths can be combined to create a deeply fulfilling life.

Komisar’s book is full of stories that further explain the “monk’s riddle” concept. One of these is the story of Bill Hewlett and David Packard, two entrepreneurs who were highly successful yet were still able to manage their lives in order to fulfill their dreams. Through the story of Bill and David’s success, Komisar highlights the importance of staying true to one’s vision and not just chasing after money. He also emphasizes the need for entrepreneurs to be able to pivot when necessary, and to make changes to their businesses as required by the ever-changing business landscape.

Additionally, Komisar uses The Monk and the Riddle to share his advice for entrepreneurs. First, he emphasizes the concept of “delayed gratification.” This means that entrepreneurs should be patient and persistently aim for their goals, even if it means sacrificing short-term rewards. He also talks about the idea of “emotional capital”, which is based on the notion that entrepreneurs should focus on building relationships with those around them, both professionally and personally. Through this, they can tap into a network of valuable resources that can help them on their journey.

The Monk and The Riddle also serves as an inspiring read. Komisar talks about his own journey of success, including his triumphs and his failures. As he says in the book, “success and failure are moments of passing; life is about living with the dents and dings”. His anecdotes and inspiring stories of other entrepreneurs demonstrate the importance of learning from failure and celebrating success.

Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or wanting to become more successful in business, The Monk and The Riddle is a must-read. Komisar’s mantra of slow and steady wins the race is reinforced throughout the book, giving readers a reminder to stay the course even when faced with doubt. His stories and advice encourage readers to aim for more than simply making a living and to create a life that is satisfying and fulfilling.