The personal anecdotes and stories from Schmidt about the beginnings of Google are thought provoking. It really gives you a window into what led to the development of what is arguably one of the most important companies of both the last century and this century. Sure, now Google’s products are a force that we might find it difficult to live without, but in the beginning things were quite different. It was so interesting to read the stories of how things came to be in the company during the time when things were just starting to heat up in the industry.

The idea of “smart creatives” is one I find particularly poignant for small business owners and start-ups. A “smart creative” is the type of person that Google wants to hire, and they are people who can not only think independently but also act independently to reach their goals. They are people who are excited about knowing as much as possible about their field, and have a mind for more than one topic are the kind of people who can see connections between technology, product creation and business success. They have the drive to go the extra mile to reach their goals.

After reading this portion, I realized that is the kind of person I want to collaborate with.

I love working with people who can see the whole big picture and are able to drive themselves to the success they see for themselves. Those are also qualities we must all aspire to, and since finding this description of the “smart creative,” I have found a greater degree of clarity on the topic, one that is benefiting me and should also benefit you after reading this very solid business focused book.