Book Review - From Founder to Future: A Business Roadmap to Impact, Longevity, and Employee Ownership

About the Book
In From Founder to Future, learn how to transition leadership, implement shared ownership, and preserve your organization's core values—setting the stage for your business to thrive for generations to come.

This visionary but practical handbook offers mission-driven business owners a roadmap for ensuring their company's lasting impact, building leadership internally, and fostering participatory management.

Through inspiring real-world stories of B-Corps, worker co-ops, ESOPs, and employee ownership trusts, this book demonstrates how to create resilient organizations that benefit workers and communities.

Drawing on his 50-year journey with South Mountain Company and extensive research, Abrams outlines five critical transitions for mission-driven businesses to become what he calls a CommonWealth company:

• From founder to next-generation leadership
• From sole ownership to widely shared
• From hierarchical control to democratic management
• From unprotected mission to preserved purpose
• From business-as-usual to B Corp force for good

From Founder to Future is an essential guide for mission-driven leaders seeking to reshape their businesses for inclusivity, longevity, and positive impact. Whether you're a retiring owner planning your exit, a young entrepreneur building for the future, or an employee working in a purpose-driven business, this book offers a blueprint for creating enduring, values-driven enterprises in the emerging regenerative economy.

As 3,000,000 U.S. small business founders over 55 prepare to retire, $10 trillion in assets will change hands over the next two decades. This timely guide shows how to preserve your company's mission and legacy while empowering the next generation.

My Take on the Book

From Founder to Future is one of the most thoughtful and actionable books I’ve read on building a lasting business that doesn’t just survive—it evolves with purpose. As someone who’s been thinking deeply about leadership transitions and sustainable impact, I found Abrams' insights incredibly relevant. What struck me most was how clearly he lays out a path for companies to move from founder-centric to collectively led, while staying true to their original mission.

Rather than offering vague inspiration, the book is full of practical tools and examples from real companies that have shifted ownership and leadership in creative, equitable ways. I especially appreciated the nuanced discussion of employee ownership models—not just why they matter, but how to make them work.

If you're building something that matters and want it to outlast you in the best way possible, this book provides both a compass and a detailed map for the journey ahead.

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Book Review - Gold In Your Backyard: Lessons in Life, Leadership and the Power of a Dream

About the Book
How to succeed in business and in life? How to take the first seeds of an idea and grow them into an exciting and prosperous company? And how do you create a company culture that prizes innovation and inspires your employees to become the very best they can be? These are just a few of the questions that author Ron Rubin answers for us in this brilliant new book. And Ron is a true expert in entrepreneurship and business leadership. He took over The Republic of Tea in its infancy and built it into an industry leader and a pioneer in innovation, healthy living, and corporate social responsibility. Then, in his 60s, Ron Rubin did it again. He bought a small winery in Sonoma County and built it into the River Road Family Vineyards and Winery, another bold, pioneering venture—and for Ron it was a decades-long dream come beautifully true. As readers will see, GOLD IN YOUR BACKYARD is not a typical business book. It is a book of rare wisdom and inspiration, shining a bright light on how to live your life to the full and how to help others all along the way. It's a jewel, don't miss it!

My Take on the Book
Reading Gold in Your Backyard felt like being mentored by someone who’s seen success, failure, and everything in between—and wants you to benefit from all of it. Ron Rubin doesn’t just share business insights; he opens a window into a life lived with purpose, creativity, and care. What stood out most to me were the short, focused chapters—each one packed with a story, a lesson, and a clear takeaway. I appreciated how personal it felt, like a calm conversation with someone who genuinely wants to help you succeed, whether in business or just navigating life. The book is stunning in design, but it’s the content that lingers. It reminded me that leadership doesn’t have to be loud—it can be thoughtful, intentional, and deeply human. I’ve already flagged several sections to revisit, and I know this is a book I’ll return to again and again.

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Book Review - The Biggest, Highest Wave

About the Book
In The Biggest, Highest Wave you get a  graceful, gritty, and courageous female surfer faces the mighty force of nature's waves -- inspired by the world-famous, record-breaking swells that occur in Nazaré, Portugal. It's a testament to the human spirit and a young girl's ability to get back up after being turned upside down.Ages 3 to 8.

• Full color picture book.
• Hardcover with dust jacket.
• Picture book measures 7'' wide x 12'' high.
• 32 pages.

My Take on the Book

The Biggest, Highest Wave instantly became a favorite in our home. I read it with my young daughter, and we were both swept up in the story—her by the exciting action and bold illustrations, me by the quiet strength of the message. The main character’s determination in the face of towering waves isn’t just about surfing; it’s about bravery, falling down, and finding the will to rise again.

The tall book format adds drama to each scene, making the ocean feel truly immense. My daughter gasped at the size of the waves and cheered every time the little surfer got back up. The rhythm of the text carries the flow of the sea, and the vibrant images are frame-worthy.

It’s more than just a bedtime story—it’s a reminder that courage often comes in small packages. I’d recommend this to any parent looking for a beautiful, empowering read for their child.

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