Small Business Personal Finance: “Shark Tank: Secrets to Success” Book Review

If you’re like many entrepreneurs today you’ve probably at least considered the idea of trying to get on ABC’s Shark Tank. Heading into its eighth season this fall, the show has become a powerhouse that not only gets strong ratings but can also launch products and businesses. From quirky inventions to game-changing technologies, the Sharks have invested millions in American entrepreneurs who have entered the Tank.

Now Kingswell publishing has released its second book inspired by the show, this one titled Shark Tank: Secrets to Success penned by Michael Parrish DuDell. Nine of the ten chapters in the book are dedicated to companies the Sharks have invested in ranging from the holiday apparel company Tipsy Elves to the app Scholly, which helps students find college scholarship opportunities. In these chapters DuDell chronicles the history of these companies including their inception (or even before that), their time in the Tank, and what they’ve learned since. Given the variety of businesses featured it’s not surprising that their experiences vary greatly including the challenges they’ve encountered either before or after their show appearances.

As past entrepreneurs have sometimes expressed, being on Shark Tank can be both a blessing and a curse. Even with their new investments and partners some businesses simply aren’t prepared for the influx in orders and attention that a stint on the show can bring. While that element brings something unique to the stories featured in Secrets to Success there is still plenty that everyday small business owners who haven’t appeared on national television can certainly relate to.

In terms of books of about business, Secrets to Success may be on the “fluffier” end. That is to say that, akin to the show itself, it’s attempt to appeal to a large audience means that you many not get the real in-depth advice and ideas you’re looking for. Still this quick-read offers some interesting insights among some of the more generic tidbits. Fans of Shark Tank will also get more out of the book than others as it’s always fun to check in with some of the show’s best companies.

Overall I’d be more inclined to recommend Shark Tank — Secrets to Success as an evening wind-down read than a master class. That said, it’s pretty safe to assume that the latter was never DuDell’s intention. Instead, those interested in hearing true stories from other entrepreneurs who have failed, succeeded, and done everything in between will enjoy reading and sharing these Secrets to Success.