The Money Tree: A Story about Finding the Fortune in Your Own Backyard by Chris Guillebeau

The Money Tree: A Story about Finding the Fortune in Your Own Backyard Reviews

• 
  Kayla Kurin

  As a big fan of this author's non-fiction work, I loved getting to read The Money Tree!
  It has many of the same takeaways as some of his other books but was wonderful to see these concepts played out in narrative form. If you're interested in living an unconventional lifestyle that doesn't involve school-work-career progression, or just want some insight into a new way to look at money, I definitely recommend this book!
• 
  Pradeep Mohandas

  I first read about Chris Guillebeau when I read his first book - The Art of Non-Conformity and read the blog of the same name. Then, I was bitten by the travel bug and had dreamed of travelling far and wide. I did not want to go to all the countries in the world as Chris had but wanted to learn about what that life would be like.
  
  Having a steady government job then meant that I did not read his follow-up books about The $100 Startup and Side Hustle School. When I moved back to a private firm, I dusted out my old links and newsletter subscriptions and re-discovered Chris.
  
  I bought his new book, The Money Tree knowing that relying on one stream of income is not a sustainable way to make a living nor does it give enough savings to save for the future. I purchased it on Audible and finished listening to it in a day.
  
  The book is written in the form of a story. The thesis of the book is that having a source of income other than the job you have at hand is not a bad thing. He says that working on your own, doing something you enjoy gives you a high. It gives you confidence and impacts other areas of your life.
  The book gives ideas, builds a first person experience of going through the journey that you as a reader might have. The protagonist, Jake, goes on this journey from being in debt, relationships in ruins and perennially forgetting the important things in life to a place where he has confidence, has more courage in his personal and work relationships and has things in perspective. He does this with a help of a support group that meets to discuss these ideas under the able guidance of a guy, Clarence.
  
  Chris wrote this book before the COVID-19 pandemic. But, given the lock down and expected downturn in the economic conditions, I think this book deserves your time. His insights attempt to take you through a space between a full time corporate job and the gig economy. I already see many people offering their services online and some even earning for these services.
  
  Think of something you're good at, help people and earn money.
  
• 
  Marcus Kusi

  I was hooked from the first page and loved reading Jake’s story. His side hustle journey was inspiring, realistic, and relatable.
  
  I learned a lot of business ideas, life skills and lessons from reading this novel by Chris Guillebeau. And even though I rarely read fiction, I will be keeping this one on my bookshelf. Plus, I will be recommending it to all my friends.
  
  Anyone who wants to start a side hustle, is an entrepreneur, or just wants a great book to read should definitely get The Money Tree. It's also a great educational resource for kids of all ages too.
• 
  ZZ Capito

  The perspective from an ordinary person as he's faced with hardship and goes through his own journey to come out the other side is extremely inspiring and connects the reader to the lessons laced throughout the story in an entirely different way. One in which they come out the other side having internalized those lessons and feel like they just went through the same process alongside the character. This book is helpful and contains a myriad of different tips for anyone looking to start their own hustle and makes some money on the side. It's also very inspiring and leaves the reader feeling ready to go out and accomplish their dreams; feeling like anything is possible.
• 
  Jessica Wicks

  I wanted to love it. Lately, I had really enjoyed both The Wealthy Barber and The Celestine Prophecy so I had been thinking about how great it would be if more books were written in this edu-tainment fictional/non-fictional hybrid style. Teaching through story seems to allow the reader to ‘experience’ the concepts in a much different way. Then I heard about Chris Guillebeau’s new title and when I realized it was a fictional story to teach entrepreneurship I bought the audiobook and finished it off over a couple days.
  
  The story was decent. I personally would have found it more realistic if there was a bit more struggle emotionally and more failure to overcome from a business perspective - and the portrayal of the full time job was fairly funny compared to my own experience.
  
  Maybe a lot of people have full time jobs they are basically phoning in, but most people I know are exhausted (mentally, emotionally and physically) from a 40+ hour workweek. I have years of experience with side hustling, and my thought is just maybe this author isn’t the right person to be portraying what life looks like while trying to juggle both? Especially when you have to balance personal relationships and responsibilities during the process, which the author was able to pretty much avoid.
  
  I also work in marketing and started my first side business out of college to pay the bills when a full-time job wasn’t enough so I would have expected to relate more to the protagonist. I‘m also in a very different stage of life now and know my own experience is going to be different than others. All this to say - the story didn’t resonate with me in that ‘I’ll carry this character with me for life’ kind of way.
  
  From the entrepreneurship side, I read a lot of business and personal development books so I’m not sure I’m the target reader. I liked that the philosophies were taught in a step-by-step process and that it encouraged experimentation and action, but there wasn’t much for me to take away personally. I had also read The Art of Non-Conformity and Side Hustle (years ago), so there wasn’t much new value for me hidden in the pages.
  
  Overall, it was a decent book! Probably more of a 3.5 stars from me. Maybe earlier in my life and career, if the concept of bootstrapping a business were new to me, this book would have been life changing. And maybe I’ll recommend it to people just getting interested in doing something for themselves, but not so much for people with more experience in the world of entrepreneurship.
  
  Bottom line? I wanted to love it, but will settle for liking it for what it is just fine.
• 
  Katherine Loyacano

  Through storytelling, Chris Guillebeau imparts strategies to create a side hustle which ultimately can lead to more security and a more positive outlook on life. His main character Jake encounters several obstacles that put him in a financial bind. Through an unexpected turn of events, Jake is inspired to take action, leading him on a journey of self-discovery that yields surprising results. The practical advice that Jake receives along the way are definitely steps that we can use in our own lives if we are seeking more security and a more enriched life.
• 
  Lai Reading

  ❝... câu trả lời luôn nằm sẵn ở đâu đấy. Anh chỉ cần tìm cho ra thôi❞
  
  #laifavoritebook
  
  Sẽ có những lúc cuộc sống đẩy bạn vào hoàn cảnh thê thảm thế này: đùng 1 ngày nhận ra bạn đã đến hạn phải thanh toán khoản nợ hơn 50.000 đô vay mượn từ thời sinh viên, chủ căn hộ thông báo sắp bán nhà và bạn phải dọn đi trong vòng chưa đầy 1 tháng, đúng lúc đó thì bạn có nguy cơ mất đi công việc ổn định bấy lâu vì công ty giảm biên chế. Và vì những mối bận tâm này lấy hết luôn thì giờ và tâm trí nên bạn bị người yêu đá. Thế là bạn vừa không có tiền vừa không có ai bên cạnh (đã vậy còn nợ nần chồng chất), nhìn tương lai chỉ thấy 1 màu đen tối...
  
  Đây là câu chuyện của anh chàng Jake, nhân vật chính trong Cây Tiền. Đang lúc bế tắc ấy thì một người đồng nghiệp tốt bụng đã giới thiệu anh đến hội "Cách thứ ba" mà cô đang tham gia. Cứ mỗi thứ năm, các thành viên trong hội sẽ tụ tập để tìm cách kiếm tiền từ nghề tay trái, với một cách thức hoàn toàn không giống những gì anh biết trước đây. Nghe hội này có vẻ khá tà mị nhưng đây là chiếc phao cứu sinh duy nhất anh có lúc này, vậy thì còn lựa chọn nào khác ngoài làm liều???
  
  Nếu đã từng mang trên vai những gánh nặng về tiền bạc, hẳn bạn sẽ rất "thấm" khi đọc câu chuyện của Jake.
  
  ❝Tiền không phải là tất cả, nhưng khi không có tiền, bạn ít có quyền kiểm soát hơn. Bạn có ít lựa chọn hơn.❞
  
  Mình đã rất bất ngờ vì theo cách kể chuyện thì Cây Tiền như 1 cuốn tiểu thuyết, rất cuốn hút và thú vị. Nhưng xuyên suốt tác phẩm là những lồng ghép về những bài học kinh doanh. Bạn sẽ luôn tìm ra cách để thoát khỏi tình trạng túng quẫn, chỉ cần đi từng bước nhỏ. Và sự cố gắng với định hướng phù hợp sẽ mang lại những kết quả vượt xa trí tưởng tượng của bạn.
  
  Không chỉ mang lại những bài học rất thú vị về tư duy về đồng tiền, cách kiếm tiền hay những bước để bắt đầu một mô hình kinh doanh ít rủi ro, cuốn sách còn mang lại những giá trị nhân văn to lớn, như đồng tiền chỉ thực sự có giá trị khi cũng giúp ích được cho người khác, và sự sẻ chia luôn là điều cần thiết trong thế giới này ❤️
  
  Đọc xong em sách này mình được truyền cảm hứng rất nhiều, không phải vì thông điệp "cơ hội kiếm tiền ở khắp mọi nơi", mà là mình nhận ra bản thân mình luôn có khả năng cho những điều mình muốn, chỉ là mình chưa biết cách hoặc chưa thực sự tìm hiểu đủ sâu để biết và hiểu về bản thân mình. Và em sách này cũng cung cấp rất nhiều kiến thức tài chính bổ ích mà mình cần. Với một đứa mịt mù về kinh doanh và tài chính như mình thì trang nào trong em sách này cũng đầy ắp những điều thú vị. Có những trang mình phải đọc đi đọc lại nhiều lần, sau đó ghi chú vào sổ để làm bài học cho riêng mình nữa.
  ———
  🌿 Tóm gọn lại thì Cây Tiền là một cuốn sách truyền cảm hứng rất mạnh mẽ và nhiều ý nghĩa. Nếu bạn đang gặp bế tắc với đồng tiền, hoặc đang mong muốn tìm thêm một công việc để tăng thêm thu nhập, thì đây là một em sách không thể bỏ qua nha.
  
• 
  Teri Temme

  Perfection! A moving and fast-paced story that teaches the exciting world of business! I will definitely buy more copies to share with others.
  
  Bummed I missed Chris on his book tour but THRILLED I bought the book and read the story of Jake. Very much needed in this world, especially now! Thank you Chris!
• 
  Jessica

  I like how this book is broken down and the protagonist teaches the reader massive headache saving lessons without judgement. I feel re-enthused about looking at the $100 startup from the same author now and tying this books lessons to those ideas.
• 
  Sam

  I love Chris Guilebeau! His podcast really picked me up when I felt stuck in 2017. Sometimes you really have to go for things, and a little bit of success in something you started on your own can go a long way.
  
  That being said, I could not get into this book. I liked the general story and message well enough, but nothing really stood out to me or grabbed my interest. I could relate to some of the struggles of the main character but that's about the extent of my connection to the story.
  
  I do feel like this book will hit others differently than it hit me, and the other reviews obviously indicate such. I'd love to give 5 stars for the sake of Chris, but I have to be honest with my reaction to the story.
• 
  Kirill Sofronov

  A decent book and easy read about the struggles of day to day life when life is beating us down. I especially enjoyed parts of the "start-up" life and hilarious messages & emails from the CEO. However, this is probably a 3.5* as the book seems to strike a balance between telling a story and making a point/learning, neither of which it does exceptionally. I would still recommend it as its an easy and fast read.
• 
  Lauren

  Chris Guillebeau has created a story that beautifully illustrates all the concepts from his previous business self help books. It is a very quick and engaging read (I started it last night and finished it this morning) with realistic characters and situations that really drive home the idea that anyone can can take charge of their financial life with some creative thinking and hard work. I found it extremely inspiring and I can’t wait to get to work.
• 
  One Thrifty Reader

  This book is a winner! The principles discussed in the author's previous bestselling book, The $100 Startup (a really great book if you haven't read it yet), are brought to life in this book of narrative non-fiction that reads like a novel. This book reminds me of The Wealthy Barber, one of my favorite personal finance books of all time.
• 
  Antonio Iturra

  Excellent and inspiring story. For those who dislike too much theory, here the author puts it in a way that is practical and engaging at the same time. You empathize with the characters and the story is as moving as it's thoughtful. You'll find practical ideas to create your own money tree.
• 
  Brenda

  One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was that even though this is a non-fiction book, the author wrote it in story form. Right from the beginning, I was invested in the story and wondered how things would turn out for Jake, the main character. Putting this in story form increases the believability of the content and makes it feel more relatable.
  
  Many of the concepts in the book are ideas that match up with how I think it is best to start a new business. Bootstrapping and only getting as big as you need to get instead of going after investment capital, being indebted to those who invest in your company, and growing fast just for the sake of growing.
  
  Some of the excerpts I highlighted in the book include:
  * …learn how to make money while also helping people in a meaningful way.
  * Focus on the ultimate promise [you want to make with your offer]
  * A good offer is always designed to appeal to its ideal customer.
  * The hardest part is starting.
  
  The main mantra in the book is:
  
  You can do more than you think!
  
  So, if you want to read an interesting story and also learn about how you can make money or start a business, The Money Tree is a solid choice.
• 
  Laurie

  This is a book about Jake who owes $52K in student loans, loses the lease on his cheap apartment and it worried about losing his job. A coworker invites him to Third Way and he learns how to make some extra money on the side. His learning is accelerated when he takes a trip to Ethiopia with Clarence (Third Way founder) and sees the people there putting the Third Way principles into action. He starts by selling his old textbooks, then he buys used textbooks and resells them, next he offers himself as a negotiator, and lastly he helps people pay off student loans. As he learns...we learn:
  The Third Way Manifesto
  No one should depend on a single paycheck for their entire income. Whether you call it a side hustle, a small buiness or just something you do for extrs amoney you can use this model to create more freedom for yourself.
  1. Everyone is an expert at something: One way or another, your have acquired a lot of valuable knowledge throughout your life. Something you already know about can be turned into cash - you just need to figure out how to do it. Don't invest tens of thousands of dollars in business school. Start by taking an inventory of your skills, including everything that you're good at and any topics that people frequently ask you about.
  2. Go from idea to product or service: When you're thinking of ideas to make money, always think of them in specific, concrete terms. One of the people in our group is selling dollouse furniture. If you go to her website, you can see exactly what she's selling, how much it costs, and how to place an order. Don't be vague-tell people exactly what you're offering, why it will help them, and how they can buy it.
  3. Spend as little money as possible: STuring frugally is a beeit, not a limitation. The time to invest in your business is when you know you have a proven idea. Otherwise, spend more time working on the idea. The vast majority of Third Way projects can be started for less than $500, and sometimes without spending any money at all.
  4. Launch before you are ready: You won't get the feedback you really need until you have something to show. As a general rule, you can have a workable version of most income-generating projects up and running within thirty days. Following this principle also helps you slect the most basic iteration of your idea. You can improve it or ramp up later - first, see if it has real potential.
  5. Improve as you go: based on what you learn, make changes. Don't be afraid to completely restructure - giving up on one project and starting another is A-OK. And when something's working, couble down and figur eout how to make it work more.
  In short, keep your risk low, act quickly, and adjust as you go along. Last but not least...you can do more than you think!
• 
  Barbara Colvin

  I approached this book with a "You'll have to convince me" attitude - I am not a huge fan of the gig economy because it can be so exploitative. Ask any Tupperware rep or Rich Dad Poor Dad victim or Uber Eats driver for that matter. (To be fair, the book mentions Rich Dad Poor Dad in an oblique manner, and the author is not a fan either). Still with all my hackles raised I wasn't immune to the charm of this simple story of a guy who digs himself out of a financial hole, wins back the girl and even finds the humanity in the office nemesis. I am still not buying the idea that anyone can use the principles in the book to find financial freedom. Some can - if you're single, your job isn't too demanding, and you have some education or skill or specialized knowledge. If you spend your evenings watching Netflix, sure, why not channel that time more productively. But what was charming about the book was its sense of ethics. Our main character bought a bunch of cameras in a garage sale to re-sell on ebay, but he "paid a fair price." He was never out to exploit. And, throughout the book there's a sense that merely being a middle man, or just trying to get ahead because you love money, isn't the goal. The idea is you create a business that answers people's needs AND serves humanity AND makes money, in that order of importance. I am still not convinced about the premise - I've seen too many people try and fail, and of course Guillebeau fans will say it's because they didn't do it right. One thing is for sure, if you fail your story won't end up in a self help side-hustle book as the inspirational anecdote for the chapter. But in the end we are not the level playing field meritocracy that this book would have us believe. But if you read this pleasant fiction, you can almost convince yourself that life is that fair and good intentions will always triumph.
• 
  Its Leroy

  Chris said he wrote this book to teach people a new way of thinking - one that will set them free from the burden of debt and empower them to have more control over their future.
  
  He delivers on this promise.
  
  Through the main Character Jake, he shows you by example what he did so you get an idea of what you can do on your own. This is where it might fall short for some people because he doesn't tell you exactly what to do. That's what you need to figure out on your own.
  
  Through Jakes example you learn two powerful ways to make money if you weren't doing it before. To me that's liberating knowing that I could do one of the two and earn money anytime. Certainly one is easier than the other. The first way gets you started quick so you can earn your first $1000 than use the second method to earn potentially more.
  
  Go read the money tree so you can learn what is the money tree and learn, understand and use the method for yourself.
  
  Pay attention to when you reach The Third Way and the Manifesto.
  
  "Where you are is what you have been. What you'll be is what you do now." Buddha.
  I hope this helps as you consider your next steps.
  
  Always remember, you can do more than you think!
  
  
• 
  Laura

  I would prefer to give this 4.5 stars, as it is well done balancing the line between fictuon and nonfiction. It has that "Who Moved My Cheese" feel to it. This is the story of a struggle between Jake's real life and his real dreams. I couldn't fall over onto the emotional side of the fence I would have liked to for a full five stars. I will admit there is one section that did make me slip into the emotional mud. You'll know it when you arrive.
  The book is a gentle nudge as to what one needs to do to become motivated to make changes in your financial life. The author describes three ways for one to make money. You can imagine and understand the first one, get a J~O~B: work for someone and pray for a paycheck after showing up each day. The second way is riskier and the payout is not guaranteed. It may never pay out or it may pay off for a while. Then there is the third way, which is the real meat of the novel.
  This book "launched" during dark times in world economy. The author was limited in his options for getting the word out yet he did a phenomenal job of reaching his target audience.
  He built a loyal audience and continues to build relationships with them.
• 
  Stephen

  I wasn't really a fan of this one, it didn't really work as a piece of fiction.
  
  Copying some agreeable statements from other reviewers:
  "one thing that really bugged me was the oozing white male privilege of the main character. The “failing up” - missing meetings, being late, bombing presentations - then instead of being fired, was begged to stay with the company and the person actually doing HER job properly was let go. Even the little things like eating co-worker’s snacks without permission and feeling like he was due vacation days after being with the company for a whole 6 months and “barely taking any time off.” The book was rampant with while male privilege." A.K.
  
  "There are good messages and ideas in here, but the fictional telling of the story, while lighter than a straight forward strategy guide, is on the simplistic and tropish side." Mike
  
  "First 70% of the book was interesting. Last 30% felt rushed - almost as if Chris just wanted to get the book over and done with." -Adoptry
  
  "I found the writing to be pretty cheesy. I felt like I was reading a 6th grade level novel at times." - Scott Herb
  
• 
  Mike

  There are good messages and ideas in here, but the fictional telling of the story, while lighter than a straight forward strategy guide, is on the simplistic and tropish side. Keeping in mind that the author is using the story as an alternative delivery device for the Money Tree Strategy, I'm not going to be very critical of the story itself. It gets the points across clearly enough.
  I think the book could some back matter, supplemental material after the story; printed iterations of the key points in the story. There is a website with some of that information, the site being the same name as the book, but for the price of the book, I'd want that IN the book. And maybe some thought provoking questions, or worksheets of some kind.
  
  Overall, what the book sets out to communicate, it does, and it's a good message. I just feel like it's lacking in its execution of a teaching tool. Like a college class that's all lecture and no application or testing.
  
  A good informational book, but lacking a solid punch to drive it home, and to more than 3 star rating from me.
• 
  Emmanuel Makoni

  For those people who find business/leadership books difficult to read, this book is definitely for you. It’s written in story time in a captive way through and through. It covers almost all themes - love, leadership, personal development, and being a well-rounded person in general. It is definitely a light read and there are a lot of great applicable principles. It follows the protagonist who is imperfect, and your average type of employee who is on auto-pilot - not just at work, but in life too. There are some turning points which allow him to reevaluate his life and go on a path that changes his life forever.
  
  For those of you who are in leadership positions, this book is definitely for you. I love how the characters represent different types of employees, co-workers and leaders/managers. Regardless of your background, this is definitely a must read and would recommend everyone to read this book. Nothing earth-shattering, but shows how sometimes the simple principles create life-changing experiences.
• 
  Saikat Basu

  This is a light read with a heftier takeaway. If you have followed Chris Guillebeau's blog, podcast, or earlier books so far you will slip right into the credo of starting something of your own.
  
  Maybe, the storytelling will help you poke inertia in its belly and get moving. Or, maybe it will at least prompt you to start thinking about creative ideas on how you can monetize your skills and interests.
  
  The tale of Jake and his journey from the backseat of a Mazda to something more hopeful isn't that mystical to be impossible. Some parts of it I guess are from the author's own experiences or from other side hustle success stories.
  
  It's definitely not an "I started it from a garage and became a billionaire" pie in the sky story. It's more commonplace and thus more achievable.
  
  Maybe, it will be a good precursor to books on self-employment, though the book in no way is about that way. It is about "The Third Way".
  
  Pick it up on a weekend.