After selling Barefoot Wine, we helped our acquirer maintain the “Barefoot Spirit,” which led to Barefoot becoming the world’s largest wine brand. This experience taught us valuable lessons about large companies.
We advised start-ups and build-ups, receiving numerous requests to write a book about our business approach. Our initial attempt was a conventional, prescriptive business book, which we discarded for being boring and forgettable.
Recognizing the need to delegate, we hired Rick Kushman, a celebrated journalist, to co-write our story. Over a year of collaboration, we crafted “The Barefoot Spirit,” which became a New York Times Best Seller. This success led us to speak at numerous entrepreneurship schools and publish articles worldwide.
Noticing the rise of audiobooks and podcasts, we decided to create an engaging audiobook version of “The Barefoot Spirit.” Inspired by radio theater, we aimed for a dynamic, fully casted production. With help from Hollywood professionals, we produced an award-winning audiobook recognized as one of the top five business audiobooks of 2020.
Encouraged by our success, we now help other founders create fully cast business audiobooks to share their stories and principles. Leveraging technology, we offer a unique way to preserve and promote business legacies. Combining Hollywood’s storytelling, advanced technology, and our experience in the wine industry, we create memorable Business Audio Theatre productions.
Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.
Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.
They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.
Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.
To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.
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