We are not professors of entrepreneurship, but we are real-life successful entrepreneurs. Rather than retiring with our proceeds from the sale Barefoot Wines, we are devoting our lives to sharing what we have learned, often times the hard way, from our experience starting and growing the world’s largest bottled wine brand. We are without children ourselves, but have an almost parental concern for all young people, especially those aspiring to become entrepreneurs. We sincerely want to see them succeed and spared some of the pain we suffered.
For the past year we have spoken, lectured and made guest appearances at more than 25 schools of entrepreneurship in the U.S. During that time we have also written over 100 blog posts on entrepreneurship and brand building. Our articles appear in national and professional journals and we are frequent media guests on the subject of entrepreneurship.
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Who We Are
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.
