Born or Made
Larry G. Dix II
Authors Unite Publishing (2025)
ISBN: 978-1960346438
Reviewed by Ada Jenkins for Reader Views (08/2025)
Have you ever wondered if successful entrepreneurs are born or made? Born or Made: Fear Is a Liar. Defeat Is Overrated tackles this age-old debate with wisdom, insight, and solid down-to-earth advice.
Author Larry G. Dix II is the very definition of a self-made entrepreneur at the top of his game. From working in a lumberyard to owning his own multi-million-dollar company, he is the ideal candidate to share the many secrets of success with budding entrepreneurs, which is exactly what he does in this inspiring, accessible guide for business owners.
Business literature can be tricky to navigate. While some books claim to offer easy-to-implement solutions, they can, in reality, alienate their readers with their complexity. Thankfully, Born or Made is concise and easy to understand. Short chapters, with bullet points that elucidate key approaches, outline a clear path toward success.
The author’s sophisticated writing style builds upon the motivational, persuasive tone of the overall narrative. An example of this is the central message to remain resilient in the face of setbacks: “If you genuinely want to be successful, learn to find the stars in the storm.” Visually-based descriptions increase engagement, enabling the reader to easily assimilate information and concepts.
One of the things I like about this book is that the approaches suggested can be applied to anybody (not just entrepreneurs) who has an interest in improving their circumstances. On a personal level, I particularly benefitted from the golden nuggets of advice on how to make tough decisions, which include the importance of gathering data, thinking through long-term impact, and preparing for backlash.
First-person point of view allows the author’s passion to really shine through. Helpful topics, such as the role of internal fortitude, the importance of aligning passion with purpose, and the roles of upbringing, are examined in fascinating detail. However, this is also a hands-on guide, with the more practical aspects of entrepreneurship being covered, which includes the art of selling, franchising, and even tips when it comes to selling your business. Larry Dix draws upon his own wealth of experience, reaching out to the reader in a humble yet authoritative voice. One of my favorite anecdotes is about him cleaning properties at night in order to buy his first home. Never afraid to roll up his sleeves, he candidly draws upon his own past experiences, adding a special sense of authenticity to the text.
Short extracts from interviews with top entrepreneurs broaden the overall scope, adding impact and driving home key messages. These include conversations with Dianette Wells (elite mountaineer and seven-summits climber) and NFL player Marques Ogden, amongst others. As a reader, my attention was held throughout. It was fascinating to hear what makes these entrepreneurs at the top of their game tick.
If you want to discover the closely guarded secrets behind what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, then Born or Made: Fear Is a Liar. Defeat Is Overrated is guaranteed to make addictive reading. Author Larry Dix pushes you to be the best version of yourself, offering the sound advice and practical approaches necessary to realize your dreams.