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The 4 Essentials: An Uncommon Memoir for Education & Entrepreneurship • By Cliff Michaels

NY Times Bestseller • WSJ • USA Today
Launched #1 Amazon  • #1 Barnes & Noble
For Paperback, Kindle, Audible, visit Amazon.com 

ALSO AVAILABLE IN THESE POPULAR FORMATS

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PAPERBACK & KINDLE

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AUDIO ONLY

New York Times Bestseller | #1 Amazon
A Mini Memoir and Paradigm Shift in Global Education

 

BOOK SUMMARY: Taking readers on a street-smart journey through academic, career & business growth, Cliff Michaels provides a thought-provoking narrative on 4 Essentials to excellence in academics, careers, and life (skills, strategies, values, purpose). Exploring paradigm shifts in global education, Cliff shares lessons as a dyslexic student who dropped out of USC after one year, then launched companies in real estate, finance, and technology in his 20s. Discovering his greater purpose after a Dot-com failure in 2000, Cliff captures universal learning lessons from historic to modern mentors, famous artists to athletes, and philosophers to entrepreneurs. Written with insight and reflection toward modern education challenges, Cliff playfully suggests that "The 4 Essentials" empower all of us to earn a Real-World MBA: your Master's degree in Basic Abilities. 

 

GIVING BACK: With each sale, books are donated to students and schools in need.


FUN FACT: The 1st and 2nd Editions of this book are no longer in print, originally titled The 4 Essentials of Entrepreneurial Thinking. The 2026 edition is a final edition.

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Testimonials

“Cliff’s formula for life, careers & entrepreneurs is a gamechanger. The response by 300 students at USC’s #1 entrepreneur class was amazing!”  Blake Spencer • Class President, USC Business School

“The 4 Essentials is a fun read. Like Cliff, it’s full of passion with new ideas and timeless wisdom.”  Dave Logan • USC Professor, NYT Bestseller “Tribal Leadership”

“Cliff’s writing is full of inspiration & practical lessons. I highly recommend "The 4 Essentials.” Blake Mycoskie • CEO, TOMS Shoes, NYT Bestseller “Start Something That Matters”

“Cliff delivers a powerful path to profits, passion & purpose.”
Tony Hsieh • CEO, Zappos, Bestseller “Delivering Happiness”

“The 4 Essentials should be required reading from classroom to boardroom.”  Jim Weldon • CEO, Consultant • Past President EO LA

“I use "The 4 Essentials" as part of my curriculum. My students ranked Cliff our #1 speaker.” Alice Heiman • Entrepreneur Professor, Uni of Nevada

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