“An intelligent exploration of the psychology of the entrepreneur and the toxic effects of authoritarianism.” —Kirkus Reviews Westerners today grow up with abundant opportunities to determine their own values, identities, and roles in society. But for generations, millions who lived under Soviet rule in the USSR had these essential freedoms withheld, determined instead by a central authority that claimed the right to choose for them and enforce their compliance. Thirty years after the Soviet Union’s decisive collapse, the old communist paradigm continues to limit those who come of age in a post-Soviet world. Everyone Is an Entrepreneur showcases the experience of an American author acclimating to life in the developing post-Soviet economy of Armenia in a rural area called Kalavan village. Along the way, he examines how the intelligent and hardworking people he lives among are stuck in a state of transition away from all-encompassing, bureaucratic control. They struggle to adjust to the responsibilities of economic self-determination because they have never learned how to see the world through entrepreneurial eyes. Entrepreneurship is a principled way of seeing the world, a paradigm that applies to people in all cultural and economic circumstances: Artists, office workers, doctors, teachers, farmers, and laborers alike. By adopting this universal outlook, anyone can produce more wealth, accomplish bigger goals, and take control of their life like never before. "An intelligent exploration of the psychology of the entrepreneur and the toxic effects of authoritarianism. Diehl explains the stultifying legacy of authoritarianism, the path out of it, and the worldview of the entrepreneur with admirable clarity and concision... This is an impressively perspicacious book, and one that should be invaluable for aspiring entrepreneurs from wherever they hail." -Kirkus Reviews " Everyone Is an Entrepreneur is an intriguing economics text addressed to post-Soviet Bloc audiences who are interested in business development... Its general lessons and more specific cultural ideas complement each other, resulting in a compelling picture of the changes wrought by economic shifts. Diehl ably captures a society that's still adapting within the global marketplace." -Foreword Clarion Reviews "Educator and personal development mentor Gregory V. Diehl... delivers an earnest paean to the superiority of capitalism through the lens of his years living in a Kalavan village in the Gegharkunik province of formerly communist Armenia." -BlueInk Review "( Everyone Is an Entrepreneur ) is not a 'how to get rich quick' self-help manual, but a comparison of different lifestyles; those of a tyrannically controlled economy and a society where financial freedom is encouraged and respected. Diehl reasons that how human beings thrive, their comfort level, and rise from poverty are determined by knowledge, skills, and the willingness to work hard and take calculated risks. This unique book is a fascinating comparison between the creative mind, self-determination, and free enterprise juxtaposed against the obedient mind of socialist societies." -Authors Reading " Everyone Is an Entrepreneur will shatter false illusions of wealth and start you down a path that will lead to financial utility and self-determination." -Indies Today "The book is well-researched and provides a lot of real-world examples set in a business context to aid the professional to reconsider how things are done and challenge current thinking." -Reedsy Discovery "Gregory Diehl vividly renders what life is like 30 years post-Soviet rule. He offers not just a fascinating perspective, but a multi-generational warning about the life stealing power of central control... His book, in my opinion, is an important work that belongs on your bookshelf." -The Kyle Keegan Radio Show "By reading this book, Western readers will gain a newfound appreciation for the opportunities we have due to our ability to be entrepreneurial. For others around the world, they'll learn about economics, human nature, and what it takes to be an entrepreneur." -The Rewired Soul "I grew up in a third-world country and moved to the West in my 20s, and the mental barriers Diehl describes are issues I still see every time I return to my home country. The book is intelligently written without being pretentious and will be comfortable to digest by even the most reluctant of readers. Diehl is a first-hand authority on witnessing the failings of the barrier and the success of those who can knock it down." -Readers' Favorite "I've read hundreds of books on business and economics, but none have so directly explained the reasons for the damage (both mental and material) caused by communism." -Stuart Laing, Matrix Enterprise Consulting Gregory V. Diehl understands the transformative power of the right book in the right hands. He writes with the hopes that his work will make its way to those who need it: