Synopses & Reviews
In the spirit of Adam Braun’s The Promise of a Pencil and Blake Mycoskie’s Start Something That Matters, Fully Alive tells the story of an astoundingly successful young entrepreneur’s immersion in Amazonian indigenous spirituality and how he integrated the lessons he learned to build a successful, socially responsible company, live a purposeful life, and make a difference in the world.
In Fully Alive, Tyler Gage shares his spiritual adventures and the business savvy that helped him create RUNA, a tea and energy drink company that collaborates with the indigenous people of Ecuador to harvest the "master plant" guayusa, revealing a centuries-old guiding philosophy for building a sacred way of living that he discovered through Amazonian shamanism.
Following these teachings, what began as a humble start-up has now grown into a thriving, multi-million dollar company, selling products in more than 10,000 stores across the United States and Canada. With the help of collaborators like Channing Tatum, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Olivia Wilde, RUNA has created a sustainable source of income for the 3,000 farming families in Ecuador who grow guayusa organically, while also establishing a nonprofit organization dedicated to positively impacting the issues that affect these indigenous communities.
Packed with practical and inspiring lessons, this book offers a comprehensive examination of how we too might become "fully alive," both in business and as individuals.
Review
"Fully Alive offers a refreshingly honest, often brutally frank blend of big picture inspiration about how we might achieve truly sustainable commerce that promotes preventative health and fair trade with indigenous cultures along with pragmatic learnings that will help inform any entrepreneur about facing and overcoming challenges, especially with mission-driven businesses." Gary Hirshberg, Cofounder, Chairman, and former CE-Yo of Stonyfield Farm
Review
"We need new thinking to tackle the massive environmental and structural problems the world faces today. Tyler Gage points a way forward, using ancient knowledge and practices and lays a foundation for its application in modern business." Rose Marcario, CEO and President of Patagonia, Inc.
Review
"Rich with tools and guidance for how entrepreneurs can accomplish ambitious social missions by building thriving businesses, Fully Alive offers important insight for the future of how business will be done." John Mackey, Founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market
Review
"A great read for anyone thinking about starting a business fueled by passion and purpose." Blake Mycoskie, Founder, TOMS Shoes
About the Author
Tyler Gage is the cofounder and Chairman of RUNA, a social enterprise that makes energy beverages with guayusa, a rare Amazonian tea. For his work on RUNA, Tyler has been named a Forbes "30 Under 30 Entrepreneur" and the Citizen Leader of the Year by the Speciality Food Association. He is also the founder of PlantMed, an organization dedicated to building the world’s first centers for the practice, research, and preservation of Amazonian plant medicine. Gage and RUNA have been featured on ABC’s Nightline, in National Geographic, Fast Company, and in Richard Branson’s book, Screw Business as Usual.