Many Happy Returns: The Story of Henry Bloch, America's Tax Man - Softcover

Thomas Bloch

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0990437507 ISBN 13: 9780990437505

Publisher: Ascend Books, 2014

Synopsis

Does the very thought of preparing your own taxes give you a headache? Get to know the man who is responsible for helping more than 20 million taxpayers with this dreaded annual burden.

Henry Bloch is America's tax man. He and his brother Richard pioneered the commercial tax preparation industry, and the two tycoons built the world-leading firm that has prepared over 500 million returns, H&R Block. But Henry's life deserves to be studied for another reason: His remarkable entrepreneurial philosophy and extraordinary humanitarianism will have a lasting impact on generations.

Many Happy Returns tells the compelling story of this unlikely American hero through Henry's son Tom, who worked alongside his father for nearly twenty years and interviewed him extensively for this book. As a budding entrepreneur, Bloch could barely eke out a living. Discover how he started his company from the bottom up, and get a rare look at the inner dynamics of one of the most well-known brands in America. Along the way, you'll also meet some of the people who shaped his philosophy on business and life, and receive invaluable tips on entrepreneurship from the man whose hard work, vision, and pioneering spirit set the standard for those seeking true success.

As much a personal story as a business story, Many Happy Returns offers intimate details about Henry Bloch's belief in the importance of mentoring and giving back. Woven within this rich history of H&R Block are examples of philanthropy and social entrepreneurship. In a time filled with greed and corruption, Henry Bloch inspires us to work hard, be honest, and follow our dreams. His ingenuity, determination and core values propelled him to the pinnacle of business success and have allowed him to help others through countless charitable efforts. This book is a fascinating portrait of one of America's greatest entrepreneurs, and it shows you what it takes to succeed--in both your professional and personal life.

Once you've read this story of struggle and success, you'll never feel the same about April 15th!

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

Henry Bloch is America's tax man. He and his brother Richard pioneered the commercial tax preparation industry, and the two tycoons built the world-leading firm that has prepared over 500 million returns, H&R Block. But Henry's life deserves to be studied for another reason: His remarkable entrepreneurial philosophy and extraordinary humanitarianism will have a lasting impact on generations.

Many Happy Returns tells the compelling story of this unlikely American hero through Henry's son Tom, who worked alongside his father for nearly twenty years and interviewed him extensively for this book. Here, for the first time, you'll gain illuminating insights into a man whose selfless and unassuming nature made him an uncommon corporate icon. As Time once wrote, "He is a direct, plain-spoken Midwesterner in a brown suit and brown shoes, the type of fellow for whom the word unpretentious was invented."

As a budding entrepreneur, Bloch could barely eke out a living. Discover how he started his company from the bottom up, and get a rare look at the inner dynamics of one of the most well-known brands in America. Along the way, you'll also meet some of the people who shaped his philosophy on business and life, and receive invaluable tips on entrepreneurship from the man whose hard work, vision, and pioneering spirit set the standard for those seeking true success.

As much a personal story as a business story, Many Happy Returns offers intimate details about Henry Bloch's belief in the importance of mentoring and giving back. Woven within this rich history of H&R Block are examples of philanthropy and social entrepreneurship—including the Bloch Scholars, the Bloch Building at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Bloch School of Business and Public Administration to name a few—which have enriched the lives of many and transformed communities.

In a time filled with greed and corruption, Henry Bloch inspires us to work hard, be honest, and follow our dreams. His ingenuity, determination, and core values propelled him to the pinnacle of business success and have allowed him to help others through countless charitable efforts. Many Happy Returns is a fascinating portrait of one of America's greatest entrepreneurs, and it shows you what it really takes to succeed—in both your professional and personal life.

From the Back Cover:

"I always wanted to do something different, something more than just a job, something to contribute to society."
—Henry W. Bloch, cofounder and Honorary Chairman, H&R Block, Inc.

Many Happy Returns

In 1955 Henry Bloch and his brother Richard founded H&R Block and forged an industry. Through a mixture of hard work, persistence, and luck, they transitioned their Kansas City-based bookkeeping business into a tax preparation firm just as the IRS scheduled to discontinue its free taxpayer assistance in the area. Two years later, with seventeen offices in three states, the Blochs proudly rolled out the slogan, "Nation's Largest Income Tax Service."

Over the course of more than fifty years, H&R Block grew to become the largest commercial tax preparation firm in the world, with a vast web of more than 10,000 outlets and 100,000 associates. Along the way, Henry Bloch proved that someone with good instincts, fortitude, and a fervent desire to help others can achieve both success and significance. Many Happy Returns tells the compelling story of this company and its self-effacing, down-to-earth cofounder through Henry's son Tom, who worked alongside his father for nearly twenty years and interviewed him extensively for this book.

Page by page, you'll gain an up close look at this successful organization—from how it was built to its thorniest challenges, most gut-wrenching defeats, and greatest triumphs. And you'll come across timeless lessons that can be applied to your own business endeavors. Many Happy Returns also explores the essential aspirations and indispensable philosophies of Henry Bloch, and provides fresh insights on the importance of social entrepreneurship and strategic philanthropy in today's society.

Inspiring and informative, Many Happy Returns is the powerful story of a humble, benevolent, and determined man who achieved the American Dream. If you want to gain true success in both business and life, understanding Henry Bloch's journey can help you get there.

About this edition

• Publisher: Ascend Books
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0990437507
• ISBN 13: 9780990437505
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 240