The Effective Entrepreneur

This book explores the relationship between entrepreneurship and doing good. As research into entrepreneurship has evolved, so has the business environment and the society in which entrepreneurs work. Now more than ever, entrepreneurs are found to reflect on personal commitment, ethical issues and more recently, the influence they could have on society. In short they have embraced the concept of ‘the good entrepreneur.’ Over time many different strands of ‘good’ entrepreneurship have emerged; from social, green and sustainable entrepreneurship to ecopreneurship and so forth. Indeed some strands of research have merged while others have registered a lack of field research and analysis. In this book the author argues that this excessive fragmentation has created the need for a reflection on the role of niches in entrepreneurship. Providing analysis from multiple perspectives, the author provides an overview of the relationship between entrepreneurship and doing good as well as an exploration of the drivers that promote research in this field and an outline of research dynamics. Contributing to the current debate around the field of entrepreneurship and its ability to drive responsible and sustainable business practices, this book presents a comprehensive guide for students (graduate, master and PhD), academics and institutions and offers the reader an enhanced understanding of the evolution and research challenges within 'good entrepreneurship.'

24 Steps to Success! Disciplined Entrepreneurship will change the way you think about starting a company. Many believe that entrepreneurship cannot be taught, but great entrepreneurs aren’t born with something special – they simply make great products. This book will show you how to create a successful startup through developing an innovative product. It breaks down the necessary processes into an integrated, comprehensive, and proven 24-step framework that any industrious person can learn and apply. You will learn: Why the “F” word – focus – is crucial to a startup’s success Common obstacles that entrepreneurs face – and how to overcome them How to use innovation to stand out in the crowd – it’s not just about technology Whether you’re a first-time or repeat entrepreneur, Disciplined Entrepreneurship gives you the tools you need to improve your odds of making a product people want. Author Bill Aulet is the managing director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship as well as a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management. For more please visit http://disciplinedentrepreneurship.com/

The action plan for building your entrepreneurial empire—one day at a time While every entrepreneur knows that the key to success is business growth, few ever see it happen. Why? Because they know how to plant seeds, but they don’t understand that the real work lies in helping that seed grow—which takes knowledge, persistence, and patience. The Entrepreneurs Book of Actions helps you develop the mindset of a true entrepreneur and provides manageable steps for making your business vision a reality. Informative, inspiring, and based on real-life, hard-earned lessons, it provides common-sense, daily exercises you can jump into on day one. Learn how to drive sustainable business growth by: * Breaking bad habits—and developing good ones * Managing your time and money more effectively * Hiring the right people for the right job * Minimizing the effort required to perform basic tasks * Motivating your staff to be mission-focused * Creating “free” time to feed your innovative side You’ll begin to see your business in a completely new way—with a sense of clarity and purpose. You’ll begin identifying the issues that really affect your business—not the ones that feed your anxiety. You’ll become the kind of leader other entrepreneurs look up to—calm, optimistic, driven. The Entrepreneurs Book of Actions will provide the direction you need to make the best use of your time, your energy, and your creativity. It’s not isn’t a quick-fix. It’s work. But it’s manageable, it’s proven effective—and it will pay off big.

Leading a growing business means going places where that business and perhaps that leader have not been before. Uncharted territory means dangerous territory.The path to success will be taken more rapidly, more securely and there is more time to enjoy the journey when there is a good map available.For leaders of independent businesses, The Effective Entrepreneur offers the guidance of a good map complete with helpful travel hints. It is addressed to and for the leader personally.There are many books about business. Here, the focus is on the leader and what the leader should do personally. It unashamedly encompasses the personal life of the leader, from inner feelings through to non-business relationships and interests.The Effective Entrepreneur clearly addresses the concerns of independent business leaders as these responses from the fi rst two business people to review its pre publication draft show:"You wrote this book just for me didn't you John?"Managing Director, £1.5 million software company"You must have thinking about me when you wrote this..."Managing Director, £30 million clothing retailerThe happy result of adopting the lessons of The Effective Entrepreneur is not just less stress and more fulfilment for the business leader but even better business performance too.

You've thought about starting your own business . . . but how can you decide if you should really take the leap? There's a lot on the line, and you have to ask yourself difficult questions: Do I have what it takes? Is it worth it? And how the hell do I do it? You need answers, not bullshit. This book has them. Entrepreneurial Leap: Do You Have What it Takes to Become an Entrepreneur? is an easy-to-use guide that will help you decide, once and for all, if entrepreneurship is right for you—because success as an entrepreneur depends on far more than just a great idea and a generous helping of luck. In this three-part book, Gino Wickman, bestselling author of Traction, reveals the six essential traits that every entrepreneur needs in order to succeed, based on real-world startups that have reached incredible heights. If these traits ring true for you, you'll get a glimpse of what your life would look like as an entrepreneur. What's more, Wickman will help you determine what type of business best suits your unique skill set and provide a detailed roadmap, with tools, tips, and exercises, that will accelerate your path to startup success. Packed with real-life stories and practical advice, Entrepreneurial Leap is a simple how-to manual for BIG results. Should you take the leap toward entrepreneurship? Find out today and let tomorrow be the first step in your new journey, whatever shape it may take.

"Entrepreneurs experience the highest highs and the lowest lows (sometimes in the same day); events reverse themselves at such speeds that they can easily shred a person's psyche. The issues range across customers, products, technical programs, competitors, employees, and investors " (see Rule No. 58) "There is a fine line between self confidence and arrogance; an entrepreneur must walk that fine line, falling on neither side but right in the middle " (see Rule No.3) "I wish I had had this book as I started and built companies over the years. It would have been an invaluable resource. It is wisdom, concisely and accurately presented, that takes years to accumulate and should be required reading for every entrepreneur." Rodney Perkins, MD, Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur: Cohesion, Collagen, DFine, Earlens, Laserscope, Novacept, Pulmonics, Resound, Sound ID, and Surgerex. The Effective Entrepreneur is the first compendium of value-building principles specifically designed for entrepreneurs and sequenced according to the company's growth cycle. The 59 rules are organized around the four chronological stages of emerging enterprise evolution in the order a manager might experience them. Inception-recognizing successful start-up alchemy; looking in the mirror for strengths, self-confidence, and leadership; developing business plans and models; leading innovation; and establishing a culture of excellence and integrity. Development-selecting and organizing managers, teams and boards; creating strategy with vitality; building barriers to entry; and succeeding in negotiations. Growth-managing through economic cycles with a global outlook; financing with debt, equity, or corporate partners; and understanding communications basics. Maturity-supervising service providers; determining valuation as a function of timing; and formulating efficacious acquisition integration plans and realistic post acquisition commitments. "A small, well organized team with clear objectives can always defeat a large, poorly organized or contentious army. The more senior the manager, the more time he/she should spend being proactive on human resources issues " (see Rule No.12) "Finally, the book that clients (and I) have been looking for over the past 25 years. Inspired format." Laura Puckett, Corporate and Securities Partner at DLA Piper.