Product Description

Written with the cooperation of Harvard Business School, an instructive and inspiring book for anyone who dreams of starting a highly profitable business

In 1998, three Harvard Business School graduates—two men and one woman—turned down six-figure salaries at big corporations, bet on themselves, and launched their own new companies. By their ten-year reunion, their audacity had paid huge dividends. They'd made many millions of dollars, created hundreds of jobs—and left their mark on the world.

Based on dozens of interviews with highly successful entrepreneurs, Harvard Business School professors, and HBS alumni, The Intelligent Entrepreneur tells the compelling and instructive story of how these three young founders developed ideas, assembled teams, built ventures, and achieved their dreams. Along the way, they learned that starting great companies requires much more than a ferocious work ethic or good timing. Their hard-won insights—distilled into ten key rules—will help anyone become a successful entrepreneur.

What they teach you at Harvard Business School is that intelligent entrepreneurship can be learned. In that spirit, Bill Murphy Jr. uses a unique combination of vivid storytelling and lucid instruction to show would-be entrepreneurs how to improve their odds of creating dynamic, lasting businesses.

Customer Reviews (5)

The best entrepreneurship book that I read for the last 10 years
Not knowing what this book was, I preordered it a few weeks before its release. When I received it and started reading, I simply could not stop until I was done with the whole book. I was reading it every single minute I could steal from my busy schedule. Will also mention that Amazon shipped it for free a few days before they promised they would, and I got it in just a few days -great job, guys.

Now, let's talk about the book.

While I see why some reviewers who did not find specific answers gave the book not very good rating, I think they missed the point.

It is not a cookbook with some canned answers. It is rather a book that makes you think while walking you through the process of starting some great companies. Some of these companies have been eventually sold for tens of millions of dollars in just a few (1-7) years). Is it a good goal for your own startup? You decide.

Again, the main point of the book is that it makes you think. It is also a case study - one of the methods successfully used at Harvard Business School (HSB) to teach their students. All stories motivate you to achieve great success while showing that it is simply very difficult to do.

Sure, it was easier to get venture capital during dot com boom. Do you think the fact that it is more difficult now makes the book not very good?

Also, if you ever wanted to know how HBS operates, what kind of people go there, why, what that gives them, and what great companies come out of that, you will find enough hints in the book too.

Overall, if you are thinking or are in the middle of starting your own business, and are open minded enough to *think* instead of relying on some canned answers, then I greatly recommend this book. As a matter of fact, I feel lucky that - by accident - I bought the book and read it, if you will.

The rules have changed dude !!!
I think Bill Murphy should take a look at the world today, this is old news he's writing about..... don't waste your hard earned money on this book.

FOR ALL ENTREPRENEURS!
This is a great book for anyone to read. The Harvard model is to teach through case studies.This book is a little taste of that. You learn by seeing what other people did in business and compare that to how you would have reacted.

Though I do not plan to start a business on the scale of what these three very gifted people did, it helped me think bigger in my field.

I highly recommend this book.

the rules have changed so this is dated
While some of what he says is true, the fact is the rules have changed so dramatically since the dot com crash and since the bankruptcy laws were changed... its now much much harder to get initial capital to start business

Insider's view about three successful entrepreneurs
Bill Murphy's work is a terrific narrative weaving in between three entrepreneurs (Chris, Marc, and Marla) and their respective companies. All three had graduated from Harvard Business School in the late 1990s then worked in the San Francisco Bay Area during the waning dot-com era. All three resisted Wall Street temptations and wanted to run their own show. Readers will enjoy the agonizing decision-making points along the journeys that the entrepreneurs made and they will appreciate Murphy's 10 rules. I certainly did. Having a big idea is really just the beginning. Actually executing it to a successful exit is the true test. It doesn't hurt to have access to capital and the Harvard connection. One of the three entrepreneurs has sold two companies while netting close to $30 million, while the other two are still growing their ventures to close to $100 million in annual sales. They have truly succeeded when many failed. We can all learn from them. ... Read more

Product Description
"Never started a company before? Struggling with little or no cash? Have no experience, no baseline to judge your progress against? Thank God! You've got a shot at making this work." So says Mike Michalowicz, author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, a business book that is so uniquely useful, so raw and entertaining, it reads like the brainchild of Steve Jobs and Chris Rock.

The founder of three multimillion-dollar companies, including Obsidian Launch, a company that partners with first-time entrepreneurs to grow their concepts into industry leaders, Mike Michalowicz knows what it really takes to spin your great idea into pure gold.

Whether you're just starting out or have been at this for years, Mike's "get real" approach to business is a much-needed swift kick in the pants. In this book, you'll discover:
* Why a business plan is a total waste of your time.
* Why fulfilling your own needs is the first and last order of business.
* Which three sheets of paper you need to successfully launch, manage and grow your business.
* How to get started in business with little or no money.
* How to find and exploit resources that no one else knows about.
* How to stop procrastinating and take action NOW! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (233)

What an Awesome Book
I love this book. Every time I read it it gets better and better.
This book & Audio book (I own both) is incredible.
A great NO BS to the point smack you up the side of the head motivator to get things done.
EVERY business owner needs this book.

Steve Was Here Too

Need a kick in the $#@! to get you moving, then read this book!
If you like to be entertained, like a laugh (especially potty humour) and want to be inspired, then you can't go past this book.If you have ideas on how to be an entrepreneur and for whatever reason keep putting things off, making excuses and citing you never have enough money, then read this book.It is simple, easy to read and contains plenty of useful tips to get you moving down the road of being an entrepreneur.

Be warned there are parts of this book that could easily offend and the author doesn't mince his words, but remember the author is simply trying to convey his point.That is, helping us all to be entrepreneurs.Do this and you'll get a lot from this book.Well worth the time and money.

Very informative...with a funny twist
Michael is a great author.He really seems to know his stuff, and the jokes he incorporates into his writing are a very nice bonus.I haven't started my business just yet, but I'm in the process, and this book has really helped to guide me.

Excellent, Must-Read for Business Leaders
In preparing to start my communications agency, I bought a stack of books on launching and managing a company. Only a few made the "extremely helpful" list -- including The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur that I have returned to again and again in my 10 months as a business owner.

Like many entrepreneurs I know, I was struggling with how to write a business plan that made sense and meant something in my quest to be successful. Thanks to Mike's tips and advice (mixed with his great sense of humor which just made the process that much more fun!), I was able to develop a Prosperity Plan including Immutable Laws that I'm certain will guide me and my business for years to come.

My copy of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur has many turned-down pages, colorful paperclips marking other pages, highlights, underlined text and notes scribbled in the margins. I consider it a manual of practical tips for small businesses. In fact, if large companies followed his advice, I'm sure they would see improved morale and increased profits.

Definitely a must-read, and I hope that Mike will write additional books sharing his wisdom, creativity and humorous approach to business.

A Blueprint to Success
Michalowicz's Toilet Paper Entrepreneur presents great insight on how anyone at any age can start his or her own business. There are many books about entrepreneurship, but many of the authors are entrepreneurs themselves trying to make a profit. This has led to sugarcoated "get rich quickly and easily" recipe books that saturate the aisles of business literature. The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur by far is one of the best for aspiring and practicing entrepreneurs. This is not a book that "tells"; rather, it "shows" how business should be conducted through the use of examples and analogies. As a young, practicing entrepreneur, I can confirm that the approaches suggested in this book are applicable and advantageous to businesses today. The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur is a valuable source of inspiration and knowledge, making one realize that the world is malleable and can be hammered into place - even by the little guy with sparse resources! Forget about the expensive textbooks that present entrepreneurship in a stale, academic approach. Instead, invest time into this book to learn from Michalowicz, who consistently and successfully executes business ideas. ... Read more

Product Description
Customer Development is a four-step framework for helping startups discover and validate their customers, product, and go-to-market strategy, developed by Steve Blank and an integral part of Eric Ries' Lean Startup methodology. Focused on the Customer Discovery step, The Entrepreneur's Guide to Customer Development is an easy to follow guide for finding early adopters, building a Minimum Viable Product, finding Product-Market fit, and establishing a sales and marketing roadmap.

Deemed a "must-read" by Steve Blank and Eric Ries, inside you will find detailed customer development and lean startup concept definitions, a step-by-step approach to best practices, a business model analysis guide, case studies, rich graphics, as well as worksheets and exercises. No matter the stage of your business, you will return often to this guide to learn how to build a product people want ;"get out of the building;" foster strong customer relationships; test business model risk; reach out to early adopters; conduct startup marketing; create a customer funnel based on buyers' process; and prepare your startup to scale up.

This book is both an introduction for those unfamiliar with lean concepts and highly actionable for lean practitioners. It is a user friendly guide, written to be accessible to marketing professionals, Engineers startup founders and entrepreneurs, VCs, angels, and anyone else involved in building scalable startups.

Existing companies will benefit to from applying Customer Development principles described in detail herein:for example, startups struggling to achieve market traction, or well established companies seeking to spark new innovation.

This is a business book for startups like no other. No fluff, but rather sound principles and concrete steps to take to build your business. For more information on Customer Development, please see Brant Cooper's and Patrick Vlaskovits' respective blogs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

From entrepreneurs to entrepreneurs: a straight to the point guide to customer development
I really enjoyed the concise and practical writing style of this 100 pages guide.
The concept definitions provide a perfect and to the point overview on the most important terms in the lean startup environment which you would have to collect and streamline from several blogs otherwise. The 8 steps to Customer Discovery are of tremendous value for anyone who is just in the process of customer development.
In addition, the short cases really made it more comprehensible and vivid.
Unfortunately, the focus is on Customer Discovery only - I would love to see the authors covering the other bits of customer development as well.
Bottom line: a very practical guide from entrepreneurs to entrepreneurs which I can recommend everybody in the makings of starting a company in a lean way.

Rehash of Steve Blank's book
$30 for a rehash of the masterpiece from Steve Blank's 'The Four Steps to the Epiphany'? It is not worth it. Moreover, it is very light in content and lacks any originality.
I returned mine! If you are looking for a good book on Entrepreneurship, stick with the original (from Steve).

good, but not what it says
First of all, this is NOT, as the title claims, a cheat sheet to The Four Steps of the Epiphany.

Right in the book, on page 21, the authors state that this book focuses on the first step only (Customer Discovery). And I quote: "Future books will attempt to tackle other portions of the Customer Development process - believe us when we say that Customer Discovery is more than enough to 'bite off' at one time."

I am docking the book one star for this. The authors should know better.

Okay, now for the real question - Is this book worth getting, or should you just get Blank's original?

Get them both. Read Blank's first, then read this one and use it to update the notes you took from Blank's book. They work well together but I would not just get this one, as you only get a small piece of the whole picture (per the authors' own admission).

It's worth $30 if you actually use it, but don't assume it's a shortcut to Blank's book. It's only 1/4 of a shortcut.

This is not just a summary of "4 steps to epiphany" ...it's a much better, PRACTICAL version!!
This is the most practical book for an entrepreneur, hands down.

Teaches you everything from logically plotting out your business...to definitions...to examples...and even teaches you how to write an email to talk to your customers!

-amazing step by step diagrams...and the way it's formatted makes it so easy to follow along
-the author is like a logic machine.
-every time I think to myself: "oh, I know an exception to this", the author hits it on the next paragraph.

Right now, I'm running a technology startup. I am literally referring to this book constantly.

Great resource - but redundant if you've read the original
I bought this book recently after already having read Four Steps to Epiphany by Steve Blank.While the Entrepreneur's Guide is a great resource, I found that it didn't really add much to the original book.I would recommend that you buy this book instead of the Four Steps to the Epiphany, and you'll save yourself some time.Getting both together is a bit of a waste of money (since both books are quite expensive).

The content is really excellent and all the tool are valuable. ... Read more

Product Description
This standard-setting book is an essential resource for anyone looking to understand the legal challenges faced by entrepreneurs. From leaving your current job to taking your company public, THE ENTREPRENEUR'S GUIDE TO BUSINESS LAW has the information you need to avoid potentially costly missteps. This book contains 17 chapters that follow the progression of a start-up business and anticipate its legal concerns through each stage of growth, with essential coverage of e-commerce and international issues where appropriate. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Timely delivery
I needed books for college and did not have very long to wait. I received my books ordered in a timely manner. I had never ordered anything online and was not sure about how secure this would be but it was totally worth. After I had compared prices with other ways to purchase I realized I found the best deal. I would not hesitate to order books or products this way again if I need anything.

Best resource out there
Whether your are an entrepreneur, VC or lawyer, THIS is the book that you must read.It's really everything that you need to navigate the entire startup ecosystem.I've been in the industry for over a decade and I still use it as a reference and encourage both entrepreneurs and lawyers to read alike.I also think it's a great resource for VCs sitting on boards to make sure they are complying with all the latest and greatest regulations.

Concise yet fully inclusive, up-to-date
Includes all important areas of law for the entrepreneur.Was most helpful for our incorporation. Good, short, to-the-point, comparisons of S-corp, C-corp, LLC, partnership, and sole proprietorship.Still covered all issues and is updated to late 2007. This is important because the tax-code changes frequently (last major update was in 2003), and small changes to corporate structure and court pratices happen every year.Better than "Structuring Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Entrepreneurial Transactions."Better than "Starting Your Own Business" by Stephen C. Harper.Better than searching for piecemeal information on websites like news.YCombinator.

Other important areas covered are Contracts & Lease, Operational Liability, and Intellectual Property.I will be using this book heavily for those areas as well.

Great book, just not for me.
This book goes into great detail about all aspects of Business Law. Anyone who currently owns a business or is thinking about opening a business needs to read this book, or at least have it near by as a reference guide.

However, the book is certainly aimed at Corporate USA and those who are looking to start up a BIG business. If you are looking to open or currently own a Small Business, then there are better books on the market that are tailored more to your needs.

excellent guide
A book that every entrepreneur should read.Read it before you start the company, it will help you a lot. ... Read more

Product Description
The Creative Entrepreneur is a visual, results-oriented, step-by-step method of business development for creatives from all walks of life who want to turn their passions into viable business opportunities.

Whether you are and artist, designer, or small business owner, this book will empower you to renew and nurture your vision with the steps required to take an idea and make it real.

The Creative Entrepreneur offers a dynamic left brain/right brain approach to developing a business focus that evaluates underlying internal issues unique to creative types and shows how to practically address them.

You'll gain a combination of powerful business and strategic planning tools and learn how to use them like a pro. Related journal exercises further explore each concept in a visual and engaging way that appeals to how creative types think, learn and process information. Your journal becomes a companion and map for your creative business journey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Love it!
I've only just started working with this book but it definitely speaks to me. Though I'm a writer, the visuals inspire me in a way writing isn't these days - it's getting me to think outside the proverbial box.

With a description like that...
From the description: results-oriented, step-by-step, development, viable business opportunities, empower, vision, dynamic left brain/right brain approach, developing, business focus, evaluates underlying internal issues, business and strategic planning tools, and creative business journey.

Those aren't words of an artist, they're the regurgitated words of a thoughtless executive.I don't want to buy this book now, I want to throw up.

rockin' creativity in business
This rocks! I'm a creative minded soul and Lisa's book completely demystified how to start a business in a smart, well thought-out manner. Using her mandala model, I discovered assets I wasn't even aware of. I clarified a positioning statement that ignites me.And going through the journaling prompts, I'm now conscious of my own constructive and destructive tendencies. Right now I'm creating a strategic plan for my year ahead. I'm thrilled I have this book to guide me as my new business comes to fruition!

A Visual Approach to Strategic Planning
This is an unique book where the author presents the visual journaling techniques and prompts to meet the three basic challenges faced by many creative/visual-oriented entrepreneurs: dealing with the emotional & psychological mental blocks, misunderstanding the creative process, and lacking the practical business knowledge.

The first three chapters of this book focus on the self-analysis, discovery of skills and talents, and mental/psychological blocks. The last two chapters provide the strategic tools for managing and growing your business. The author show how a visual journal can be used as a living document that is subject to change over time, and also is adaptable to ever changing personal needs and business climate.

The first chapter, the shortest one in the whole book, shows how various journaling techniques can be used for brainstorming, problem solving and gaining insights. Additionally, it lists the benefits of a visual journal, and also briefly mentions what supplies (simple) are needed to create one.

Chapter two starts with the creation of a flower with four intersecting ovals that can be viewed as the creative entrepreneur's mandala. This enables one to see a"big picture" of the essentials needed for the realization of one's business vision. Chapter three, the largest of all, views the blocks not as personal barriers but opportunities for growth. It explains the characteristics of each side of the brain (left & right), and how they can work together rather than compete. It also shows that it is necessary to understand the four modes of functioning so that they can be controlled and managed more effectively. Both the constructive and destructive aspects are identified for each of the mode, and the remedies are provided for each of the destructive ones.

The fourth chapter shows how one can think strategically like a CEO using the managerial planning tools provided in the book. The basics of promotion and marketing (branding, packaging, advertising and media selection) are presented in the last chapter which utilizes the strategic approach rather than the tactical one. At the end of this book is a DIY project: a mini journal that allows one to document the strategic plans, to keep track of one's progress, and to recycle the existing paper cards and ephemera instead of buying expensive business planning books.

I have submitted several pages from my own journal for the inclusion in this book; however, I did not get the whole manuscript when I did some of the exercises. Consequently, I did not get a chance to develop the strategic plans for bringing my business ideas to fruition before I got this book. Pretty soon, I will have to go back to my visual journal pages for refinement and reassessment. But I can rely on this book to help me develop my own strategic plan with its visual journaling techniques and prompts.

Simply AMAZING
I just came back from the Gorgeous Genius Workshop in Mexico and am utterly inspired:) The book along with Lisa's guidance gave me the tools that I need to succeed and the inspiration for a great year! This book is for everyone who is an artist and needs some business tools and for just looking for inspiration! ... Read more

Product Description
Like many business owners, Susan-Urquhart Brown never expected to end up as an entrepreneur. Launching her own business spoke to her passions, but she soon realized there was much more to being a successful owner than she ever expected. In The Accidental Entrepreneur, she takes all the mystery out of going solo. For those who are just beginning to consider starting a venture as well as those who want to take their organization to the next level, she offers ad­vice on what works and what doesn't. With hard-won wisdom and empathy, she shows readers: the 8 questions everyone should ask up front * the top 10 traits of the successful entrepreneur * how to obtain a license and sellers permit * the best way to create a business plan * 10 simple ways to get referrals * the 6 secrets of marketing a business * smart tips for investing and finance * ways to avoid burnout * how to avoid the 7 biggest pitfalls in businessStarting one's own business should be exciting, not scary. This is the one book that will show readers how to create a successful and fulfilling venture they can be proud of. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Turning your passion into entrepreneurial action
Urquhart-Brown's The Accidental Entrepreneur: The 50 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Starting a Business is not just an invaluable guide for those who are just starting out in their business-building endeavours, but provides equally useful information for those who may struggle in their endeavours to take their small business to the next level. Filled with strategies, tools and insights this step-by-step guide is a must read for those who dream of turning their passion into a profitable business.
Author of Think Less Be More:Mental Detox for Everyone

starting a bussiness
if u b starting a bussiness get this book to avoid some mistakes starting a bussiness

basic
The info is a little basic but does provide more than I thought I needed to know.I have only just begun reading it but have been very pleased with the information provided just in the first few pages!

Don't start your business without it
I really like this book and as an entrepreneur cannot stress enough how helpful this book would have been to me when I started my business many years ago
This book is for those of us who woke up one morning and found ourselves owning our own business. Funny as it sounds isn't that what happens? I know that many of you in the rep business for example were sales people with real jobs for many years and then for a number of reasons: company cut backs, a principal who offered to set us up in business if we would agree to represent him or we went to work for a large rep firm and ended up either running it or splitting off to start our own firm. Others of us got an idea that we were passionate enough about to go out on that limb and risk everything to "follow the dream"Whatever the reason we became entrepreneurs...accidentally. So here we are, what do we do now?
We pick up and read Susan Urquhart- Brown's book The Accidental Entrepreneur that's what we do if were smart. This book is filled with as she says 50 things I wish someone had told me about starting a business. Fifty very valuable things I might add. Here are some examples:
* Eight questions to ask before you start a business. This is an excellent chapter on defining yourself, your business and your goals.
* Avoid seven common pitfalls in business. Basically this is:
o Know what you sell before you sell it
o Know what it will take to succeed
o How to use connections and so on.
As well asa number of other chapters presenting a real meat and potatoes approach to starting and running your own business.
What I enjoy are the examples the author uses to make her point and demonstrate how others have succeeded using her experience and direction. These include the story of Mary Foley and Cheryl Thompson who started [...] (great name!) an online club for business women who want to be "outrageously in charge" of their lives.
And
David Riklan the owner of Self-Improvement online Inc. talks about his " Crossroads in business" which is the books term for the time when he knew he was ready to leave the safety of his corporate job and strike out on his own. By the way this was after five years of working evenings and weekends to start his business.
This book is just filled with stories about people just like you and me who struck out on their own and started their own business.
Reading The Accidental Entrepreneur provides us with not only great examples and guidelines of how to be a successful entrepreneur but it also provides something even more valuable. It provides through us with passion and inspiration to strike out and succeed in our own businesses. I like that. I like that a lot.
This is the best $[...] you'll ever spend on your business. Hit the business section and pick it up right now.

Success is no accident
I had a big smile on my face as I read through this book. I am a very *purposeful* entrepreneur, with ten years and counting of supporting my household as a writer and seminar leader, and this book for "accidental" entrepreneurs is a solid guide for anyone who wants to go into business for themselves.

When you go to networking events with other self-employed people, you notice something fundamentally different about the people who truly make a go of it - the ones who are comfortable in their own skin about their skills, their value to customers, and their own long-term prospects. Susan Urquhart-Brown has broken down the specifics of these successful people into actionable advice, ranging from defining your value proposition to growing your business.

This book is more timely than ever, in a world where jobs aren't always secure, but knowing how to sell what people buy is a timeless skill, and a roadmap to spending your life doing what you love. We need more accidental entrepreneurs, and this book helps lead the way. -Rich Gallagher, author Great Customer Connections and What to Say to a Porcupine. ... Read more

Product Description
Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman started the multimillion-dollar franchise College Hunks Hauling Junk when they were just twenty two, and they’ve been having the time of their lives ever since. What’s their secret?
 
That's just it--there isn't one. There's no fancy software or complicated business schemes. No outside investors or quirky market niche. They just followed 10 common-sense commandments to building a straightforward, fun, and successful business that does a simple job well. Anyone can understand it, and anyone can do it.   ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Not effortless, but inspiring
Don't read this book if you're looking for a rigorous approach to starting a business.This book tells the story of College Hunks Hauling Junk, a junk removal service that had as its genesis the summer job of one of the authors.The authors worked hard and played hard as they grew the business into a successful franchise operation.The book is easy-to-read; the authors reveal no mystical solution to the question of how to succeed in business.You'll learn about running a successful business, sure, but nothing here is something you can't find in other books.The value of this book is its engaging, casual style.Their story is a fun one, and certainly inspirational.

The title of the book is misleading, though.There is no such thing as an "effortless entrepreneur".These guys worked incredibly hard to make their business a success, and when they did take it easy and left the business in the hands of others they found they had to come back and set things right.Running the business only became effortless when they'd set up a system to run the business...detailed instructions for every position in the company.Once they had those in place it became simple to turn to the franchising model.

This book is a fun read - it's a great way to pick up some business knowledge while reading an enjoyable story.Perfect air travel reading...not too heavy but not completely worthless!

A Great Rulebook for Business Success
If you are an experienced and successful business person who is looking for information on the next step, this is probably not the book for you. But if you are one of the millions of unemployed or underemployed people in the world who is either wondering why your business is not succeeding or how to start a successful business, this book gives you the most basic indispensable ground rules of business success from both the inside and the outside. Attention to small details, including great customer service and daily staff briefings or "huddles", helped make Friedman and Solomon's junk hauling business a success and will help make any business a success.

What, no text-to-speech option?
Authors,

Please reconsider your "text-to-speech not enabled" option.

I would enjoy your book on my Kindle. I use my 2hrs/day commute time having my Kindle read books to me while I drive in to work. I find it good use of my commute time - I "read" books (by listening to them) that I wouldn't have time to read otherwise.

Since your book's Kindle edition says on the Amazon web site "The publisher has requested not to enable Text-to-Speech for this title" I will not be buying your book.

Sorry.

SIMPLE DIRECT ADVICE THAT WE NEED TO HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN
BY NOW THESE BOOOKS ARE SO REDUNDANT THAT IT SURPRISING ANYONE WANTS TO PUBLISH THEM. MAYBE BECAUSE EVERY NOW AND THEN A SIMPLE DIRECT APPROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING COMES ALONG AND NEEDS TO BE GIVEN OUT TO THE REST OF US. THESE GUYS SAW A NEED STARTED TO FILL THE NEED GOT PAID THE MONEY THEY NEEDED. NOW HAVE THE LUXURY OF HINDSIGHT WISDOM.

KEEPING THAT IN MIND THE OLD ADDAGE "THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN TO PLACES IS A STRAIGHT LINE IS ONCE AGAIN MAPPED OUT WITH LITTLE TIDBITS SUCH AS DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE.ANALYZE YOUR MISTAKES AND LEARN FROM THEM. BUT THE BOOK ACTUALLY TEACHES THE KIND OF COMMON SENSE PRACTICES THAT HELP BUSINESSES IN GENERAL TO SUCCED..QUICK SOMEONE SEND A COPY TO THE MTA HERE IN NYC.

TO ALL OF THIS BUSINESS 101 IS ADDED; AN ALMOST SPIRITUAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL TONE THOUGH NOT SAID OUTRIGHT.

THIS IS YET ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING "DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW" OR "FOLLOW YOUR NEEDS". HOWEVER, IT IS MORE GROUNDED AND VERY SHARP, MEANING IT CUTS THROUGH THE "BULL".

I GUESS IT IS EASIER TO READ HOW IN PAST THESE COLLEGE GUYS DID WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH A COLLEGE EDUCATION AND CREATED A WHOLE NEW AREA OF BUSINESS....AGAIN FINDING A NEED AND FILLING IT.

DIRECT AND PRACTICAL AS WELL AS DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE, THIS BOOK SHOULD BE ON EVERY BUSINESS PERSONS' SHELF.

Inspiring, Informative, Entertaining Book That Will Get Your Entrepreneurial Juices Flowing!
Who would have thought that hauling junk could turn into a multi-million dollar business called "College Hunks Hauling Junk?"Well, Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman didn't realize the potential either, till they started hauling trash out of people's homes with a beat-up cargo van.

College buddies who had graduated, then worked dead-end corporate jobs, Friedman and Soliman note (p.3) "From the first moment we broke out of our cubicles three years ago and set out to haul junk, even before we'd earned a single dollar, we felt a sense of freedom, possibility and control over our lives that we'd never had before. And it only got better from there."

Soliman hit on the idea of hauling junk, while working at his mother's furniture store. He noticed that his mother's customers were always asking the delivery people to take away boxes and old furniture. That's when the plan to use his mom's delivery van for hauling was born.

Omar printed the first flyers on his home computer. They were up and running. Nick began assisting on weekends, as well as other friends who were jobless. They began to notice that customers appreciated having friendly, clean-cut college students in their homes. After two months, Omar had pocketed close to $8,000.

Some of the chapter titles are:

* From a Van to An Empire
* Ten Business Commandments for the Twenty-First-Century Entrepreneur
* Get Ready- The Making of an Entrepreneur
* Hustle and Grow-Creating Your Business Foundation
* Technology Meets a Traditional Business

This book makes building a business look like a very worthwhile endeavor, and one that can even be fun. These two successful businessmen were essentially just two normal guys who had a good idea and decided to make it work. Instead of settling for a life of drudge work making someone else rich, they used their ingenuity and enthusiasm to become their own bosses.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned a lot. Highly recommended reading for anyone. Even if you're working for someone else, this just might give you an idea of your own, for making the leap to working hard for yourself and reaping the many rewards that effort can bring.
... Read more

Product Description
A practical, no nonsense guide to assist those who would like to begin their own sewn products business, explaining many of the pitfalls that they can now avoid. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (49)

Exceptional Resource
This book has been very helpful for me.I had no experience or understanding of this industry, I just had an idea.This book has helped me in conversations with manufacturers that I fell are immeasurable.

Great for beginners
This is an excellent resource book for beginners who are interested in manufacturing apparel for the first time. It provides you with all the basics that you need to be aware of before approaching a manufacturer. Highly recommended. The seller shipped the book super fast as well.

This book is a MUST....I would have flopped without it!
I cannot properly express my gratitude to the author for writing this book. Honestly, if it wasn't for the valuable information in this book I would have:

1) made a complete fool of myself in front of a lot of people in the industry
2) not followed the necessary steps to be successful
3) spent thousands more than I needed to

The author's no-nonsense approach is refreshing and appreciated; there is no "fluff" in this book. Every page is chocked full of valuable information, and it is well worth its weight in gold. It amazes me how close I came to blowing everything by following a path that would have ensured my product's failure...thank GOD I bought this book. It truly is the "bible" of sewn-product manufacturing, and in my opinion, EVERYONE in the fashion industry needs to read it.

Not purchased yet
Sorry for the fake review.

However, I've read this author's website in great detail.
She's a smart cookie. She has a lot of knowledge in the "industry" that home-sewers or small business people may be looking to learn.

But like other people have mentioned, she's VERY negative and arrogant. I can see just in her website that she thinks she is "right" and the rest of the professionals are "wrong."

Either you love this woman, or hate her.
Her site is full of comments and threads of people giving praise, or being very turned off by her attitude.
In fact at one point when somebody praised her tutorial, she told them that if they appreciated it, they'd donate money to keep the site up, giving a sob story about how her credit card is about to be charged $500 for the site.
I can only imagine that the book is very much the same as her website.

In the end I'm sure I'll get the book and just take it in small doses for it's actual educational content, while avoiding letting her attitude and narrative get to me.
I'd absolutely hate to intern for her. Thank goodness she wrote a book. I'd rather just pay her the $60 and not have her in my face. And she can take my $60 to keep her site up where I'll get additional information.

Must read with caveats
I agree this is a must-read for anyone starting out in the garment-manufacturing industry.There is plenty of useful information in here, and it's an easy, entertaining, and fairly quick read.Even someone already in the industry will find something useful in here, I suspect.The title "...Guide to Sewn Product Manufacturing" is apt.

I read this book because I just bought a struggling garment manufacturer who was selling about $1M per year, but was losing money.I have to come up to speed quickly on this business!I discovered the reason the company was losing money, and it was an obvious (to me) problem in the manufacturing process that I'm sure would affect anyone who owns their own factory.It is a make-or-break issue, but it is not even mentioned in the book, which I found curious.So it is far from a complete treatment.

Also beware the subtitle "everything you need to know about running a garment industry business"...it is not that.The author no doubt is a sharp woman, but her experience is as a pattern-maker, not a manufacturer or design-entrepreneur.She covers parts of the manufacturing process (particularly in pattern-making)in great detail, but treats very lightly, or wrongly, how you are going to sell your products.Her "information" on sales reps is critically wrong, and will send the new entrepreneur totally down the wrong path.The best she could do in talking about reseller relationships was an interview with a feed-store dealer down the road from her.

If you want to get into this business, or are even already in this business, buy this book.But test what you think you've learned.

... Read more

Product Description
"An inspirational and practical guide for anyone who wants to incorporate the dynamic skills of entrepreneurs into their own lives and work.

A new generation of "life entrepreneurs" is emerging: people who apply their vision, talents, creativity, and energy not only to their work but to their entire lives, changing the world for themselves and those around them. In this book, successful entrepreneurs Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek draw on numerous interviews with fifty-five leading entrepreneurs worldwide as well as the wisdom of multiple thought leaders to provide vivid examples, moving vignettes, concrete frameworks, and practical strategies for revving up our work and play through entrepreneurial leadership. This book starts by providing strategies for integrating life, work, and purpose and ends by capturing the implications of the current entrepreneurial boom for our workplaces, learning institutions, communities, and families.

Christopher Gergen (Washington, D.C.) is a founding partner of New Mountain Ventures, co-founder and chairman of SMARTHINKING, Adjunct Professor and Director of the Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative at Duke University, and a life-long entrepreneur,

Gregg Vanourek (Thornton, CO) is a founding partner of New Mountain Ventures, former CEO of Vanourek Consulting Solutions, and former Senior Vice President of School Development for K12 Inc." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

This book gives you courage
Contextually this book offers up quotes and stories from some of the most influential and interesting people. Through this, it helps you to see that very few people in the world's population have the courage to follow a dream or an idea. This book gives you courage! More than that you actually get homework. Exercises that help show you the road and encourage you to look for the opportunities. I would say that a this book reminds me of The Magic Touch: How to make $100,000 per year as a massage Therapist by Meagan R. Holub. Meagan's book speaks on a realistic level to skilled individuals on how to take their skill and catapult it into a living, breathing, thriving career. I have them both and recommend them both to my circle of people, and to you too!

Disappointed
I bought this book based on all of the great reviews. Overall, I found it to be somewhat bland and uninspiring. While there were plenty of great stories of individuals making great accomplishments in the midst of adversity and faced with tough choices, the way the book was written took the energy out of it.
There were dozens and dozens of famous quotes, sometimes several per chapter. On top of the famous quotes, there were several excerpts from other books and authors peppered heavily throughout each chapter. Sometimes it just felt the authors were too lazy to express ideas in their own words so they just borrowed them from other authors. There are a lot of exercises included that are supposed to help you dig deeper inside of yourself to find your true purpose and your core identity. The exercises were probably the most useful part of the book, but not enough to make the rest of the book seem interesting.
All in all, I did not find anything new or profound in the book. Just a bunch of life stories chopped up and stirred into a text full of famous quotes, excerpts from other books, with a little writing that ties it all together in a somewhat bland manner.

Eye opener!
Although this book deals with the concepts of entrepreneur that often mentioned in regular entrepreneur book, this book is an eye opener. It questions on what life really means for you and how do you want to integrate your work and your life so it works for you in tandem. It tells you to go for your passion, what you love to do.

The great thing is you can also use some exercise provided online by the book to help you understand more about yourself. I really recommended this book to everyone especially to those of you who are thinking on going to college, I'm really sure that this book will definitely helps you to decide what's good for your future - life without regret and doing what you love!

Excellent read for anyone ready to embark on a new journey in life
Fascinating insight into the lives of successful entrepreneurs. An easy read, you won't want to put down. If you thought the life of an entrepreneur was out of reach or just about making money, this book shows you it's not and it may just change your life!

Inspiring.
I read the book last year while working on my application to the Peace Corps.I am currently serving in Honduras as a senior volunteer.The book was very inspirational and comforting in the same way.I was on my way to totally change everything in my life at the age of 50 and obviously had some doubts.Although the book might be geared to a younger audience, I still found the book to offer life experiences from others that have taken the plunge to try something that they really want to do and feel more comfortable about the risk.Given the current economic situation, it is a wonderful read for those that want a change. ... Read more

Product Description
For more than 30 years, author, consultant, speaker, and entrepreneur Dan Kennedy has dished out no-nonsense advice, bases on his own experience, to achieve business and sales success. He regularly get "millionaire-maker" results for satisfied clients in hundreds of professions and industries. His bestselling books include How to Make Millions with Your Ideas.

These proven-effective productivity strategies address reality—the information-overload world of cell phones, PDAs, faxes, e-mails, and need-it-yesterday business demands. This hard-hitting guide boils it all down to 10 time management techniques worth using. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Dan Rocks!
What Dan tells you is how it really is - there truly are no wishy washy messages here.I have personally recommended his books to dozens of people.If you enjoy Dan's no holds barred style then I can also recommend Swimming with Piranha Makes You Hungry by Colin TurnerSwimming with Piranha Makes You Hungry

Maybe you should judge the book by its cover
I will be honest, I picked up this book because my boss raved about how genius this guy Kennedy was. And my first response was negative just by looking at the cover. Large print, coupled with small print, and strategically placed graphics to draw the eye to the right words, just told me "this is made just to sell the book, it will not over any statistical evidence, academic insight, or practical information to continue research in the field (of time organization/management)." He does a pretty good job mentioning his buddies though (I also read the Targeting to the Wealthy book).
Reading through the book, I realized that all he does is tell you about HIS OWN organizational system, what he fails to point out is: this system might not work for everyone, and the level of discipline it requires to follow, and of course the common sense, becoming more organized will make any business more successful. Like any other, his system relies heavily on entrepreneurs willingness to change current organizational ways. Willingness to change is not something one book can tap, regardless how ingeniously well the author's system works for him/her. There's a reason why the world of consultants, coaches, and planners exists, because NOT everyone can create their organizational system or adopt someone's.
Kennedy just pulled his million dollar marketing trick on those who found this book, and all other enforcements he makes, valuable, but I can find same information for free. If this book gives any great insights you could not research for free via Google, it wouldn't try to catch your eye with this obnoxious cover.

The Simple Truth about Time Management
Dan Kennedy's No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs (NO BS) is an excellent book and must read for any independent entrepreneur who struggles with time and balance in life.

He lays it out in plain English that anyone can understand.Mr. Kennedy is not into complexity or elaborate systems.He keeps it simple and clean. Get you sanity back in order and read this book.

Don't just read it - put it into action.

My favorite tip from the book:
"If you don't manage information, you can't profit from information."

Samantha

No B.S Time Management for Entrepreneurs (NO BS)
A good book that helps one to get priorities right. Some parts I found a bit over the top.

Make Time to read this Time Management Book!
Dan Kennedy is a curmudgeon and a marketer. As long as you remember that as you read this book full of actual experiences, you will get a ton out of it. Dan has been there and sold that, and he continues to try to sell things throughout the book.

After reading this I became much more aware of how I use my time and how others try to use my time. We all have 24 hours in each day. How we use them and what we get out of them determines how successful each day, each hour is.

After reading this book I became much more aware of how much time I spend producing and how much time I spend consuming. This made me realize that in order to increase my income I need to increase my hours spent producing. This seems like a simple fact, but it did not become clear to me until I read Dan Kennedy's book.

Learn how much your time is worth and how much money you lose to time vampires, how hiding can be good for you, and how being on time is a sign that you will be successful.

Invest some time in reading and applying this information and you'll get it back multiple times. ... Read more

Product Description

Mega-bestselling author Ken Blanchard and celebrated business leaders Don Hutson and Ethan Willis present an inspiring story that reveals the secrets to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

In THE ONE MINUTE ENTREPRENEUR, Ken Blanchard (coauthor of the #1 bestselling business classic The One Minute Manager),Don Hutson, CEO of U.S. Learning, and Ethan Willis, CEO of Prosper Learning, tell the inspiring story of one man’s challenges in creating his own business. Through a powerful and engaging narrative, we confront many of the typical problems all entrepreneurs face in starting up their business, from finding new sources of revenue to securing the commitment of their people and the loyalty of their customers. More important, we learn the secrets to becoming a successful entrepreneur, including how to build a firm foundation, how to ensure a steady cash flow, and how to create legendary service. In addition, the book offers invaluable advice, delivered through One Minute Insights, from such entrepreneurs and thinkers as Sheldon Bowles, Peter Drucker, Michael Gerber, and Charlie “Tremendous” Jones.

Today, in the midst of the largest entrepreneurial surge in U.S. history, four out of five small businesses continue to fail. THE ONE MINUTE ENTREPRENEUR offers businesspeople and would-be entrepreneurs a treasure trove of wisdom on how to think, act, and succeed in creating and sustaining a business, no matter what their industry.

Customer Reviews (37)

A most read book for Entrepreneur
The One Minute Entrepreneur gives insights, tips and knowledge in such a way that the reader can't turn pages fast enough.
I personally can relate myself to the inspiring story told of a young boy named Jud and his wife Terri. I loved how the story was about a husband and wife discovering their passion together, following it, and turning it into their work. By reading Jud and Terri's story I learned it is not easy. It can even be hard on ones relationship with their spouse.
Charlie "Tremendous" shares secrets about how to keep a marriage strong. He calls them secrets of staying in love. He teaches the couple "love is not an emotion but a decision." This priceless counsel can save marriages and family.
Another word of advice given to the couple was to "ask people for counsel and not advice." An individual can listen to counsel from an experienced professional and then decide what applies to them. It is vital to learn and listen from experienced people because they have already made mistakes. One can learn from the mistake and become better.
Lou Stafford, a customer service expert had an acronym that can be applied to all businesses trying to improve their customer service. The acronym was I-C-A-R-E. This stood for ideal service, culture of service, attentiveness, responsiveness, and empowerment.By having this acronym, as a customer service motto companies will improve and sales will grow. It is not until you have a culture of service, attentiveness, responsiveness, and empowerment that customers will notice that they are priority to the business.
Another important principle of the book is that choices will come everyday and some will seem easier then others. The easiest choice will not always be the ethical one.
Overall, the principle that entrepreneurship is not easy. It takes years of work to get it up and going. It takes failures that will make you want to quit, but in the end it is about "committing to success ones step at a time." That is what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.

Took a month to receive.
Took a month to receive this item, and I needed it for a book report.Not cool.

close your eyes--the entrepreneur has no clothes
What you're getting: A silly parable with some self-help bullets tacked-up on the end of each chapter.

This is the One-Minute formula, so on the one hand, no surprise there. You don't buy the One-Minute-Hot-Workplace-Topic-of-the-Week expecting leading edge knowledge or even profundity. You're buying a pick-me-up. A quick, feel-good read in hopes of gaining 1-2 takeaways.

This fails to meet even those low-expectations.

The story--aside from being ridiculously irrelevant to planet earth entrepreneurs--is poorly written. Horrible. The only thing the characters inspired in me was the urge to give Jud McCarley (the protagonist) a wedgie.

And, as for those signature distilled points of wisdom? You'd swear they were taken from the discard pile of a 1950's Reader's Digest draft. Nothing more than tired, recycled, and randomly applied self-help cliches. Half of them aren't even particularly relevant to entrepreneurism.


The pro? It's a short book.

Bottom line
Here is the bottom line the only reason why your not going to like this book is because your not a true entrepreneur.Lets just say this I bought this book because of its negative reviews and it was a great purchase for me and was exactly what I needed at the time I read it.

Very Happy with Product
Don Hutson and Ken Blanchard did a great job on this book! Two thumbs up. ... Read more

Product Description
How to Change the World provides vivid profiles of social entrepreneurs. The book is an In Search of Excellence for social initiatives, intertwining personal stories, anecdotes, and analysis. Readers will discover how one person can make an astonishing difference in the world.
The case studies in the book include Jody Williams, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for the international campaign against landmines she ran by e-mail from her Vermont home; Roberto Baggio, a 31-year old Brazilian who has established eighty computer schools in the slums of Brazil; and Diana Propper, who has used investment banking techniques to make American corporations responsive to environmental dangers.
The paperback edition will offer a new foreword by the author that shows how the concept of social entrepreneurship has expanded and unfolded over the last few years, including the Gates-Buffetts charitable partnership, the rise of Google, and the increased mainstream coverage of the subject. The book will also update the stories of individual social entrepreneurs that appeared in the cloth edition.Amazon.com Review
Book Description
Published in over twenty countries, How to Change the World has become the Bible for social entrepreneurship. It profiles men and women from around the world who have found innovative solutions to a wide variety of socialand economic problems. Whether they work to deliver solar energy to Brazilian villagers, or improve access to college in the United States, social entrepreneurs offer pioneering solutions that change lives.

Discover surprising facts about social entrepreneurs from author David Bornstein

According to a recent Harris Poll, a whopping 97% of Generation Y are looking for work that allows them "to have an impact on the world." In recent years, courses or centers in social entrepreneurship have been created in over 250 universities and colleges such as Harvard Business School, Yale School of Management, Duke, NYU's Stern & Wagner, Wharton, Oxford, and Stanford. Teach for America received 25,000 applications for 3,700 slots in 2008, an increase of more than a third over 2007. In Ivy League schools such as Yale, Cornell, and Dartmouth, close to 10% of all graduates applied to the program. In the past two years, the Acumen Fund, an organization that supports social entrepreneurs who solve major problems through business solutions(eg. malaria nets, water purification, loans for housing), received more than 1,000 applications from top ranked business students for just 15 fellowship positions. The list of top business entrepreneurs who are focusing either full time or a considerable amount of time on social entrepreneurship is highly impressive: Pierre Omidyar, founder of ebay, created Omidyar Network to "enable individual self-empowerment on a global scale." Jeff Skoll, cofounder of ebay, also runs Participant Productions, which makes socially conscious films including An Inconvenient Truth and Goodnight and Good Luck. Bill Gates has left Microsoft to pursue a full-time career in philanthropy. Warren Buffett recently donated $30 billion to the Gates Foundation. William Draper, one of the biggest venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, created the Draper Richards Foundation to support social entrepreneurs. Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum (Davos), founded the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. Sergey Brin and Larry Page, founders of Google, created Google.org, which supports social entrepreneurs and has raised over $1 billion. Legendary venture capitalist John Doerr is leading an effort to raise $100 million for microcredit loans. The Grameen Bank, the leading example for social entrepreneurs worldwide, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. The Bridgespan Group, a consulting group that advises social entrepreneurs, received 1,800 applications for 18 job openings in 2006.

Customer Reviews (40)

Great mini-stories, case studies.
We read this as one of our books for the Harvard Extension school's Social Entrepreneurship class. It's a great book, very accessible with stories that travel a quick loop around the globe. While broad, it presents emotional and rationale reasons for how to change the world. It is worth your time. It shows how you can make a difference in a community even if you have nothing, e.g. no running water? no electricity? One young man's approach is not only resourceful, but he changes the way his community lives and now the whole country! (I also recommend reading Half the Sky, a wonderful, emotionally upsetting book about injustices in the world that people are trying to right: one singular person at a time -- it makes you jump up onto your feet because you can't sit there doing nothing, you have to do something, and fight back).

Important reading but not "a bible in the field"
I enjoyed learning about how social entrepreneurship is quietly blurring the boundaries between social action and the way to do business to better the world. The case studies in How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, Updated Edition are inspiring to those who are, in whatever capacity, contributing to make a difference and to drive change, and for those who are at least thinking about the need to change.

However, I would have liked to see more inclusion of what social action could mean even for all of us (people and organisations), particularly for those who are still blinded by greed and and growth and everything else that got us into the predicament we are finding ourselves in. Our belief systems need to change dramatically and with more urgency. We need critical mass and we need it fast.

Christine Maingard, Author of Think Less Be More:Mental Detox for Everyone

Eye opening
As someone just entering the social entrepreneurial space, this was a good segway into the sector. Bornstein does a good job at highlighting different social entrepreneurs and their strategy to success.

Lots of details, but overall theme very encouraging
Theme of book is change. Stories about people who have changed world and analysis of common trends of these social entrepreneurs. Lots of details, mostly boring details of little interest to average student (economics, history of organization with lots of acronyms, statistics). However, these stories are real and you are encouraged to step up and follow in the footsteps of these men and women who are still alive, impacting the world. Stories of real men and women, who they are, what they have done, what they continued to do to this day. Note: some of these people are doing so great of things that you might feel incompetent and faulty but author's message is not to compare yourself to these people but rather to see that you as a human being possess the power to make changes, to help everyone around you. Don't have to change world; can help to make your home community a better place if want. Key: passion and determination to make world better place to live. Author delves into personalities of these people, how they act, their attitudes toward life, and you are tempted to ask, "Am I like them?" Do I have the courage, the will, the desire to change this world, or to change this community, to make it a better place to live for all? From political standpoint, consider this: trend has been private organizations in control, then governments step in (try to do everything like welfare, social security, health care) but can't handle everything, so citizen sector/nonprofits charities/organizations show up where people are donating time and/or money to help poor, sick, under-served, less fortunate (loosely speaking, rely less on government and more on private "charities" more). Book printed very recently (2007) so applicable to today's society. This is history, but the kind textbooks don't mention.

Fine Case Histories of People You Don't Know about Who Are Positively Changing the World
"Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having my delight in the sons of men." -- Proverbs 8:31

Can one person make a difference for the poor, the helpless, and those with no hope? The case histories in this book will encourage you to think that it's more than possible: The process can be studied, taught, and encouraged as journalist David Bornstein recounts this point through his story of what the Ashoka foundation is doing to develop social entrepreneurs and establish a discipline that can be rapidly improved through sharing of best practices. Whether you are a social entrepreneur, want to become one, or want to encourage what they do, this book is must reading. It systematizes much of what is scattered throughout many speeches, good stories, brief articles, and a variety of excellent books.

The book's main weakness is that it doesn't do enough to draw more than big-picture conclusions about social entrepreneurs. To me, those profiled here simply look like successful business model innovators who care more about the social impact of what they do than the financial rewards for themselves. As a result, the book's focus is a little too narrow to be totally useful. There are also for-profit entrepreneurs who great vast amounts of social benefit using different, but similar, methods to what is described here. Both groups can learn a lot from one another. I suspect that there are also other streams of creativity conjoining as well, such as I often see accomplished by people who want to systematically raise up socially conscious entrepreneurs by the tens of millions in Africa, Asia, and South America.

I hope that this book will be updated and expanded in scope every year or two. That will be a great blessing for those who are interested in the field and those who want to help it advance.

Bravo, Mr. Bornstein!

... Read more

Product Description
Using the groundbreaking formula they introduced in their book Financial Intelligence: A Manager's Guide to Knowing What the Numbers Really Mean, Karen Berman and Joe Knight present the essentials of finance specifically for entrepreneurial managers.

Drawing on their work training tens of thousands of people at leading organizations worldwide, the authors provide a deep understanding of the basics of financial management and measurement, along with hands-on activities to practice what you are reading. You'll discover:

• Why the assumptions behind financial data matter
  
• What income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements really reveal
  
• How to use ratios to assess your venture's financial health
  
• How to calculate return on your investments in your enterprise
  
• Ways to use financial information to do your own job better
  
• How to instill financial intelligence throughout your team
  

Customer Reviews (9)

Great Follow Up Book
I just read two finance books back to back.It has been a while since I studied finance and needed some refreshing.I will say that this is an excellent book but if you are new to finance I highly recommend reading "Financial Statements: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Creating Financial Reports" first and then following up with this book to solidify the concepts.Most books make finance seem like it is an exact science and in reality it is not.This book goes explains in detail how finance is just as much an art.

A must read for understanding the numbers
For those who are investing in a company or their own business, this is a must read book. This book makes analyzing the numbers on the financial statements clearer for those who may need more of an understanding in that area. It has helped me to better evaluate companies that I am interesting in investing in.

A "must read" for any small business owner
In my accounting practice I come across all kinds of business managers and owners - some are very well versed in accounting and financial matters, others never paid attention to this aspect of their business. In good times, all they felt they needed was a healthy bank account balance.
Well, times are changing and financial intelligence becomes inescapable for all those who want to stay in business and continue to prosper.
In "Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs: What You Really Need to Know About the Numbers" by Karen Berman and Joe Knight I found a superb guide I would highly recommend to all my clients.
The book is perfect for its audience - it doesn't delve too much into the nitty gritty of accounting - debits and credits and journal entries - that's for the accountant. But it gives the business owner the tools to understand the output of a good accountant working for him - the financial statements and their analysis. It covers pretty much the entire spectrum of financial performance of the company, going in just enough detail to illuminate its most important aspects - the financial statements themselves, cash flow, ratios, ROI and working capital management.
Thank you to the authors for an excellent resource, critical in today's business climate!

www.financialsforyou.com

What you really need to know about the numbers
In this iteration of their book, Berman and Knight focus on understanding finances for the Entrepreneurs. I have read many books on the financial statements, ratios and indices that apply to businesses, and this book is among the best. In one place there is a clear explanation of the various reports, how the numbers are derived, what they mean and how to organize your company to positively affect the indicators you need and want to change.

The authors also make learning a useful, hands-on and enjoyable experience with worksheets in the appendices using the information for a fictitious company. Of course, the readers are invited to also use their own company's financial data to develop their understanding of the finances. Despite making things easy to understand, the art of accounting is not obscured or ignored. Berman and Knight make it clear that many of the key numbers we use to "dashboard" our businesses are really not much more than estimates. Informed estimates to be sure, yet still, the numbers are subjective rather than fact. The goal of the accounting team is to get the numbers as close to reality as they can. The goal of the financially intelligent leader is to understand where the art ends and the reality begins.

The book starts with five critical questions:

* Do you know whether you will have enough cash to make payroll next month? How about the month after that?
* If you're running a start-up, do you know your burn rate - that is, how fast you are going through your cash?
* Do you know how profitable your company's products or services really are: do you know that you can be running a profitable business and still run out of cash?
* If you're thinking about buying a new piece of equipment - a truck, a computer system, a machine - do you know how to figure the likely return on your investment?

Of particular importance in today's economic environment is how managers will become focused on cash and cash flow. The authors re-enforce the usually well known but often forgotten admonition that we can be cash rich and not profitable, or highly profitable and run out of cash. As we watch our economy reset to be less consumer driven and more savings oriented economy, we will need to not only serve our customers in an entirely different way, but will also have to re-focus on using all of our financial intelligence to guide our companies to success.

This excellent book, should be on every business owner's, business leader's and employee's desk for easy reference. Financial experts can use it as an outline for in-house seminars on finance for all employees. Well run companies that will survive and perhaps even thrive during this economic tsunami will make sure that everyone in the company attains Financial Intelligence.

A "BusinessCast Podcast" Essential Business Book
How many of you look forward to talking about numbers (really)?

The truth is that most entrepreneurs only have a very rudimentary understanding of finance. The problem is that having little or no skill in gathering, organizing or interpreting your company's finances can lead to less-than-perfect, and sometime disastrous, decision making.

That's why BusinessCast podcast (www.businescast.ca) co-host Robert -- a longtime believer in helping entrepreneurs gain financial intelligence -- and I are constantly looking for tools and resources that breathe life into the "numbers side" of your business.

And, that's why we're so happy to have identified "Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs". In BusinessCast #98, Financial Intelligence, we interview co-author Joe Knight. He shares some nuggets but, perhaps more importantly he demonstrates his commitment to developing a truly practical resource.

What impressed me -- and, I'm not a "numbers person" -- is how well this book is written. It's clear, concise and really, well...very human! Meaning, it doesn't feel anything like a finance or accounting text book that speaks down to you. Nor is it so dry that you're just aching to get to the end of the next paragraph.

The authors quite successfully convey fundamental and complex ideas in a way that you'd wish your CFO could! If you're running a business and you're the least bit uncomfortable with business numbers, read this book....and read it, now.

Other resources to help you tackle your finances include:

BusinessCast Podcast #69(www.businescast.ca) - Business Success By the Numbers - to help you get straight-forward answers to these common numbers-focused questions:

1. Should you buy or lease your car?
2. Should you invest available cash in your mortgage or an RRSP (IRA)?
3. Who should you sell your business to?

Don't forget to visit the BusinessCast.ca
... Read more

Product Description

Live the Lifestyle of Your Dreams!

Are you hoping to build a better life for you and your family?

Can you see yourself here?

• I could use some extra money to take a cool vacation or buy my kids something they really want.
• I dream of taking a chance on one of my own ideas and turning it into reality.
• I'm bored and have extra time on my hands.
• I'm looking for a way my whole family can work together.

Imagine earning thousands more each year--all in your free time.

Thousands of people have found a way to live the lifestyle of their dreams--and now you can, too. Over a hundred weekend entrepreneurs share their secrets. It's all the information you need to forge your own path to the life you deserve.

Customer Reviews (18)

Buenas ideas, bien enfocadas
Este libro no solo ofrece buenas ideas, sino que además están bien enfocadas, pues la mayoría de los negocios están diseñados para que los puedas desarrollar en tu tiempo libre.

Me gustó especialmente la clasificación, donde se tiene en cuenta el capital y esfuerzo que quieres invertir, por ejemplo, ideas para cuando tienes poco dinero y mucho tiempo, o ideas para cuando tienes más dinero pero poco tiempo.

Muy recomendable!

good ideas to earn extra money
This book is full of great ideas to earn extra month.Many of them won't come as a surprise but there are some excellent suggestions that will get your mind working on ways to bring in extra cash quickly.Some of them are quite lucrative.A friend and I tried a couple of them and were quite surprised at how easy it was to get something going.I think this book is excellent for somebody in need of a little extra dough.You may not earn "quit your job" type money but you will certainly walk away with more than you would have had just sitting around. :)

Filled with great ideas for starting a small business
This is a great book, just full of business ideas that you can start without sinking your savings and way too much time into.Don't quit your job, spend a ton of money and then find out you hate it--ease into business ownership by starting a weekend business first.

There are tons of ideas to explore and they are well organized according to what kind of "work" you need to do in order to run them--businesses you use your own labor for, online businesses, businesses where you make and sell products or services, and a great section on information sales businesses.

You'll also find tons of tips on running your business successfully, too--although you will need to educate yourself beyond this book as to business administration.But, this book will get you started and that is often the hardest part.

Anton and Sander also include a great appendix with business resources.

Weekend Entrepreneur: 101 Great Ways to Earn Extra Cash
Money- there just never seems to be enough of it.

Weekend Entrepreneur: 101 Great Ways to Earn Extra Cash is an idea book on how to earn a little extra cash in your spare time. The book is essentially a listing of 101 work at home businesses that anyone can do without special training and without a lot of expensive start up equipment. Most of these projects could easily grow into full fledge businesses given the right amount of motivation and commitment by the entrepreneur. Each potential suggestion includes the story of a real life business person who used that particular idea to earn a little extra money or to start their own successful business.

Once the reader has chosen a project that not only interests them but suits their particular needs and lifestyle, then he or she can also use this book as a reference. Part III of this book focuses on "success strategies". This information includes useful hints about licensing, patent, trademarks, and marketing your service or product.

Great ideas and Resources!
This book is just full of ideas anyone can use to make more money.There are so many resources in this book you will want to keep in handy as a reference. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Fast service
I received the textbook on time and it was in perfect condition as described online.

book in bad shape
the book is not in "good" condition--it is very worn out and has highlighting on every page. Other than that it was a smooth transaction.

Top book for small businesses and college students
I recently took a business class at a top university in Los Angeles.I found this book to really help with the class and with my ideas for expanding a small business overseas.I'm sending this book to some college student friends in Business who will really benefit by using this book.I liked the way Foley made use of the Internet.

Excellent Book on Exporting
I have read several books on the export industry and this is by far the very best. In fact, it is actually the most enjoyable text book I have ever read---and I have read a lot.It is organized in a logical and progressive method, the writing style is clear and engaging, it breaks down complicated issues into bite-size paragraphs, it is chock full of great examples and the author includes real-life export industry illustrations from a personal standpoint. At also includes some humor, which is rare for a text book.

The Genuine Article
Global Trade is a complex world. Understanding it is not easy and needs practice. James Foley has done an outstanding job in detailing in simple language what we need to know to thoroughly understand the nature of Global Business! I have seldom read a book that is so well written on the topic and I believe he has done a tremendous service to the International Community!
Having been an educator in Global Trade for the past almost two years, I feel that this book is indeed the genuine article for anyone who wants a well rounded knowledge about several aspects of our complex Global Business World!
Bravo, James! You are a benchmark for future authors on the subject! ... Read more

Product Description
It doesn't matter how old you are or where you're from; you can start a profitable business. The Young Entrepreneur's Guide to Starting and Running a Business will show you how. This completely updated edition is filled with real, inspirational stories of young people finding success in the business world -- from superstars like Microsoft's Bill Gates and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy to young people who are just starting out. More important, though, it provides a practical, step-by-step pathway, including everything you need to know to start your own business, from creating financial statements to developing marketing techniques.

You'll also discover the tremendous entrepreneurial opportunities that are now readily available through the Internet. This book will show you how to:

• Prepare a winning business plan
  
• Register your business legally and easily
  
• Understand finance and keep smart records
  
• Conduct market research that really works
  
• Use the Internet to reach customers around the world
  
• Build a socially conscious company that gives back to the community

Customer Reviews (10)

Great material for low price
This book has great content for the understanding of the basic concepts needed for entrepreneurship.

Young Entrepreneur's Guide to Starting and Running a Business
Realistic money making ideas for all kids who have an entrepreneur drive. Yes, many of the ideas given are basic and it doesn't necessarily mean that you will become rich.

**Many different entrepreneur success stories**

Interesting
I liked this book a lot. I bought it in high school and it was a good book. It was a little elementary at some points. It talked about running a business such as T-Shirt Printing(where you put designs on a shirt and sell it). A lot of the information was great though. If youre in college it may be a waste of time it's more high school. It's for those who don'tknow much about businesses.

This is a great book.
I beleive this is a great book.It gives excellent motivation in getting started in a business. It helps you to understand how to run your business and get it started.It even gives you examples of current businesses started by young entreprenuers.

waste of money
I regret buying this book. It's not a guide for young people to starting your own business unless you call part time babysitting a business or selling your goods at a flea market as having your own business. The "businesses" the author has in mind are are, for example, selling homemade goods to your friends or anyone else you can get to buy them. If you call having a lemonade standa business, then this book may pertain to you. ... Read more

Product Description
From the basics of writing a business plan to the challenges of developing a marketing and sales program, this is the essential resource for success with a new venture. Drawing on rich content from Harvard Business School Publishing and other sources, this concise guide is carefully crafted to provide a highly practical resource for readers with all levels of experience, and will prove especially valuable for the new manager. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

good start
Good starting point for those who want to consider starting their own business. Slightly too academic.

What I've Come to Expect from HBS Books
Although much of the material in this book can be found in other places and it's high level (as noted by a previous reviewer), the content is high quality and it's helpful to see it pulled together in one place. As a serial entrepreneur, I often rely on HBS publications. While some tend to be more academic than practical in nature, this book does a nice job balancing the two. It contains a lot of solid information based on academic research, yet places it into a context where it is useful to a practicing entrepreneur. If you are an entrepreneur seeking to start or grow a venture, this book is worth a read and is likely to provide a meaningful ROI.

Steven K. Gold
Author, Entrepreneur's Notebook: Practical Advice for Starting a New Business Venture

Entrepreneur's Toolkit: Tools and Techniques
As I am finding with all of the Harvard Business Review series, this book is a high level overview that serves as a general guide or summary to the practice.I have seen all of this material in other books, and there is no innovative thought or fresh strategy offered.I gave it a high rating because it is great for someone that is just starting on this subject.

Concise and covers many points in starting up a business
I am at the point to run the first round of non-founder funding for my 5-year-old start-up when I grabbed this book off the bookstore's shelf. The author clearly understood the process of building a business, and knows how to get outside investors interested in a start-up. One interesting viewpoint the author held was that VCs are the most expensive financial aid a start-up can find, and offered alternatives to getting VC's funding. In the end the author addresses ways an entrepreneur can be really paid off for the efforts invested, both by way of IPO and by non-IPO means. In general, I find this book very helpful to help one understand many faces of starting up. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Brilliant book
This is a book that give's you a wide range of ideas to aplicate at you own bussines.Highestly recomended.

Lot's of practical ideas
This man has done it all and won't promise you easy wins but shows you that when you are in the place where youre passion lies, have an attitude of service and use some (innovating) ideas listed by him, can bring you all the way to succes.

Not wat I've been told at all
Material way too old, nothing new, worthless, this was sucha bad money investment for me...

Facilitating the Great American Dream
"Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die."That lyric from one of Albert King's greatest hits, epitomizes the Great American Dream; everyone wants to make a million dollars, but nobody wants to work.That's why we are inundated with so many "get rich quick" schemes that, of course, rarely work.

The good news is, Dan S Kennedy was kind enough to put together this wonderful book, which gives practical advice on how to make millions with your ideas; assuming your ideas have value and you're willing to take the required steps to make things happen.With dozens of real life examples of success (and failure), the reader gets a feel for some of the things that may pay dividends for themselves, or for their companies.

In the 13 years since its orginal publication, Kennedy touches on the potential of marketing on the internet, which was just starting to get heated up at the time.Today, you'd be hard-pressed to find any successful new entrepreneur rising out of the ranks without some social media assistance.It seems everyone's hooked on Twitter or Facebook, and they're engaging like minded people with ideas that are, in many cases, paying huge dividends.

Kennedy's advice is sound, and might even make you a millionaire someday.All you need to do is buy the book, read it and heed it.

his other books are better
I bought this book because I'm a big Dan Kennedy fan, and was disappointed.His "no BS" series is much better and worth checking out.This book is outdated now, the examples are all pretty old. ... Read more

Product Description
A hands-on resource that shows nonprofits how to adopt entrepreneurial behaviors and techniques

The rising spirit of social entrepreneurship has created all kinds of new opportunities for nonprofit organizations. But at the same time, many are discovering more than their share of challenges as well. This essential book will help anyone in the field gain the necessary skills to meet these challenges. Written by the leading thinkers and practitioners in the field, Enterprising Nonprofits offers concise and engaging explanations of the most successful business tools being used by nonprofits today. The authors clearly describe all the concepts so you’ll be able to embrace the methods of social enterprise for your organization. With this book, you’ll learn how to use practical business techniques to dramatically improve the performance of your nonprofit.

Praise for Enterprising Nonprofits

"I can’t imagine a better team to bring powerful insights and practical guidance to social entrepreneurs. Readers will be inspired by the examples, and then they will roll up their sleeves to apply the many useful management tools in this engaging book."–Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business School, Author of Evolve!: Succeeding in the Digital Culture of Tomorrow

"In one book, Enterprising Nonprofits does for social entrepreneurs what countless volumes have done for entrepreneurs in the business sector.A wonderful mixture of analysis, practical advice, and inspiration."–Paul Brest, President, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

All of the royalties from this book will be used by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to support continuing work on social entrepreneurship. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An academic but useful view of social entreprenuers
Its a good and useful book. For me it affirmed what I am already doing is on track so I guess it didn't teach me more, but knowing the direction and style I use is in fact entrepreneurial was very helpful. The chapter on accounting was a great potted view of accounting for the real world uncomplicated by jargon, not to deep into detail, very useful indeed.

Social Enterprise for Nonprofits
Wonderful source of information on the role of social enterprise or partnership donation alternatives as a way of funding non profits in 2007.

Comprehensive and Quite Useful
I found this book to be extraordinarily helpful in outlining how nonprofits can adopt better practices towards creating more sustainable social entrepreneurial models.While my background is in the profit world, it helped me to recognize how my existing knoweldge could be adapted to social entreprenuership.I highly recommend this book.It is well-written, comprehensive in its topics and it contains very useful tips and "how to" material.

A Must Read for those in the Non-Profit Sector
As a businessperson with an MBA, I readily identified with and agreed with the advice and strategies presented in this book.For people with a passion to help improve things in a not-so-perfect world, this book is a gift.It provides real life examples and turns theories into step-by-step directions.Each chapter makes good use of subheads and bullet points and ends with a concise summary.The authors have real-life experience working as social entreprenuers and it shows.I highly recommend this book.

Phenomenal resource
This book is destined to become a classic.It is full of such usefulinformation.Not only is the content fantastic but the format is an outstanding feature of the book.I predict many will read it and all of those will value it and refer to it often.Thanks for providing us with such a comprehensive and easy to use resource. ... Read more

Product Description

BE YOUR OWN BOSS
“Entrepreneurs enjoy a freedom few ever know. Starting your own business is one of the few remaining paths to wealth—and this book is a valuable road map.”
Robert K. Kiyosaki, Author of Rich Dad Poor Dad

Tap into more than 30 years of small business expertise as you embark on the most game-changing journey of your life – your new business.

This unmatched guide - the best-selling business startup book of all time -offers critical startup essentials and a current, comprehensive view of what it takes to survive the crucial first three years, giving your exactly what you need to survive and succeed. Plus, you’ll get advice and insight from experts and practicing entrepreneurs, all offering common-sense approaches and solutions to a wide range of challenges.

• Pin point your target market
• Uncover creative financing for startup and growth
• Use online resources to streamline your business plan
• Learn the secrets of successful marketing
• Discover digital and social media tools and how to use them
• Take advantage of hundreds of resources
• Receive vital forms, worksheets and checklists

From startup to retirement, millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners have trusted Entrepreneur to point them in the right direction. We’ll teach you the secrets of the winners, and give you exactly what you need to lay the groundwork for success. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A comprehensive guide to starting a business
The checklists in Starting Your Own Business are helpful,raising questions and suggesting ways to answer them that most neophytes wouldn't think of asking. The chapters on using the internet for marketing are eye-opening for an old duffer such as I. The sections on electronic gadgets how to use the internet & social marketing are of interest to any small business owner.I might add that I went to NexTag.com and will recoup the cost of SYOB with one purchase of ink cartridges for my ancient HP DeskJet. I heartily recommend SYOB for anyone interested in starting or improving a small business. ... Read more