Entrepreneurship

The essential companion to the book that revolutionized entrepreneurship Disciplined Entrepreneurship Workbook provides a practical manual for working the 24-step framework presented in Disciplined Entrepreneurship. Unlocking key lessons and breaking down the steps, this book helps you delve deeper into the framework to get your business up and running with a greater chance for success. You'll find the tools you need to sharpen your instinct, engage your creativity, work through hardship, and give the people what they want—even if they don't yet know that they want it. Real-world examples illustrate the framework in action, and case studies highlight critical points that can make or break you when your goal is on the line. Exercises and assessments help you nail down your strengths, while pointing out areas that could benefit from reinforcement—because when it comes to your business, «good enough» isn't good enough—better is always better. Disciplined Entrepreneurship transformed the way that professionals think about starting a company, and this book helps you dig into the proven framework to make your business dreams a reality. Delve deeper into the 24 steps to success Innovate, persevere, and create the product people want Internalize lessons learned from real-world entrepreneurs Test your understanding with exercises and case studies The book also includes new material on topics the author has found to be extremely useful in getting the most value out of the framework including Primary Market Research, Windows of Opportunity and Triggers. The book also introduces the Disciplined Entrepreneurship Canvas to track your progress on this journey. Starting a company is a serious undertaking, with plenty of risk and sacrifice to go around—so why not minimize the risk and make the outcome worth the sacrifice? Author Bill Aulet's 24-step framework is proven to build a successful business; the key is in how well you implement it. Disciplined Entrepreneurship Workbook helps you master the skills, tools, and mindset you need to get on your path to success.

Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Geography and Growth provides a timely, accessible review of our understanding of the complex links between innovation, entrepreneurship, geography and growth. Expert contributions provide a thorough roadmap of the developments in research at the interface of these themes. A timely and accessible review of our understanding of the complex links between innovation, entrepreneurship, geography and growth A highly comprehensive roadmap of the range of issues addressed by research in these areas Discusses the most profitable ways forward for enhancing our understanding of arising issues Contributions from leading experts in the field take a variety of theoretical, empirical and institutional angles

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

How to achieve procurement excellence today and evolve to be ready for tomorrow Procurement entrepreneurship pays. High-performing procurement teams can deliver huge value to their companies—regardless of industry. The best companies are advancing talent-management strategies into the heart of their procurement organizations with huge success. In addition to an estimated $84 billion in yearly cost savings, companies who give procurement leaders prominence deliver superior returns from their operations as well as lower their costs of goods sold. This book, written by a group of purchasing and supply management practice experts, shares the hard-earned insights of more than ten years of dedicated procurement research conducted with leading academic institutions and practical experience with marquee clients in the field of procurement. It is also a natural successor to the many articles McKinsey & Company has published on the topic. This reliable resource skillfully explains and codifies the best practices that leading companies have pioneered in procurement as well as frames how procurement must evolve to grapple with new global, social, and economic issues affecting business over the next decade. Details the four key dimensions of procurement excellence Showcases the five megatrends that will change the way business is done in the next decade Provides strategies that business leaders can adopt in the face of these megatrends, together with practical advice about next steps and case examples The road ahead will require you to redefine your vision for procurement and implement the required changes. Procurement 20/20 will show you how.

From Silicon Valley leader Maynard Webb, how we can leverage technology to change how we work Maynard Webb has always been the go-to guy when Silicon Valley companies have thorny problems. Whether revamping eBay's crashing servers (transforming their technology weaknesses into a competitive strength) or investing in emerging technology start-ups, Webb brings strategic and operational savvy to every issue and venture. In his first book, Webb brings this same focus to tackle outdated models of work, created a century ago, which no longer sync up with either individual or employers' needs. Through a unique framework, Webb identifies 4 different mindsets around work (the company man, CEO of your own destiny, disenchanted employee, and the aspiring entrepreneur). It organizes those who are self-motivated versus those who are waiting to be discovered and aims to give readers the tools to become more self-actualized, happier, and ultimately more fulfilled in their careers. In identifying a paradigm shift that is already under way, Webb demonstrates clearly how to harness technology to embrace our own personal happiness, allowing people to become more productive at work and also spend more time with their families. Contains a framework that demonstrates how we can leverage technology to create better job opportunities and foster more balanced lives Written by Maynard Webb, chairman of LiveOps, former COO of e-Bay, founder of Webb Investment Network (WIN), and board member of Yahoo! and salesforce.com Includes personalized worksheets and empowering action-oriented advice Rebooting Work reveals how anyone can take control of his or her own future, finding greater fulfillment, productivity, and happiness.

'Every bit as good as the beer itself.' Sir Richard Branson From selling the first cases of Cobra out of the back of a battered old Citroen 2CV along the streets of West London to exporting to over 40 countries around the world, Karan Bilimoria's vision of a less gassy beer has travelled a long way. Starting out with a heap of student debt, a complete lack of industry experience and parents desperate for their son to get a proper job, it could all so easily have gone wrong. But Karan's single-minded determination to succeed and his ability to inspire those around him to buy into his vision, turned Cobra, sip-by-sip, into the multi-million pound business it is today. Karan's story bottles the very essence of entrepreneurship: vision, drive, creativity and a relentless battle against all odds, to make the idea you so passionately believe in work. Against the Grain is packed with insights into finance, strategy, planning, luck, discipline, and generally doing the unexpected to build your own business, from someone who's been there and done it… and all with just a little less gas. 'Essential reading.' Richard Reed, Co-founder, Innocent Drinks 'An inspirational story.' Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief Executive Officer WPP 'Karan Bilimoria is one of the great entrepreneurs…' Jo Malone, founder of Jo Malone 'Inspiring! … worth the cover price for the «Financing Cobra» chapter alone.' Professor John Mullins, London Business School '… His story should inspire youth everywhere who are fired by the dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur.' Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Group

A guide to ending America's jobs emergency by accelerating the true engine of job creation—start-ups Four years after the end of the Great Recession, 23 million Americans remain unemployed, underemployed, or have left the workforce discouraged. Even worse, Washington policymakers seem out of ideas. Where the Jobs Are: Entrepreneurship and the Soul of the American Economy shows how America can restore its great job-creation machine. Recent research has demonstrated that virtually all net new job creation in the United States over the past thirty years has come from businesses less than a year old—true «start-ups.» Start-up businesses create an average of three million new jobs each year, while existing businesses of any size or age shed a net average of about one million jobs annually. Unfortunately, the vital signs of America's job-creating entrepreneurial economy are flashing red alert. After remaining remarkably consistent for decades, the rate of new business formation has declined significant in recent years, and the number of new jobs created by new firms is also falling. In Where the Jobs Are, the authors recount the findings of a remarkable summer they spent traveling the country to meet and conduct roundtables with entrepreneurs in a dozen cities. More than 200 entrepreneurs participated—explaining in specific and vividly personal terms the issues, frustrations, and obstacles that are undermining their efforts to launch new businesses, expand existing young firms, and create jobs. Those obstacles include a dangerously underperforming education system, self-defeating immigration policies that thwart the attraction and retention of the world's best talent, access to capital difficulties, a mounting regulatory burden, unnecessary tax complexity, and severe Washington-produced economic uncertainty. Explains how start-ups are different from existing businesses, large or small, and why they represent the engine of job creation Reveals how policymakers' failure to understand the unique nature and needs of start-ups has undermined efforts to stimulate the economy following the Great Recession Presents a detailed, innovative, and uniquely credible 30-point policy agenda based on what America's job creators said they urgently need Engaging and informative, Where the Jobs Are reveals with unprecedented precision and clarity the major obstacles undermining the fragile economic recovery, and provides a vitally important game plan to unleash the job-creating capacity of the entrepreneurial economy and put a beleaguered nation back to work.

Praise for Don't Count On It! «This collection of Jack Bogle's writings couldn't be more timely. The clarity of his thinking—and his insistence on the relevance of ethical standards—are totally relevant as we strive to rebuild a broken financial system. For too many years, his strong voice has been lost amid the cacophony of competing self-interests, misdirected complexity, and unbounded greed. Read, learn, and support Jack's mission to reform the industry that has been his life's work.» —PAUL VOLCKER, Chairman of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board and former Chairman of the Federal Reserve (1979–1987) «Jack Bogle has given investors throughout the world more wisdom and plain financial 'horse sense' than any person in the history of markets. This compendium of his best writings, particularly his post-crisis guidance, is absolutely essential reading for investors and those who care about the future of our society.» —ARTHUR LEVITT, former Chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission «Jack Bogle is one of the most lucid men in finance.» —NASSIM N.TALEB, PhD, author of The Black Swan «Jack Bogle is one of the financial wise men whose experience spans the post–World War II years. This book, encompassing his insights on financial behavior, pitfalls, and remedies, with a special focus on mutual funds, is an essential read. We can only benefit from his observations.» —HENRY KAUFMAN, President, Henry Kaufman & Company, Inc. «It was not an easy sell. The joke at first was that only finance professors invested in Vanguard's original index fund. But what a triumph it has been. And what a focused and passionate drive it took: it is a zero-sum game and only costs are certain. Thank you, Jack.» —JEREMY GRANTHAM, Cofounder and Chairman, GMO «On finance, Jack Bogle thinks unconventionally. So, this sound rebel turns out to be right most of the time. Meanwhile, many of us sometimes engage in self-deception. So, this book will set us straight. And in the last few pages, Jack writes, and I agree, that Peter Bernstein was a giant. So is Jack Bogle.» —JEAN-MARIE EVEILLARD, Senior Adviser, First Eagle Investment Management Insights into investing and leadership from the founder of The Vanguard Group Throughout his legendary career, John Bogle-founder of the Vanguard mutual fund group and creator of the first index mutual fund-has helped investors build wealth the right way, while, at the same time, leading a tireless campaign to restore common sense to the investment world. A collection of essays based on speeches delivered to professional groups and college students in recent years, in Don't Count on It is organized around eight themes Illusion versus reality in investing Indexing to market returns Failures of capitalism The flawed structure of the mutual fund industry The spirit of entrepreneurship What is enough in business, and in life Advice to America's future leaders The unforgettable characters who have shaped his career Widely acclaimed for his role as the conscience of the mutual fund industry and a relentless advocate for individual investors, in Don't Count on It, Bogle continues to inspire, while pushing the mutual fund industry to measure up to their promise.

Praise for The ParentPreneur Edge «Who needs an MBA? Julie's book teaches you how to use your parenting experiences to build a business. Brilliant stuff!» –Mary Cantando, author, The Woman's Advantage: 20 Women Entrepreneurs Show You What It Takes to Grow Your Business «Finally! Something that successfully illustrates that parenthood is clearly an asset to gaining the edge in business and success. Julie has written a valuable book that inspires, motivates, and educates.» –Gina Robison-Billups, President, Moms In Business Network and The International Association of Working Mothers «Whether you already have your own business or are thinking about starting one, you need to read this book. Full of actionable ideas that, when adopted, will bring benefits to your business before you're even done reading the book!» –Dr. Tom Hill, coauthor, Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul «At last–a book that demolishes the polarization of parenting and work! The skills and talents developed through parenting are a mirror image of those developed and needed in entrepreneurship. Julie Lenzer Kirk's . . . firsthand experience blows away abstractions and shows both parents and entrepreneurs how to thrive. This is a necessary and inspiring book for anyone wanting a whole life.» –Margaret Heffernan, author, The Naked Truth and How She Does It, Visiting Professor in Entrepreneurship, Simmons College School of Management «Julie Lenzer Kirk integrates parenting and entrepreneurship in a way that incorporates the best of both worlds with a message that screams: You can do it all and enjoy it too!» –Claudia Morrell, Executive Director, Center for Women and Information Technology «This engaging book will inspire readers by showing them how the lessons and skills they've learned as parents can give them an edge in launching a business.» –Rieva Lesonsky, Editorial Director, Entrepreneur magazine «Julie makes the case that parenthood and entrepreneurship are the two toughest jobs you will ever love. Successful parenting skills can be put to great use when you journey down the exciting path of entrepreneurship. This book will help readers make that important connection.» –Monica Smiley, Publisher and CEO, Enterprising Women magazine

Make the leap and become an entrepreneur today Are you living for the weekend? Are you dissatisfied at work? Are you itching to do something that is important to you? How can you avoid the pitfalls that many first-time entrepreneurs have fallen into? How do you explore whether entrepreneurship is right for you without giving up your day job? Employee to Entrepreneur is your guide to leaving your job behind and building something for yourself. Author and employee-turned-entrepreneur Steve Glaveski, shows you how to navigate the challenges, find the entrepreneurial success that is right for you and become a better person along the way. Employee to Entrepreneur combines storytelling with a step-by-step framework to teach you how to effectively explore and leverage entrepreneurship to gain freedom, fulfillment and financial security. understand what you want to do by first understanding yourself explore if entrepreneurship is right for you without giving up your day job avoid the common pitfalls faced by first-time entrepreneurs fund, test and prioritise your ideas in a fast and cost-effective way develop the mindset to succeed in your business. If you’re ready to leave your cushy employee life behind and build a business and a life you believe in, reading this essential guidebook is your first step to making it happen.