Product Description
Jon Gillespie Brown brings his extensive mentoring experience to bear in this new handbook for would-be entrepreneurs. So You Want to Be an Entrepreneur? contains a series of mentoring sessions, each carefully thought out to make you consider and plan your life based on your passions, ambitions and ultimate visions. By actively taking part in each of the exercises, you give yourself the best chance of succeeding as an entrepreneur, or the sufficient clarity to decide what other career options are best suited to you.

Explore your real goals, hidden talents, passions, assets and core skills. The simple self-discovery tools in the book will make it easy for you to analyse this information and take the next steps towards your entrepreneurial dreams with total confidence.

PRAISE FOR SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR
'Read this book if you plan to be an entrepreneur, find out what it's really like before you make the leap!' Doug Richard, entrepreneur, business investor and former member of the Dragons' Den TV programme

'Before I invest in a business at an early stage I want to know the founders knew what they were getting into. I would suggest they check out if they measure up to the demands of the ups and downs required to be a successful entrepreneur by reading this book first.' Richard Farleigh, Author Taming the Lion: 100 Secret Strategies for Investing and former member of the Dragons' Den

'The key to entrepreneurial success is understanding what type of entrepreneur you are, and then doing business in a way that is true to yourself, and above all, one that brings you personal happiness and fulfilment. This book will help you decide whether a life of an entrepreneur is for you.' Rachel Elnaugh, entrepreneur, business speaker and former member of the Dragons' Den

'Very few people truly consider the hard work, disappointment, frustration and crushing lows that every Entrepreneur experiences along the journey. Jon's book is a must read for anybody ready to take the leap!' Richard Parkes Cordock, author of Millionaire Upgrade and creator of Millionaire MBA Business Mentoring Programme

'The only form of safe employment is self-employment. I recommend anyone considering the entrepreneurial path to read this book.' Geoff Burch, International Speaker and author of Go It Alone: The Streetwise Secrets of Self-Employment

tobeanentrepreneur.com ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

great must have book!!
being in silicon valley's charged environment gets you all hyped up, and high on steroids.. this book gives you good basic grounding and lets you think things through more systematically.

It helped me channel my thinking on not only what but when, also this probably is the only book ( in a host of books that I have read on entrepreneurship as part of course material at London Business School and otherwise in last few years) that does not put you in the background, instead it makes puts you in the focus, and helps you understand yourself and your environment better, and make a good judgment on why and how to approach entrepreneurship. I feel the approach of this book is refreshing, and really good.

i highly recommend reading it...

Excellent
This is a concise easy to read book which gives you a good set of rules to help you understand what type of person you need to be to become an entrepreneur. I think it is a very valuable guide and worth reading

excellent book about entrepreneurship
Even though I have many years of entrepreneurship experience in different countries. Entrepreneurship requires a lot of work and efforts, and sometime I think if I want to be an entrepreneur in ten years. This book helps me to answer this question positively. I refer my co-founders and employees to this book as well.

How to succeed as a self starter
It is pouring outside and I don't know any more what is up or if we are down. The challenges in starting and building your own company are immense. It is good to know that others have been here before, the lessons learned and practical tips that this well and succinct written book presents to us are so valuable. I definitely recommend this book to any one who wants to start a business and the one's that are running a business, because everyday the question is "What decision do Imake" Best one is get the right advice first and this book provides some of those answers.

Great help to find your meaning in life
If you have tried and failed (like me) so many times, if you cant find your place at your current job, if you want to do more than selling your time for a paycheck, if you wanted to ask somebody: what's wrong with me? then this book will provide you with invaluable hands on mentoring sessions.

Whether you are just entering college or failing your 5th business or simply finding yourself jumping from one idea to another, pick up this book and pull out a pen and a sheet of paper. It is a hands on reading. It will guide you through discovering yourself, your passions your strengths, your weaknesses. It is a great eye opener, imagine you being X-Rayed to identify what you are meant to be.

The book will go through what it takes to be an entrepreneur, it's not a "weekend reading", you will be hands on involved, so have your pen and paper ready. The book is about YOU. Don't just read through it, take the time to reflect on it and yourself.

It will also provide a great moral support when you lose your hopes and keep asking yourself: Am I doing the wrong thing? Am I the wrong person? Do I have the wrong traits?

Overall it is a must read for anybody looking at taking the plunge from the warm corp paycheck and creating simply a "lifestyle business" or the next Google. ... Read more

Product Description
Many Americans want to join the ranks of the successful entrepreneurs. They'd love to pick the brains of self-made moguls, and now they can-in this treasure chest of how-to wisdom from 200 magnates and "intrapreneurs" such as Ben Cohen (Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream), Fred Smith (Federal Express) and Debbi Field (Mrs. Field's Cookies). Going far beyond mere biography, entrepreneurial expert Lloyd E. Shefsky draws from each interviewee's experiences to develop targeted lessons in entrepreneurship. Not just for fledgling and current entrepreneurs, this fascinating book will also appeal to venture capitalists, bankers, accountants, lawyers, and everyone who must understand entrepreneurs to deal with them better. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Plug In To The Energy
This is not, as others have noted, a slick, comprehensive, or objective book. On the other hand, it is something much rarer--a book that breathes, that cuts through the lines of analysis and logic and connects with one's springs of motivation. It is the voice of an experienced professional who is still in touch with the scrappy neighborhood kid he once was, and who relates to similar people every day. This tone buys the book an enormous amount of credibility, which reinforces, rather than detracts from, the encouraging advice the auther gives. To paraphrase Bob Dylan's "Memphis Blues Again," if you are thinking of romancing a new enterprise, the typical business author just knows what you need, but Shefsky knows what you want.

INSPIRATIONAL PAGE TURNER
I had put off starting my business for years, always finding good excuses.Then I read Shefsky's book and pulled it all together.Now, I am building my business and having the time of my life!!!I only wish that I had Shefsky representing me years ago!!!!A great read full of fresh insight and guided inspiration.It's a must read for anyone wishing to advance in the business world today.

So what?
You'll probably get a pretty good idea of the book's subject by reading the other reviews. What I would like to tell you about is the style the book's been written in.

Suppose, you're afraid of, say, flying. You'rescared that the plane would crash. When you'd ask Mr. Shefsky for help, hewould probably tell you something like this:

"Well, you're afraid offlying because you've heard all the terrible stories about airplane crasheswith tens of people killed. Never mind, just get on that airplane. Sure,something may gone wrong with the plane. It may fall down and you may besitting there helpless among the other panicked passengers, unable to doanything about the accident. Eventually, the plane would crash on theground and everybody would get killed. So you're dead. What's the big deal?Don't be afraid of it."

And if you're still not convinced, he mighttell you the following story:

"You know, there was a guy in New Yorkcalled John Smith. He needed to get to Los Angeles, but he was afraid offlying. He got on the airplane anyway, flew to Los Angeles and nothinghappened to him. Since then, he has beein flying from NY to LA and backtens of times and he never had an accident."

After that, Mr. Shefskywould start to tell you five more stories like this, but you probablywouldn't be listening to him anymore.

The book's surprisingly feeble. Itdelivers some useful information but most of it is pretty trivial. I mean,if you don't already know the things Mr. Shefsky is telling, then you havea very long way to go. Actually, the book's so poorly written that itdoesn't even deserve to be called bad. You know, bad books are the onesthat make me angry or depressed. "Entrepreneurs Are Made NotBorn" didn't awake any emotions in me. It's like a casual conversationwith no content, structure or purpose. After finishing the book, I justwondered if Mr. Shefsky was trying to say something.

Bad Topic/Mediocre Author
As I read books on entrepreneurship, I am begining to believe the topic to be a difficult, if not impossible one upon which to write a paperback.The topic of entrepreneurship is simply very, very broad.Shefsky's bookprovides extremely good evidence to support my aurgument.The book readsas though the author wrote with an unconventional act of will.A similarwill will be required to read it.

Inspirational reference for future entrepreneurs
A factual and inspirational reference for anyone who has ever considered starting their own business. Prepare to have your mind opened to different ways of thinking. By the time I read the last page, I had three solid, original ideas for starting my own company. Rob Sullivan (author) Climbing Your Way to the Bottom: Changing the Way You Approach Your Job Search ... Read more

Product Description
Praise for The Power of Social Innovation

"Goldsmith guided us in Florida on our successful faith-based initiatives. His bold approaches continue to inspire public officials and community groups alike with keys to activating citizens and expanding opportunity for all."
—Jeb Bush, former Governor, Florida

"It has been a great pleasure to work with Steve Goldsmith. His work with us at America's Promise and all of his other diligent efforts are so well reflected in this book. The Power of Social Innovation reminds each of us in government, philanthropy, the nonprofit community, and as private citizens that we can and must work together to ensure the full fulfillment of the American Dream and to ensure the success of our most precious resource, our children."
—Alma J. Powell, chair, America's Promise Alliance

"The Power of Social Innovation is a must read for social innovators who want to make a powerful impact. Stephen Goldsmith surveys the field and provides indispensible tools to help civic entrepreneurs scale up their ideas and produce the best possible results."
—Geoffrey Canada, president and CEO, Harlem Children's Zone

"Goldsmith provides a useful toolkit for entrepreneurial public executives and innovative nonprofits and foundations. His research encourages transformative social change by advocating a shift in focus from direct services to citizens to building new, higher performance networks of public, private, and nonprofit organizations."
—Mark R. Warner, United States Senator, Virginia

"When it comes to doing good, Stephen Goldsmith is as disruptive an innovator as we've seen. Read and study The Power of Social Innovation if you don't just want to do good, but want to make the greatest impact possible."
—Clayton M. Christensen, professor, Harvard Business School and author, Disrupting Class ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (12)

AMAZING.. A MUST READ FOR ENTREPRENEURS OF ALL AGES!
whether your in college or, high school, or already working this book is a must read for anybody thinking of starting their own business. It is very insightful and gives you a great breakdown of all the aspects of starting running and owning your own business. Randall nails it on the head with this on.!

Campus CEO review
This was a very easy read, and incredibly informative.There were lots of good sites to visit, and suggestions on where to get things for low or no cost.While the title looks like it would only be practicable for individuals who are interested in starting a business while in college, and indeed does talk about the things you need to be aware of on campuses, it also provides great information for anyone interested in starting a business.

IN LOVE WITH MY BOOK
I AM VERY PLEASED WITH MY BOOK AND HOW FAST IT CAME TO ME.I RECCOMMEND THIS ITEM TO EVERYONE.

excellent book
This book Is original,and It makes everyone feel they have a chance regardless of their situation.

inspiring and good introduction to entrepreneurship
I found this book to be a relatively fast and easy read. First and foremost, Pinkett does a great job of instilling entreprenurial confidence in his student readers. Beyond that, the author ties in his own past experiences well with each chapter. This real world dialog greatly aids in the books overall credibility. While the book does not provide all answers, it does not attempt to. Pinkett gives just enough information to get the reader's wheels turning. From there, the entrepreneur within is supposed to take over. While the contents of the book apply to all business enterprises, the author does a good job of really hammering home the unique opportunities young student entrepreneurs hold (particularly in the later chapters). For aspiring campus start-ups, I would recommend a combination of both Campus CEO and a more comprehensive entreprenurial MBA style of book. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn how to take your business from flats to stilettos in this intelligently written, highly practical, and entertaining read. The Chic Entrepreneur teaches women business owners how to get out of the trenches and take their business to new heights by mastering the 9 dimensions of a flourishing business. Elizabeth Gordon, President of Flourishing Business®, a consulting firm that helps stagnant businesses jump start their growth, shows how to build a business right. Gordon explains how to build an asset of inherent value instead of just a bigger job and points out common mistakes to avoid along the way.

Packed with Chic Tips that businesses can inexpensively implement for an immediate return, this book is ideal for jumpstarting a stalled business, and putting it into overdrive. This simple yet timeless formula for achieving chic success in the business world is cleverly interwoven with critical analysis of real businesses and delightful tales that show what and what not to do. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

A must read for both women and men who want the strategies for a successful business!
An excellent book! It is fun to read with excellent comparisons and not the boring business book jargon. It gives you the strategies to make your business successful that may have been overlooked if you hadn't read the book. I bought a stack of business books, and this one was by far the best!

Excellent service...
Excellent service from this vendor.Received the book extremely fast & in perfect condition.Would defnitely order from them again.

Fun Business Read!
Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business and being your own boss? Well here's the book to get you started, Elizabeth Gordon's, The Chic Entrepreneur; a step-by-step manual written for women for want to develop a prosperous and thriving business.

Elizabeth's business strategy book offers a dose of sophistication and style, while teaching women these nine fundamental entrepreneurial lessons:

* What's Your Value?
* Pick Your Niche
* What Do Customers Really Want?
* Attracting and Retaining the Best Employees
* Do You Know Your Cash Flow?
* Sales and Marketing Go Hand in Hand
* The Importance of Systematic Processes
* Strategically Aligning Yourself
* Have a Plan and Measure Your Results

The Chic Entrepreneur isn't your typical dry and technical business guide; it offers itself to a user friendly arrangement that uses modern companies, like Nordstrom's, Google and Whole Foods to execute its main points. The key lessons are thoroughly explained and then followed up with relevant case studies using two types of people; those who practice sound and researched business methods, and those who venture out into the business world without any previous knowledge or examination.

Every chapter is filled with "Chic Tips" and every chapter ends with a "How Chic are You?" section which summaries some of the key lessons taught.

I highly recommend "The Chic Entrepreneur" to all small business owners, freelancers and anyone that is thinking about starting a new business. This book provides invaluable strategies, tips and advice all while being thoroughly entertaining!

For more resources for women in business, please see The Work at Home Woman: http://www.theworkathomewoman.com

Have to read it!
I bought the book after hearing Elizabeth speak at a Ladies Who Launch event.I chatted with her afterwards and found her to be approachable and very common sense oriented.Her book did not disappoint--it surpassed by expectations.Easy to read; great "Chic Tips" and great examples.I found myself taking notes as I read it as a reminder to either "do something" or research something else.It made my entrepreneural wheels spin in delight!I am hoping there will be another book in Elizabeth's future.

Relevant, "How To" Content for Entrepreneurs
It is rare that I am able to continuously read a book without feeling the need to put it down and come back to it.Elizabeth wrote the book in a way that not only captivated my interest, but more importantly provided concrete and useful "how to" information.She did an excellent job of linking business definition and clarity to a company's ability to scale and operate more efficiently.The content is meaningful and relevant - key elements that are largely missing from so many business books.I think the book is amazing and I look forward to giving it as a gift to my clients and colleagues!
... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

What you need to know whitout any fuss
After more than a decade on the road around the world I must say this book amused me, it is what a broad specter of the travellers need to know before they make the wrong decisions based on complete misunderstood signals and interpretation of informal gests.
Nicks uncovers rules and rituals hidden for the normal tourist, expat or holidaymaker with thorrow research and interviews from the best of the traders. Its a must read for most people and it will definetly make your holiday, businesstrip or maybe even your marriage better

Talk about over-generalizing and making racist remarks!
This has got to be one of the most poorly written books I have ever tried to read. The author makes sweeping generalizations, which are often derogatory, based on (what I assume) must have been his own personal experiences. If you want to get an accurate picture of inter-cultural relationships, don't even bother with this poor attempt. ... Read more

Product Description
The ingredients for success in starting and developing a technology-based company aren't obvious.Why, for example, did Digital Equipment Corporation succeed--and indeed become one of the most successful high-tech corporations in the world--while dozens of other companies with similar beginnings fail? It is a question that demands careful consideration by anyone setting up a new company or who is interested in starting one. In Entrepreneurs in High Technology, Edward Roberts, a Professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, offers entrepreneurs a goldmine of information on starting, financing, and expanding a high-tech firm. His book reveals the results of research conducted over twenty-five years on several hundred high-tech firms, and it reflects the insights of the author's own first-hand experience as a company founder, director, and venture capitalist.

Focusing on firms in the Greater Boston area--many of which have had technological links with MIT--Roberts traces the origins and the evolution of the high-technology failures and successes. He examines the work experience and family backgrounds of successful technical entrepreneurs, their sources of funding, and the ways they respond to the challenge of business growth. He compares the track records of firms with multi-founder teams and firms with individual founders, contrasts the performance of consulting firms and research-and-development contractors against companies that start out with a product, identifies the factors that limit an enterprise's ability to raise outside capital, and explores the critical influence of marketing orientation on successful companies.In a penetrating analysis of highly successful ventures, the author reveals the importance of strategically transforming the company to a market-oriented focus, and he examines the widespread tendency, even among the most successful high-tech firms, to displace the founder before the company achieves "super-success."

For anyone planning to start a technology-based enterprise, Entrepreneurs in High Technology is essential reading--an invaluable preview of the financial, organizational, and marketing issues that confront every new high-tech venture.For business and technology watchers, it is an informative account of the promise and the perils entailed in bringing innovative ideas to the marketplace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Planning and Organizing a High Tech Startup
I liked this book because it helped me be better at my work which uses technological innovation to develop new products.The book is also helpful in planning a successful high tech startup company or project inside acompany because it outlines the factors that contribute to success andfailure of new companies and new ideas.For example, having a specificproduct in mind versus "I have a cool technology so lets start acompany".Also, it emphasizes thinking about the whole enterprise,not just technology, but how to make a company "tick" such ashaving formal marketing/financing part as well as innovation developmentpart. ... Read more

Product Description

Inventor, Writer, Statesman, Military Leader…Businessman

You are holding the only modern adaptation of Benjamin Franklin's 18th century autobiography. It is at its heart one of the greatest business stories ever told.

“Franklin's autobiography is America's first great self-help book. It teaches in a delightful way how to win friends, influence people and succeed in business.Professor McCormick makes this great work more accessible and adds his own insights.”

Customer Reviews (19)

first time Franklin reader
In reading this modern adaptation of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, I discovered that there is a lot more to him than someone who just flew a kite in a storm with a key tied to the string.Benjamin Franklin was an industrious and enterprising man who was self taught as a scientist, diplomat, military leader, linguist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and other things.What I was most fascinated by was reading about Ben's personal habits and characteristics which gives us a good profile of who he was and what made him that way.I enjoyed it mostly because there are character traits in him that I see in myself.Ben liked to read and study different things and ponder on them.He was never a member of organized religion, but was a very introspective man who always strived to better himself inside and out.There is a whole chapter on him discussing how he strived to attain moral perfection.

This book is very inspirational in that here is a man who had very humble beginnings as a print shop worker and became one of the most well known Americans.Even though I believe it's inspirational, I think men like Ben are not made but born.He was in a position where he was able to capitalize on his strengths.If you read this book as a "what-to-do-to-become-rich-and-famous" manual, you probably won't get much out of it.Try to read this book simply to learn about Benjamin Franklin and if you discover that he shares some traits of you, that is a plus.When one discovers personal traits in themselves the same as great men of history, it gives us all the more reason to accentute those qualities.

Great common sense and history in one
There are many forms of intelligence.Franklin's lessons from his younger years, may seem obvious to some.Reminds me of the lessons my dad passed down to me.Great book

Kindleusers ...don't waste your money!
Unfortunately, the first page of every chapter is an image with text too small to read(and not adjustable).Download the free sample and check it out for yourself.

Different spin...
I was expecting a book that was translated into modern readability, and that is exactly what I got.Although the book is incomplete, it gives the reader the best part of Ben's writings in a no-nonsense format. This book also helped be get a very good grade in my History Final.

The best Franklin book
I've read about a dozen books on Franklin, but this one stands out as the one I would recommend the most.First and foremost the excellent rewriting of Ben's text create the wisdom of Franklin in it's most accessible form.

Reading Franklin can often be challenging to sort out the entire meaning due to the antiquated language of his day.This book restates his thoughts and wisdom with updated syntax and language, so you can focus more on the wisdom, less on the translation.

The author (McCormick, not Franklin) did an outstanding job organizing both the time line of his life and his mastery of business, politics and science.

For those who have an interest in learning more about the greatest American, this is the book I would recommend most.For those passionate about Franklin this book feels fresh, rich and thoughtful.

--Cudo ... Read more

Product Description
Business as mission (BAM), an emerging concept and developing ministry, has drawn fascination in missions and business circles. BAM embodies the practice of using business strategically accomplishing missional purposes. Though the term is ubiquitous in mission circles, there is disparity between its meaning. There has been much theoretical discussion about BAM but far less research accomplished on how it happens out in reality. The Missional Entrepreneur takes an in-depth look at business as missions in action with an eye to expose the most effective principles and practices of this movement. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Discovering a St. Paul I can follow
Mark Russell's book is chock full of ideas and information.The application is directed toward profit seeking businesses with a mission, but some of the concepts could be applied to personal vocation and to transformation within churches and faith communities.I found the following to be the most inspirational parts of the book:
*Part Two - learning from the Apostle Paul.This is the best analysis of Paul's evangelism and tent-making activities I have read.Paul's story provides inspiration for all of us who want to make a living while boldly preaching the gospel outside of the walls of an established church.Christianity would not have spread like wildfire without Paul's commitment to take the gospel into the world of work and into the everyday struggles of real people.
*His BAM Sweet Spot of Synergy - the visual aid that could help anyone committed to following Christ in the real world to discover what God is calling them to do.It is at the intersection of the social, environmental, spiritual, and economic realms.
*The Seven principles for missional leadership - as applicable in the church as outside the church.What if Pastors and paid ministers started to explore ways to make their ministries 'sustainable' - explored possibilities for dual vocations, new powerful alliances between clergy and laity, new sources of revenue for faith communities, new bridges between faith and work.
Mission driven business, nonprofit, and religious leaders should read this book.I am confident you will find at least three valuable ideas that you can implement to improve your missional efforts.

The Perfect Textbook for BAM
BAM. No, you are not reading the script from a campy 1960s Batman episode. BAM is the acronym for Business as Mission, an innovative way of approaching missions around the world. Mark Russell is an excellent person to bring this issue to the foreground for missionaries and businessmen alike because he has education and background in both ministry and business. He spent years working in Russia, Chile, and Germanyon the cutting edge of BAM enterprises.


The Missional Entrepreneur is divided into five sections which introduce, define, provide foundation for, and examine models to doing business as mission. The book reads a lot like a textbook which sometimes makes it hard to muddle through, but at the same time makes it a trusty reference tool for Christians in business and missions alike. The scholarship used in producing this book is obvious in the use of visual representations throughout the text as well as the citations and index found at the end of the book.


Russell uses examples drawn from his experience and especially from research work done in Thailand to portray positive models for BAM, and contrasts them with instances that have caused BAM to struggle or even fail from time to time. After defining BAM from his own viewpoint, Russell gives biblical foundation for the practice from the life of Paul. He concludes the work with a couple of chapters dealing with Missional Leadership (which was very helpful) and Offshoring (which was less than helpful).


I would highly recommend this book for use as a textbook for any business class in a Christian setting or for all missionary training courses. It would be a welcomed addition to the library of any pastor, missions organization leader, missionary, or Christian businessman (especially those contemplating impaction the world for Christ through their business). I can give The Missional Entrepreneur four and one-half out of five reading glasses.


--Benjamin Potter, June 23, 2010


"Become a New Hope Book Review Blogger. Visit [...] for more information."

Book Review: The Missional Entrepreneur: Principles and Practices for Business as Mission, by Mark L. Russell
Book Review: The Missional Entrepreneur: Principles and Practices for Business as Mission, by Mark L. Russell, (New Hope Publishers: Birmingham, AL, 2010).

The Missional Entrepreneur is a good treatment of the subject of using business platforms as effective missionary engagement strategy. The book explores the relevant discussions pertaining to the subject matter and then presents the author's conclusions and personal philosophy on the subject.

As a church planting minded reader and pastor, I reviewed the book from a critical standpoint. I found the author's approach to be insightful and his approach to be effective for its intended result. I was not convinced, based on the author's treatment of the biblical material that Business as Mission (in the author's approach) is the most effective strategy for evangelization. Many of the "biblical" arguments that the author made were apparently attempts to validate a predetermined disposition. At the same time, the subject of seeing all areas of life as "the mission" of God is helpful and this book is a good starting point of the subject of and theology behind Christian mission in the marketplace.

I would recommend the book to those who are interested in learning more about mission and missional approaches, as well as to those who have a spiritual leading to engage in business as a missionary strategy. This book would be greatly helpful in clarifying ones theological position on the subject.

Become a New Hope Book Review Blogger. Visit [...] for more information.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Hope Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [..] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

An Excellent Introduction to Business as Mission
Some time ago, I started a business consulting practice with the idea that I could use my "business" income to support my "ministry" activities. My plan was to imitate Paul and his use of tentmaking to "pay the bills." However, I found that separating my work and ministry activities was quite challenging and I longed for a more integrated life where everything I did was ministry. But how?

I find Mark Russell's book, "The Missional Entrepreneur: Principles and Practices for Business as Mission," to be excellent input for my journey into the world of "business as mission" (BAM). Based on Russell's doctoral work at Asbury Theological Seminary, the book is structured into five parts: 1) Fundamentals, 2) Learning from the Apostle Paul, 3) Motivations and Mind-Set, 4) Best Practices, and 5) Special Topics. Russell has traveled extensively and is able to draw upon both first hand experience and direct field research to provide numerous valuable insights into what it takes to succeed in BAM.

Part 1: Fundamentals is a fine introduction, but it's parts 2 and 3 that really set this book apart.

In Part 2: Learning from the Apostle Paul, Russell provides an in depth look into Paul's context, the nature of his work and the rationale behind why he was a tentmaker. After reading these chapters, I've come to realize that my understanding of Paul was inadequate (which certainly won't be the last time that happens). I had a vision for what I call "tentmaking 1.0" that separated "business" and "ministry" into two different spheres. But Russell does an excellent job of demonstrating how integral tentmaking was in Paul's ministry. It not only provided him a degree of economic independence, it also provided him access to people and a context for witness that were integral to his ministry. Paul's witness was not just what he said, or how he moved in power, but in how he conducted his business, openly in the marketplace for all to see. Paul was practicing what you might call tentmaking 2.0, where his tentmaking was part and parcel with his ministry.

In Part 3: Motivations and Mind-Set, Russell starts by examining parallels between today's BAM efforts and current and past mission trends. He then examines different motivations and mindsets for BAM before diving into a "composite" case study that compares two models of BAM, drawing upon his fieldwork in Thailand where he conducted 128 interviews across 12 BAM enterprises. I found this section to be invaluable. Russell found a marked difference between those whose motivation was to bless the local population in the name of Jesus and those whose primary goal was to convert them to Christianity. This difference in mindset had striking implications. "Converters" tended to work undercover and stay aloof from local Christians and exhibited low cultural adaptation. "Blessers" worked openly (since there are few, if any, countries where simply being a Christian is forbidden, while there are many where conversion is outlawed), tended to partner frequently with local churches and exhibited high cultural adaptation. Not surprisingly, the "blessers" were generally happier (as were their employees) and more successful in business, but most importantly, the fruit of the activities was also dramatically different. Those enterprises focused on blessing saw 40x more people become followers of Christ. Russell is clear that his study was specific to one culture, at one moment in time, but I think anyone contemplating how to integrate their business skills into ministry will find this section to be thought provoking and worthy of study and prayer.

In Part 4: Best Practices, Russell discusses a variety of business and mission related issues including the value of planning and vision, the challenge of understanding and navigating foreign cultures, and issues of competition. Chapter 5: Special Topics examines issues around leadership and offshoring.

This was an excellent book that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in BAM. It makes a good complement to Neal Johnson's new book "Business as mission a comprehensive guide to theory and practice." While Johnson's book is more like an academic survey of the literature, "The Missional Entrepreneur," with its exegesis of Paul's tentmaking and its case studies, is more readable and enjoyable as it captures Russell's own journey to understand just what BAM is, and should be, in a clear narrative style. The result is an insightful book that is well worth reading by anyone with heart for business as mission.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

One of the World's Leading Investment Minds..Period
I have followed the author (as much as I can) since the release of this book. First, let me say that I have read every book on venture capital I have come across and this one is the best hands down. There is no book written on high-tech venture capital that can even come remotely close to this one. It is absolutely priceless.I want to thank Mr. Stathis for helping me understand the essentials of building a high-tech company as well as how to raise capital. The book saved me potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars and the all-important time.

I can honestly say that the insights in this book helped me succeed in raising venture capital and build my company where it is today. We are highly profitable, despite the current economic turmoil. Maybe part of the reason is because I actually used the book as an educational course rather than merely brush through it. I studied the book.

If the book has any weakness, it might be that it's too intelligent; too detailed. Some entrepreneurs might be looking for the typical one-night read.But as you will see when you read this book, you cannot make a topic like this too simplified or it will lose its value.

Also, I read his other books since then (knock on wood) like America's Financial Apocalypse America's Financial Apocalypse: How to Profit from the Next Great Depression. As a result, I was able to preempt the diffuculties in the current economy.Wow.Stathis predicted the current economic downfall with unprecedented accuracy. Have a look at his track record in the economic collapse [...]

This is a man who MUST be followed if you want a chance to become a successful entrepreneur and investor. He really puts lays out his insights in his books and you can tell he is truly concerned with helping everyday people like me.We need more of selfless experts like Stathis.I cannot say enough about what I have learned from reading his books. Mr. Stathis, if you happen to ever see this, I want to thank you for your insights.

After having read allof his books now, I have no doubt that Stathis is one of the very top investment minds today. There's no fluff in hhis books; just bottom-line insights.Truly a treasure.It's frustrating to understand why he gets no publicity.

Its a "Good Book" but not the "Bible"
This is a book with great strengths and great weaknesses.If you are a seasoned entrepreneur, this is a useful resource at a fair price.If you are just thinking about starting your first company, be wary of this book; if you use it to chart your course, it could drive you onto a reef. In the hands of the naive, it will cause a lot of damage.

Strengths:

- Comprehensive - it covers a very wide range of topics
- Honest - the book tries to be forthcoming and avoid biases
- Based on Experience - Much of the book is based on the real world

Weaknesses:

- Organization - the organization is simply awful and there are few navigation resources to help you find your way through tangled threads of thought
- Myopic - this book assumes that you want to use Venture Capital - the most expensive money on the planet
- Inconsistent Quality - this is the most severe problem (more on this below).
- Ad Hoc - beyond ad hoc organization, much of the content (tables, chapters...) is ad hoc.It's impossible to tell when a list is supposed to be a list of examples, or when it's supposed to be comprehensive.

In the hands of someone who has started companies before, this is a great handbook and could be a good coaching tool to help others.In the hands of a beginner, it would be incredibly dangerous, since the inconsistent quality makes using it a potential disaster.

Inconsistent Quality:The book lacks quality on several levels.

On the elementary level, it's full of typos.No editor is named, either because there was no editor, or because there was not a single senior editor to sign the work.

On the broad level, there are so many examples of inconsistent quality that it's hard to know what to cite.The intellectual property discussion is, for the most part, quite good, and offers valuable advice that is often omitted.But, at the same time, this discussion is very sloppy in its terminology, so the same people who need the advice could be misled.

On the "sophisticated" level, there is an odd mix of truly useful teaching, and vapid babble.This is most evident when the book quotes business schools, like Harvard.Anyone who has actually run a business and then spent time around a business school knows that many of the professors have never actually DONE anything, and they don't know that they don't know.So, you see B-schools publish books and articles that don't say anything and the authors don't seem to know they have not said anything.These are "vacuum publications" because they are void of any real content.In this book, you'd hope that the vacuum publications would be absent, but sadly there are some quoted, cited, and in some cases, even their figures

A new edition could make this a great book - you can see a great book in there somewhere.

A "real-world" startup book, for a change.Super!
As someone who worked in, worked with, and funded start-ups and now teaches the subject I've found two common categories of start-up books: those by academics that have been written in a vacuum and thus seem clinical and out of touch with reality, and those written by successful entrepreneurs who use the pages to relive their glory days.Stathis, on the other hand, balances the conceptual with the practical, providing prospective entrepreneurs with a thorough, well-rounded, yet technical step-by-step guide to starting a business.From the everyday minutiae - or what Stathis considers the boring, nevertheless crucial details - to more strategic concepts that can help ease the entry path, this book addresses the necessary tools to starting and running a new business.The appendices to the 400+ pages are a great addition, exposing entrepreneurs to what confidentiality agreements, stock option plans, etc. actually look like.This book should be not just a starting point for people considering starting/owning their own business, but a companion throughout the entrepreneurial journey.The title of Startup Company Bible is truly deserving.

Previous reviewers are spot on
This was purchased not to start a company (yet), but to increase my effectiveness in business dealings with startups.As director of business development for a pharmaceutical contract research organization (CRO), I work with VC, PE and Angel funded companies routinely to assure their product development goals are met.This book provides insight into key strategic issues on how these companies, my clients, are structured.Highly recommended.

A Solid Reference Book for Entrepreneurs
This book is a thoughtful and comprehensive summary of most every critical aspect of the start-up process. As an entrepreneur who has started several companies over the years (and as an author of a book on the subject of entrepreneurship myself), I can say that I wish that I had a copy of this book early in my entrepreneurial career. If you studied this book and came to understand its content, you would be well prepared for the start-up process.

In reality, most readers will not plow through 500 pages of material to prepare themselves to be entrepreneurs. Instead, they will get going and reference the material in this book to explore the details of their current activity (whether it's getting started, putting a team together, writing a business plan, securing a round of financing, etc.) The book also helps entrepreneurs to better anticipate next steps. The bottom line is that this is a solid reference book for entrepreneurs and one that nicely complements other books on the subject. ... Read more

Product Description
You're young and ambitious, with a great idea for a new software program, downtown music 'zine, or a better-than-Snapple beverage--but how do you turn your dream concept into a thriving business?

Forget the ultra-conservative suits who scoffed when you brought your hot idea to their door! As Fortune magazine's Ron Lieber shows, you can actually turn your youth, inexperience, and lack of money to your advantage and capitalize on your assets to trump the corporate system, be your own boss, and turn your entrepreneurial vision into a reality.

Based on interviews with more than thirty young, independent entrepreneurs who have developed some of today's hottest--even revolutionary--companies and products, Upstart Start-Ups! provides essential tips and information that will enable you to get your own Nantucket Nectars or Magnetic Poetry off the ground. Check out:

Product Description
Praise for Be the Solution

"In the past, many believed you either went into 'public service' to do good, or you 'went into business' to make money. Few realized that the long-term success of business depends on serving people, not making money. Few realized that perhaps the best way to serve the public was through free enterprise. Whole Foods Market founder John Mackey, visionary thinker Michael Strong, micro lender Muhammad Yunus, and a few others understand these truths. Be the Solution is the best single book to read to understand the emerging ways in which entrepreneurs can change the world."
—Gary Hoover, serial entrepreneur, founder of Hoover's Business Information Service, Hooversworld.com

"Michael Strong speaks the truth. A must-read for our new American government."
—Sam Wyly, founder, Green Mountain Energy; author of 1,000 Dollars and an Idea

"This book is totally fantastic. Treat your mind to a feast. Use it to tune your vision towards what really works."
—Charles Harper, Senior Executive VP, Chief Strategist, John Templeton Foundation

"Perhaps more than ever before, young people today are motivated by the desire to make the world a better place. Unfortunately, many have little idea about how to do it, and their educational studies provide them with little direction. In contrast, this book is a road map about how we can get from where we are to where we want to be—to a more peaceful, more prosperous, and more environmentally sound world. Plus, it is exciting, uplifting, and adventurous. Indeed, it provides the recipe for a better world."
—Dr. James Gwartney, coauthor of Economic Freedom of the World: 2007 Annual Report; Gus A. Stavros Eminent Scholar Chair at Florida State University

"This is a very thoughtful and timely book that asks us to look around—and to look within—the amazing opportunities that entrepreneurship offers to the world. I recommend this book to anyone interested in finding solutions to the current crisis."
—Giancarlo Ibarguen, Executive President, Universidad Francisco Marroquin

"At last, a book about the heart of capitalism as a force for creating good in the world for solving many of our tough societal problems. I hope our political leaders read it."
—R. Edward Freeman, Olsson Professor of Business Administration, Academic Director, Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics, University of Virginia ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

good book, but I need the cliff notes!
I'm a pharmacist, so I've certainly spent some time in college, but I lack current as well as historical understanding in business and economics; therefore, this was a tough read for me. The book is full of good information and unique ideas, if you are able to absorb all of the data. I gave the book to my little brother, who is up on that sort of thing and he will translate for me.
Good book, but I need the cliff notes!

A must read for every business (small or large). Awesome, Intense!
In short this is an awesome book!Quite Intense.It is a must read for every business (small or large) in the world. I am a businessman and have been contemplating so many random ideas and visions ... but in this book, Michael Strong has provided concrete definitions to these ideas. The discussion on how the electronic media has completely taking over our perceptions of reality, especially for the K-12 group is right on. Never seen it articulated so accurately.Interestingly, the author's focus and emphasis on creating an environment of love and respect is quite crucial. It does seem like we do allow cultural innovation to take place in every realm of life except education.The refresher on Maslow's Hierarchy was awesome and John Mackey's "New Paradigm for Business" is great. The viable concepts of Conscious Capitalism are fantastic and the vision of FLOW as an entrepreneurial solution to the world's problems is a clear direction that all businesses should understand and adopt in a way that fits their business model and yet helps solve larger problems. Read it and you would agree.

For Once, A Book That Makes Me Feel Optimistic and Energized
I really enjoyed this book.Finally a olive branch I can present to my more leftist-oriented friends, without feeling that I am compromising my free-market principles (just to keep things pleasant) by keeping silent during political or philosophical discussions.The person who delivers the message does matter, and the persons who contribute to this book have certainly proven their "care about the world and environment" credentials.

Inspiring and Informative
I thoroughly enjoyed this inspiring and informative book, and have recommended it to many of my friends.As a college student I was constantly surrounded by people blaming free market capitalism for the world's most pressing problems; those same people rarely had any insightful or practical plans for fixing those problems.However, this book offers an approach to solving the world's problems that resonated with me deeply.Be the Solution argues that economic freedom and entrepreneurial opportunity are the best conditions for innovation, wealth-creation, and increased prosperity for all, and the author, Michael Strong, provides many examples of how government intervention in the market place has been responsible for many of the world's most pressing problems.The book offers many examples of socially conscious businesses that are doing wonderful good in the world; I especially enjoyed the chapter by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank and their micro-credit system for helping the poor.The chapter by John Mackey about Conscious Capitalism provides an enlightening and comprehensive view of business and how it can be a vehicle for doing good in the world, while also being profitable and creating value for all constituents.I thought the ideas that Strong presented regarding environmental trusts, and in general how security of property rights and entrepreneurial solutions to the tragedy of the commons dilemma are the most promising ways to protect the environment, were delightfully insightful and promising.Furthermore, I loved Strong's optimistic and idealistic vision of the future.I would recommend this book to anybody who is serious about social change.I am grateful to Michael Strong and all of the contributing authors.

Helping Others Self-Help
If you want to contribute to making a better world and you have an indomitable entrepreurial spirit, this is the book for you. Our is the age of doing good by doing well. The notion that market competition is all about greed is just a monumental error that you can help a new generation to avoid. ... Read more

Product Description
Renowned playwright George Bernard Shaw once said "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world, the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." By this definition, some of today's entrepreneurs are decidedly unreasonable--and have even been dubbed crazy. Yet as John Elkington and Pamela Hartigan argue in The Power of Unreasonable People, our very future may hinge on their work.

Through vivid stories, the authors identify the highly unconventional entrepreneurs who are solving some of the world's most pressing economic, social, and environmental problems. They also show how these pioneers are disrupting existing industries, value chains, and business models--and in the process creating fast-growing markets around the world.

By understanding these entrepreneurs' mindsets and strategies, you gain vital insights into future market opportunities for your own organization. Providing a first-hand, on-the-ground look at a new breed of entrepreneur, this book reveals how apparently unreasonable innovators have built their enterprises, how their work will shape risks and opportunities in the coming years, and what tomorrow's leaders can learn from them.

Start investing in, partnering with, and learning from these world-shaping change agents, and you position yourself to not only survive but also thrive in the new business landscape they're helping to define. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

ok good start
the book is ok,
it gives a general idea of the new trend: social entrepreneurship, philantrocapitalist....

good way to start on the subject

Arrived in very bad shape and i did not get an answer after my claim
So i am using this space to see if it catches awareness...

I hope it helps.

BR

A.A.

Great for seeing what works but
it would be improved by describing what's failed too.

The authors do well in categorizing the new organization models being used by social entrepreneurs and stoke the reader's enthusiasm to take on big problems. My only criticism is that it would have been additionally helpful to hear more in the many anecdotes about obstacles and what countermeasures worked or didn't work.

That said, this was a useful book that introduces the thought leaders in this growing community. If you and your team are are looking to solve a problem the market has not, I'd recommend it be on your list.

Inspiring report on social entrepreneurs
Even the world' most blissful optimists cringe when they look at today's massive global challenges, including poverty, environmental pollution, terrorism and climate change. Cynics throw up their hands in disgust, retreat behind protective walls and gates, and pray they can somehow ride out the storm while the world cracks apart. In contrast, social entrepreneurs do not run away from trouble. They develop workable solutions to the world's most pressing problems. In their book on social entrepreneurship, John Elkington and Pamela Hartigan examine the activities and accomplishments of these inspirational leaders. According to the authors, the globe's public and private organizations should quickly line up to support and fund the work of innovative social entrepreneurs. No one can escape the world's problems, so getAbstract recommends this inspiring book to those who would like to meet the few brave souls who are doing all they can to develop imaginative solutions to the challenges everyone shares.

"How to" go for "Yes, and", in face of "Yes, but" nay sayers
Although saying nothing about the global economic meltdown currently in play, and the likelihood of its reducing the flow of capital to social entrepreneurs (unless/until governments provide the incentives and disincentives), the book's fundamental imperative of planning funding early, to scale up as the only way to achieve "sustainable" success, seems to me geared too strongly towards relying on traditional economic gains over equally if not more important social and environmental gains that might be equally sustainable without pre-planned outside funding.The book suggests that all successful social entrepreneurial ventures must "grow" to be "sustainable" (a contradiction in terms? a limit on the communal values of sustainability without replication?) seems to me to ignore the "Small is Beautiful" replication hypothesis that relies more on simple communication across communities and nations than on any imperative of large, centralized capital investments motivated by "profit while also doing good". In sum, a very useful book, hugely encouraging of my own unreasonable "social entrepreneurial" dream: local food distribution through a community grocery store, inventoried with no-interest loans by local bank, which funds CSA shares from local farmers at full share price, then when food is sold obtains local food carbon offset credits and sells them on the carbon exchange. The target market of the for profit store is the many families who cannot currently afford to pay in advance for CSA food shares, the so called Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) consumers, those who thus cannot currently eat healthier "fresh local foods". Food could be priced nearly competitively vs. low-cost box-stores miles away as well as local commercial grocers selling high-carbon-footprint food items. That BOP sector has add-on potential for local-brand value-added food products, through social entrepreneurism of its own, and the opening of more and bigger bank accounts at the local bank. Win for the farmers, win for the consumers, win for the bank, win for the local commercial grocer when he/she begins to make shelf space available for direct purchase of local farmers' products, with its own carbon credits to cash in on for its own sales of local food products. ... Read more

Product Description
Entrepreneur's Notebook propels you on a whirlwind tour of the start-up process. It is an invaluable reference for new and experienced entrepreneurs that includes chapters on a wide range of topics, from entrepreneurial team building to business plans to financing. This excellent book provides an incredible amount of practical information that will help you make smarter decisions and avoid costly mistakes. The author, Steven K. Gold, is an accomplished entrepreneur who has co-founded and led five early-stage ventures. As an investor and mentor, he also advises many entrepreneurs and young companies. He earned his B.S.E. in Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and his M.D. from Brown University Medical School. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Quite a nice book
I really enjoyed this little gem of a book. It offers ten simple lessons and is easy to read. I thought that the author's advice is practical, which appears to be one of the benefits of this book versus so many others.

Save your Money
Most of the reviews are written by this guy's friends. I read the book...if you can tolerate the first 3 pages, then by it. It is free to skim through the pages you know.
This author's style of writing is not even fit for a high school level. The book lacks real direction, substance, and I want my money back.

A must read for any budding entrepreneur!
As an engineer that wants to work my idea into a successful business, I need all the help I can get in non-technical areas.This book was the first I read to try and get a better understanding of the business world.It did not disappoint!Steven does an excellent job of getting his knowledge across to people in a manner easy to understand and follow.My venture is still in the development stages but I am going to utilize the knowledge I gained from this book to project my idea upwards!

Terrific Launching Pad
Every budding entrepreneur should know and implement strategies and concepts found in this book. As a second opinion on the same brand of practical advice found in my own book, "The Expert's Edge," this book offers a terrific launching pad. Get it, read it, study it... do it!

Very good book for a beginer
Very nice book for the first timer.
Explains in detail about the ABCs of starting a new business.

It was very helpful and enlightening about how to start a business.
A must read for anybody who wants to know what is needed to start a successful business.

It talks more about starting a startup company rather than starting a small business like a store.


... Read more

Product Description
DESCRIPTION: The real secret to making money and reaching financial independence is not staying an employee, but starting a company and quickly developing it. This book is for aspiring entrepreneurs who need to know how to take those first crucial steps.

In RICH DAD'S BEFORE YOU QUIT YOUR JOB, Robert T. Kiyosaki provides first-hand accounts of his own start-up companies, and what he learned from his failures and successes. Readers will discover: * How to determine whether an idea is a good one * How to write a solid business plan * Where to find OPM (Other People's Money) to finance that plan * How to incorporate for business and tax purposes * How to find key advisors to develop the plan * How to best launch the product or service * And more. The Rich Dad experts explain everything readers need to successfully start their own businesses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (55)

Old wine in new bottle
This book is a auto biography of the author and how he become rich by being a entrepreneur. He states his experiances as ten lessons. If you have read any of his previous book, you will find nothing new. There is no new concept or principle. It is same old theory. The later part of the book is a good advertisement for his game which he sells at $200. The title is very interesting but not the stuff inside the book.

Read this book before you launch your business.
This book was an excellent book for me since I have been pondering the reality of retiring early from my job and start a stock trading business. Robert Kiyosaki has written a very open and honest book about financial realities he himself has lived through. He explains that in transitioning from an employee to an entrepreneur you are trading "security" for opportunity and freedom. Few people have the ability to stay focused on winning in their business while operating sanely and intelligently without money. After reading this book many would be entrepreneurs may very well go back to the security of a weekly paycheck. Operating any kind of business requires a very long educational process before you ever make a dime. How many readers can work years with out a return on their investment of time and money? The author recommends being a student before ever taking the leap. If you want to open a restaurant then first work in one to learn the ropes. Read books about successful entrepreneurs, especially ones in your chosen field. While being an entrepreneur you will eventually come face to face with your greatest fears and depths of personal self doubt. Unlike being an employee in a corporation you can not hide poor performance, it shows up in black and white on your balance sheet each month. When you are a business owner everyone else gets paid first and you get paid last...if you get paid at all. But he also gives readers the hope that if you are successful you can be a millionaire and live your dreams like he does.
After the book gives you a reality check and you still want to own your own business it gives you great advice by way of the B-I triangle. You must be the leader of your business and set the mission for your team. You must have a product that has an advantage over your competition. You will need to protect your rights by having legal advice and help. The development of systems to run your business will have to be created and put into place. There will be a huge need to communicate effectively with your customers, partners, suppliers, vendors, and employees if you are to be successful. Your business must create monthly cash flow if it is to survive its infancy and move on to being a profitable and self sufficient business. If it does not make money by a predetermined time you will have to know when to cut your losses and move on.
I would highly recommend this book to those considering quitting their job and striking out on their own. Or for those that already have and are struggling to be successful. The book will either make you realize that you are not cut out to be a business owner so you need to shut up and get back to work, or it will give you the tools to strike out and be successful because you value freedom and opportunity more than a paycheck.

Rich Dad's Before You Quit Your Job: 10 Real-Life Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Building a Multimillion-Dollar Bu
this is more than a great book.
And thanks a lot to the seller with quick service and great book
thanks again

Nice head start on starting your own business
I've read a lot of Kiyosaki's books now and this one does a good job of further focusing his efforts. It's a great guide on starting your own business using the "Rich Dad" mentality and ideas. I would hardly call this book a good start for beginners since it does require you have some working knowledge about being an entrepreneur. In summary, worth your time and efforts for a small investment of time and money.

Best instructions for entrepreneur-to-be
It's such a great book. I finish this book in one week, but I do read it on the favorite chapter every day - to help me refresh my mind. It will worth your time! ... Read more

Product Description
"Africa's Greatest Entrepreneurs" comprises of a series of profiles on some of the most successful and dynamic businesspeople currently operating in Africa. Each chapter is dedicated to a single entrepreneur and will focus on the personality as well as the story of how they achieved their success in their particular environment or field. The narrative will focus on the personal success stories of these self-starters in the context of the economic and political climate of their respective markets. Issues discussed include: how they started in business; their defining moments; the challenges they faced and how they overcame them; their frustrations and achievements; what kept them going; what they learned in the process; things they would have done differently; their relationship with the political power structures; their opinions on leadership, on Africa's future; their heroes and villains; and, finally, the legacy they leave behind. The book is inspiring and will provide a better understanding of who the real powerbrokers in Africa are.It will give an unprecedented insight into unique and successful African entrepreneurs as well as first-hand experiences of the realities of how to get things done on the continent. "Africa's Greatest Entrepreneurs" will feature an eclectic mix of the most well-known and notable entrepreneurs in Africa. Some of the names included in the book are: Kagiso Mmusi (Botswana), Victor Fotso (Cameroon), Jean Kacou Diagou (Cote d'Ivoire), Gerald Mangoua (Cote d'Ivoire), Kofi Amoabeng(Ghana), Kwabena Adjai (Ghana), Chris Kirubi (Kenya), Daniel David (Mozambique), Wale Tinubu (Nigeria), Aliko Dangote (Nigeria), Aliou Sow (Senegal), Mzi Khumalo (South Africa), Keith Kunene (SA), Ndaba Ntsele (SA), Herman Mashaba (SA), Richard Maponya (SA), Mo Ibrahim (Sudan), Reginald Mengi (Tanzania), Ali Mufuruki (Tanzania) and Wavamunno (Uganda). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Sixteen of Africa's Greatest Entrepreneurs
Moky Makura was born in Nigeria, educated in England and now lives in Johannesburg, South Africa. A TV presenter/producer, writer and a successful businesswoman in her own right, Moky Makura holds an honours degree in Politics, Economics and Law from Buckingham University in the UK.

From 2001 to 2006, Moky Makura was the African Anchor presenter and field reporter for South Africa's award winning news and actuality show - Carte Blanche. She has presented numerous field reports on Africa and Nigeria in particular; including stories on the Nigerian Film industry; Zimbabwean farmers in Kwara, People trafficking in Edo State, Child soldiers in the DRC and Democracy in Zimbabwe She has conducted interviews with Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Chinua Achebe, Femi Kuti, Danny Glover and Seal.

In 2004, Moky Makura presented an hour long interview format show called African Pioneers which was syndicated to commercial stations in 5 African countries including Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi. In 2005, she hosted a 26 part marketing show on the South African business channel; Summit TV. She is currently appearing in the ground breaking Pan-African drama series on M-Net called Jacob's Cross.

Moky Makura is an editorial contributor to various magazines on African related subjects including The Business Day; Maverick Magazine, O Magazine and Tribute Magazine.

She is also producer and presenter on an entertainment TV series called "Living it", which focuses on the lifestyle's of the continent's wealthy elite. As part of her passion to present a positive image of Africa and showcase its heroes and achievements, she has started a website where visitors can contribute to creating a repository of all the positive aspects about Africa.

Moky set about finding and interviewing some of the continent's bravest and most successful entrepreneurs and recently completed a book; Africa's Greatest Entrepreneurs which features the success stories of the top entrepreneurs on the continent.

Africa's Greatest Entrepreneurs comprises a series of profiles on 16 of some of the most successful and dynamic business people to have emerged from across Africa, with a diverse range of ages and educational backgrounds.

The first chapter is about (1) Wale Tinubu, who began an oil trading business working out of an office that doubled as his family's garage. Using a loan from his mother as capital to build Oando, today, the company has a market capitalisation of $2bn and a presence in the industry across most of West Africa with interests in exploration, refining, distribution and power plant development. This might sound like an extraordinary rags-to-riches story, but plenty more follow.

We next learn about Ghana's (2) Prince Kofi Amoabeng, who dropped a military career to pursue a profession in finance, evolving from an introductory service linking friends who had money to invest with those that needed to borrow for their businesses. Today, Amoabeng is the chief executive of Unique Trust, a company with a near $30m turnover and 300 employees, ranked as one of Ghana's best-performing companies.

Unique Trust is a non-bank financial Institution (Finance House) licensed by the Bank of Ghana. Founded in 1997, they aim at providing customers with fast and efficient short-term loans and real returns on investments. The company seeks to serve the needs of indigenous traders, exporters and importers as well as business organizations/people not catered for by the traditional banks. Their clients are their most prized assets thus providing them with quality and prompt services is their first priority. From a very humble beginning, UT Financial Services is now the No.2 company in the Ghana Club 100.

Prince Kofi Amoabeng has been on the board since he founded Unique Trust in 1997. He is the Chief Executive Officer of the company, an investment consultant, and a retired military officer (Captain). He is a holder of B. Sc. Admin (Accounting), ICMA, ACMA (UK) & ACA (GH) and has significant experience gained from working with and managing a number of companies. He is also a resource person for the Ghana Stock Exchange. Unique Trust is committed to providing timely financial assistance, business education, and advice through short-term financial services to their clients, be they individuals or corporate bodies. Kofi Amoabeng was voted by his peers as Ghana's most respected CEO for 2007.

Makura next profiles the extraordinary story of (3) Mo Ibrahim, one of the pioneers of Africa's mobile phone revolution. In fact, Makura was at one time the public relation's director at Ibrahim's company Celtel, which perhaps explains why, although Ibrahim says he simply has "no heroes in the business world" and is honestly irritated by what he calls the idolising of business leaders, he was still prepared to be a subject for this book.

(4) Kwabena Adjei's of Ghana is one of the book's stranger stories. He is the chief executive of Kasapreko Co Ltd, a company with a $30m turnover. It began by creating a herbal remedy, Alomo Bitters, that not only claimed to cure malaria but also help men's sexual performance!

(5) Herman Mashaba is the 50-year-old South African founder of Black Like Me, an extremely successful cosmetics company with a R2bn (approx $200m) turnover. This is the first of a number of South African entrepreneurs in the book who had to contend with the many obstacles thrown up in the path of black businesspeople by the apartheid system.

Other entrepreneurs had other challenges, such as (6) Strive Masiyiwa of Zimbabwe, the founder and chairman of Econet Group, the second telecoms pioneer to be featured in this book. Masiyiwa spent five years in an epic legal battle with the Zimbabwean government to win a GSM licence that finally loosened the state's stranglehold on the country's telecom sector.

(7) Kagiso Mmusi is the founder and executive chairman of Pula Holdings, a diversified holding company with total assets of around Pulal70m ($20.83m). Mmusi is from a famous Botswana family, his father Peter having been Sir Ketumile Masire's vice-president, but his story is less about privilege, more about self-discipline and tenacity. Mmusi began by operating a single petrol station 19 years ago to build one of Botswana's largest home-grown companies.

Sadly, (8) Miko Rwayitare died in 2007, but his remarkable story is told by a close friend, Dr Gabriel Twagira. Rwayitare is the third telecoms pioneer in the book. An electrical engineer, he was perhaps the first African to spot the potential of mobile phone technology building the first pan-African mobile phone network and the first person in Africa to make a mobile phone call.

After selling a major share of the company he founded, Telecel, to the Egyptian-based Orascom, Rwayitare diversified into hotels and was also passionate about the potential of his investment in Goal Technology Solutions, which promised to deliver affordable broadband to almost every home in South Africa by using the national grid power lines.

(9) Nigel Chanakira, like his compatriot Strive Masiyiwa, had to contend with the opposition of the Zimbabwean authorities. Chanakira built a successful financial holdings company - Kingdom Financial Holdings (KFH) - but "got into trouble" when he began to comment on the country's economic policies.
He fled to South Africa in 2001, during his exile building KFH businesses in Zambia, Malawi and Botswana.

He took the chance to return to Zimbabwe in 2004. Most commercial banks were in serious trouble, and KFH was on the brink of failing, but Strive Masiyiwa bought a 25% stake in the business and Chanakira achieved a merger with Meikles Group, one of Zimbabwe's foremost conglomerates.

The resulting conglomerate, Kingdom Meikles Africa Ltd, has ambitions for a New York listing and wants to raise US$l billion for expansion plans.

(10) Regi Mengi, the Tanzanian media magnate, has an unlikely story. From a humble rural home he did well at school, and joined Coopers, the accountancy firm. But his ambitions were far greater than the accountancy profession.

Like many successful business stories, Mengi's begins with spotting a business opportunity - he was unable to buy a ballpoint pen in Dar es Salaam. The government would not permit the importation of finished pens but he could bring in component parts. From this initial business venture Mengi built a business empire in East Africa with interests in manufacturing, mining, bottling as well as broadcast and print media.

Uganda's (11) Gordon Wavamunno has a story that closely mirrors the fortunes of his country. From an early age, Wavamunno knew he wanted to be a businessman, and he began by trading in agricultural produce, building a business that secured the Ugandan Mercedes Benz distributorship and encompassed transport, hotels and tourism.

Then the turbulent years of the Obote/Amin era saw his efforts almost completely dashed but, undeterred, he resolved to build up his company, Spear Group, again. He persuaded Mercedes Benz to retain him, then moved into textiles and clothing.

Since then he has added broadcast media as well as banking, bottled water and pharmaceuticals to his rapidly expanding portfolio, winning the coveted Ugandan Businessman of the Year award for seven years running.

Pamodzi Investment Holdings, one of South Africa's first black-owned and run investment companies, successfully raised $1.3bn in 2007 to become the country's largest private equity fund. At the helm of Pamodzi is chief executive (12) Ndaba Ntsele, who has another rags-to-riches story, growing up in Soweto and learning business basics at his aunt's small store.

Taking a job as a local government clerk, in his spare time he traded clothes, moved into construction, sold jewellery and electronic equipment and won the Nike concession for the South Africa market.

Ntsele and his partner Solly Sithole then created Pamodzi Investment Holdings, buying a hospital, then subsequently investing in a sports marketing company, catering, télécoms, fleet management, finance, IT, automobiles and mining.

Four more southern African business success stories complete this book, two from South Africa itself: (13) Keith Kunene and (14) Richard Maponya as well as (15) Geoffrey Mwamba from Zambia and (16) Daniel David of Mozambique.

(13) Kunene, along with his four brothers, carved out a business fortune by getting into university, qualifying in law and starting a business, Kunene Brothers Holdings, with interests in bottling, financial services, business consulting and the motor industry as well as becoming the largest Coca Cola distributor in South Africa.

(14) Maponya, the executive chairman and MD of Maponya Group, is described as one of South Africa's best loved entrepreneurs. Now in his eighties, Maponya is the man behind the Maponya Mall, his R650m shopping complex in Soweto and it all started about 65 years ago when the young Maponya diverted water from a river by his father's land in Limpopo to grow and sell vegetables.

Leaving school to join a clothing factory, he also started to sell clothes and (after a legal battle in which he was represented by Oliver Tambo) the apartheid state gave him leave to start a business in Soweto selling "daily necessities". This allowed him to set up a milk business employing five people which grew into a chain of eight discount supermarkets, each grossing about R3m a month, employing a total of 170 people.

(15) Geoffrey Mwamba of the GBM Group currently owns and runs Zambia's secondlargest maize mill, a 28-strong luxury bus fleet, a traditional beer brewery, and markets foodstuffs. He also plays the money markets. However, although the son of Zambia's first African minister of agriculture, this 50-year-old entrepreneur began his business empire with a $1,000 loan from his mother.

The book's final chapter introduces us to Mozambique's (16) David. Returning from a stint as a miner in South Africa, David stumbled into the entertainment industry, promoting music bands and then theatre shows.

David then found a job at the state broadcast company TVM as an admin assistant, rising to become the marketing director. Starting a small marketing company of his own in 1999, Visao, two years later he resigned from TVM to focus on consultancy before becoming a conference organiser.

He then hit upon the idea of launching a TV station, found a partner who could provide the broadcast equipment for a share of the business and scraped the money together to start Soico TV, later adding Soico FM, both incredibly successful ventures.

At the age of just 40, David is a media mogul and has joined the ranks of Africa's greatest entrepreneurs.

... Read more

Product Description
How do you figure out what to do in a job? How do you get it done? How should you deal with demanding bosses? How can you get the most out of subordinates? What should you do to get along with difficult colleagues and handle powerful interest groups and the media? Just how can you succeed in a world where persuasion rather than direct command is the rule? Using a compass as his operating metaphor - your boss is north of you, your staff is south, colleagues are east and so on - Richard Haass provides clear, practical guidelines for setting goals and translating goals into results. The result is a lively, useful book for the tens of millions of Americans working in complex and unruly organizations of every sort and for students of both public administration and business. The "Bureaucratic Entrepreneur" is a new and updated edition of Haass's 1994 book, "The Power to Persuade". Richard N. Haass was a special assistant to President Bush and a senior director on the National Security Council staff, where he received the Presidential Citizens Medal.Director of Foreign Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution, he has held posts in the Departments of Defense and State, and is a consultant for NBC News. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The art of getting things done in a bureacracy - without marginalizing yourself, making enemies, or committing career suicide
Richard Haas's small book (Amazon lists it incorrectly as 260 pages -- the 1999 paperback, including bibliography, is only 198 pages) packs a tremendous punch.It is a one-of-a-kind, pragmatic primer with but one mission -- to increase the effectiveness of an individual who finds himself working in a large and uncoordinated organization, the kind of outfit where persuasion is paramount but the mission is often unclear.

The author uses a metaphor, a compass, to organize each section.The points of the compass are used to describe how the indiviudal should interact with those around him: north = bosses, south = subordinates, east = colleagues, and west = outsiders (media, Congress, and others).

The metaphor of a compass may be somewhat cliche, but it is only framework onto which is hung a surprising amount of very sage advice.Short stories are used as to illustrate each piece of advice given, from bureaucrats and public figures, both famous and obscure.The advice in this book covers a shotgun blast of topics: how to be an inspiring leader; negotiation tactics; chairing an effective meeting; surviving transitions and reorganizations; how to write a persuasive memo; etc.

I've worked in DC for the federal government for over a decade, and this book is the first one I turn to for advice and reminders of both what to do and what NOT to do, every working day.I highly recommend it for any individual who works in a bureaucratic organization.

Required reading
This would be an excellent book for those majoring in the business field to add to their academic studies.It is also a gifted preparation for what lies ahead in service for any line of work.
I wish this had been available decades ago.

A public good
The federal government is a unique place to work.Most people agree that it is more difficult to fire subordinates there than in the private sector and, due to the government's arcane hiring process, it is often a challenge to put the right person in the right job.Add to this mix Congressional oversight, the occasional media spotlight, the lack of a bottom line, and the big-picture question (not asked often enough) "what are we doing and why are we doing it," and you have an environment foreign to many private sector employees.

Enter Richard Haass's book the Bureaucratic Entrepreneur, an update of his 1993 primer the Power to Persuade.Haass has held a number of positions in previous government administrations, including at the NSC and the Defense and State Departments.His book is packed with words of wisdom for the harried bureaucrat who at the end of the day may wonder just what he accomplished.Although Haass's advice appears machiavellian (he argues that Machiavelli is often misunderstood) and the author does not have a firm grasp on whether his audience is the entry-level employee or the senior-level political appointee, it is worth putting up with these drawbacks for the original focus and insight on managing and leading in the public sector.The bibliography alone is reason enough to buy the book.

Low-level or high, every public-sector employee should read the Bureaucratic Entrepreneur before starting his or her new government job.They should then re-read it every few years to ensure that they are on track and using the tools Haass lays out to be effective in one of the most "unruly" organizations around. ... Read more

Product Description
Native to a high valley in the Andes of Ecuador, the Otavalos are an indigenous people whose handcrafted textiles and traditional music are now sold in countries around the globe. Known as weavers and merchants since pre-Inca times, Otavalos today live and work in over thirty countries on six continents, while hosting more than 145,000 tourists annually at their Saturday market. In this ethnography of the globalization process, Lynn A. Meisch looks at how participation in the global economy has affected Otavalo identity and culture since the 1970s. Drawing on nearly thirty years of fieldwork, she covers many areas of Otavalo life, including the development of weaving and music as business enterprises, the increase in tourism to Otavalo, the diaspora of Otavalo merchants and musicians around the world, changing social relations at home, the growth of indigenous political power, and current debates within the Otavalo community over preserving cultural identity in the face of globalization and transnational migration. Refuting the belief that contact with the wider world inevitably destroys indigenous societies, Meisch demonstrates that Otavalos are preserving many features of their culture while adopting and adapting modern technologies and practices they find useful. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A perfect follow-up for a visit to Ecuador
Upon the recommendation of the owner of the mountain lodge where we stayed in Otavalo, Ecuador, I ordered Andean Entrepreneurs following our return home.Lynn Meisch has written a highly readable book about the people and commerce of that region, well-researched and full of interesting detail.It is warm and human, reflecting her love of the Otavaleños, with whom she lived for long periods of time.It was fascinating to learn so much about the music, the style of dress, customs, families, entrepreneurial spirit, and long-standing skill with weaving and textiles among these kind people with whom I had enjoyed an interesting visit.This book will be quite valuable for anyone contemplating a visit to Ecuador, or who has returned from time spent there. ... Read more

Product Description
Expanded edition with new chapters on the Great Crash of 2008 and looking ahead.

Self-made billionaire Sam Wyly is a natural storyteller. In this candid, engrossing memoir, he recounts his experiences establishing and expanding companies on the leading edge of advancements in technology, energy, retail, and investments over the last five decades. From the hardships his family faced trying to hold on to their cotton farm during the Depression to the coaching he received on the high school football field, Wyly describes how his early years in Louisiana prepared him for what lay ahead.

Risking $1,000 of his savings, Wyly founded University Computing in 1963 and took it public two years later, becoming a millionaire at the age of thirty. Throughout this book, he reveals the decisions and strategies behind his many business successes, including founding Sterling Software, growing the small chains of Michaels Stores and Bonanza Steakhouses into nationwide brands, and founding Green Mountain Energy, the largest provider of cleaner energy in America today.

In this expanded edition, Wyly discusses the "Great Crash of 2008" in historical perspective, offering insights on the causes of our current financial crisis and the path to recovery--including the importance of green energy for the future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Interesting stories and good solid advice
I've never heard of Sam Wyly but if you look into the companies that he's been involved with, it's quite impressive. I like his attitude and there are many pearls of wisdom in this book. Although I might not agree with him politically, he does have a trememdous amount of courage to stand for what he believes in. I enjoyed his references to Peter Drucker and that has encouraged me to reread some of Drucker's work. In summary, a fast read with some pearls and it's worth your time to read and gain more perspective.

The Best Entrepreneur Book!
Sam Wyly grew up in one of the poorest most forgotten plots of land in our country. This was news that Sam really never received because his home (shanty without power) was full of responsibility, passion, love and knowledge.

Sam shows how an entrepreneur assembles a team to fulfill his vision. Seeking the best that can be found and sharing the wealth.

He had an act for finding CEO's that are drivers and this was his second greatest business talent.His number one talent was a since of timing that could seldom be repeated throughout the history of human achievement. Sam may say his timing was a matter of Irish luck, however the enormous amount of reading he did coupled with steeping himself in reality could have strongly influenced this magically ability to exit a venture at the ideal time.

He seems as though he was in the right place at the right time for his first venture; an "Outliners" moment for him and Ross Perot.

He was a good guy that had some good breaks early in life and really leveraged opportunities.

A great read for any business owner; I cherish this book and thoughts of this southern gentleman character and his journey.

From the book I have learned there are many business people but very few true entrepreneurs on the planet.

Read it over two days, excellent writing, very enjoyable and hard to put down.

Thank you Mr. Wyly sir!

John Halloran
CEO Certified Gold Exchange, Inc
San Juan, PR

The billionaire you never heard of - bio of Sam Wyly

Fast read.The personal life lessons are the gems.Some interesting inside history of the computer industry.The last three chapters lack conflict.

1,000 Dollars and an Idea: Entrepreneur to Billionaire
Book was in excellent condition (book was used - even though I couldn't see any wear), shipping was fast - I'm very satisfied. Thank you!

Ok, but misses its mark
I love reading books about successful entrepreneurs and started out with the same mindframe as I dived into this one about Sam Wyly (who I had never heard of before previously). I'm halfway
through the book and have decided to stop reading. The main reason is that Mr. Wyly's ego seems to get in the way of the lessons you picked up the book in the first place for.

By page 175, he's probably bragged about himself being a shrewd investor and entrepreneur for the 40th time. Furthermore, there was one statement that really irked me around page 125 when he said you have to know the difference between being a successful entrepreneur and one who just sits around and reads books about successful ones. Maybe its just me but, didn't he just insult his audience? Who do you think is reading this book hotshot? Way to go on that one...

If you're looking for some good entrepreneurial lessons, I recommend Warren Buffet and Richard Branson. Far superior in business lessons, and 10x more humble. ... Read more