6 Secrets to Startup Success

6 Secrets to Startup Success

by John BRADBERRY, Pamela SLIM
Released March 2011
Publisher(s): AMACOM
ISBN: 9780814416075

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Book description

It takes passion to start a new business. But that same entrepreneurial enthusiasm can also lead you astray. Over six million Americans start businesses every year. That’s 11 startups a minute launched by passionate dreamers hoping to transform their lives for the better. But a huge gap exists between the skyrocketing levels of desire and what entrepreneurs actually achieve. The harsh reality is that most new businesses fail within a few years of launch. Why do so few startups make it? And what distinguishes those that do succeed? Entrepreneur, consultant, and investor John Bradberry set out to discover the answer and came to a surprising conclusion—that the passion that drives and energizes so many founders is also the very thing that leads many of them astray. Filled with compelling real-life stories of both success and failure, this groundbreaking book reveals the key principles entrepreneurs must follow to ensure their big idea is on the right track. In 6 Secrets to Startup Success, readers will learn how to: Convert their passion into economic value with a moneymaking business model • Improve their readiness to launch and lead a new venture • Manage funding and cash flows • Chart a path to breakeven and beyond • Avoid the pitfalls that often accompany unfettered passion • Build the stamina needed to persevere over time Complete with indispensable tools including an assessment to gauge a venture’s strengths and weaknesses, 6 Secrets to Startup Success will help entrepreneurs everywhere turn their dreams into reality.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents
  5. Foreword
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. Introduction
  8. Part I: Entrepreneurial Passion: A Double-Edged Sword
    1. Chapter 1: True Believers: Why Founders Fall in Love with Their Ideas
      1. The Sparks of Entrepreneurial Ambition
      2. Fanning the Flames of Commitment
      3. If You Build It, Will They Come?
    2. Chapter 2: The Passion Trap: How Attachment to Your Idea Can Sabotage Your Startup
      1. What Is the Passion Trap?
      2. The Damage Done: Six Negative Impacts of Entrepreneurial Passion
      3. The Core Pattern: How the Passion Trap Works
      4. Icarus Qualities: Who Is Most Vulnerable to the Passion Trap?
      5. Early Warning Signs: Are You in Danger of Being Trapped?
      6. Moving Forward: Six Principles for Making the Most of Entrepreneurial Passion
  9. Part II: Your Foundation: Six Principles for Launching a Can’t-Miss Startup
    1. Chapter 3: Founder Readiness: How to Prepare for the Entrepreneurial Journey
      1. The Fundamentals of Founder Readiness
      2. Purifying Your Entrepreneurial Passion
    2. Chapter 4: The Pull of the Market: Attach to Your Customer, Not to Your Idea
      1. Developing a Strong Market Orientation
      2. Antidote to the Passion Trap: Give Your Idea a Market Scrub
    3. Chapter 5: Your Math Story: Charting a Path to Breakeven and Beyond
      1. Planning Is Clear Thinking
      2. Constructing a Compelling Math Story
      3. Securing the Right Funding
    4. Chapter 6: Startup Agility: Executing with Focused Flexibility
      1. The Paradox of Strong Execution
      2. The New Venture Learning Curve
    5. Chapter 7: Integrity of Communication: Your Secret Startup Weapon
      1. No One Is Immune to Reality Distortion
      2. Integrity of Communication: The Basics
      3. Four Personal Tools for Bursting the Feel-Good Bubble
    6. Chapter 8: Staying Power: Give Your Venture Time to Take Flight
      1. Venture-Level Strategies: Strengthening and Lengthening Your Runway
      2. Founder-Level Strategies: Performing and Persevering over Time
  10. Appendix A: Startup Readiness Tool
  11. Appendix B: Resources and Readings
  12. Notes
  13. Index

Product information

  • Title: 6 Secrets to Startup Success
  • Author(s): John BRADBERRY, Pamela SLIM
  • Release date: March 2011
  • Publisher(s): AMACOM
  • ISBN: 9780814416075