The Startup Checklist

Introduction25 Key Action Steps (Plus One) for Every Entrepreneur

BECAUSE YOU ARE undoubtedly raring to go out and change the world with your amazing business concept, I'm going to open this book with a crash checklist in “starting smart” so that you can avoid the biggest bone-headed errors made by many bright-eyed and enthusiastic first-time company founders. I'll give you a quick overview of each of the steps that will take you from an idea to an exit, and I'll explain how to use this book as your companion along the way. Even if this Introduction is all that you read, at least you'll know what you should be doing, and where to find an in-depth discussion in the book on each of the following topics.

Now, off we go!

Prepare to Launch

0. Before You Start, Educate Yourself.

Just as you would not start a trek to the North Pole without reading at least Arctic Exploration for Couch Potatoes, you should start your entrepreneurial journey by getting oriented to the basics . . . and that's exactly what this book is about. Once you've finished, if you are typical of most hyperactive entrepreneurs, you'll be off getting your parka and snowshoes. But if you can eke out a bit more patience, among the other 93,210 startup books, a few have become known as classics for a reason. They deal with everything from “What is entrepreneurship?” to “How can I start cheaply?” and “How do I turn an idea into a company?”

Therefore, after you finish The Startup Checklist, the next thing I suggest you ...