The book of entrepreneurs' wisdom : classic writings by legendary entrepreneurs / by Peter Krass.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Krass, Peter.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Entrepreneurship--Case studies.

Entrepreneurship.

Businessmen--Case studies.

Businessmen.

Businesswomen--Case studies.

Businesswomen.

Genre:

Case studies.

Physical Description:

xiv, 514 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Wiley, 1999.

Summary:

Not everyone can start a new business and turn it into a success. Though many have gotten ideas off the ground, few have kept them afloat. While many have opened doors to budding ventures, few have been able to keep them open. And while many have begun freshman businesses, few are true entrepreneurs. What does it take to join this elite rank?

The answer may well best be found from those who know firsthand--the fortunate few who have taken the lightbulbs in their heads and made them shine: pioneers like Henry Ford, George Eastman, Kim Polese, Col. Harland Sanders, Lillian Vernon, Warren Avis, Richard Branson, Dave Thomas, and Steve Jobs. Now, The Book of Entrepreneurs' Wisdom affords you an unprecedented opportunity to hear--in their own words--what these legends have had to say on the topic of entrepreneurship.

The Book of Entrepreneurs' Wisdom brings together the essays and speeches of more than fifty pioneers, past and present. From starting up to creating marketing strategies, from taking risks to building brand identity, the writings contained here span the entire spectrum of essential entrepreneurial issues. For example, Wally "Famous" Amos talks about the power in commitment and Lillian Vernon presents her entrepreneur's toolkit.

For easy reference, the essays contained in The Book of Entrepreneurs' Wisdom are organized into eight categories, covering the start-up process; the maverick element; venture capital, LBOs, and going public; risk and strategy; inventors turned entrepreneurs; branding, image, and selling; entrepreneurial management; and personal stories. Each essay is preceded by a brief introduction that places it in historical perspective and offers interesting and insightful information about its author's life and career. And throughout each essay, passages have been highlighted that call attention to each contributor's most pithy, profound, or quirky ideas.

Offering timeless wisdom from the most successful entrepreneurs ever, The Book of Entrepreneurs' Wisdom is must reading for anyone looking to join the venerable rank of these gunslingers, explorers, pioneers, and thrill seekers.

Contents:

Part I The Start-Up 1

I Love Mondays / Michael Bloomberg 3

Starting the Company / Harvey S. Firestone 13

Go Abead

Jump! / Andy Kessler 25

A Tech Dream Comes True / Kim Polese 29

The Three Criteria for a Successful New Business / Norm Brodsky 33

Mrs. Drucker Starts a Business / Doris Drucker 37

Part II The Maverick Element and Other Qualities 45

Are You a Gunslinger? / Warren Avis 47

The Discomfort Zone / Barry Diller 67

The Power in Commitment / Wally Amos 73

The Crucial Question / Andrew Carnegie 79

The Successful Entrepreneur's Toolkit / Lillian Vernon 85

For Entrepreneurs Only / Mark H. McCormack 95

Part III Venture Capital, LBOs, and Going Public 107

Bankers Are the Keepers of the Keys / Tom Monaghan 109

A Million-Dollar Mountain and a Red Hat / Conrad Hilton 115

Money: The Truth about Financing a Growing Small Business / Irene Smith 121

Strategy versus Tactics from a Venture Capitalist / Arthur Rock 131

LBOs Can Help Restore America's Competitive Edge / Henry R. Kravis 143

Going Public / An Wang 153

Part IV Risk and Strategy 159

Risk Taking / Richard Branson 161

A Winning Business Model for the 1990s / Scott McNealy 171

The Technique of Anticipation / Simon Ramo 181

The Secrets of Sniffing Around / Dave Thomas 191

Why a Buyer's Market Hasn't Changed Our Plans / J. C. Penney 197

Remington's Marketing and Manufacturing Strategies / Victor Kiam 209

Buying or Selling

Which Counts Most? / Franklin A. Seiberling 219

Ten Commandments for Building the Medium / Steve Case 229

Part V Inventors Turned Entrepreneurs 243

How I Made a Success of My Business / Henry Ford 245

When We Invented the Personal Computer / Steven P. Jobs 253

Make the Camera as Convenient as the Pencil / George Eastman 261

In the Creator's Mind / Edwin H. Land 267

To Win the Business Game, Do What You Know / Nolan Bushnell 275

Advice to a Young Tradesman / Benjamin Franklin 283

If I Were Twenty-One / Clarence Birdseye 287

Part VI Branding, Image, and Selling 299

The Best Way to Build a Brand / Howard M. Schultz 301

The Making of a Colonel / Colonel Harland Sanders 309

Moving Up in Marketing by Getting Down to Basics / Akio Morita 315

My Test of Good Management / Marquis M. Converse 325

Breaking Through the Ad Barrier / John H. Johnson 331

Service Sells / Michael S. Dell 337

Showmanship and Salesmanship / Al Neuharth 347

The American Museum / P. T. Barnum 355

Part VII Entrepreneurial Management 363

The Need for Controls / Alfred C. Fuller 365

My Style / Debbi Fields 377

Change Is Fun / H. Ross Perot 383

Global Manufacturing: The Nike Story Is Just Good Business / Philip Knight 391

Four-Letter Words! / Anita Roddick 403

The Diary of a Small Business Owner / Anita F. Brattina 409

To Make a Business Grow

Begin Growing Men / Thomas J. Watson 425

Part VIII Personal Stories 433

Your Own Business / Herman W. Lay 435

Bagels, Ice Cream, or ... Pizza? / Ben Cohen, Jerry Greenfield 453

The Product Nobody Wanted / Joseph C. Wilson 465

Digital Equipment Corporation: The First Twenty-Five Years / Kenneth H. Olsen 475

You Can Always Do Better / Samuel Goldwyn 487

Companies Founded, Cofounded, or Managed by Authors 510.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [498]-506) and index.

ISBN:

0471345091

OCLC:

41960836