Main Street Entrepreneur: Build Your Dream Company Doing What You Love Where You Live

by Michael Glauser

Overview

100 Cities. 100 Entrepreneurs. 9 Keys for Success.

Main Street Entrepreneur offers a unique look at what it takes to create a successful and thriving business. Lifelong entrepreneur, business consultant and university professor Michael Glauser rode 4,005 miles in 45 days, spent 246 hours on a bike seat, climbed 165,748 vertical feet, and interviewed more than 100 entrepreneurs in 100 cities along the way to discover the secrets to entrepreneurial success.

Glauser has distilled hours of interviews and research to present the nine keys for:

• Building a purpose-driven business
• Meeting important community needs
• Developing a supporting cast
• Working with a zealous tenacity
• Giving mind-boggling customer service
• Diversifying revenue streams
• Giving back to the broader community
• And ultimately, creating the lifestyle of your dreams

Readers will learn how to achieve their own dreams and won’t need a 30-page business plan, venture capital, or an exit strategy. All they need to do is implement nine keys for success. Not everyone can build a Facebook, Google or eBay, but anyone with passion and tenacity can do what these entrepreneurs all across America are doing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781599185903
Publisher:	Entrepreneur Press
Publication date:	05/10/2016
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Michael Glauser, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Jeffrey D. Clark Center for Entrepreneurship at Utah State University, an entrepreneur, business consultant, and university professor. He is the co-founder and CEO of My New Enterprise, an online training and development company. He is also the founder and former CEO of Golden Swirl Management Company and of Northern Lights. Both companies were sold to CoolBrands International. Mike has consulted with numerous corporations in the areas of business strategy, market research, organizational effectiveness, and leadership development. His clients have included Associated Food Stores, The Boeing Company, Department of Workforce Services, Esso of Inter-America, Harmon Music Group, and USANA Health Sciences.

Glauser has held faculty positions at the Universityof North Carolina, Westminster College, and Utah State University. He has designed and taught courses in business strategy, entrepreneurship, management, and organizational behavior. He has published numerous articles in professional journals and magazines, and published two books on entrepreneurship: Glorious Accidents and The Business of Heart. He has appeared on Great Day America, First Business from Washington, The G. Gordon Liddy Show, Voice of America, Good Morning Chicago and Associated Press Radio. He lives in Salt Lake City.

Table of Contents

Prologue: A New Career Path for Our Changing Economy xi

My Entrepreneurial Journey xiv

Why This Book Is Important xvi

A New Career Path xxi

Chapter 1 Our Search for Entrepreneurs on Main Street 1

Main Street vs. Wall Street 4

The TransAmerica Trail 5

Our Courageous Crew 7

Finding the Entrepreneurs 9

Reflection: Personal Inventory 11

Chapter 2 Start with a Clear Purpose 13

Our Mission-Driven Entrepreneurs 15

The Power of Purpose 26

Reflection: Defining Your Purpose 29

Chapter 3 Build on What You Know 31

Knowing Your Industry 32

Our Experienced Entrepreneurs 33

Reflection: Exploring Your Options 44

Chapter 4 Launch Opportunities, Not Ideas 45

A True Business Opportunity 46

Our Opportunistic Entrepreneurs 49

Applying the NERCM Model 57

Reflection: Assessing the Five Factors 59

Chapter 5 Develop Your Supporting Cast 61

Building Your Brain Trust 63

Building Your Core Team 70

Building Strategic Partnerships 75

Reflection: Assessing Your Team Needs 78

Chapter 6 Maximize All Available Resources 85

Effectiveness and Efficiency 86

Our Resourceful Entrepreneurs 88

Capital-Intensive Industries 94

Planning to Maximize Resources 97

Reflection: Strategies for Efficiency 99

Chapter 7 Work with Zealous Tenacity 103

The Two Critical Qualities 106

Our Zealously Tenacious Entrepreneurs 107

Maintaining Your Zealous Tenacity 113

Reelection: Assessing Your Zealous Tenacity 119

Chapter 8 Build a Community of Raving Fans 121

Creating a Tribal Mentality 123

Our Tribe-Building Entrepreneurs 128

The Service Is in the System 135

Building Your Community 137

Reflection: Developing Your Service Strategy 138

Chapter 9 Pivot to Multiple Revenue Streams 141

The Process of Pivoting 144

Our Pivoting Entrepreneurs 147

My Pivot to a New Strategy 155

Reflection: Planning Your Pivots 157

Chapter 10 Serve Your Broader Community 159

Business as a Format for Problem Solving 161

Our Big-Hearted Entrepreneurs 165

Benefits of Serving Your Community 170

A Strategy for Serving Your Community 173

Reflection: Creating Your Community Strategy 177

Epilogue: Building Your Own New Enterprise 179

Applying the Nine Key Practices 182

Paying the Price for Success 186

Creating Your Game Plan 189

Reflection: Building Your Dream Checklist 190

Acknowledgments 197

About the Author 199

References 201

Index 211

Editorial Reviews

"Michael Glauser’s Main Street Entrepreneur is filled with real learnings from the trenches of startups and delivers a complete tool box for entrepreneurs to start and build their own businesses. Glauser’s success as an entrepreneur, along with the insights and learnings of another 100 entrepreneurs, gives the book enormous credibility and gravitas. This is a timely and relevant book that is written in an immediately applicable way—and for that I highly recommend it!"
—Stephen M. R. Covey, Author of The Speed of Trust, Coauthor of Smart Trust

"Technology is eliminating jobs in nearly every industry at an ever increasing pace. In the near future, more of us will have to become entrepreneurs and create our own jobs. During his 4,000 mile bike ride across America, Michael Glauser, developed a clear road map anyone can follow to build a successful company. His book will help you create the life of your dreams. It’s time to get started."
—Daven Michaels, Author of Outsource Smart, Founder and CEO of 123Employee

"Every year we mentor thousands of people all over the world who are trying to rise out of poverty by starting their own business. The key concepts taught in Main Street Entrepreneur are the exact principles people need to implement to be successful. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to start a business and achieve their dreams."
—Mark L. Petersen, President and CEO of Mentors International

"Make no mistake, the American Dream is alive. People are merging their livelihood and lifestyle by doing what they love while living where they want. In Main Street Entrepreneur you will meet remarkable entrepreneurs and discover the key principles for achieving your dream. A must read for anyone seeking more freedom, security, and happiness!"
—Judy Robinett, Startup Funding Expert, Author of How to Be a Power Connector

"Michael Glauser shares the secrets to success that entrepreneurs across the country have used to enjoy the American Dream. His nine keys will help any ambitious soul achieve and sustain success. Building a successful business, and lifestyle, just became easier with Main Street Entrepreneur."
—Roger Connors, Cofounder of Partners In Leadership, Author of The Oz Principle

"Glauser takes us on a literal ride to the near future where the small sole proprietors create the business future that multinational corporations once controlled. An essential read to help you succeed in the post-capitalist economy of the near future."
—Geoffrey Colon, Communications Designer at Microsoft, Author of Disruptive Marketing

"I love Michael Glauser’s bike trip across America as an analogy for business development. As a three time Hawaii Ironman finisher and college swimmer I can attest that the purpose and passion necessary to succeed as an athlete are precisely the same disciplines that can produce success in all aspects of one’s life, whether it’s business, health or relationships. There are always going to be bumps and pot holes in the road. Glauser is spot on when he says that keeping your purpose in focus is the most important thing to get you to the finish line."
—Howard Liebowitz, MD, FACEP, Director of Liebowitz Longevity Medicine, Foremost Anti-Aging Medicine and Hormone Specialist

"The people I meet who are not executives all dream of starting their own company. But they don’t because they don’t know how and can’t see themselves in the lore of multi-billion dollar success. Finally, the masses have a roadmap to attain a more Main Street success."
—Mark Cook, Director of O.C. Tanner Institute, author of Sales Blazers, Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship

"I started my first business at age 15 and have run my sixth for almost 30 years now. Oh, what heartache and sleepless nights I could have saved myself if I had only had Michael Glauser’s insightful book from the beginning! What a fun and easy read to experience his cycling adventure right along with the interesting and wise people he met on his bold journey! I recommend this book big time."
—Wendy Keller, Author of Secrets of Successful Negotiation for Women

"While many of us tend to think about entrepreneurism in "Shark Tank" terms, most startups are local businesses created to serve a local need. This book is an excellent and inspirational primer for would-be entrepreneurs who don't seem themselves as the next Zuckerberg."
—Geoffrey James, Contributing Editor, Inc.com

From the Publisher