Praise for [ MY START–UP LIFE ]
"This is a remarkable book for so many reasons. First, it is overflowing with incredible advice and perspective. Beyond that, it is written with the kind of style and grace that you usually find in a great essay or novel. If you have any interest in entrepreneurship or business, for that matter—you'll definitely want to read this."
—Patrick Lencioni, author, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
"You will enjoy this provocative, honest, and fun romp through an entrepreneurial achievement, which will leave you determined to embark on your own enterprising endeavor—and inspired to find your own way to make a difference."
—Marc Benioff, CEO and chairman, salesforce.com
"I was blown away by how much learning Ben has packed into his (relatively) short entrepreneurial life–and how engagingly and effectively he passes it on in this book. This is such a fun read that you won't even realize how much you are learning. A must-read for first-time entrepreneurs, but equally enjoyable for fellow travelers who have already been down these roads."
—Heidi Roizen, managing director, Mobius Venture Capital
"This is an inspiring perspective on the dynamics of succeeding in Silicon Valley. You may as well read this book today, because sooner or later we are all going to end up working for Ben."
—Chris Sacca, head of Strategic Initiatives, Google Inc.
"A disarming story of the ups and downs of a business from startup to sustainability, filled with reflections on practical business and personal issues facing any entrepreneur. I recommend it to my students as a refreshingly honest account of the rollercoaster ride of startup entrepreneurship."
—Deborah Streeter, Bruce F. Failing, Sr. Professor of Personal Enterprise and Small Business Management, Cornell University
Foreword By Marc Benioff.
Introduction.
1.0 My Dot-Com Life Begins.
Brainstorm: Who Knows What Could Happen If You Raise Your Hand?
Brain Trust: Take Responsibility, by Heidi Roizen.
2.0 Nature or Nurture? A San Francisco Upbringing.
Brainstorm: All the Fuss About “Passion”—and How to Tap into Yours
3.0 The First Axiom of Business: Find a Need and Fill It.
Brainstorm: The Fringe-Thoughts List: Where Most Great Ideas Develop.
Brainstorm: Feedback, Feedback, Feedback.
4.0 Comcate Is Born: The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Business.
Brainstorm: The Business Plan Myth 28
Brainstorm: Why Some People Get More Stuff Done (and Start Real Businesses).
5.0 First Meeting with a VC (It’s All About the Network).
Brainstorm: The Power of Mentors.
Brainstorm: When to Ask a Dumb Question.
Brain Trust: Taking Mentor Relationships to the Next Level, by Brad Feld.
6.0 Signing Up Early Customers: Selling the Sizzle and the Steak.
Brainstorm: Asking Questions: There’s a Right and a Wrong Way.
Brainstorm: I Have a Strategic Plan. It’s Called Doing Things.
7.0 Confronting Failure . . . and Bouncing Back.
Brainstorm: Building Resilience—A Transferable Quotient.
Brainstorm: How to Create and Leverage an Advisory Board.
8.0 Hiring an Interim CEO: My First Big Mistake.
Brainstorm: Three Sure Ways to Maximize Luck.
9.0 The Hunt for a COO: Recruiting a Top Team.
Brainstorm: The Art of Courtship.
Brainstorm: How to Overcome Fear of Failure.
10.0 Life as a Road Warrior: Making Memorable Sales Pitches.
Brainstorm: Presentations—Worthy of Obsession.
Brainstorm: Pricing in an Early-Stage Company.
Brain Trust: Life Is a Sales Call, by Jeff Parker.
11.0 I’m a Sophomore: Balancing Work, School, and Life.
Brainstorm: Redefining the Entrepreneurial Lifestyle: Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise.
Brainstorm: Being a Corporate Athlete.
Brain Trust: A Life That Works, by Chris Yeh.
12.0 A Silicon Valley Life: Building Me, Inc.
Brainstorm: Networking 101.
Brainstorm: Networking 202.
Brainstorm: Every Cold Call Can Be Warm—Rich First-Time Interactions.
Brainstorm: Creating and Projecting Brand "Me."
13.0 The Product Development Process: Cheap, Good, or Fast?
Brainstorm: Dare to Be Mediocre: Good Is the Enemy of Perfect.
14.0 It’s a Frugal, Frugal World: Bootstrapping Through the Inevitable Cash Squeeze.
Brainstorm: Asking for Money Versus Asking for Advice.
15.0 The Long, Hard Slog: Achieving Scale.
Brainstorm: A Relationship-Based First Business.
Brainstorm: Getting More Good Revenue and Less Bad Revenue.
Brain Trust: Keep Slogging Away, by Carol Rutlen.
16.0 Fulfilling the Mission, One Customer at a Time.
Brainstorm: Make Meaning: What Gets You and Your Employees Up Each Day?
17.0 The Road Ahead: Leaders of the Flat World.
Brain Trust: How to Think About the Future, by Sean Ness
18.0 What Will You Be Shouting When You Reach the Grave?
Brainstorm: Entrepreneurs Are Optimists.
Brain Trust: Let Your Heart Guide You, by Timothy J. Taylor.
Appendix A: What’s Next.
Appendix B: A One-a-Day, One-Month Plan to Becoming a Better Entrepreneur.
Appendix C: Ben’s Reading List.
Acknowledgments.
Endnotes.
The Author.
Overview
Praise for [ MY START–UP LIFE ]
"This is a remarkable book for so many reasons. First, it is overflowing with incredible advice and perspective. Beyond that, it is written with the kind of style and grace that you usually find in a great essay or novel. If you have any interest in entrepreneurship or business, for that matter—you'll definitely want to read this."
—Patrick Lencioni, author, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
"You will enjoy this provocative, honest, and fun romp ...