Books About Entrepreneurship

What is entrepreneurship? Bessant and Tidd (2007: 1) see it as being innovative and competitive. They state that:

'One person's problem is another's opportunity and the nature of innovation is that it is fundamentally about entrepreneurship. The skill to spot opportunities and create new ways to exploit them is at the heart of the innovation process. Entrepreneurs are risk-takers - but they calculate the costs of taking a bright idea forward against the potential gains if they succeed in doing something different - especially if that involves upstaging the players already in the game.'

They also see a close link between creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation (2007: 37). Commenting on the fact that most entrepreneur research has been conducted in the USA, and may not apply worldwide (2007: 42) they note that:

'... in the specific case of technical entrepreneurs there appears to be some consensus regarding the necessary personal characteristics.'

They identify the two main characteristics as:

• an internal locus of control - that is to say, a conviction that they (rather than circumstances or someone else) are in charge of their own lives
• a high need for achievement (nAch) - which is not the same as a need for success

They associate the second characteristic with 'moderate risk-taking but not gambling or irrational risk-taking.'

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Start Your Own Business: The Only Start-Up Book You'll Ever Need by Rieva Lesonsky   Make your dreams of starting a business come true! Packed with expert advice, this book demystifies the start-up process with plain-English answers to the most commonly asked questions about starting a small business.   More information and prices from: Amazon.com - US dollars Amazon.ca - Canadian dollars Amazon.co.uk - British pounds Amazon.de - Euros Amazon.fr - Euros Leading at the Speed of Growth: Journey from Entrepreneur to CEO by Katherine Catlin, Jana Matthews   Learn how to take your company to the next level of growth through the stories of over 500 successful entrepreneurs. Developed by the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, this flagship book introduces a new series on managing growth. The authors expertly guide you through the three stages of entrepreneurial growth: initial growth, rapid growth, and continuous growth. Personal stories told by successful entrepreneurs reveal the hows and whys of evolving as a leader at each stage, identifying red flags, vital signs, and secrets of sustained growth. Become a dynamic leader by using this book as your roadmap to entrepreneurial success.   More information and prices from: Amazon.com - US dollars Amazon.ca - Canadian dollars Amazon.co.uk - British pounds Amazon.de - Euros Amazon.fr - Euros Start Up: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Launching and Managing a New Business by William J. Stolze   This fifth edition of Start Up is a thorough, concise, and exceptionally easy to read book that applies to those who are ready to embark on a new venture, those who have already gotten their feet wet, and those who would like to learn more about entrepreneurship. It addresses key problems that are crucial to the success of any business such as: how much money is enough, how to write a successful business plan, what is most important to business success, and why small companies are better. Completely revised and updated, this edition also features complete information on how to use the Internet to fuel the information and promotion needs of a business.  More information and prices from: Amazon.com - US dollars Amazon.ca - Canadian dollars Amazon.co.uk - British pounds Amazon.de - Euros

The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything by Guy Kawasaki   What does it take to turn ideas into action? What are the elements of a perfect pitch? How do you win the war for talent? How do you establish a brand without bucks? These are some of the issues everyone faces when starting or revitalizing any undertaking, and Guy Kawasaki, former marketing maven of Apple Computer, provides the answers.   More information and prices from: Amazon.com - US dollars Amazon.ca - Canadian dollars Amazon.co.uk - British pounds Amazon.de - Euros Amazon.fr - Euros Growing Pains : Transitioning from an Entrepreneurship to a Professionally Managed Firm by Eric G. Flamholtz, Yvonne Randle   Drawing on the real-life experiences of firms such as Amazon and Starbucks, this book helps entrepreneurs make a transition from start-up to successful organisation without compromising the unique spirit that gave rise to the company's inception. It explores the seven predictable stages of organisational growth and identifies what must be accomplished in each stage to lay the groundwork for sustained successful development. It also draws on the real-life experiences of firms in a range of industries, and helps entrepreneurs make a smooth transition from start-up to successful organisation without being encumbered by bureaucracy and compromising the unique spirit that gave rise to the company.  More information and prices from: Amazon.com - US dollars Amazon.ca - Canadian dollars Amazon.co.uk - British pounds Amazon.de - Euros