THIS BOOK, CHOCK FULL OF inspirational startup stories, is designed to activate your best, most creative, most informed entrepreneurial self.
We’re confident that it contains the “secret” to successful entrepreneurship—that special sauce that will help you turn your dream into a full-blown reality. Which isn’t as closely guarded as you might think.
A word about us: We’re the editors of Inc., and for decades, we’ve interviewed the makers, doers, and dreamers who have launched some of America’s most celebrated companies. You’ll hear from many of them throughout this book.
Over the years, we’ve observed a consistent paradox as we sat down with entrepreneurs who have turned nuggets of ideas into global enterprises. These company builders come from all different walks of life, with varied levels of expertise or education, and they take markedly divergent paths as they start and grow their startups. Yet somehow, they all manage to end up in the same place: On top.
How do they do it? The answer is that they know the recipe for entrepreneurial success, that strange combination of inspired action, calculated risk, and hard work that isn’t necessarily taught in any business school class. They’ve figured out the “secret.”
Which brings us to you. Chances are, if you’ve picked up this book, you’re thinking about taking that leap. But you’re hesitating to do so because—well, nothing makes sense about it. Maybe you’ve got a corporate job with perks and benefits. Maybe you’ve got student loan debt. Maybe you’ve got a young family. Maybe you’ve got plenty of skills or expertise in one area, but not enough in others.
And maybe—most naggingly—you just don’t know how to do it. You can envision your product or service (whatever it is) on store shelves, or on mobile devices, or in people’s homes, stomachs, or offices worldwide. But you just don’t know how to get from point A to point B.
If any of those apply to you, then congrats! You’re like most aspiring entrepreneurs. The difference between you and the celebrated ones is that they’ve gone ahead and navigated the rocky terrain connecting point A to point B. They know the way. At Inc., our reporters and editors have observed the patterns that have emerged, the twists and turns those entrepreneurs have taken along the way, and we’re revealing them to you in the pages ahead.
This book will walk you through seven crucial stages that we’ve identified as key to taking your startup from idea to empire. Give it a read, and absorb it. We hope our guide gives you the knowledge to make your decision, the confidence to stick to your plan, and the tools to help you succeed beyond your wildest dreams.