Table of Contents

Introduction

A Brief Travel Story

The From Idea to Exit Framework

So What Can This Book Do for You?

PHASE I: THE IDEA

CHAPTER ONE

Being an Entrepreneur

Innovating the Future

Destroying the Status Quo and Taking Risks

Thinking Like an Entrepreneur

Walking the Path of the Revolutionary or the Replicative

The Power of the Entrepreneur

CHAPTER TWO

Activating the Entrepreneur

Unlocking the I.D.E.A

Assessing Your Situation

Weighing Your Opportunity

Jumping In

CHAPTER THREE

Mastering the Risk Box

Facing Your Fears

Risk Breaking Versus Risk Taking

Deconstructing Your Risk Box

Seeing the Opportunity in Risk

Moving Out of the Risk Box and Into Your Future

CHAPTER FOUR

Entrepreneurial Exercises

Legal Exercises

Resource Exercises

Financial and Funding Exercises

Operational Exercises

Feasibility Analyses Exercises

Passing Through the Gate

PHASE II: STARTUP

CHAPTER FIVE

Positioning Your Startup for Success

Seeing Through the Statistical Gloom

Navigating Around the Top Four Startup Pitfalls

Still Want to Do It? I Thought So

CHAPTER SIX

Planning for Success

Taking a Deep Breath Before You Begin

Pulling Together the Plan

Planning for the Long Haul

Drawing on Your Desire, Effort, and Ability—At Work and at Home

CHAPTER SEVEN

Mastering Your Money

Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Debt

Selling the Idea: It’s Up to You

Targeting a Funding Source

Creating a Money Management Plan

Living the Innovative Life of a Frugal-Preneur

CHAPTER EIGHT

Bringing on Partners and Employees

Avoiding the Four Worst Candidates for Startup Partnership

Forging Successful Partnerships

Growing With My Partners—And My Business

Developing a Winning Team

PHASE III: RUNNING

CHAPTER NINE

Leading Your Business

Following the 10 Principles of Leadership

Delegating With Authority

Building a Culture of Ethics and Honesty

Following Your Passions, Without Getting Lost in Them

Walking the Path of Entrepreneurial Leadership

Evolving as a Leader—And as an Entrepreneur

CHAPTER TEN

Selling, Selling, Selling

Finding the Right Formula: The Sales Maxim

Adding It All Up

Selling Your Passion

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Building a Culture of Innovation

Mining Innovation in Every Form

Leveraging Your Idea Agents

Driving Change

Growing the Innovation Garden

Promoting Ongoing Innovation, for Ongoing Growth

CHAPTER TWELVE

Scaling for Growth

Planning to Scale

Adjusting Your Strategy for Scaling

Scaling Your Finances as You Scale Your Business

Maturing Along With Your Business

Scaling Successfully, Ethically, and Honestly

PHASE IV: EXIT

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Knowing When It’s Time to Go: An Entrepreneur’s Top 10

1. The Thrill Is Gone

2. The Marketplace Is Changing

3. Risk Has Become a Four-Letter Word

4. A Change Would Be Good for the Family

5. There’s an Unprecedented Seller’s Market

6. An Eager Buyer Has Offered a Cash Deal

7. The Business Is Growing

8. The Business Is Flat

9. Managing People Has Worn You Out

10. You Have Compelling Personal Reasons for Selling

Putting Your Exit Plan Into Action

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Putting Your Business on the Market

Positioning for the Transition

Preparing for the Sale

Playing Your Cards Wisely

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Negotiating and Closing the Deal

Establishing Your Organization’s Worth

Using the Negotiations Worksheet, Step by Step

Surviving Due Diligence

Announcing the Sale

Sailing On

Epilogue

Notes

Selected Bibliography

Index

About the Author