Entrepreneur Journeys Volume 1
by Sramana Mitra
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Book Summary Information
Author: Sramana MitraEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-09-15
ISBN: 1439206872
Number of pages: 262
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
Book Reviews of Entrepreneur Journeys Volume 1
Book Review: A genuine perspective of what it's like to be an entrepreneur
Summary: 5 Stars
When you start a book, there are always a few words that make you want to read on. I like the way Sramana Mitra describes her goal with "Entrepreneur Journeys." She wants "to capture that tribal knowledge accumulated in the private lives of great entrepreneurs." While it is true that nothing completely new can be said about how to build a company, there will never be enough books recounting the actual experience of entrepreneurs. The autor interviews twelve entrepreneurs, whom she presents through five sections:
- Bootstrapping
- Taking on Giants
- Disrupting Business Models
- Addressing Unmet Market Needs
- Tackling Planet Scale Problems
Her choices are excellent. She does not tell us for the umpteenth time the epic tale of the legendary heroes haunting our California shores, but rather focuses on the occasionally complex rides of sometimes lesser known, yet highly successful entrepreneurs.
The book starts with two bootstrappers. Still quite a legitimate breed of people, maybe even more so these days. The phenomenal success of Jerry Rawls, co-founder and CEO of Finisar, a leader in optical components or the pragmatic nimbleness of Sridhar Vembu, founder and CEO of AdventNet (and creator of the productivity suite Zoho) are equally inspiring. They chose routes that VCs generally do not like, such as starting products through consulting or operating on mixed business models; key to their success is a survival instinct and the intimate conviction that failing is not an option.
The founders of VC-backed companies selected by Sramana, are not less gutsy, though. In addition to a shrewd Web 3.0-type approach, the strength of Steve Hafner from Kayak is an unwavering common sense: "Build a great technology, syndicate that out to other affiliates like AOL, who already have an audience and then keep innovating on the product to make folks come back to you directly" - and also keep your eyes on the right ratios, especially if you aim at "taking on giants." The same reasonableness is key to the various successes of Gautam Godhwani (SimplyHired) and of Russ Fradin (Adify, recently acquired by Cox).
They all disturb the world order in a way, but all are as level-headed as they are undaunted and venturesome. This is the reason behind the growth of Qualys, the company of Philippe Courtot, who has the indomitable energy of a legionnaire. Incidentally, they must also be able to reconsider their entire business model to continue to make a difference, hence the extraordinary recovery of Steve Singh's Concur: "You must confront the issues that exist in your business as soon as humanly possible, and solve them," Singh comments.
What comes out of most of these interviews is the solid determination of all of these companies' founders, as well as their courage through the ups or downs or challenges. The final word belongs to Harish Hande, the social entrepreneur of Selco, which provides reliable energy service in rural areas in India: " There is no short cut to creating good processes."
Conclusion: Read this book. The author introduces you to real people, with real businesses and offers you a genuine perspective of what it's like to be an entrepreneur.
Summary of Entrepreneur Journeys Volume 1
In Entrepreneur Journeys, Volume One, serial entrepreneur and Forbes columnist Sramana Mitra offers you a seat at the table with an eclectic group of successful entrepreneurs and delivers an intimate look at how to build a thriving business.
As one entrepreneur speaks with another, readers gain access to case studies?conversations really?exploring the alleys of entrepreneurship in a way that only an experienced strategist like Mitra can probe and extract. Her synthesis of key learnings and incisive analysis add great depth to discussions on bootstrapping, disruptive business models, and addressing unmet market needs.
Entrepreneur Journeys is accessible through its story-telling narrative, and at the same time academic in its depth of insight. This is a book that is sure to please anyone interested in building a new business, but is essential reading for every technology entrepreneur.
?Inspiration awaits readers in this volume of interviews with entrepreneurs. [Entrepreneur Journeys] will provide great insight into the questions and answers behind a start-up business. It succeeds in sharing the enthusiasm and sense of adventure of these technological pioneers.?
? Kirkus Discoveries
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