Book Description
John Wood discovered his passion, his greatest success, and his life's work--not at business school or leading Microsoft's charge into Asia in the 1990s--but on a soul-searching trip to the Himalayas. Wood felt trapped between an all-consuming career and a desire to do something lasting and significant. Stressed from the demands of his job, he took a vacation trekking in Nepal because a friend had told him, "If you get high enough in the mountains, you can't hear Steve Ballmer yelling at you anymore."
See how John Wood came to start Room to Read and write Leaving Microsoft to Change the World in this video clip: high bandwidth or low bandwidth |
Instead of being the antidote to the rat race, that trip convinced John Wood to divert the boundless energy he was devoting to Microsoft into a cause that desperately needed to be addressed. While visiting a remote Nepalese school, Wood learned that the students had few books in their library. When he offered to run a book drive to provide the school with books, his idea was met with polite skepticism. After all, no matter how well-intentioned, why would a successful software executive take valuable time out of his life and gather books for an impoverished school?
But John Wood did return to that school and with thousands of books bundled on the back of a yak. And at that moment, Wood made the decision to walk away from Microsoft and create Room to Read-an organization that has donated more than 1.2 million books, established more than 2,600 libraries and 200 schools, and sent 1,700 girls to school on scholarship-ultimately touching the lives of 875,000 children with the lifelong gift of education.
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World chronicles John Wood's struggle to find a meaningful outlet for his managerial talents and entrepreneurial zeal. For every high-achiever who has ever wondered what life might be like giving back, Wood offers a vivid, emotional, and absorbing tale of how to take the lessons learned at a hard-charging company like Microsoft and apply them to one of the world's most pressing problems: the lack of basic literacy.
Book Description
John Wood discovered his passion, his greatest success, and his life's work—not at business school or leading Microsoft's charge into Asia in the 1990s—but on a soul-searching trip to the Himalayas. Wood felt trapped between an all-consuming career and a desire to do something lasting and significant. Stressed from the demands of his job, he took a vacation trekking in Nepal because a friend had told him, "If you get high enough in the mountains, you can't hear Steve Ballmer yelling at you anymore."
Instead of being the antidote to the rat race, that trip convinced John Wood to divert the boundless energy he was devoting to Microsoft into a cause that desperately needed to be addressed. While visiting a remote Nepalese school, Wood learned that the students had few books in their library. When he offered to run a book drive to provide the school with books, his idea was met with polite skepticism. After all, no matter how well-intentioned, why would a successful software executive take valuable time out of his life and gather books for an impoverished school?
But John Wood did return to that school and with thousands of books bundled on the back of a yak. And at that moment, Wood made the decision to walk away from Microsoft and create Room to Read—an organization that has donated more than 1.2 million books, established more than 2,600 libraries and 200 schools, and sent 1,700 girls to school on scholarship—ultimately touching the lives of 875,000 children with the lifelong gift of education.
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World chronicles John Wood's struggle to find a meaningful outlet for his managerial talents and entrepreneurial zeal. For every high-achiever who has ever wondered what life might be like giving back, Wood offers a vivid, emotional, and absorbing tale of how to take the lessons learned at a hard-charging company like Microsoft and apply them to one of the world's most pressing problems: the lack of basic literacy.
Customer Reviews:
John Wood, you inspire me!.......2007-09-07
Reading about John Wood's motivations and personal sacrifices, I found myself re-engergized for the volunteer work I do. This book is not just for business people, but for anyone who wants to make a difference in this crazy, beautiful world we live in. Providing children with books whether on a global scale or locally is one of the best gifts (and investments) a person can make. Bravo John! And thanks for making your adventures accessible to the rest of us.
Life Altering Book.......2007-08-21
I managed to finish this book on a flu episode with a fever that lasted two days. It was a great companion at that horrible time.
Now, i read a lot of books. And over time, i got to quickly notice good books from bad books. And ever more, i get to know great books from "books you buy to balance your shelf" books. I try to buy only good books and strive to get all the great ones. This is one of the great ones.
When first browsing through Amazon(yes, i am a very loyal customer), i noticed the title. And being the geek that i am, i wondered what it would talk about(you have to admit, MS and changing the world do not mix easily). I was afraid it would turn out to be a lame book as many books which carry a similar title are. So i took a gamble and i bought it.
It talks about the story of a man(John Wood, marketing executive working at Microsoft) who took a "no-computers" vacation to Nepal. And this vacation changed his life. He describes his life in detail. The details are typical of a modern young successful man working in a high-tech firm. Basically his life consisted of work, work, work and an almost non-existent social life(or any other kind of life for that matter). He thought he was happy this way, we all do, until we stop and take a good look at what we have accomplished.
In Nepal, he noticed that even though some provinces had schools, there were no books and no libraries. So he started out with a little project of collecting a few books for one particular school in Nepal. This all started with a promise to return to Nepal with books. And the whole idea avalanched into one of the most successful projects. An organization that builds schools/libraries and provides books and scholarships for young girls.
I don't want to give out too many details. The beauty of this story is in the events that took place and their chronological order. So i don't want to spoil it. However, i will talk about why i liked this book so much.
John saw the kids in Nepal. He saw that they were trying to learn, but with very poor resources. He also understood that education is the most important gift that you can bestow on a child. Especially girls, since these girls will grow up with this education in mind and carry this belief over to their children and families. "You educate a girl, you educate an entire generation."
After John returned from Nepal, he tried to get back to his old lifestyle. But he could not. How could he? Everything he will do now will seem so empty. How can he go on working knowing that there are children in the world that are not getting the opportunities that we take for granted. He felt so empty. And even if, according to our standard, he is very successful....his life felt meaningless in light of this issue. Everything he accomplished looked so insignificant.
What is truly remarkable though, is that he ran his organization in the same way he would run a normal business. So unlike the other charities around, he never asked people for money out of pity. So instead of showing children with sad faces and sick people like all charities do, he showed the schools he built and the books that he got and the children making use of all of this. It is his belief that contributers do not give money to charity because they don't know where their money is going. They never see results.
I also believe that any book you read must alter your life in some sense. This book did just that. I learned that you shouldn't listen to all the nay-sayers. I learned that for every 1 idea you come up with, there will be a 100 people telling you how it won't work. I also learned to never give up.
If i would only take away one thing from this book, it would be my current favorite quote(which according to the book is an old Chinese quote)
Those who say it cannot be done should not criticize those who are doing it.
This books is highly recommended with 5/5 stars.
great inspiration along with fantastic advice for those who want to change the world.......2007-08-20
Wood brings a fresh, business-like perspective to the often stale world of not-for-profits. His personal journey from career success, to existential angst, to leaving the rat race to change the world is a true inspiration.
Giving back by giving effectively.......2007-07-06
There are plenty of books about one individual's accomplishments in the march to change the world. This book is different because--along with his passion for education and libraries--John Wood brings a model for transforming that passion into sustainable organizations on the ground. If you are actively involved in a nonprofit organization, you will enjoy John's down to earth advice about focusing on results, fundraising, and having fun while you're doing the hard work.
going from corporate executive to do gooder champion.......2007-06-05
This is a good book to understand risk that is inspired by passion. this guy had everything to lose and so much to gain and he did it. Kudos to him and kudos for a well written book.
Book Description
The real secret to making money and reaching financial independence is not staying an employee, but starting a company and quickly developing it. This book is for aspiring entrepreneurs who need to know how to take those first crucial steps. In RICH DADS BEFORE YOU QUIT YOUR JOB, Robert T. Kiyosaki provides first-hand accounts of his own start-up companies, and what he learned from his failures and successes. Readers will discover: How to determine whether an idea is a good one How to write a solid business plan Where to find OPM (Other Peoples Money) to finance that plan How to incorporate for business and tax purposes How to find key advisors to develop the plan How to best launch the product or service And more. The Rich Dad experts explain everything readers need to successfully start their own businesses.
Customer Reviews:
Another great book by Robert T. Kiyosaki. .......2007-07-30
I found this more helpful than some of his other more recent books. It's not just a reiteration of his old information. It goes over some key points of his first book but hits on many things and mistakes he went through in his many businesses. He then applies the things he has learned and puts them in this book in ways which anyone can understand. There are some insightful tips from Sharon Lecter in here too.
A little too familiar.......2007-07-25
My cousin gave me this book on cd as a gift in preparation for my departure from the working world to full blown self employment. Despite what I thought were veiled messages from my cousin, I eagerly listened to this book. I'm not a big fan of books on cd because I have a hard time concentrating while just listening to them, but as soon as I put "Before You Quit Your Job" in I began thinking that I've read/heard this before. I've read Rich Dad, Poor Dad (and liked it) and I couldn't help but think that this book sounds an awful lot like it. I haven't really compared the "text" of the two since I've only listened to this book in the car, but I swear many, if not most, of the information and stories are repackaged from Rich Dad and possibly the other books in the series based on what others here have had to say about it. I don't feel as if I gained anything new from reading this book and I'm reluctant to read any of the others in the series after this. So, if you've never read any of the other books this might be worthwhile. If you have read the others, well, I don't know...this may be terribly redundant.
Good Book.......2007-07-02
This book provides a sound overview of the fundamental infrastructure that must be present for a business to be successful. As always, Mr Kiyosaki has done a good job explaining the basics of good business acumen in laymen's terms. He also explains some of the mistakes that he made during his career as a business owner to help readers understand some of the common pitfalls that can occur in running and building a business.
Great resource for small business owners!.......2007-05-09
This book was exactly what my small business needed. He lays out not only what is necessary to take it to the next level, but the potential pitfalls the authors have encountered. I'd highly recommend it for any small (or large) business owner.
A Must Read.......2007-04-01
Anyone who is serious about starting a business but have doubts should definitely read this book. Robert Kiyosaki walks you through the entire process of building a business from top to bottom. He gives you real life stories, successes and failures. I definitely recommend this book.
Book Description
"One of the best business books of the year!" -Library Journal
Includes the Limited Liability Company
The Bestselling Guide to Incorporating Your Business-Updated and Expanded for the New Millennium
- Should I Incorporate?
- Which Form of Corporation Is Best for My Business and Long-term Goals?
- What Additional Legal Liabilities Do I Assume When I Incorporate?
- What Are the Tax Laws Concerning Corporations and How Do I Take Full Advantage of Them?
- How Do I Form a Corporation?
Get detailed answers to these and every other question you have about incorporating your business in How to Incorporate, Fourth Edition. Attorneys Michael Diamond and Julie Williams weigh the pros and cons of incorporating and help you choose the form of corporation that's best for you. They tell you how to structure your corporation for maximum legal, tax, and business advantage. And they supply you with a gold mine of sample forms-including tax forms and preincorporation, shareholder, and voting trust agreements-along with step-by-step instructions on how to fill them out.
Covering all the latest changes in the laws regarding corporations and partnerships, and featuring a critical new chapter on the limited liability company, How to Incorporate, Fourth Edition gives you the most up-to-the-minute information, advice, and guidance on:
- When to form a standard incorporation and when to go with an alternative, such as Subchapter S, partnerships, limited liability companies, and proprietorships
- How to make statutory requirements work to your advantage
- Executive compensation and how to take tax-free benefits out of your corporation
- How to handle special agreements, securities laws, forms of incorporation, stockholders, dividends, and more
- How to complete IRS forms, take minutes, create bylaws, and post notices of meetings
- How to use incorporation forms for many different states as well as forms for general use based on the Model Business Corporation Act
. . . and much more to give you the how, why, and when of incorporating in today's fast-paced business world.
Customer Reviews:
Good book on incorporating your business.......2003-12-01
How to Incorporate is an excellent book to show the average guy how to incorporate. It is an easy read and packed with good information.
Some other books you will want to read are Form Your Own Corporation and Launch a Business In Any State by J.W. Dicks, Inc. Yourself by Judith McQuown and Incorporating Your Business for Dummies by The Company Corporation. For more information on S-Corporations, How To Form A S-Corporation by Robert Cooke is the best book that I have found and the one most recommended by successfult business people.
Technical and Well Rounded.......2001-03-16
This book is basically a textbook, as it contains a lot of the details that are common to incorporation in any state. While the authors have stayed general enough to remain in an interstate appeal, they have still covered almost every legal aspect of incorporating, WITHOUT giving advice as to what you should do. Also covered are: sole proprietorships and limited liability coporations/partnerships and more. Good buy if you want a good cursory understanding of business vehicles. I recommend it. Please vote if this did help you.
An excellent addition to any entrepreneurýs library.......2000-07-06
This book is excellent! I have a Ph.D. and an MBA and have taken a lot of courses and read lots of books, business and otherwise. This text summarizes a lot of important information into a small book. This is not for simpletons, rather it gives important information for anyone wishing to incorporate.
Covers important topics, a little confusingly written.......1999-04-15
It's really helpful in that it covers a bunch of the basic points. Ironically, I wish it focused on the tax implications of losses (to be expected in startups) as much profits :). I also found some of the writing confusing -- like in covering LLCs, it compares some facets of them to other corporate before really explaining how they work. But I liked the book, thinking it basically helps me have a more informed conversation with a lawyer, which I think is essential (since regulations change so fast, and can be state-specific).
Gave me some basic ideas on incorporating our small business.......1997-06-04
It answered a lot of questions I had about incorporating our small business. However, it would be an even better book had there been a chapter dedicated to what can be written off along with what percentage of the total cost or value of things. This always seems to be a gray area. Overall, it was a very informative book
Book Description
Limited liability companies (LLCs) are a hybrid business form that combines owner liability protection similar to that of a corporation with the tax treatment and administrative ease of a partnership. To help business owners access the protections of LLCs without the burdens and formalities of forming a corporation, this easy-to-use book/CD-ROM package explains how to get started and maintaining a LLC, with detailed requirements for every state.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for starting an LLC with no idea where to start.......2006-06-30
The book broke each step down into easy-to-understand instructions. Great inforamtion on each State. Documents are also included for every aspect of the business (contracts, letters, HR forms...). I am now a partner in an LLC and it was a painless process thanks to this book.
Book Description
A complete set of tools for applying entrepreneurial strategies and techniques to your nonprofit
As a follow-up to their book Enterprising Nonprofits, the authors of Strategic Tools for Social Entrepreneurs provide a full set of practical tools for putting the lessons of business entrepreneurship to work in your nonprofit. The book offers hands-on guidance that helps social sector leaders hone their entrepreneurial skills and carry out their social missions more effectively than ever before. This practical and easy-to-use book is filled with examples, exercises, checklists, and action steps that bring the concepts, frameworks, and tools to life. Detailed explanations of all the tools and techniques will help you personalize and apply them to your nonprofit organization-making it stronger, healthier, and better able to serve the needs of our communities.
Praise for Strategic Tools for Social Entrepreneurs
"I search constantly for resources that can help provide insight and guidance to take Teach For America to a higher level; Strategic Tools for Social Entrepreneurs does this and more. The book takes the best practices of for-profits and social enterprises and adapts them to the needs of entrepreneurial, mission-driven nonprofits. Strategic Tools for Social Entrepreneurs is a tremendous contribution to social entrepreneurs and to the nonprofit sector-many thanks to the authors for identifying this need and filling it!"
-Wendy Kopp
Founder and President, Teach For America
All of the royalties from this book will be used by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to support continuing work on social entrepreneurship.
Download Description
Turning nonprofit idealism into a reality
Strategic Tools for Social Entrepreneurs is a toolkit for nonprofit organizations on developing real-world strategies for value creation, income generation, and growth. Chapters contain "Action Steps" that put concepts to work immediately; icons identifying key concepts, buzzwords, and pearls of wisdom; and end-of-chapter concept checks. With contributions from some of today's best and brightest social entrepreneurs-including James L. Heskett, Jerry Kitzi, Shirley Brice Heath, Fay Twersky, Melissa Taylor, Kay Sprinkel Grace, and Steve Roling-and profiles of successful enterprising nonprofits, the book is easily the most comprehensive work of its kind.
Customer Reviews:
Social Entrepreneur.......2002-03-04
Very helpful, Offers valuable tools for thinking strategically about value creation, income generation and growth. This book is a must have to keep up with the new changes and challenges arising in the non-profit sector.
Book Description
Build long-term success though mutually beneficial relationships with larger business entities.
An estimated 20,000 corporate alliances have been formed worldwide over the past two years. Such strategic alliances can provide business owners with long-term security, new revenue channels, and, often, the anchor needed to maintain stability in otherwise turbulent waters.
A successful joint venture can open the door to a world of future partnership opportunities, says renowned entrepreneur Robert Wallace. In Strategic Partnerships: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Joint Ventures andAlliances, he outlines a framework business owners can use to conceive, develop, and execute such relationships between themselves and larger organizations. Based on the author's 20 years of field research, readers will learn how to:
* Evaluate the suitability of a potential joint venture partner.
* Establish relationship boundaries to define how partnering companies can work together through processes and complications.
* Keep relationships fun, exciting, and profitable.
* Properly and legally bring joint venture arrangements to a close.
Most chapters conclude with a case study of a business illustrating the chapter topic, along with an interview with an executive from a major corporation. The stories and interviews give readers real-life takeaways that they can relate and apply to their own situations, providing them with a specific tool to move forward in their development.
Robert Wallace is a longtime entrepreneur sought after for his expertise in engineering, telecommunications, systems development, business development, intrapreneurship, and entrepreneurship. He is the founder and chairman of a minority-owned IT consulting firm, and of a Web portal fostering the development of minority and women entrepreneurs. In 2000, Wallace was selected as the only small business member of the GE Center for Financial Learning Advisory Board.
Customer Reviews:
Very good book clear and well reasoned. .......2007-03-31
From the first I found the book to be filled with good information. Most business books put me to sleep, but this one kept me turning pages, a nice change. Why the change? because it offered great insight and ideas that get my creative mind flowing and showed me what great ventures are easily with in my reach.
Don't get me wrong, I've done my share of host beneficiaries and joint venture deals in the past, but I have never thought them though as the author suggests and outlines. The anthers JV outline is really a great way to work your way though the process from deciding on a partner to the final ending of the deal. All in all a great resource.
My suggestion is that if you have been thinking about getting a few deals going but are waiting to learn more, then wait no more. This book will put you on a solid footing to really go for it. And if you have done deals in the past and are wondering how to get better at the art then again this book is a great resource even for those with some kills under their belt.
On a bottom line note, for me business book boils down to this: Did the book help me to make money? So far it has not but I have only had it a few days. But the points are so clear and understandable that I'm going to look up past Host Ben partners and JV partners just to see if we can get the ball rolling again but this time even better and with even more profit. So yes I can easily predict that this book will help me make more money and profit in my business.
With that stated this book is all in all one of the best real world business books I've read in a while. It is a business builder and asset.
One last comment. The book is written with minorities in mind. Don't let that fool you even if you are Joe Average Every Man. The information will work for any business and any person.
Excellent Book for Ambitious Entrepreneurs.......2005-02-26
This is the best, most relevant book on building strategic alliances for ambitious woman- and minority-owned entrepreneurial companies that I have seen. It is an outstanding resource, being both very specific and highly useful. I have a small, young woman-owned business. Using the books' guidelines, I am currently in the process of developing a relationship with a very large national company and we are both excited about the opportunities to build success together.
Book Description
A hands-on resource that shows nonprofits how to adopt entrepreneurial behaviors and techniques
The rising spirit of social entrepreneurship has created all kinds of new opportunities for nonprofit organizations. But at the same time, many are discovering more than their share of challenges as well. This essential book will help anyone in the field gain the necessary skills to meet these challenges. Written by the leading thinkers and practitioners in the field, Enterprising Nonprofits offers concise and engaging explanations of the most successful business tools being used by nonprofits today. The authors clearly describe all the concepts so you'll be able to embrace the methods of social enterprise for your organization. With this book, you'll learn how to use practical business techniques to dramatically improve the performance of your nonprofit.
Praise for Enterprising Nonprofits
"I can't imagine a better team to bring powerful insights and practical guidance to social entrepreneurs. Readers will be inspired by the examples, and then they will roll up their sleeves to apply the many useful management tools in this engaging book."-Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business School, Author of Evolve!: Succeeding in the Digital Culture of Tomorrow
"In one book, Enterprising Nonprofits does for social entrepreneurs what countless volumes have done for entrepreneurs in the business sector. A wonderful mixture of analysis, practical advice, and inspiration."-Paul Brest, President, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
All of the royalties from this book will be used by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to support continuing work on social entrepreneurship.
Customer Reviews:
An academic but useful view of social entreprenuers.......2007-09-23
Its a good and useful book. For me it affirmed what I am already doing is on track so I guess it didn't teach me more, but knowing the direction and style I use is in fact entrepreneurial was very helpful. The chapter on accounting was a great potted view of accounting for the real world uncomplicated by jargon, not to deep into detail, very useful indeed.
Social Enterprise for Nonprofits.......2007-04-23
Wonderful source of information on the role of social enterprise or partnership donation alternatives as a way of funding non profits in 2007.
Comprehensive and Quite Useful.......2007-02-07
I found this book to be extraordinarily helpful in outlining how nonprofits can adopt better practices towards creating more sustainable social entrepreneurial models. While my background is in the profit world, it helped me to recognize how my existing knoweldge could be adapted to social entreprenuership. I highly recommend this book. It is well-written, comprehensive in its topics and it contains very useful tips and "how to" material.
A Must Read for those in the Non-Profit Sector.......2001-06-29
As a businessperson with an MBA, I readily identified with and agreed with the advice and strategies presented in this book. For people with a passion to help improve things in a not-so-perfect world, this book is a gift. It provides real life examples and turns theories into step-by-step directions. Each chapter makes good use of subheads and bullet points and ends with a concise summary. The authors have real-life experience working as social entreprenuers and it shows. I highly recommend this book.
Phenomenal resource.......2001-05-26
This book is destined to become a classic. It is full of such useful information. Not only is the content fantastic but the format is an outstanding feature of the book. I predict many will read it and all of those will value it and refer to it often. Thanks for providing us with such a comprehensive and easy to use resource.
Book Description
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.
Customer Reviews:
It could have been better..........2007-07-16
This book absolutely delivers what it claimed to, although I am not sure that is enough. As a young entrepreneur in the third year of a new business endeavor, I began reading this book expecting to discover the life-changing secrets to turning a small one-man business into a start up company. My disappointment with the book stems from issues of style and readability (rather than actual content). In fact, let me state from the start that the author knows his content. As the book advertises, William Stolze is very capable of describing the pitfalls that young entrepreneurs encounter. If you can make it through the book, you may just learn something. That is a big if...
The latest edition of the book promises fresh content authored by folks with specific expertise that Stolze lacks. It is apparent that Stolze merely adds fresh content every few years without reexamining the existing text. It is like adding fresh lettuce to a wilting salad. You will get a little crunch, but can't help but taste the wilted pages of the former editions. For the sixth edition, I suggest handing the content over to a writing partner who can take Stolze's ideas and make them palatable for mass consumption.
Stylistically speaking, the font is dreadful. It feels extrememly dated and makes the text harder to read. I kept asking myself. "Is this information relevant?" It was, of course, I just wasn't very convinced. Another style issue that bothered me is Stolze's use of Chapters. With 55 chapters in 225 pages, without a strong organizational theme, I felt unsure of where the book was going (or where I had been). Short chapters can be refreshing when reading fiction that follows a traditional linear sequence. However, for an informational text, I expected something that I could highlight and return to as needed. Surely Stolze could have outlined his content before writing the book. Look at the Table of Contents for yourself. Not much of a road map.
I wanted to give the book 5 stars, but I can't. Instead Stolze gets four stars for content, but only two for how he conveys that content. Good content, but it could have been better.
Encouraging lessons from an entrepreneur veteran.......1999-01-15
Many of the startup books I've read lately are dry and cautious. While not very technical, I enjoyed this one because of its encouraging narrative, basic lessons and many real-life examples. As a veteran of four startups myself, I am continuously amazed at how most problems encountered in startups arise from very basic sources that should have been taken care of on day one and are obvious to everyone except those involved. Stolze has the good sense to document such basic ideas as "Pick a leader from day one" or "Know something about your potential market before launching a company." This is a good text to remind you of basics and also provides encouragement for those who may be initially afraid of taking the risks necessary to create their own startup.
Superb handbook for avoiding startup company mistakes!.......1996-05-30
This book provides an excellent road map
for the budding entrepreneur. While the author
clearly sets out rules of the road for success,
he also is very forthright in describing
the main pitfalls for a startup company.
Book Description
A seminal work in fleshing out the kind of leadership we need to renew and prepare communities for the demands of democracy in the coming era.
Ronald Heifetz, director, Leadership Education Project, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Jolted by the economic downturn of the early 1990s and the rapid globalization of the economy, a group of California business, government, education, and community leaders formed Joint Venture: Silicon Valley, a collaborative regional alliance that helped create a strengthened economy and an improved quality of life in their community. Now three of Joint Venture's advisers outline the process that led to this dramatic turnaround, as well as success stories in Florida, Ohio, Kansas, and Texas. They reveal the powerful new concept of civic entrepreneurship, and they offer practical, proven strategies that community leaders across the country can employ to foster local economic development and renewal.
Grassroots Leaders for a New Economy explains the unique leadership qualities that set civic entrepreneurs apart, and illustrates how these leaders can emerge from all levels of private, public, social, and civic organizations. The book shows how civic entrepreneurs forge powerfully productive linkages at the intersection of business, government, education, and community, and it demonstrates how they operate at the grassroots level to create collaborative advantages that make it possible for their economic communities to compete on the global stage.
Citing numerous real-life examples, authors Douglas Henton, John Melville, and Kimberly Walesh illustrate the necessary steps to build an economic community. They show how civic entrepreneurs motivate and network to organize for action, set priorities, and mobilize resources to get things done. Finally, they demonstrate how to sustain cross-sector collaboration over the long haul for the good of the community. An indispensable resource, Grassroots Leaders for a New Economy offers step-by-step guidance and practical advice equally useful to business executives, elected officials and public managers, community development practitioners, or concerned citizens who want to take an active role in shaping the future of local economic development.
Customer Reviews:
Prescription For Community Change In The Early 21st Century.......2002-05-13
Beginning several decades ago with Alvin Toffler and carried on by Peter Drucker, Thomas Friedman and a host of other writers, a number of examinations of change in our world and how we can/should/may cope with all of it have made their way to bookstore shelves.
This current epistle by three writers who've had some hands on experience in working with communities who want to adapt to the switch in the United States from that of a manufacturing based society to a technology based one offer some insights garnered over the past decade or so by communities that are changing the focus of their notion of what the change means to their communities.
Using diverse regional examples such as San Jose, California and Silicon Valley, Austin, Texas, Cleveland, Ohio and Phoenix, Arizona, the notion of the civic entreprenuer as the force for change is nicely developed. The writers demonstrate how leaders from government, business, as well as the education sectors can come together to become a powerful source of community improvement. A specific example of this used in the book is Enterprise Florida; an organization clearly focused on garnering a fair share of the economic opportunities available to communities in the Sunshine State.
For those who understand the forces being brought to bear on communities, and for those who want to practice the mantra of thinking globaly while acting locally, this work can be especially meaningful, and well worth the time it takes to read.
Going Global instead of Going Local.......2002-01-04
Having looked at the sample pages, I am led to be very skeptical about the thesis. Anyone reading this book should also read Michael Shuman's "Going Local." Some of the examples Henton et al. use appear as counerexamples in "Going Local."
Henton et al. are right in one sense, it is possible to create a more prosperous community by going global, but it may not be the most desirable prosoperity:
1. There is likely to be more inequality, as the split between lucky winners and unfortunate losers increases.
2. The prosperity is likely to be cyclical and unstable because it will be dependent on the world economy and the whims of external investors.
The correct solution (Shuman's solution) is to focus on providing the basics to as many local community members as possible.
New hope for South Africa found in Amazon!.......1997-07-12
As we grapple to build a new society in South Africa, Grassroots Leaders for a new Economy shone like a beacon to show there is a way. A way to build trust and collaborative relationships in an emerging economy.
Although based primarily on examples of US communities, many of the problems faced by cities and regions around the world have remarkable simialarities. There is much we can all learn from each other and this book is remarable in sharing the insights gained by 1000's of community leaders.
Practical and down to earth, Doug Henton and his co-authors give a step by step guide to building the necessary trust and dynamic working relationships in a diverse community.
This is essential reading for anyone involved in community development.
Tony Heher,Pretoria,South Africa
Customer Reviews:
Required reading.......2003-06-26
This would be an excellent book for those majoring in the business field to add to their academic studies. It is also a gifted preparation for what lies ahead in service for any line of work.
I wish this had been available decades ago.
A public good.......2002-10-25
The federal government is a unique place to work. Most people agree that it is more difficult to fire subordinates there than in the private sector and, due to the government's arcane hiring process, it is often a challenge to put the right person in the right job. Add to this mix Congressional oversight, the occasional media spotlight, the lack of a bottom line, and the big-picture question (not asked often enough) "what are we doing and why are we doing it," and you have an environment foreign to many private sector employees.
Enter Richard Haass's book the Bureaucratic Entrepreneur, an update of his 1993 primer the Power to Persuade. Haass has held a number of positions in previous government administrations, including at the NSC and the Defense and State Departments. His book is packed with words of wisdom for the harried bureaucrat who at the end of the day may wonder just what he accomplished. Although Haass's advice appears machiavellian (he argues that Machiavelli is often misunderstood) and the author does not have a firm grasp on whether his audience is the entry-level employee or the senior-level political appointee, it is worth putting up with these drawbacks for the original focus and insight on managing and leading in the public sector. The bibliography alone is reason enough to buy the book.
Low-level or high, every public-sector employee should read the Bureaucratic Entrepreneur before starting his or her new government job. They should then re-read it every few years to ensure that they are on track and using the tools Haass lays out to be effective in one of the most "unruly" organizations around.
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General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas
The Difference a Day Makes: 365 Ways to Change Your World in Just 24 Hours
Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty
Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World
