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Birthing the Elephant: The Woman's Go-For-It! Guide to Overcoming the Big Challenges of Launching a Business
 
 
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Birthing the Elephant: The Woman's Go-For-It! Guide to Overcoming the Big Challenges of Launching a Business (Paperback)

by Karin Abarbanel (Author), Bruce Freeman (Author)
Key Phrases: run your own show, stroller strides, business rhythm, Birthing the Elephant, Start Your Start-Up, Turn Breakdowns (more...)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (48 customer reviews)

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Frequently Bought Together

Birthing the Elephant: The Woman's Go-For-It! Guide to Overcoming the Big Challenges of Launching a Business + The Boss of You: Everything A Woman Needs to Know to Start, Run, and Maintain Her Own Business + The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube
Price For All Three: $31.87

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Starting your own business is tough, but learning to think like an entrepreneur is half the battle, say small-business consultants Abarbanel and Freeman. Part portable success coach, part step-by-step guide through the life cycle of a small-business launch, the book presents real-life stories—from the famous, such as makeup entrepreneur Bobbi Brown and stylish maternity-wear pioneer Liz Lange, to startups in the worlds of baking, filmmaking and high tech software. A great deal of space is given to tools for developing the emotional mind frame to succeed outside the comfort of the traditional workplace, and the authors devote particular attention to commitment, courage, persistence and other traits. Later chapters delve into the nitty-gritty of asset assessment, money management, support systems, success strategies and common pitfalls. This information is backed up with handy chapter-closing quick tips, checklists, action steps, real-life examples and a helpful resource guide. With the number of women-owned businesses growing in the U.S. at the rate of one every 60 seconds—roughly 600,000 launches a year, according to the authors—the audience for this positive, cheerful, practical book should be substantial. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
The ability to understand and manage emotions is, most probably, the best way to describe Abarbanel and Freeman’s book. They identify four stages of birthing a business: starting your start-up; running your own show; achieving breakthrough; and finding your business rhythm. Yet what they concentrate on is each stage’s feelings and coping strategies. The authors are bluntly honest: expect self-doubt, performance anxiety, and a lack of a life outside of eating-working-sleeping. At the same time, emerging entrepreneurs will find advice that’s worth the price of the book alone, from relying on mentors to nurturing your private life. Identifying and avoiding pitfalls, such as romanticizing being your own boss and not trusting your gut, enable women to sidestep potential issues. --Barbara Jacobs

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Ten Speed Press; illustrated edition edition (March 1, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1580088872
  • ISBN-13: 978-1580088879
  • Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,251 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #47 in  Books > Business & Investing > Women & Business
    #93 in  Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > New Business Enterprises

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Customer Reviews

48 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (48 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for people getting started., March 27, 2008
By Flo (California) - See all my reviews
  
I really liked this book not just because it had good information and made me re-think some of my business strategies, but because the successful women the authors interviewed had such inspiring stories that they inspired *me* all over again. Starting any sort of a business is tough, as I am finding out, and sometimes you just need to be reminded that success is not just possible, but likely if you go about it the right way. Highly recommended.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A book for men entrepreneurs, but made (written) for women by a woman. TwoThumbsUp!, March 16, 2008

I liked this book a lot. I regularly keep my eye out for new books for women entrepreneurs. Many of them I don't particularly like. However, this one is a good one in my humble opinion. It has the following chapters:

1. Design your destiny
2. Real stories behind real startups
3. Substitute brains for bucks
4. Take the leap
5. Stage 1 - Start your startup
6. Stage 2 - Run your own show
7. Stage 3 - Turn breakdowns into break throughs
8. Stage 4 - Find your business rhythm
9. Avoid the 10 biggest pitfalls
10. Welcome to the new life

This book includes pointers and actions items to help the woman entrepreneur succeed in business. It also includes the following list of 10 regarding pitfalls women (and men) tend to fall prey to when starting their own company:

>>Romanticizing being your own boss
>>Not getting the right help early
>>Not understanding how to network
>>Running yourself ragged
>>Spending money for the wrong reasons
>>Not valuing your time highly
>>Not pricing properly
>>Spending too much on advertising
>>Not trusting your gut
>>Not thinking enough about the big picture

Most of these things can be avoided if the entrepreneur does the necessary research and planning BEFORE attempting to start their business. The author makes it clear that she believes that writing a sound business plan is a necessary step for any businessperson to do before they start their business. Since I am a firm believer in business plans, I highly recommend women entrepreneurs add this book to their reading list. 5 stars!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, gets right to the point with lots of helpful information!, April 7, 2008
My wife is currently in school to obtain her doctorate in Physical Therapy. I thought this would be an ideal book to help her understand the "ins" and "outs" of running her own business. Now I can barely pry the book out of her hands! What an ideal gift...She loves it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome and Rewarding
This book helps the small entrepreneur get the facts about starting your own business. It helps you to overcome the challenges one may face when starting and maintaining their... Read more
Published 27 days ago by Alexis Rean-walker

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!!
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!! I recomend it to all small business owners or anybody that is interested opening their own business. GREAT BOOK
Published 1 month ago by Belizia Lee Cruz

5.0 out of 5 stars The title of this book caught my eye - then I read it and WOW!
The book's title fits it perfectly, anyone starting their own business can feel like they have a heavy load straight from the beginning of starting up a new venture - this book is... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Annette Immella

5.0 out of 5 stars My Purchase
I am very satisfied with my purchase! It was an easy read and I recommend that if you are a business major or going into business in general you should get this book because you... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Pablo Timpson

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent!!
This book is an excellent source for someone who's getting started in business. As a Business major in college i found this book as an insight to what i will need to succeed. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Perla Ramos

5.0 out of 5 stars Birthing the Elephant
Well worth the money. No need to buy new. Not just a refresher on the basics of starting your own business, but renews your drive. Reminds you of the necessary basics.
Published 5 months ago by C. Supan

5.0 out of 5 stars Should of read this a long time ago!
The problem with most business books is that their cut and dry. We need books that are inspiring to an upcoming business person like myself. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Anthony Lopez

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Excellent! Great advice, great stories and easy to keep focused. Definately helping me stay focused in writing my business plan and staying focused on my dream in transitioning... Read more
Published 9 months ago by C. Lewis

5.0 out of 5 stars Great and motivational!
To be able to be your own boss and follow your passion and make money is everyone's dream. Birthing the Elephant is a practical and inspirational guide not only for women but for... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Shinsec

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Book!!
This book is very inspirational! Being a college student interested in the world of marketing, I found that this book gave me even more inspiration to follow through with my dream... Read more
Published 9 months ago by M. Suckiel

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