Breakthrough Entrepreneurship [Hardcover]

Jon Burgstone (Author), Bill Murphy Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2012

From Publisher's Weekly:

 

"Writing with business journalist Murphy, entrepreneurship expert and UC-Berkeley professor Burgstone offers a strong, comprehensive handbook for aspiring entrepreneurs who are seized with the fire of ambition but unsure where to begin. The authors detail a step-by step framework for readers to brainstorm a winning business idea, test it before they've committed too much time and money, and develop it into something great. Using examples of companies large and small (Zipcar, Parenting, Wal-Mart, Google), Burgstone and Murphy teach readers to find and fill an unmet customer need, plan for profitability, strive for sustainability, establish credibility, gather necessary resources, lead and manage effectively, and maintain balance. Their enthusiasm and energy make even complex questions about idea generation, customer acquisition, and leadership accessible; and the practical, easy to understand instruction will be invaluable to the budding entrepreneur."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is Seven Habits for Highly Effective Entrepreneurs. If you want to succeed in business, read Breakthrough Entrepreneurship."
Ray Bingham
Managing Director, General Atlantic Partners

"Highly recommended reading for both students and professionals.  A compelling guide for anyone who wants to become a successful entrepreneur or just think like one."
Tom Byers
Professor, Stanford University
Director, Stanford Technology Venture Partners

"This book tells you how to start a successful business and make a billion dollars.  Even more, it is a book about how everyone in business should plan for success in our rapidly changing world.  Give yourself a chance to be one of the new business leaders and read this book."
Jim Davidson
Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Silver Lake Partners

"Breakthrough Entrepreneurship captures the essence of entrepreneurship.  It covers all the key concepts in crystal-clear terms, and illustrates them with compelling case studies."
Thomas Eisenmann
Professor, Harvard Business School
Former Co-Head, Media & Entertainment Practice, McKinsey & Co.

"The book is brimming with examples and insights from the most successful entrepreneurs on the planet, including Burgstone himself.  No would-be entrepreneur should be without this book."
Randall Kroszner
Professor, Booth School of Business, University of Chicago
Former Governor, United States Federal Reserve

From the Author

"Entertaining and essential, Breakthrough Entrepreneurship is a must-read for anyone who dreams of coming up with a game-changing innovative idea, breaking away from the pack with that idea, and ultimately building a successful entrepreneurial venture."
Jay Light
Dean Emeritus, Harvard Business School --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 282 pages
• Publisher: Farallon Publishing (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0983961107
• ISBN-13: 978-0983961109
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #860,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read for Aspiring Entrepreneurs January 12, 2012

By asub90

Format:Hardcover

As a current student and aspiring entrepreneur I have read countless books on entrepreneurship/start-ups and I can confidently say that Breakthrough Entrepreneurship stands above the rest. Similar books approach entrepreneurship by offering either a very generic how-to-guide or simply a catalogue of inspirational anecdotes. BE offers a potent blend of both, and more.

BE breaks down the entrepreneurial process into distinct, critical steps: seeking opportunity, forming a team, raising capital, creating a product/service, monetization, and on. At each step, the authors provide a two-sided deep dive. At one end they describe the importance and implementation of each step, and at the other, they offer pertinent case studies that exemplify the process. With this simple yet powerful, methodical approach to teaching entrepreneurship, BE offers concrete guidance on how to start a company as well as some perspective on how the most successful entrepreneurs have done it.

Ultimately this book is fantastic because it serves dual purposes. You can read it as a novel, inspiring and motivating you to start a venture. But more importantly, you can also utilize BE as a textbook, guiding you at each step of your own entrepreneurial journey.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading January 20, 2013

By SF Local

Format:Paperback

This book is a very fast read. The advice offered in the books is well supported by interesting examples. The book starts with a framework for evaluating business ideas and ends with general advice about leadership styles and the mentality of a successful entrepreneur. By following the systematic approach outlined in this book new entrepreneurs can gain confidence in their ideas and avoid wasting time with bad ones.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Burgstone and Murphy Provide "Max Info For Min Cost" Guide For Entrepreneurship April 9, 2012

By tayar23

Format:Hardcover

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!

-If you have absolutely no knowledge on the field of entrepreneurship and want to learn
-If you don't have an idea and want to generate a great one
-If you consistently come up with ideas and wants to see if they could turn into a feasible business
-If you have no money to start a business
-If you want insider tips from real successful entrepreneurs
-If you want to have a greater chance of succeeding in starting a business
-If you have that solid idea and want to test and validate it
-If you want to know how to acquire venture capital
-If you work in the corporate world and want to know if entrepreneurship is for you
-If you eventually know want to start a business one day
-If you think you know everything about entrepreneurship (trust me, you don't...)

Burgstone and Murphy lay the foundation for converting an idea into a feasible venture. It will guide you through the earliest steps of creating a business to the most final steps an entrepreneur has to partake in. This book examines a wide scope of business fields and prepares you for success as a entrepreneur in any field you pursue. It breaks down all the tools you need to succeed as an entrepreneur into separate modules that are easy to follow and include supporting case studies.

I have dug through umpteen amounts of articles, blogs, and other resources and can't compare BE to anything I have ever come across. Learn from my mistake, save your time and stop wasting countless hours with other incompetent guides.

Simply put, Burgstone and Murphy provide you with the untold secrets of entrepreneurship through a simple, easy to follow guide that can turn any person regardless of age or background into a highly successful entrepreneur.