The Entrepreneur Next Door : Discover the Secrets to Financial Independence [Paperback]

Bill Wagner (Author), Jeffrey Gitomer (Preface)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2006

Discover if you have what it takes to join the ranks of successful entrepreneurs

In this interactive book,William F. Wagner can shape your destiny. He can tell you which of your traits will catapult you to success, what type of business will let you excel, and which traits will lead to failure if left unchecked. His accurate insights come from years of meticulous research of thousands of successful entrepreneurs. Now he uses that data and an amazingly simple yet accurate online personality test to tell you about yourself--and what you can do to be successful.

You can take the test available on the companion website to discover how they stack up against model entrepreneurs. Additionally, quizzes are included throughout the book for immediate feedback. You’ll learn how to mimic the behaviors of thriving millionaires and avoid the mistakes of those who've failed.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Who is The Entrepreneur Next Door?

What makes them tick?

Why can they start a business while others never get past the dream?

What traits do they possess that lead to financial independence?

Want to find out if YOU have them?

Get the answers in this book. Take the amazingly accurate personality tests provided here and online to find out.

Wagner does more than tell you about entrepreneurs. He tells you about yourself. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and learn how to turn them both to your advantage. Identify the type of business that suits your specific personality. Find the right fit and you'll exceed even your own expectations for financial success.

It doesn't get more personal than this.

About the Author

William F.Wagner is CEO and cofounder of ACCORD Management Systems. His firm provides clients including entrepreneurs, associations, and franchises with insights, using behavioral testing and employee engagement surveys to get the people side of businesses right.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Entrepreneur Press; 1 edition (May 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932531963
• ISBN-13: 978-1932531961
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #614,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Meaningful Advice for the Entrepreneur, June 2, 2006

By 

Frederick Cardin "serial entrepreneur" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Entrepreneur Next Door : Discover the Secrets to Financial Independence (Paperback)

Wagner's book delivers a clear-cut, no BS, analysis that helps you determine your personality type with a free on-line assessment. He then relates the personality types and their strengths and weaknesses to those of successful entrepreneurs. This is the most hard hitting and helpful of any of these tests I have seen. And the book's ability to help you interpret the results in a way that has immediate meaning for you is unique.

Wagner explains how the elements of each of 7 personality types relate to the roles and demands involved in being a successful entrepreneur. He describes in detail how those who want to be entrepreneurs, but are not natural leaders, can select businesses best suited for their strengths and work around their weaknesses.

If everyone interested in owning a business would read this book, some would keep their day jobs, and the others would be much more likely to be happy and successful because they chose a role and business that "fits" them.

As a long-time enterepreneur and multiple business owner, I find the book full of extraordinarily valuable insights. I just wish I had known them earlier.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Getting the right people on the bus, July 20, 2006

By 

Thomas A. Voccola "Author: The Accidental CEO... (Thousand Oaks, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Entrepreneur Next Door : Discover the Secrets to Financial Independence (Paperback)

WOW! I couldn't put it down. I read the entire thing in one sitting and it is full of notes and stars and underlines. It is like having Bill Wagner in a Book! I've known something about the science of psychometrics for years now, and this work makes it more understandable and user friendly, but more importantly, it reflects compassion and a balance for using it in a way to grow people and organizations using Bill's four tier process. This is a complete tour de force on unveiling the secrets of getting the right people on the bus. (And making sure you are prepared to drive) I will be recommending it as required reading to my CEO clients.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful Look at Entrepreneurs, July 9, 2006

By 

S. Foley "Corporate Entrepreneur" (Melrose, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Entrepreneur Next Door : Discover the Secrets to Financial Independence (Paperback)

The Entrepreneur Next Door is a must read for anyone contemplating becoming an entrepreneur. The book provides valuable insight into the personal traits of successful entrepreneurs. The findings are based on research and empirical evidence from over 1500 entrepreneurs. The book goes into detail about the different personality factors that influence whether a person is an entrepreneur or what Bill calls a "wantapreneur." The book provides insight into each factor and what each factor means in terms of your ability to be a successful entrepreneur. It is an easy read and highly informative.

The diagnostic tool can help you quickly determine your personality profile. The personal action plan guides you through a process of looking at your strengths and those areas where you may need to make some changes. Through these exercises you get a better perspective on the challenges and opportunities of being a successful entrepreneur. Before you decide to take the leap I recommend you read The Entrepreneur Next Door. As an experienced entrepreneur and intrapreneur this book helped me see why some entrepreneurs are successful and why others are not.