Entrepreneurial DNA: The Breakthrough Discovery that Aligns Your Business to Your Unique Strengths [Hardcover]

Joe Abraham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 2011

For centuries entrepreneurs have been placed in one box. In fact, the common mindset has been, "If it worked for one entrepreneur, it will work for every entrepreneur. After all, entrepreneurs are all the same." 

But, are all entrepreneurs really the same? Sure, we can intuitively deduce that not everyone is a "Richard Branson" or a "Donald Trump", and not everyone innovates like the late Steve Jobs, but is there more to it than meets the eye?

Entrepreneurial DNA proves there are massive implications to how each individual is wired as an entrepreneur. It shatters the archaic notion that one-size-fits-all and allows each reader to discover their unique DNA. The book then delivers strategy across critical areas of business - customized to your DNA:

• Finding, vetting and leading people who compliment your strengths and weaknesses
• Where people with your DNA source their capital the easiest
• The dramatic difference between the marketing plans for each DNA (and how frustrating it can be when implementing the wrong one)
• Which business models will work for you - and which ones won't

Other topics customized to your DNA include insight on:

• Networking and alliances
• Vendor selection
• Leadership development
• Exit strategy

In a marketplace full of books and gurus promoting one-size-fits-all nonsense, Entrepreneurial DNA gives you strategy and insight that will work specifically for you.

"This powerful, practical book gives you proven techniques to help you maximize your personal and business potential and make more money than ever before."

--BRIAN TRACY, author of The Psychology of Selling
"Stop trying to fit the mold of some successful entrepreneur you've seen and start tapping your own DNA--this book will show you how.
--JOHN JANTSCH, author of Duct Tape Marketing and The Referral Engine
"This book is the ultimate roadmap to building a thriving business and life as an entrepreneur. Joe Abraham's ideas and insights are fresh, innovative, timeless, and guaranteed to produce real results and position you for long-term success."
--IVAN MISNER, New York Times bestselling author of The 29% Solution and founder of BNI and Referral Institute
"Joe is the next-generation version of Michael Gerber."
--ERIC PLANTENBERG, founder and CEO, Freedom Personal Development
"Are you interested in knowing your strengths and weaknesses as an entrepreneur and the strategies that work best for your particular DNA? If so, read this insightful and helpful book."
--RAFAEL PASTOR, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Vistage International

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joe Abraham  
A serial entrepreneur, Joe has been involved in the startup and growth of over 20 companies during his career in industries ranging from IT and health care to lead generation and motorsports. He is founder of BOSI Inc. a b-2-b technology platform. He is an advisor to several entrepreneurship centers and university incubators around the country and a featured expert to the media on topics related to small business and entrepreneurship.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (March 21, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071754512
• ISBN-13: 978-0071754514
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.9 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,650 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A serial entrepreneur, Joe has been involved in the startup and growth of over 20 companies in industries ranging from IT and consumer goods to lead generation and motorsports. He is author of the book Entrepreneurial DNA: The Breakthrough Discovery That Aligns Your Business to Your Unique Strengths (McGraw Hill 2011). In addition to being a tech CEO (of bosiDNA.com), he is advisor to several entrepreneurship centers around the world. He has been featured on FoxNews, CBS, NBC, CNN, ABC, WGN and numerous nationally syndicated radio shows on topics related to entrepreneurship and small business growth.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Know thyself. May 13, 2011

By Chris Jaronsky TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Another book on how to be a successful entrepreneur, do we need another one? It turns out we do. And this is a good one.

Joe Abraham brings up some pretty important topics in his book on being a successful entrepreneur. While I can sum it up using a quote from Socrates, "know thyself," Joe goes into quite a bit more detail. He breaks down entrepreneurial tendencies into four distinct categories, Builder, Opportunist, Specialist, and Innovator. Knowing you primary tendencies can probably save you a lot of heartache.

Joe has a simple test on his website to help you determine what your primary tendency is. I read the different categories and I pegged myself as being a Builder/Innovator. I like to build/create things, I also come up with many creative ideas for products and product changes. So I took the test expecting it to confirm what I already knew. Turns out I was wrong. The test pegged me as an Opportunist/Specialist. That can't be right.

So I went to the chapters in the book for the Opportunist and I started reading. I was amazed because that chapter was written for me! There were so many things I read in those chapters that were directly aimed at me, things I have done and continue to do. I then went to the Specialist chapter and found many things that point directly at me too.

So then I thought its like going to a palm-reader, they tell you general terms and your mind fills in the blanks to make it seem true. So to check out that theory I read the other chapters on Builders and Innovators, the categories I thought I was. It turned out after reading Joe's descriptions and tendencies for those categories I realized they are not my true tendencies. Maybe there really is something to this book?...

Joe then goes on to give you 7 business optimization strategies that work best with your profile. If you are an Innovator you do not want to use a Specialist or Builder strategy. Things will flow better if you use strategies that play to your strengths. Why swim against the tide? Work to your strengths and get other people who are strong in your weak areas to build a strong team.

The last section of the book covers building a strategic plan. The plan focuses on your core strengths and gives a few exercises to help ensure success. Starting a business is tough enough, but its way harder if you are working against your own nature. Why not get every advantage?

I recommend this book to any would-be entrepreneurs, to anyone already in business that may be facing some challenges, to anyone that is just starting out in business, and also to anyone that is working for someone else. To those that work for others, you can use this info to make sure you are in the right job. Focus on your strengths!

Another book I highly recommend, especially for the Opportunists or Innovators out there is One Simple Idea by Stephen Key. Have an idea? Well Stephen shows you how to protect it and then get paid money to let someone else use it. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Emphasize Your Strengths, Overcome Your Weaknesses April 9, 2011

By Bradley Bevers TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

What kind of entrepreneur are you? What types of business are potential disasters for your skill set? What kind of people should you work with?

If you are interested in the answers to these questions, this book will help answer them. First time author Joe Abraham has developed a simple quadrant that will help any entrepreneur leverage their strengths. The four types of DNA that Abraham divides entrepreneurs into are:

Builder - An entrepreneur who loves building businesses from the ground up.

Opportunist - An entrepreneur who wants to leverage money and time to make money fast.

Specialist - An entrepreneur characterized by their strong expertise.

Innovator - An entrepreneur gifted at product creation.

Part One serves as a general introduction. Most of Part One is pretty basic information, unless you need convincing that entrepreneurs personalities and skill sets vary widely. Near the end of Part One, their is a test that you take online that will give you the BOSI profile that fits you. The test only takes a couple of minutes, and it seems to be surprisingly accurate.

Part Two has a separate section for each the BOSI Primary DNA types, followed by Seven Business Optimization Strategies for each. Unless you are trying to understand more entrepreneurs than yourself, you can really just read your section. For my DNA type, the profile fit very well. The seven optimization strategies were helpful as well, although the "stay healthy" one seems like it was thrown in just to bump the number up to seven. These strategies will certainly help, but it is even more fruitful to recognize what your weaknesses are. Once you identify your weaknesses (and are able to admit them) you can outsource, partner, or strategize to overcome them....

Part Three is the action portion of the book. Here you will refine your vision and mission, set goals for the short term, and realign your business practices to fit with your DNA. Some of these are more helpful than the others . . . again, seven seems forced here. The paper napkin exercise at the beginning of Part Three is an interesting to test to see whether your current reality still reflects the original dream for your business.

Overall, this book is recommended for any entrepreneur or anyone who wants to be one. It is helpful and its a quick read, especially if you decide to skip the sections dedicated to other DNA types. Anytime you divide everyone into just four groups, it won't always fit your personality perfectly. However, it should be close enough to give you some real insight on your business needs and what types of business practices you should be focusing on. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book March 21, 2013

By newb

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I asked my wife to read three paragraphs about how my type functions at home. She couldn't put the book down and kept laughing as she said that the Builder DNA section read like a biography for me. Very insightful. This is a definite must read for entrepreneurs as it not only helps you discover your type but shows you how to optimize your business based on your results.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Now I Know What Kind of Entrepreneur I Am May 18, 2012

By Susan Payton

Format:Hardcover

This book does an amazing job of not only categorizing the four types of entrepreneurs, but also giving tips on how to play to those strengths. I learned about my type (Specialist), as well as what types of people I work best with, and how to overcome my weaknesses. I found this to be very valuable information, and plan to put it into use!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionize how you do business! January 27, 2012

By Coach Liz Lord

Format:Hardcover

Understand eDNA & tailor your business (or your client's business) to fit like a glove. Have greater success & close more deals!
As a business coach, I personally used this with a recent prospect and closed a big deal in record time... and the prospect didn't even want to speak with me initially & only got on the phone beacuse the referral source forced him too! By first determining his eDNA, I was able to know how he makes decisions, evaluates success, and what works and doesn't work for him. I was able to present him a plan that met all his needs and fit him perfectly. It blew him away!... all because I understood him better than anyboby before... even though he's been through consulting twice already! I was successful before and still, this book has transformed how I work with clients. Thanks Joe!!!