Lessons from the Edge: Survival Skills for Starting and Growing a Company (Hardcover)

~ Jana Matthews (Author), Jeff Dennis (Author), (Contributor) "Few entrepreneurs starting their first company really understand what they need to do as leaders of their companies..." (more)
Key Phrases: lessons from the edge, timecard fraud, bum rate, Type of Business, Annual Revenue, Factsheet Name (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Successes inspire us, but we learn and grow from failure. Lessons From the Edge is a wonderful opportunity to walk in the shoes of entrepreneurs who learned from their mistakes so they could help us avoid them!"--Kathleen Allen, Entrepreneur, and Director, USC Technology Commercialization Alliance
"As an entrepreneur, at times I thought I was reading about myself. At other times, I learned something new and what not to do. And in the end it reinvigorates me about entrepreneurship the risks, rewards and ability to come back. A must read!"--Keith Alper, Founder & CEO, Creative Producers Group and Companies, and Past Intl President, YEO International
"No one said it would be easy. Matthews, Dennis, and Economy share the lessons learned through difficult experience so that other entrepreneurs can avoid disaster or survive it."--Rob Johnston, President, Leader to Leader Institute
"This book captures the spirit, vision, and tenacity of the entrepreneur. Lessons worth noting and using!"--Paul and Sarah Edwards, authors of the best-selling Working From Home
"Lessons from the Edge, told by real entrepreneurs who have faced disaster, provides powerful insights for navigating the edges and increasing the probability of success."--Mark P. Rice, Murata Dean, F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business, Babson College

Product Description

Entrepreneurs often struggle with many aspects of business: planning and financing company growth, creating a company vision, recruiting, leading, and managing people, as well as personal costs. In Lessons from the Edge, more than 50 business owners and entrepreneurs offer a wealth of real-life stories--in their own words--that provide rare insights about keeping a company healthy and growing. Here is a unique collection of first-person accounts by entrepreneurs who describe their mistakes in business and the lessons they have learned as a result. The stories cover a wide range of experiences from the trials and tribulations of partnerships, to the loss of key customers, theft, finding and retaining employees, and the personal cost of living on the edge. The authors have drawn on interviews with more than 50 entrepreneurs, all of whom are under 45 years of age and are founders or presidents of companies with revenues over $1million and growing rapidly. They volunteered to share their stories, describing why they lost or almost lost their companies, what they did wrong, and the lessons they have learned. Their narratives are full of mistakes, failure, courage, moments of realization, and timely moves that saved the day. Every company owner will find these accounts insightful, compelling, and occasionally gut wrenching, especially because most face similar challenges and live with the reality that they too could fall off the edge. This instructive and inspiring book brims with lessons for all business owners about courage, persistence, and survival. Lessons from the Edge is an essential read for both established and prospective entrepreneurs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 268 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press; Later Printing edition (July 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195168259
• ISBN-13: 978-0195168259
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #174,420 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lessons from the Edge Review, April 1, 2004

By	John (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

Having read many business books, Lessons from the Edge offers a different prospective for entrepreneurs. It is not so much a "how to" book but rather one that highlights the negative consequences of bad decisions. These are life lessons that can be learned from others rather than yourself. I've heard it said that good men learn from their own mistakes but great men learn from the mistakes of others. This is a perfect opportunity to do that kind of learning.

Each chapter is a fast read. At the end of each section, there is a summary of important lessons learned.

In running my own business, I found some that some chapters were too familiar from my own experience. This is a great book to help you stay away from the "Edge".

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There's nothing like learning from the mistakes of others, September 10, 2003

By	K. Daum (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Jana, Jeff and Peter have done an amazing job of compiling real business mistakes and difficulties into an easy to read, must have reference for the entrepreneur. I for one would much rather learn from the challenges of others before forcing myself to learn the hard way out of ignorance. This book provided over 40 opportunities to do just that. This book goes a long way in filling the gaps in my experience and I would suggest it to every would be and current entrepreneur

4.0 out of 5 stars good lessons - easy to read, November 17, 2003

By A Customer

I am an entrpreneur who really liked the lessons brought forth in Jeff's book. I suggest it to anyone who needs inspiration in the daily struggles of running a business.