Light a fire under that idea. Launch a new product, start a business, or dominate a new market.
“The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything” by Guy Kawasaki. (Amazon user rating: 4+ stars)
I bought Guy’s book in 2004, and immediately jumped in and began marking it up, underlining and highlighting passages all the way through. It’s a great book that doesn’t waste your time with a lot of needless philosophical side trips and filler stories. I recently pulled it off the shelf again and began reading the passages I highlighted almost six years ago. Reminded of its many gems of practical content, I quickly found myself writing this review. This is the first article for the new HIT Brands blog, and it’s fitting to kick it off by reviewing and endorsing The Art of the Start.
I was recently approached by a fellow entrepreneur and current client to help him start a new business. He has a really sweet idea with plenty of potential in an untapped market. He was pretty excited and I was, too. Like most entrepreneurs, I get very enthusiastic during the initial phases of a new venture. But if I’m not careful I can quickly lose my objectivity and that’s the reason I went looking for my well-worn copy of The Art of the Start. This has become a pattern for me, actually. Several times over the years I’ve referred back to the book, not because I’ve forgotten the concepts inside but rather as a way to anchor my emotions with solid analytical thought.
Who should read this book?
First, I’m not sure the book quite lives up to its subtitle. “…Anyone Starting Anything” is probably too broad a target. Even though “anyone” could get something useful from the book, the best fit is for individuals starting a new business or launching a new product. It’s also a must-read for first-time entrepreneurs or anyone who believes they may need outside funding to launch or sustain their new venture.
A sampling of topics covered:
- The top five things you must accomplish
- Positioning–answering the question, what do you do
- The art of pitching—early and often
- When to write a business plan, how to write it and how to make it stand out
- Bootstrapping and raising capital
- Partnering for the right reasons
- Building a brand
In short, if you have a great idea for a product, service or company—or if you’ve already started your venture and need some course adjustments to get headed back in the right direction—you should read this book. I’ll wager that, like me, you’ll find it spends more time on your desk than on your shelf.
Have you read it? Has it helped you? Give us your thoughts in the comments section.
September 8, 2010