Page 16 - 6 Secrets to Startup Success

Introduction xv

ness and fuel and sustain entrepreneurs through the ups and downs
of the new venture pathway. Each of these qualities, however, when
magnified or misdirected, can lead to unhealthy business behaviors—
to rose-colored forecasts, to unwise commitments, to inflexibility in
the face of new data, or to a catastrophically bad fit between a
founder’s skill set and the needs of the new business.

It doesn’t have to be this way. The good news is that you, as a
founder, do not have to choose between passion and reason. You can
do what you love and put the full force of your commitment behind
your idea, while successfully navigating well-known startup chal-
lenges and minimizing inherent risks. This book is designed to help
you do just that.

Who Should Read This Book

This book is for:

9 Aspiring entrepreneurs who are passionate about a business idea
and want to dramatically improve their likelihood of success.

9 Existing business owners or founding teams who want to improve
the performance of their venture and their happiness in lead-
ing it.

9 Investors looking for better ways to distinguish winning
founders and ventures from the rest of the pack or who want
to educate startup teams on the dangers and opportunities
associated with entrepreneurial passion.

9 Entrepreneurship educators and service providers who want a tool
to help their students and clients understand the upside and
downside of entrepreneurial passion.

9 Anyone who wants to understand what happens when a person
falls in love with an idea and how to best bring the idea to
life in a healthy, profitable way.

American Management Association • www.amanet.org