Beat The System. 11 Secrets to Building an Entrepreneurial Culture in a Bureaucratic World

An essential guide to building supportive entrepreneurial communities «Startup communities» are popping up everywhere, from cities like Boulder to Boston and even in countries such as Iceland. These types of entrepreneurial ecosystems are driving innovation and small business energy. Startup Communities documents the buzz, strategy, long-term perspective, and dynamics of building communities of entrepreneurs who can feed off of each other's talent, creativity, and support. Based on more than twenty years of Boulder-based entrepreneur turned-venture capitalist Brad Feld's experience in the field?as well as contributions from other innovative startup communities?this reliable resource skillfully explores what it takes to create an entrepreneurial community in any city, at any time. Along the way, it offers valuable insights into increasing the breadth and depth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem by multiplying connections among entrepreneurs and mentors, improving access to entrepreneurial education, and much more. Details the four critical principles needed to form a sustainable startup community Perfect for entrepreneurs and venture capitalists seeking fresh ideas and new opportunities Written by Brad Feld, a thought-leader in this field who has been an early-stage investor and successful entrepreneur for more than twenty years Engaging and informative, this practical guide not only shows you how startup communities work, but it also shows you how to make them work anywhere in the world.

Become a force for change through community, access, knowledge, and innovation The Maker Revolution is a guidebook to the new industrial revolution. Artisans, crafters, DIYers, and inventors around the globe are changing the way we change the world—are you ready to join the movement? This book shows you how to find your place in the revolution. You'll learn how the movement came about, and how Makers are already shifting paradigms and pushing the boundaries of innovation. You'll discover the people, organizations, and technologies that are catalyzing a re-thinking of industry, business, economic development and education, and you'll explore the ways in which specific types of participation could propel the movement toward greater access and inclusivity. You may even discover your own inner Maker, and decide to join the revolution. The world's greatest problems will only be solved by the creativity, ingenuity, and innovation of its inhabitants. The Maker Movement and the revolution it heralds holds that truth at its core, and strives to give everyone access to the knowledge, tools, experience, and community they need to change the world. This book takes you inside the movement, and helps you find your place. Understand the drivers, depths, and goals of the Maker Movement Explore the major trends and technologies that enable makers Learn how institutions can engage and participate in the Maker Revolution Find your inner revolutionary and become a part of the changing world The new revolution will not be televised—it will be something you hold in your hand, something you use every day, and the spirit of the community that created it. The Maker Revolution brings you into the fold to show you the power of breaking away from the status quo and will show you how you too can help change the world.

Youth is no longer an age—it's a commodity YouthNation is an indispensable brand roadmap to the youth-driven economy. Exploring the idea that youth is no longer an age—it's a commodity that's available to everyone—this book shows what it takes to stay connected, agile, authentic, and relevant in today's marketplace. Readers will learn the ins and outs of the new consumer, and the tools, methods, and techniques that ensure brand survival in the age of perpetual youth. Coverage includes marketing in a post-demographic world, crafting the story of the brand, building engaged communities, creating experiences that inspire loyalty and evangelism, and the cutting-edge tricks that help businesses large and small harness the enormous power of youth. The old marketing models are over, and the status quo is dead. Businesses today have to embody the ideals of youth culture in order to succeed, by tapping the new and rapidly evolving resources n business and in life. When everything is changing at the pace of a teenager's attention span, how do businesses future-fit for long-term success? This book provides a plan, and the thoughts, strategies, and brass tacks advice for putting it into action. Use New-Gen psychographics to target markets Build stronger evangelism with a compelling brand narrative Create loyal communities with immersive and engaging experiences Navigate the radically-changed landscape of the future marketplace In today's hyper-socialized, Facebook fanatic, selfie-obsessed world, youth is the primary driver of business and culture. Smart companies are looking to tap into the fountain of youth, and the others are sinking fast. YouthNation is a roadmap to brand relevancy in the new economy, giving businesses turn-by-turn direction to their market destination.

Praise for Engaged Leadership, Second Edition «Engaged Leadership is the best of both worlds: an engaging business story coupled with a primer on the practical skills all leaders need. In the book, Swindall provides many useful tools for successfully meeting twelve major leadership challenges. I recommend it.» —Mark Sanborn, author of The Fred Factor and You Don't Need a Title to Be a Leader «This creatively inspiring book not only encourages the leaders of tomorrow, but also inspires the leaders of today to step up and meet the challenges of a changing world. Business leaders will find true substance at the core of each page.» —Nido Qubein, President, High Point University; and Chairman, Great Harvest Bread Co. «Give this book to anyone aspiring to be an effective leader and you've put them ahead of the curve. Clint Swindall has done a masterful job of bringing leadership to life in a book that's engaging and effective. Create a leadership culture in your company by getting this book now!» —Joe Calloway, author of Work Like You're Showing Off! and Becoming a Category of One «This book is so engaging, you'll forget you're learning. If you only have time for one book this year, make it Engaged Leadership—you won't be disappointed.» —Bradford D. Beldon, President and CEO, Beldon Roofing Company «This book contains simple yet very effective management techniques that can improve every leader's ability to inspire and get the most out of their employees. Swindall shows us what employees want from leaders and how leaders can motivate employees using practical yet effective stories.» —John Wight, President and CEO, BF&M Insurance Group «This is a slam dunk by Swindall! What a powerful read for any team member of an organization. A fun, enjoyable, insightful, and impactful lesson on how to apply the key concepts of engaged leadership to move your team forward.» —Joe Clark, Vice President of Ticket Sales and Services, Spurs Sports & Entertainment

Every sale is made or lost in 60 seconds—make them count Cold calling and pushing your way into an office or a living room creates an atmosphere of adversity and distrust you must overcome before you close the deal. With those tired tactics, you’re swimming upstream, against a strong current, with a bag of rocks tied to your waist. Sales has changed. Legacy sales gimmicks destroy relationships right from the first minute. The 60 Second Sale is a turnkey system for building profitable, lifelong relationships. Whether you work with affluent consumers or sell to senior executives in FORTUNE 500 companies, this step-by-step guide will help you open doors, close deals, and make more money in a way that leverages your natural strengths. That’s the magnificence of the 60 second sale system. You get to be yourself and build your business. In this book you will discover: How to start a sales conversation in 60 seconds Who to target for immediate income A powerful yet easy-to-use system to generate relationship revenue Five ways to initiate new relationships What to say to make sure your business meetings result in money in the bank The secret to getting a “yes” every time, even in the most competitive sales environment The winning mindset that removes the stress, uncertainty, and fear from income generation And so many other effective business growth strategies, your competition won’t know what hit them Business relationships are built one minute at a time. From introduction to closing, every 60 seconds you have an opportunity to strengthen your relationship or destroy it. Isn’t it time you started leveraging your expertise, demonstrating your value, and building trust with your clients? When you do, they buy into who you are and how you can help them – right from the first minute. The 60 Second Sale is a fail-proof system for succeeding in today’s relationship-focused sales environment.

Proven ways to create a more loving family Research proves that happy families are good for health, longevity, peace of mind, productivity, and success. In The Secrets of Happy Families, Scott Haltzman offers an original approach to building family contentment that works for families of all ethnicities and make-ups–two-parent, single-parent, blended, childless, or same-sex couple. He provides a «positive psychology» way of solving family problems through strategy and leadership, including knowing and accepting who you are, taking a leadership role in loving and united relationships, building a network of support in extended families and communities, and making quality time for fun, adventures, holidays, and rituals.

From the founder of the worldwide 30% Club campaign comes a career book for women in a transforming world who don't just want to lean in, but instead, shatter the paradigm as we know it.‘I absolutely love her, I think she’s such a force for good’ Pandora Sykes, The High LowFive years have passed since women were exhorted to “lean in.” Over that time, the world has transformed beyond all expectations. But why should anyone “lean in” to a patriarchal system that is out of date? Why not change it entirely for the good of us all?Helena Morrissey sets out how we might achieve the next big breakthrough towards a truly inclusive modern society. Drawing on her experience as a finance CEO, mother of nine, and founder of the influential 30% Club which campaigns for gender-balanced company boards, her manifesto for new ways of working, living, loving and raising families is for everyone, not just women. Making a powerful case for diversity and difference in any workplace, she shows how, together, we can develop smarter thinking and broader definitions of success. Gender balance, in her view, is an essential driver of economic prosperity and part of the solution to the many problems we face today.Her approach is not aimed merely at training a few more women in working practices that have outlived their usefulness. Instead, this book sets out a way to reinvent the game—not at the expense of men but in ways that are right and relevant for a digital age. It is a powerful guide to success for us all.

Millions of people around the world participate daily in network marketing sales. This book offers, for the first time, a step-by-step plan for building a profitable, long-lasting network marketing business. This simple, proven system—from an author who built his own million-dollar network marketing business—gives everyone in the network marketing industry the tools and tactics they need to succeed spectacularly. Rubino’s seven-step system covers every aspect of the network marketing business, from planning to prospecting to training, and gives you the confidence and attitude you need to make your business work and keep it profitable.

The individual investor's comprehensive guide to momentum investing Quantitative Momentum brings momentum investing out of Wall Street and into the hands of individual investors. In his last book, Quantitative Value, author Wes Gray brought systematic value strategy from the hedge funds to the masses; in this book, he does the same for momentum investing, the system that has been shown to beat the market and regularly enriches the coffers of Wall Street's most sophisticated investors. First, you'll learn what momentum investing is not: it's not 'growth' investing, nor is it an esoteric academic concept. You may have seen it used for asset allocation, but this book details the ways in which momentum stands on its own as a stock selection strategy, and gives you the expert insight you need to make it work for you. You'll dig into its behavioral psychology roots, and discover the key tactics that are bringing both institutional and individual investors flocking into the momentum fold. Systematic investment strategies always seem to look good on paper, but many fall down in practice. Momentum investing is one of the few systematic strategies with legs, withstanding the test of time and the rigor of academic investigation. This book provides invaluable guidance on constructing your own momentum strategy from the ground up. Learn what momentum is and is not Discover how momentum can beat the market Take momentum beyond asset allocation into stock selection Access the tools that ease DIY implementation The large Wall Street hedge funds tend to portray themselves as the sophisticated elite, but momentum investing allows you to 'borrow' one of their top strategies to enrich your own portfolio. Quantitative Momentum is the individual investor's guide to boosting market success with a robust momentum strategy.

Everyone has it within them to become a successful investor. Right here's where you start. Ignore the doom and gloom merchants – now is the time to start investing for the future. Bestselling authors Jim Mellon and Al Chalabi were seen as the party poopers just a few years ago when they predicted the financial crisis in Wake Up! Now they take the opposite view – the party is about to start. It won't last forever, but in a few years a lot of money can be made by the astute and well-informed. This is your step-by-step introduction to the world of investment – including all the BigIdeas seasoned investors are searching for. You'll pick up ingenious and lucrative investment ideas in: Real Estate Stocks and Mutual Funds Bonds and Cash The BRIC Economies Commodities and Collectibles Green Investments «The DIY manual for building lasting wealth.» —Ross O'Brien, The Economist Group «Packed with wise, practical advice, this book puts into plain English what every investor needs to know.» —The Financial Times «…the book's main benefit was to show me that the mysteries of investment… lie within my grasp.» —Financial World «…a timely, practical reminder that it's never too late to start investing for tomorrow.» —moneyextra.com «…the advice in this book will beat most professional fund managers by leaps and bounds.» —Sven Lorenz, market commentator, author & investor, and columnist for Money Week Please note: this book is the paperback edition of Jim and Al's Top 10 Investments for the Next 10 Years.