Fred Brodsky never had a plan. After failing out of Rutgers University, he lacked direction, but a year spent working for his uncle in France sent him down an unexpected entrepreneurial path. After learning from two key mentors while working at the Ford Motor Company, and later, ITT WorldCom, he looked for opportunities that allowed him the freedom to live life his way. Following several years of working in New York City, he spent most of the 1970s traveling the world, learning the ins and outs of international business and finance while working for Trammel Crow International. Thinking he could do better on his own, he put his money where his mouth was and started International Investment Advisors, a real estate investment and development company that made a splash during the Dallas real estate boom. When the market crashed in 1985, Fred went from being worth over $70 million on paper to being underwater by $42 million. He was then forced to start from scratch. It took ten years, but he was able to earn success all over again. In The Accidental Entrepreneur, Fred Brodsky relives his successes and failures and proves that if you are persistent and diligently explore opportunities through strong relationships, you can be successful and content with your life.

The Intentional Entrepreneur will help technology professionals and student of business, engineering, or science learn the art of entrepreneurship. David Bodde emphasizes the real-world experience of men and women who are creating new ventures that will survive in the post-bubble economy. The book adds structure and context to its stories with chapters interpreting recent research on business models, marketing, new venture finance, and intellectual property. Unlike most books on entrepreneurship, The Intentional Entrepreneur gives special emphasis to technology markets throughout.

Easy-to-follow advice on launching, managing, and growing your business, and making it pay off Small Business For Dummies is the essential guide you need to owning and operating a small business. You’re ready to add your name to the roster of business owners, and this book is here to give you the advice you’ll need at all stages of the game. Start off with insight on preparing to launch a small business, including picking the right business to pursue and getting all the paperwork in order. If you want to purchase an existing business, this book also has you covered. Plus, you’ll learn how to wear all the hats a small business owner must wear, including being your own HR manager, accountant, and marketer—and to make it all work. Create a business plan and learn how to fund your business idea Tackle the basics of small business bookkeeping so you can budget for success Explore the idea of purchasing a business, and hire excellent employees Avoid the most common mistakes that first-time business owners make This jargon-free book meets small business owners wherever they are on the road to business success. Small Business For Dummies is great for those just toying with the idea of opening a business, and for those who already call themselves “boss” but need a few extra pointers on making things run smoothly.

It is widely-believed that China's entrepreneur class has grown and their businesses are succeeding primarily due to their knowledge of the domestic market, quick adaptation to market changes, and their resourcefulness. But innovation? Forget about it. Well, not quite. Drawing on a wealth of on-the-ground stories and thorough research, Chinnovation: How Chinese Innovators Are Changing the World shows how Chinese companies of every stripe have dispelled this myth and overcome the barriers to successful, profitable innovation. How did Neil Shen, co-founder of CTRIP Capital China, see the opportunity for a Chinese travel site? How did Ray Zhang, CEO of Ehi, scale up one of the most innovative hybrid car-rental companies in China? How did Zhang Tao, CEO of Dianping, start a ZAGAT-inspired user-review site for restaurants and establish a continuous process of innovation? Yinglan Tan has spent more than five years learning the secrets of Chinese innovators, a fast-growing subculture playing key roles in China's transformative transition from "Made in China" to "Innovated in China." Learn: What is the path that an innovative Chinese private-owned enterprise take? How blue-chip innovators remix business models successfully in China? What are the capabilities that these innovative companies acquire? How they harness the necessary resources and navigate around legal restrictions? How do they attract, train and retain talent? How do these companies experiment with innovative approaches and also manage the risk of innovation? What are the lessons learnt and how would these entrepreneurial innovators advise others who are embarking on the same journey? China's rapid economic growth has made it a crucial market but multinational corporations are now competing with China's own homegrown businesses. Chinnovation: How Chinese Innovators Are Changing The World uncovers the common threads amongst Chinese entrepreneurs as they reach into a wider world.

"This positive and practical guide for the first-time entrepreneur details the life cycle of a small-business launch with real-life stories and a slew of helpful hints and strategies." -Publishers Weekly PW and AARP's Roundup of Spring Books for Baby Boomers, 4/15/08 Customized for the female entrepreneur's unique psychological experience of launching a business, Birthing the Elephant goes beyond logistics to prepare women for the emotional challenges they will face, with expert advice on reshaping one's business identity, giving up the paycheck mentality, anticipating problems, and avoiding costly mistakes. This supportive handbook gives the small-business owner the staying power to survive and succeed in the business of her dreams.

I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but it tarnished. At least, that's what I was told. Life as I knew it fell apart when I was just 4 years old and it would continue to go downhill for several years afterwards. What did I learn from these experiences? The world doesn't owe you anything. If you want to make something of yourself, it will be up to you to take ownership and accountability of the outcome. A mentor once said I was "fearless in my ability to address risks, viewing them as walls to jump over rather than barriers to stop me" - and he was right. I try not to let anything stand in my way when I am pursuing a goal. Follow along with me on my journey of self-discovery and how I managed to navigate all of the lessons life had to throw my way. Instead of letting them knock me down, I used these lessons as stepping stones on the path to success, turning tragedy into triumph to embrace my destiny in entrepreneurship.

One hundred crave-worthy recipes—for Gilmore Girls fans who can’t get enough! In the first Eat Like a Gilmore book, fans of the Gilmore Girls were treated to 100 recipes for the decadent, delicious, and comforting foods that fueled the science-defying metabolisms of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. But that was only a tease. Now fans can make all those other foods that they crave every time they watch an episode: things like pizza, Chinese food, pop tarts, and pies! Here are more favorites from Luke’s diner menu, Sookie’s eclectic inn fare, and Emily’s fancy Friday Night Dinners . . . plus Korean “health” foods, soda shop favorites, foods for wallowing, and hangover survival food. Here’s a taste of what’s inside: Luke’s Cherry Danish Mrs. Kim’s Eggless Egg Salad from the Dance Marathon Taylor’s Butter Brickle Crunch Ice Cream Tacos, burritos, tacquitos, and quesadillas Jackson’s Raspberry Peach Jam The Fiesta Burger from Al’s Pancake World A whole chapter of just pie And so much more! With beautiful photos, helpful kitchen tips, and fun tidbits about the show, Eat Like a Gilmore: Daily Cravings is a must-have for any Gilmore Girls fan. Easy-to-follow recipes make it possible to cook and eat your way through Stars Hollow—and satisfy your own cravings!

Prospect, evaluate, purchase, and grow an existing business Buying a Business For Dummies guides you through the process of becoming an entrepreneur without starting from scratch. Before you purchase an existing business, you'll need to know what types of opportunities are out there, how to identify the right fit for your goals, and which strategies to use as you negotiate the deal and manage a smooth transition. This book gives you step-by-step advice on all of that. What about actually running the business successfully? You're covered there, too, with clear information on executing a smooth ownership transition and growing your new business. Let this friendly Dummies guide be your mentor as you embark on your business ownership adventure. Know what's involved in buying a business and see if it's for you Evaluate your risk tolerance and identify businesses worth buying Negotiating a great deal and managing a seamless handover Making changes to your new business —without making enemies Buying a Business For Dummies is a great starting point for entrepreneurs interested in a lower-risk route to business ownership.

Learn the other secrets to success from the founder of Boost Juice In The Accidental Entrepreneur, author Janine Allis shares the secrets and skills that took her from housewife to entrepreneur to head of a multi-national corporation. As the founder of Boost Juice, Janine has journeyed from zero formal business training to leading a company with over 400 stores in 12 countries. This book takes you down the long road that she travelled, including some quirky stops along the way, and gives you valuable insight into taking the alternative road to business success. You'll learn how she captured the hearts of consumers with her love-life philosophy, and how to hang on to your core values, build the right team, listen to your customers and market like the big boys. As a working mother of four, Janine understands the demands of modern life, and shows you how you can accomplish your goals without sacrificing your health or your relationships in the process. Boost Juice is in more countries than any other juice bar in the world, employs 6000 people and for the past four years, has grown by an average of 30 stores and four countries every year. And it all began with one housewife in her Melbourne kitchen! Big ideas often start out small, and this book shows you how to nurture them into achieving their full potential. Learn how a company grows from kitchen table to $AUD135,000,000 per annum Explore and apply Janine Allis's practical tips for success Identify and develop the skills you need to get where you want to be Overcome the common obstacles that can throw you off course If you think the only way to build a prosperous business is to go to a top business school, think again! Janine Allis is living proof that alternative paths are valid. The Accidental Entrepreneur charts her course, and provides you with directions to the destination you crave.

The Accidental Millionaire is the memoir of Gary Fong, would-be slacker who revolutionized wedding photography, inventor of popular photography aids, entrepreneur, contrarian, bon vivant and a man who really, really didn't want to become a doctor. A first-generation Chinese-American, Gary was raised in one of Los Angeles' least-desirable neighborhoods and was forced to deal—in his own quirky and often very funny way—with the burdens of poverty, crime and his parents' relentless aspirations. These issues almost overwhelmed him until he had a dramatic epiphany. Spotting a bumper sticker that read "Since I gave up hope, I feel much better," Gary promptly did just that. He stopped trying and started succeeding. At turns hilarious, insightful and instructive, The Accidental Millionaire is Horatio Alger-meets-David Sedaris. Turning the traditional self-help principles upside down, The Accidental Millionaire disdains the goal-oriented approaches of traditional self-help philosophies. Sometimes not knowing where you are going is the best possible way to get there.