{"product_id":"startup-stepping-stones-michael-odonnell-9798752136566","title":"Startup Stepping Stones: Actions and Resources for Launching a Viable Business","description":"After 30+ years of starting businesses and helping thousands of other aspiring entrepreneurs to launch their businesses, I've learned three critical things: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst\u003c\/b\u003e, startup success does not happen in leaps and bounds. It happens in little hops. It's a series of Stepping Stones. You will find in this guide the important hops. Your job is to hop from one stone to the next, then to the next...and the next....until you find yourself in business. But not just any business. A viable business. There's a difference between starting a company and a viable business. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecond\u003c\/b\u003e, just about everything you need to launch a viable business has been created. Just reach out and take them. Leverage the knowledge, tools, and short cuts that others have already blazed for you. Too many first-time entrepreneurs try to go it alone and reinvent the wheel. I've assembled for you herein the links to many of those resources. Take a deep dive off the steps you need more help with. Surface, then take the next step. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThird\u003c\/b\u003e, the single biggest MISTAKE most first-time entrepreneurs make is working on the wrong things in the wrong order. They don't focus on the most important and immediate next step. They try to jump too far ahead. They waste time, money, and energy on the wrong tasks. This guide presents the right steps in the right order. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEach Stepping Stone is presented in an easy to read format: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eQuote: \u003c\/b\u003e Sage advice from experts to reinforce the importance of the step. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eIntroduction: \u003c\/b\u003e Offers some advice based on years of real-world experience. It sets the stage for what you should think about, decide, and then do. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThings to Think About and Decide: \u003c\/b\u003e Offers suggestions on how to take the step. Think, Decide, Do. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThings to Do and Avoid: \u003c\/b\u003e Offers a list of tasks and common traps to avoid. Also covers some best practices you may not have thought about. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eRecommended Readings and Resources: \u003c\/b\u003e Offers links to best-in-class books, tools, templates, web sites, and services that can help you start and build your business. This is the real value of this guide. These are your short cuts. Mix and match the readings and resources to create your personal blueprint for success. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis guide contains advice and more than 200 links to the best resources to successfully navigate each of the 12 steps to launch a viable business. \u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eValidate the Idea \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eIncorporate the Company\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eForm the Team\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eConduct Primary Market Research\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eDevelop and Test Product Prototype\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eScrub Business Plan and Projections\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecure Intellectual Property\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eCreate Name and Brand Strategy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eOutsource Ancillary Functions\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eDraft Guerilla Marketing and Sales Plan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eCapitalize the Company\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eOperate the Company\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003eThis guide was written to be used over-and-over again. Many startup ideas don't work out. Most successful entrepreneurs had several failures before hitting on the one that took off. You will find this guide just as valuable when you start your second and third business, as you do for the first. Enjoy the journey!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Michael Odonnell\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798752136566\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/24\/2021\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 112\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.35lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.23d","brand":"Michael Odonnell","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48588320243967,"sku":"9798752136566","price":12.03,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/startup-stepping-stones-michael-odonnell-9798752136566","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}