Life Entrepreneurs

"An inspirational and practical guide for anyone who wants to incorporate the dynamic skills of entrepreneurs into their own lives and work.

A new generation of "life entrepreneurs" is emerging: people who apply their vision, talents, creativity, and energy not only to their work but to their entire lives, changing the world for themselves and those around them. In this book, successful entrepreneurs Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek draw on numerous interviews with fifty-five leading entrepreneurs worldwide as well as the wisdom of multiple thought leaders to provide vivid examples, moving vignettes, concrete frameworks, and practical strategies for revving up our work and play through entrepreneurial leadership. This book starts by providing strategies for integrating life, work, and purpose and ends by capturing the implications of the current entrepreneurial boom for our workplaces, learning institutions, communities, and families.

Christopher Gergen (Washington, D.C.) is a founding partner of New Mountain Ventures, co-founder and chairman of SMARTHINKING, Adjunct Professor and Director of the Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative at Duke University, and a life-long entrepreneur,

Gregg Vanourek (Thornton, CO) is a founding partner of New Mountain Ventures, former CEO of Vanourek Consulting Solutions, and former Senior Vice President of School Development for K12 Inc."

Foreword, by Warren Bennis xiii

Introduction xv

List of Interviews xxvii

PART ONE: SURVEYING THE LANDSCAPE

1 Understanding Life Entrepreneurship 3

2 Life Entrepreneurs in Action 25

3 Discovering Core Identity 38

PART TWO: PREPARING FOR THE JOURNEY

4 Awakening to Opportunity 65

5 Envisioning the Future 80

6 Developing Goals and Strategies 93

PART THREE: BLAZING A TRAIL

7 Building Healthy Support Systems 111

8 Taking Action and Making a Difference 129

9 Embracing Renewal and Reinvention 145

Conclusion: Creating a New Future 165

Appendix A: Life Entrepreneurship Primer 181

Appendix B: Exercises and Helpful Resources 187

Appendix C: Interview Methodology 189

Notes 191

The Authors 199

Acknowledgments 201

Index 205

The Authors

CHRISTOPHER GERGEN is a founding partner of New Mountain Ventures and a lifelong entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and chairman of SMARTHINKING, the leading provider of online tutoring in the U.S. He is also a visiting lecturer and director of the Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative in the Hart Leadership Program at Duke University. Christopher lives with his wife and two children in Washington, D.C.

GREGG VANOUREK is a founding partner of New Mountain Ventures. Previously, he ran Vanourek Consulting Solutions and served as senior vice president of School Development for K12 Inc., and vice president for Programs at the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation. He is coauthor of Charter Schools in Action and lives with his wife and daughter in Denver, Colorado.

LIFE ENTREPRENEURS

Ordinary people creating extraordinary lives. Leaders excelling through the power of entrepreneurship. Rising generations taking command of their lives and work by integrating them. But how?

Life Entrepreneurs is an uplifting and practical guide for enriching our quality of life and revving up our work through the dynamic force of entrepreneurial leadership.

A new type of leader is emerging: people who apply their vision, talents, creativity, and energy not only to their work but to their entire lives, changing the world for themselves and those around them. These people are not just living their lives—they're leading them. Welcome to the territory of life entrepreneurs.

In this book, successful entrepreneurs Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek draw on interviews with fifty-five leading entrepreneurs worldwide as well as on the wisdom of multiple thought leaders to provide practical strategies, concrete frameworks, vivid examples, and moving vignettes for leading a life of adventure, service, and purpose.

Today, people are looking for opportunity, challenge, and the chance to develop their talents, achieve success, and make an impact. But they are also looking for a rich home life, rewarding friendships, an active lifestyle, and deeper fulfillment. Life entrepreneurs are able to thrive in all these realms by proactively taking the following steps:

• DISCOVERING CORE IDENTITY
• AWAKENING TO OPPORTUNITY
• ENVISIONING THE FUTURE
• DEVELOPING GOALS AND STRATEGIES
• BUILDING HEALTHY SUPPORT SYSTEMS
• TAKING ACTION AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE
• EMBRACING RENEWAL AND REINVENTION

Life Entrepreneurs is filled with inspiring stories and practical strategies for integrating life, work, and purpose, and captures the implications of today's entrepreneurial boom for our workplaces, learning institutions, communities, and families. Whether you're an emerging or established leader—or a person experiencing significant changes and seeking direction—this is a vital read. "The real question is not how to just make a living, but how to make a life. Life Entrepreneurs helps all who are struggling to integrate money and meaning in their careers to do just that."--Dr. Mark S. Albion, New York Times best-selling author, Making a Life, Making a Living®, and True to Yourself

"Like jazz musicians, good entrepreneurs improvise, finding the roads less traveled. Life Entrepreneurs does a great job of capturing this spirit and sharing valuable lessons for work and life."--Gary Erickson, owner/founder, Clif Bar & Company, and author of Raising The Bar

"In Life Entrepreneurs, Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek address the central issue of every emerging leader, ‘How can I design my life to be both fulfilling and significant?’ Through the life stories of many entrepreneurs who are impacting the world in dramatic ways, this compelling and refreshing new book provides deep insights that make it a must-read for all of us to use on our own journeys."--Bill George, author, True North and Authentic Leadership, former chairman and CEO, Medtronic

"At last, a powerful guide to integrating life, work, purpose, and work-life balance, one of the greatest needs of leaders in all three sectors of the emerging work force. Christopher and Gregg bring a new definition, a new clarity to life entrepreneurship that will make a difference in the lives of leaders at every level. A great gift."--Frances Hesselbein, chairman, Leader to Leader

"Business leaders and entrepreneurs alike will greatly benefit from Life Entrepreneurs. It captures the essential qualities of leadership including finding a worthy path, being willing to fail, and taking courageous action. I highly recommend it."--Howard Schultz, Chairman, Starbucks Coffee Company

"This is provocative reading for all those committed to creating a life of significance and meaning. Filled with helpful strategies and hopeful stories, Life Entrepreneurs is an intriguing, challenging guide for the next generation of leaders."--Wendy Kopp, president and founder of Teach for America