{"product_id":"confessions-of-a-serial-entrepreneur-isbn-9780787987329","title":"Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur","description":"Entrepreneur Stuart Skorman—the founder of Elephant Pharmacy, Hungryminds.com, Reel.com, and Empire Video—grew up in a retailing family in Ohio. He worked every kind of job, from cab driver to professional poker player to CEO. In this entertaining, personal account of his coming-of- age in the business world, Skorman gives an insider’s view of what it takes to start a business from the ground up.  \u003cp\u003eStuart Skorman offers his hard-won lessons in business for any entrepreneur or small businessperson who wants to create a company that has a heart and soul. He reveals what he learned about marketing while working a stint as a rock band manager and bares his soul about his failure during the dot-com bubble. He describes in vivid terms the roller coaster ride of the entrepreneur in good times and bad and explains how to survive in today’s uncertain business environment.\u003c\/p\u003e  Introduction.  \u003cp\u003e1 My Jewish Merchant Family.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMy home town was never home. Thank heaven for Life magazine.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 Sex, Drugs, and the Business of Rock-and-Roll.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSome went to business school; I managed a rock band. (Guess who had more fun?)\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 Bankruptcy at Home.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow I tried and failed to save my father’s business.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 Helping to Invent Whole Foods.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBattles with my mentor made me wiser, confident, and determined never to work for anybody again.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 Bike-Touring Adventures.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBy the end of my cross-country journey, I’d decided to become an entrepreneur.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 Building a Video Empire.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMy perfect start-up: a hole-in-the-wall video store.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 Millionaire Without a Mission.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eI struck a deal with Blockbuster, headed for Silicon Valley, and left small-town retail behind forever.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 My Professional Poker Career.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAfter two years of high-stakes poker, I was ready for anything.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 Easy Dot Come: The Making of an Internet Pioneer.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow I founded and sold a company for $100 million in less than three years.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 Easy Dot Go: Getting Carried Away with the Internet.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGood intentions but a lousy business plan is a great way to lose millions.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 Adventures in the Wild.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe sharks of the South Pacific are as dangerous as the ones in Silicon Valley.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 Taming a Wild Elephant.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eI thought I was ready for the biggest project of my life; now I’m not so sure.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13 What It Takes (and Doesn’t Take) to Be an Entrepreneur.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eKnow yourself, keep learning, and hang on for the ride!\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAbout the Authors.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cb\u003eStuart Skorman\u003c\/b\u003e founded and is former CEO of four innovative, trendsetting companies: Empire Video, Reel.com, HungryMinds.com, and Elephant Pharmacy. Skorman has been featured in numerous publications, including Business 2.0, Fortune Small Business, Forbes, BusinessWeek, and USA Today.Please visit Stuart at: www.stuartskorman.com  \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCatherine Guthrie\u003c\/b\u003e is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in dozens of national magazines.\u003c\/p\u003e  Entrepreneur Stuart Skorman—the founder of Elephant Pharmacy, HungryMinds.com, Reel.com, and Empire Video—grew up in a retailing family in Ohio. He worked every kind of job, from cab driver to professional poker player to CEO. In this entertaining, personal account of his coming-of-age in the business world, Skorman gives an insider's view of what it takes to start a business from the ground up. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e   \u003cp\u003eStuart Skorman offers his hard-won lessons in business for any entrepreneur or small businessperson who wants to create a company that has a heart and soul. He reveals what he learned about marketing while working a stint as a rock band manager and bares his soul about his failure during the dot-com bubble. He describes in vivid terms the roller coaster ride of the entrepreneur in good times and bad and explains how to survive in today's uncertain business environment.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConfessions of a Serial Entrepreneur is a primer for future entrepreneurs on how to learn from mistakes and keep customers happy. Not written for the faint of heart, some of Skorman's unconventional wisdom includes:\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eA large ego is not just good for an entrepreneur: it's necessary.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eStrong emotions push you into the fray and carry you through to the end.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eStarting a business is often an act of desperation—entrepreneurs are desperate for success and accomplishment.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eIf you are strong-willed, hard working, and thrive on risk, Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur will give you the information and inspiration you need to chart your own entrepreneurial destiny.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eConfessions of a Serial Entrepreneur\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cp\u003e\"Here is another 'hyper kid' who turned his childhood handicaps and failures into success and happiness as an adult. This book will be an inspiration to all future entrepreneurs and a good read for just about anyone who enjoys a great adventure.\"\u003cbr\u003e —Paul Orfalea, founder, Kinko's, and author of \u003ci\u003eCopy This!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Stuart Skorman leads the reader on a riveting journey as he chronicles his entrepreneurial career. This book provides valuable insights into the joys and challenges of starting and growing a new business. \u003ci\u003eConfessions of a Serial Entrepreneur\u003c\/i\u003e is the exciting tale of Skorman's passion to enrich his customers' lives and a vital resource for aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders.\"\u003cbr\u003e —Carl Schramm, president and CEO, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eConfessions of a Serial Entrepreneur\u003c\/i\u003e is an entertaining, non-stop read. The fast-paced story never wavers from business smarts even during Skorman's zaniest adventures. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to bridge creativity and the boardroom; I also strongly recommend it for socially conscious entrepreneurs.\"\u003cbr\u003e —Gary Erickson, founder and owner, Clif Bar \u0026amp; Co., and author of \u003ci\u003eRaising the Bar\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"As an entrepreneur, Stuart is an investor's dream because he is the quintessential 'what you see is what you get' guy. \u003ci\u003eConfessions\u003c\/i\u003e reflects that honest, straightforward style. It realistically portrays the challenges of starting a business, and it is a delight to read.\"\u003cbr\u003e —Peter Mills, cofounder, CMGi\/@Ventures, and the lead venture capitalist for Reel.com\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"The minute I walked into Elephant Pharmacy I knew it was something special. After meeting Stuart and reading his book I know why. Stuart's guide to socially responsible entrepreneurship is full of heart.\"\u003cbr\u003e —Woody Tasch, chairman and CEO, Investors' Circle\u003c\/p\u003e  \"Here is another 'hyper kid' who turned his childhood handicaps and failures into success and happiness as an adult. This book will be an inspiration to all future entrepreneurs and a good read for just about anyone who enjoys a great adventure.\"\u003cbr\u003e —Paul Orfalea, founder, Kinko's, and author of \u003ci\u003eCopy This!\u003c\/i\u003e  \u003cp\u003e\"Stuart Skorman leads the reader on a riveting journey as he chronicles his entrepreneurial career. This book provides valuable insights into the joys and challenges of starting and growing a new business. \u003ci\u003eConfessions of a Serial Entrepreneur\u003c\/i\u003e is the exciting tale of Skorman's passion to enrich his customers' lives and a vital resource for aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders.\"\u003cbr\u003e —Carl Schramm, president and CEO, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eConfessions of a Serial Entrepreneur\u003c\/i\u003e is an entertaining, non-stop read. The fast-paced story never wavers from business smarts even during Skorman's zaniest adventures. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to bridge creativity and the boardroom; I also strongly recommend it for socially conscious entrepreneurs.\"\u003cbr\u003e —Gary Erickson, founder and owner, Clif Bar \u0026amp; Co., and author of \u003ci\u003eRaising the Bar\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"As an entrepreneur, Stuart is an investor's dream because he is the quintessential 'what you see is what you get' guy. \u003ci\u003eConfessions\u003c\/i\u003e reflects that honest, straightforward style. It realistically portrays the challenges of starting a business, and it is a delight to read.\"\u003cbr\u003e —Peter Mills, cofounder, CMGi\/@Ventures, and the lead venture capitalist for Reel.com\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"The minute I walked into Elephant Pharmacy I knew it was something special. After meeting Stuart and reading his book I know why. Stuart's guide to socially responsible entrepreneurship is full of heart.\"\u003cbr\u003e —Woody Tasch, chairman and CEO, Investors' Circle\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jossey-Bass","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47988973076709,"sku":"NP9780787987329","price":22.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780787987329.jpg?v=1761782268","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/confessions-of-a-serial-entrepreneur-isbn-9780787987329","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}