The Entrepreneur's Toolkit

by Michael G. Goldsby

This course teaches you how to be an entrepreneur and how to think like one - skills that are essential whether you are starting a business, expanding an existing business, boosting your career as an employee, pursuing a social cause, or seeking to increase your impact as a teacher, coach, minister, or other professional. Packed with fascinating lessons from legendary entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, and Henry Ford, these 24 lectures are entertaining as well as practical.

You begin by investigating what makes a good business idea. Then you learn how to turn that idea into a successful enterprise by defining the market and the customers you will serve, attracting backers, building your brand, and growing your venture to the point where you can sell it, if you want, for an impressive profit.

Topics covered include market research, choosing a business structure, the all-important business plan, financial statements, running a home office, family businesses, franchises, intellectual property, employee and customer relations, and entrepreneurial exhaustion. Professor Goldsby also discusses different entrepreneurial styles, and he looks ahead to your career options after you succeed and are ready to try another challenge. He notes that entrepreneurs play an indispensible role in society: they are the ones who find problems, recognize the opportunities in those problems, then fix them and make the world a better place.

Genres: Business, Audiobook, Entrepreneurship, Nonfiction, Education

Audiobook

First published September 1, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Michael Goldsby is the Stoops Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship and Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Center at Ball State University, USA.

Reviews

[Andrew Obrigewitsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lecture series is an excellent tool for every Entrepreneur, it is full of great ideas and material that can be immediately used.

[TJ Totland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect to take much from this book but I actually took plenty of notes while also following along in the PDF. It really is a complete course on starting a business.

The book was very long and took me a month of almost daily reading to get through it but felt it was really worth it. Great examples of how other great entrepreneur's started and ran their companies.

I learned I never want the headaches that tend to go along with running a large company. I am very happy with my small business focused on helping people with their computer problems. Taking people away from what they love, and make them managers in their business, is why 7 out of 10 businesses fail. Some self reflection is needed before taking action towards growing your business, as not all businesses need to grow.

[Simas Jokubauskas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars because of level - beginner.
If you are thinking about new business and it's first book - that's ok.
But if it's you are reading >5 books or you are more than 2 Y in entrepreneurship, just skip...

[Leila · Rating 2 out of 5]

See my review at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zPla...

[Filipe Lemos · Rating 1 out of 5]

Feb 2019
1,5 stars
Didn't finish. No bad, but nothing new.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty basic, not very engaging.

[Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very basic 101 course. If you know business already, it's probably not for you. If you need help or aren't familiar with entrepreneurship then this would be helpful for getting started.

[Nolan Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspiring course that lays out detailed steps (or tools as he calls them) to become a successful entrepreneur.

[Keaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely beginner level, but thorough and a good jumping off point.

[Kristopher Kyzar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great information. The reader could be better.

[Sergio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of practical information, covers different aspects of entrepreneurship.

[Mike Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a super great course to listen to.
I will say that it is a must course to take if you are thinking about starting your own company.

[Bobby Hazelton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mostly cliches

[Gebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super helpful program. It really should be called how to write an effective business plan. And if that's your interest, this is a deeply helpful guide to what is a tedious process

[Kirk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was okay