The Startup Playbook: Secrets of the Fastest Growing Startups From Their Founding Entrepreneurs by David Kidder explains the success formula for starting a business utilizing the experiences of highly profitable ventures that started from very modest beginnings.
Kidder explains the necessity to focus on a big idea with a lot of energy. New startups should identify a niche where their creators can perform a product or service better than anyone else.
Above all, the author explains that loving people and forgiving them at times is important to avoid dissipating too much energy needlessly. Another important business trait is to make decisions rationally and calmly — not under pressure or at times when you are more vulnerable. Successful business people give things away on occasion and operate in a transparent fashion.
Kidder discusses famous success stories like Chris Anderson who became famous through a publishing startup that built an important niche with broad online support. Charles Best made money by developing a philanthropic marketplace where people could meet to raise money. Many classroom projects were funded successfully at Donorschoose.org.
Tom Gardner of Motlery Fool made tons of money by charging a modest flat fee for high quality investment advice. Sara Blakely sold footless pantyhose to women who sought to look thin in virtually any shoe size. Mitch Free developed a unique manufacturing website to introduce new types of marketplaces. He did this by combining design and manufacturing in a methodical way.
The Startup Playbook shows how to take a product from concept through to full implementation while making money on practical ideas that work. This book will be helpful for anyone with a new idea that seeks to commercialize it and reap the benefits of happy customers and large profits. The book is written simply with plenty of relevant examples.
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