No Limits Ladies.com

Good morning class, as you know, No Limits Ladies is a women's financial freedom blog. We are about increasing your means through both building businesses and investing to become financially independent.

This week we are going to be going through the essential start up book for anyone starting anything, The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki. There is so much out there about how to start a business. As Guy says, " You could literally spend all your time learning and not doing. And doing, not learning to do, is the essence of entrepreneurship... The reality is that "entrepreneur" is not a job title. It is a state of mind of people who want to change the future... If your attitude is, 'Cut the crap and just tell me what I need to do,' you've come to the right place."

So let's jump in with chapter one, the Art of Starting.

Guy is known for his top ten lists; however he opens this book, The Art of the Start, instead with a list of five important things an entrepreneur must accomplish:

1. Make Meaning (inspired by John Doerr). The best reason to start an organization is to make meaning- to create a product or service that makes the world a better place. So your first task is to decide how you can make meaning.

2. Make Mantra. Forget mission statements; they're long, boring, and irrelevant. No one can ever remember them- much less implement them. Instead, take your meaning and make mantra out of it. This will set your entire team on the right course.

3. Get Going. Start creating and delivering your product or service. Think soldering irons, compliers, hammers, saws, and AutoCAD- whatever tools you use to build your products and services. Don't focus on pitching, writing, and planning.

4. Define Your Business Model. No matter what kind of organization you're starting, you have to figure out a way to make money. The greatest idea, technology, product, or service is short lived without a sustainable business model.

5. Weave A Mat (Milestones, Assumptions, and Tasks). The final step is to compile three lists: (a) major milestones you need to meet; (b) assumptions that are built into your business model; and (c) tasks you need to accomplish to create an organization on track when all hell breaks loose- and all hell will break loose.

(Chapter 1 The Art of the Start, by Guy Kawasaki pages 3-4)

So your homework, class, is to pick up a copy of The Art of the Start and read through it as we discuss key points and how to practically apply them to our own situations.

For more about Guy Kawasaki, check out Art of the Start.com (his site) as well as Guy's blog

More to come tomorrow!