Life Entrepreneurs E-Book

Christopher Gergen

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Serie: J-B Warren Bennis Series
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 370

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

"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."

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Praise

A WARREN BENNIS BOOK

Books in the Warren Bennis Signature Series

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Foreword

Introduction

LIST OF INTERVIEWS

PART ONE - SURVEYING THE LANDSCAPE

CHAPTER ONE - UNDERSTANDING LIFE ENTREPRENEURSHIP

THE LIFE ENTREPRENEUR

AN INTEGRATED LIFE

ANSWERING A CALL

PUTTING LIFE BACK INTO OUR LIVES

YOUR OWN “SECRET OFFICE”

PATTERNS OF LIVING

FOUR PATTERNS OF LIVING

CREATING THE GOOD LIFE

THE PATH OF THE LIFE ENTREPRENEUR

CHAPTER TWO - LIFE ENTREPRENEURS INACTION

“RAISING THE BAR”

CREATING BRIGHT HORIZONS

CHAPTER THREE - DISCOVERING CORE IDENTITY

I . EXTERNAL ELEMENTS

II. INTERNAL ELEMENTS

III. CORE IDENTITY

AUTHENTIC INTEGRITY

PART TWO - PREPARING FOR THE JOURNEY

CHAPTER FOUR - AWAKENING TO OPPORTUNITY

CAKE LOVE

WAKING UP TO POSSIBILITY

“BEGINNER’S MIND”

RECOGNIZING OPPORTUNITY

BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION

BREAK ON THROUGH ...

ASSESSING OPPORTUNITY

“YOUR LIFE IS YOUR ART”

CHAPTER FIVE - ENVISIONING THE FUTURE

CREATING A VISION FOR OUR LIVES

IMAGINING THE FUTURE

AN EVOLVING VISION

CONNECTING VISION TO CORE IDENTITY

STAYING TRUE TO OUR VISION

THE POWER OF SHARED VISION

CHAPTER SIX - DEVELOPING GOALS AND STRATEGIES

SETTING GOALS

COMMON STUMBLING BLOCKS

DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC PLAN

AN INSPIRING ENDEAVOR

PART THREE - BLAZING A TRAIL

CHAPTER SEVEN - BUILDING HEALTHY SUPPORT SYSTEMS

ROOTS AND WINGS

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

LIFE PARTNERS AND “ENTREPRENEURIAL COUPLES”

MENTORS

PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

EXTENDED NETWORKS OF SUPPORT

HOW TO BUILD A STRONG SUPPORT NETWORK

“AUTHENTIC” NETWORKING

TRUST, DIVERSITY, AND RECIPROCITY

CHAPTER EIGHT - TAKING ACTION AND MAKING ADIFFERENCE

THE COURAGE TO TRY

WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY

PURPOSEFUL SPONTANEITY

IN THE ARENA

PERVASIVE SERVICE

ADAPTIVE PERSISTENCE

ERASING THE LINES

THE COST OF NOT ACTING

CHAPTER NINE - EMBRACING RENEWAL AND REINVENTION

RENEWAL

HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE

THE CONSEQUENCES OF OVERLOAD

DAILY RENEWAL

LONGER-TERM RENEWAL

CYCLES OF RENEWAL

“CRUCIBLES”

REINVENTION

LEADING AN INTEGRATED LIFE

CONCLUSION: CREATING A NEW FUTURE

APPENDIX A: LIFE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PRIMER

APPENDIX B: EXERCISES AND HELPFUL RESOURCES

APPENDIX C: INTERVIEW METHODOLOGY

NOTES

THE AUTHORS

Acknowledgments

INDEX

More Praise forLife Entrepreneurs

“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 of Making a Life, Making a Living, and True to Yourself

“Highly effective people take a principled, integrated approach to life—inspired by vision and implemented with persistence. Gergen and Vanourek do a wonderful job bringing this philosophy to life through colorful storytelling and a well-conceived framework. Pick up this book and read it. It might change your life.”

—Stephen R. Covey, best-selling author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 8thHabit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

“Gergen and Vanourek provide a great road map for anyone who is looking to find success and fulfillment doing what they are passionate about.”

—Steve Ells, founder, chairman, and CEO, Chipotle Mexican Grill

“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; author of Raising the Bar

“Life Entrepreneurs captures the essence of the Creative Age, where people are the true source of economic growth.”

—Richard Florida, best-selling author of Rise of the Creative Class; director, Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management

“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 of 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 Institute; former CEO, Girl Scouts of America

“Life Entrepreneurs is wonderfully written, highly engaging, and inspiring. As people who aspire to be an ‘entrepreneurial couple,’ we found Gergen’s and Vanourek’s book full of thoughtful insights and powerful strategic advice on how to live a life that integrates and balances family, friends, work, and personal fulfillment. The authors demonstrate how anyone can become a life entrepreneur. This book is a gift for all of us.”

—Alan Khazei, co-founder, City Year Inc., and Vanessa Kirsch, president and founder, New Profit, Inc.

“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, Teach for America

“Our work and life can be a great adventure, an opportunity to serve people in compelling and meaningful ways. In this book, we gain powerful insights on how to realize those important possibilities.”

—Linda Mason, chairman and co-founder, Bright Horizons Family Solutions

“Gergen and Vanourek offer a fresh and vital approach to life and career planning. The book speaks directly to the younger generations of Americans who increasingly reject pigeon-holed and segmented careers but, instead, are choosing to create integrated lives filled with, ‘passion, connection, and significance.’ I highly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking The Good Life.”

—James O’Toole, author of Creating the Good Life; former executive vice president, Aspen Institute

“Gergen and Vanourek have done a spectacular job shining a light on a new approach to professional success and personal fulfillment: the life entrepreneur. With dozens of inspiring profiles and page after page of smart advice, this book belongs on the nightstand of every thoughtful businessperson in America.”

—Daniel H. Pink, New York Times best-selling author of A Whole New Mind andFree Agent Nation

“Life Entrepreneurs offers a new way of thinking about life and work, and a window into the future. I highly recommend it.”

—Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor

“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 book is true, smart, honest, hopeful, and helpful. It is essential reading for anyone who shares the belief that work and life aren’t two separate categories, divided by pain, pressure, and a paycheck. Instead, here’s the good news: entrepreneurship isn’t just a way of making a living—it’s a way of life. Buy this book, read it, and then do it!”

—Alan M. Webber, co-founding editor, Fast Company magazine; former editorial director, Harvard Business Review

A WARREN BENNIS BOOK

This collection of books is devoted exclusively to new and exemplary contributions to management thought and practice. The books in this series are addressed to thoughtful leaders, executives, and managers of all organizations who are struggling with and committed to responsible change. My hope and goal is to spark new intellectual capital by sharing ideas positioned at an angle to conventional thought—in short, to publish books that disturb the present in the service of a better future.

Books in the Warren Bennis Signature Series

BrandenSelf-Esteem at WorkMitroff, DentonA Spiritual Audit of Corporate AmericaScheinThe Corporate Culture Survival GuideSampleThe Contrarian’s Guide to LeadershipLawrence, NohriaDrivenCloke, GoldsmithThe End of Management and the Rise of Organizational DemocracyGlenLeading GeeksCloke, GoldsmithThe Art of Waking People UpGeorgeAuthentic LeadershipKohlrieserHostage at the TableRhodeMoral LeadershipGeorgeTrue NorthTownsendUp the OrganizationKellerman/RhodeWomen and LeadershipRiggioThe Art of Followership

Copyright © 2008 by Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek. All rights reserved.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gergen, Christopher, 1970-

Life entrepreneurs : ordinary people creating extraordinary lives / Christopher Gergen, Gregg Vanourek.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-7879-8862-3 (cloth)

1. Creative ability in business. 2. Entrepreneurship. 3. Work and family. 4. Maturation (Psychology) I. Vanourek, Gregg. II. Title.

HD53.G47 2008

650.1—dc22

2007049549

HB Printing

From Christopher:To Heather and Maya (Team Daddy)and to Mom and Dad—my roots and wings

From Gregg:To Alexandra, enamored with lifeand awash in possibility

FOREWORD

Usually in business books that tackle the notion of entrepreneurship, there is the unspoken (and sometimes spoken) assumption that to be an entrepreneur, you have to give 110 percent to your work at the expense of other aspects of your life. These authors focus on how to create extraordinary organizations, while ignoring the balance and quality of the entrepreneur’s life as a whole. But our legacy is so much more than the bottom line.

What I love about this book is that Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek have turned that proposition on its head. Both have succeeded as entrepreneurs—in business, education, non-profits, and more—but at pivotal moments in their lives, each wondered whether they had been channeling their energy and attention into the right things. What they realized is that by turning their entrepreneurial spirit toward other aspects of their lives, they could create something extraordinary and much more fulfilling, both personally and professionally.

This is one of the most inspiring and unique books I have come across in a long time. It addresses many of the most daunting dilemmas that modern workers, especially those under fifty, face: How can I achieve meaning, personal growth, and happiness? How can I impact the world and other people in a positive way? Can I overcome my fears and challenge the status quo to become the person I feel I should be? And on top of it all, how can I find the time and the means to answer these questions while trying to make a living?

The authors deserve much credit for addressing these issues in a totally novel way, one that not only instructs but entertains. Their concept of “Life Entrepreneurship” is a deep one. Not only have they done firsthand research by finding fascinating, real-life entrepreneurs to share their stories, they have also asked difficult questions and distilled their commonalities so that the rest of us can start to examine our paths as well, at any age and place in life.

And this book couldn’t come at a better time. The world has rarely needed capable leaders more than it does now, and this need goes far beyond the boardroom. We need it in terms of family, community, and social responsibility. Life Entrepreneurs cuts right to the essence of leadership in that it seeks to integrate all of these and encourages us to align our values with everything we do and take responsibility for every facet of our lives.

But above all, life entrepreneurship is an adventure. It doesn’t just arise from need, but from desire—to be something more, to create something new, to explore beyond the usual boundaries. It’s an appeal to all of us to become our best selves. As the authors say, the opportunities for challenge, contribution, and fulfillment are there; we just have to grab them.

Warren Bennis Santa Monica, CaliforniaNovember 2007

INTRODUCTION

The idea for this book came to us one warm spring afternoon in Virginia, as we sat on a picnic bench with an intriguing question: How can we create extraordinary lives?

As we wrestled with this question, we drew on a source of mutual inspiration—the power of creating innovative new enterprises. We are both entrepreneurs. Between us, we have started or helped to start companies, non-profits, schools, a foundation, a national government initiative, and even a live music café in South America. We wondered if that entrepreneurial approach could be applied to our lives.

As we sat and talked, our lives were at crossroads. Gregg was reclaiming his life after a start-up experience that was both thrilling and punishing. After helping to build a fledgling venture into a national education enterprise, he was eager to take a new direction in life, one definitively of his own choosing. Christopher was ready to pursue a new challenge after cofounding an online tutoring company that serves students globally. Both of us were starting families and were committed to embracing and upholding that awesome responsibility.