How They Started: How 30 good ideas became great businesses by David Lester (Editor) (1-Jun-2007) Paperback

by David Lester

How do you turn a good idea into a great business? Lots of us have ideas we think would make great businesses. Most of us never do anything with those ideas. Maybe it’s because we’re really happy with our jobs, maybe it’s because we’re not confident that our idea would really work. Or maybe it’s simply because we don’t know where to start. This book is about 25 people like you. They had an idea, and went on to start a business. Those businesses are all extremely successful and most are now household names all across America. With success stories ranging from retail and gaming to social media and the restaurant business, How They Started relives the humble beginnings of companies such as Coca-Cola and Google, Twitter, Zynga and Chipotle Grill. Through personal interviews with key sources – including founders, investors and past employees – each profile reveals how the company took its first tentative steps and subsequently became the famous name it is today. Written by Carol Tice, regular writer for Entrepreneur Magazine, and David Lester, who set up a highly successful software company in Farmington, CT and now runs a company dedicated to supporting start-ups and entrepreneurs, How They Started is an enlightening and fascinating book that answers key questions for each business, such What happened first? How did they choose their name? How much did it cost to set up? Where did they find suppliers? How did they get their first customers? What problems did they run into - and how did they overcome them?

Genres: Business

Unknown Binding

First published June 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jude Ripin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring collection of successful businessmen stories which started from only an idea they each had, initially. Kudos to David Lester and his team for researching and compiling this unique book for readers to read and enjoy, and perhaps inspire them enough to start their own businesses eventually.

[Ramses M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a simple idea, which is why it's so great. I remember sitting in libraries in East London excitedly reading these books in the evenings, as I took a break from the company I was building. It provided some good inspiration.
Now the stories may be a little (repeat little) simplified at times, but nonetheless hav eto comend David for putting it together.
The title actually played a part in inspiring the title to me own book: "How It All Got Started: Lessons in Life, Art and Entrepreneurship from Hip Hop Icons" (although it's also based on a Nas song!)

[Wenslaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

All from humble beginnings.This book shows us that it's possible.

[Florin Dragusin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy book to go through. Finished more to get through 10 books / year challenge, but not very engaging to push you to want to read more.
Interesting ideas and topic, very focused on UK market and quite old - most of the businesses were done through the mail orders.
It gave a good inspiration about what might be the challenges and what were sources for people to collect initial capital.
The main purpose of the book was to inspire to read the full version - for me this scope was not achieved. But 3 out of 5 it is still not a bad lecture, is a 1 day book, easy book for the weekend in case of looking for inspiration for starting a business.