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Go. No Go.: Is Your business Idea Ready to Launch?
Over 50% of small businesses FAIL IN THE FIRST YEAR. Why?
Before you invest money into your business venture, invest your time into understanding the market so you can gauge willingness to buy.
Go/No Go walks you through the crucial steps needed to evaluate your business idea. You will learn how to...
* make a decision with your eyes wide open
* save time, money, and human resources* create and deliver value to the marketplace from day one* collect information, then use tools and templates to make a rational "go/no go" decision
Lauri Harrison started her career with MapQuest and currently works for Google guiding customers on their digital transformation journey. She has helped small business start-ups define their marketing and product strategies for nearly two decades and has seen too many small businesses make the same mistakes over and over. Lauri wrote Go/No Go to explain the basics, so budding entrepreneurs can put their time, money, and energy toward success.
Before you invest money into your business venture, invest your time into understanding the market so you can gauge willingness to buy.
Go/No Go walks you through the crucial steps needed to evaluate your business idea. You will learn how to...
* make a decision with your eyes wide open
* save time, money, and human resources* create and deliver value to the marketplace from day one* collect information, then use tools and templates to make a rational "go/no go" decision
Lauri Harrison started her career with MapQuest and currently works for Google guiding customers on their digital transformation journey. She has helped small business start-ups define their marketing and product strategies for nearly two decades and has seen too many small businesses make the same mistakes over and over. Lauri wrote Go/No Go to explain the basics, so budding entrepreneurs can put their time, money, and energy toward success.
- GenresEntrepreneurship
111 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2018
493 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 25, 2018
Many people have dreamed of starting their own businesses but never move past the point of wishing, perhaps due to an inherent sense of a lack of knowledge how to make those dreams become reality. Others have moved past the starting line, creating a business built with great hopes and desires only to see their hard work crash and burn. It is a sobering thought that 50% of small businesses fail in the first year and only 5% are still alive after five years.
With the facts staring us in the face, it makes sense to do what we can to increase our odds of success, leveraging us into that 5% of businesses that survive. Author Lauri Harrison offers that opportunity and brings a wealth of knowledge to her book “Go No Go.” Along with a master of science degree in marketing, she continues to lecture at Columbia University and has created a graduate level Introduction to Marketing Management course.
Of course, one might wonder if Ms. Harrison can translate that textbook thinking into a manual for the rest of us. The average person probably has no more than a small smattering of smarts when it comes to marketing a new business. Thankfully, the author breaks everything down into manageable bites, explaining the necessary steps in everyday language. This is exemplified right from the start with words from the book’s title: Go – No Go. These three words tell us what the entire book is designed to do, to ensure you have done everything possible to give your new business a chance to succeed. That’s the “Go” time.
The book is broken down into chapters, leading us through each step of the process. The author outlines the work that must be done in order to have a chance of realizing our dreams. Peppered throughout the book are gems of wisdom hidden within warnings, such as “A common weakness (of new businesses) was a lack of understanding about the problems they were solving.” Another dealt with market research, “…one of the most critical parts of building a solid foundation for a business…many companies skip this step because they believe their idea…will sell itself.” Ms. Harrison presents solutions to these as well as other potential pitfalls.
At the very least, by the end of the book you will understand your business much better than before you started, and will have a list of items that could derail your progress along with solutions when and if the worst happens. You may decide to “No Go,” and head back to the drawing board (and save yourself a ton of money and heartache). Most helpful are the “Ophelia’s Chocolates” examples. After explaining a concept and how it will benefit you, the author proceeds to demonstrate putting the concept into practice. Any misconceptions on how to employ the marketing tools in this book are immediately cleared through these handy explanations.
Other helpful additions to the book: an appendix containing a 43-question outline of what you have learned, a glossary of terms, and a list of resources and website urls. Ms. Harrison has also supplied templates to use, saving us the hassle of creating something to use with her teachings. Marketing can be hazardous travel, and the author has supplied us with a detailed roadmap. While it can’t guarantee that we will reach our destination, “Go No Go” will help us gain confidence and knowledge, which might be all the boost we need. Five stars.
My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of her book.
With the facts staring us in the face, it makes sense to do what we can to increase our odds of success, leveraging us into that 5% of businesses that survive. Author Lauri Harrison offers that opportunity and brings a wealth of knowledge to her book “Go No Go.” Along with a master of science degree in marketing, she continues to lecture at Columbia University and has created a graduate level Introduction to Marketing Management course.
Of course, one might wonder if Ms. Harrison can translate that textbook thinking into a manual for the rest of us. The average person probably has no more than a small smattering of smarts when it comes to marketing a new business. Thankfully, the author breaks everything down into manageable bites, explaining the necessary steps in everyday language. This is exemplified right from the start with words from the book’s title: Go – No Go. These three words tell us what the entire book is designed to do, to ensure you have done everything possible to give your new business a chance to succeed. That’s the “Go” time.
The book is broken down into chapters, leading us through each step of the process. The author outlines the work that must be done in order to have a chance of realizing our dreams. Peppered throughout the book are gems of wisdom hidden within warnings, such as “A common weakness (of new businesses) was a lack of understanding about the problems they were solving.” Another dealt with market research, “…one of the most critical parts of building a solid foundation for a business…many companies skip this step because they believe their idea…will sell itself.” Ms. Harrison presents solutions to these as well as other potential pitfalls.
At the very least, by the end of the book you will understand your business much better than before you started, and will have a list of items that could derail your progress along with solutions when and if the worst happens. You may decide to “No Go,” and head back to the drawing board (and save yourself a ton of money and heartache). Most helpful are the “Ophelia’s Chocolates” examples. After explaining a concept and how it will benefit you, the author proceeds to demonstrate putting the concept into practice. Any misconceptions on how to employ the marketing tools in this book are immediately cleared through these handy explanations.
Other helpful additions to the book: an appendix containing a 43-question outline of what you have learned, a glossary of terms, and a list of resources and website urls. Ms. Harrison has also supplied templates to use, saving us the hassle of creating something to use with her teachings. Marketing can be hazardous travel, and the author has supplied us with a detailed roadmap. While it can’t guarantee that we will reach our destination, “Go No Go” will help us gain confidence and knowledge, which might be all the boost we need. Five stars.
My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of her book.
December 16, 2018
‘Deliver Value That Solves a Problem to an Audience Willing to Pay for it’
Author Lauri Harrison earned a Masters in marketing from the University of Colorado, a bachelor degree of business administration in marketing from the University of Hawaii, and completed post-graduate studies at Stanford University as a member of the inaugural graduating class of 2014 for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) professional certificate program. She guest lectured at the University of Colorado (Denver), Colorado State University, Metro State University, University of Northern Colorado, and Denver University, and has been a panel speaker at industry conferences, including the Women’s Vision Foundation, Women in Technology, and Yellow Pages Publishing Association (YPPA). She is now a marketing lecturer at Columbia University, School of Professional Studies, having created a graduate level Introduction to Marketing and Marketing Management course she continues to teach today. Lauri also works for Google, guiding external customers on digital transformation journeys.
With the vast experience in the field of entrepreneurship Lauri has written the ’go to’ boo for budding entrepreneurs on how to put their time, money, and energy toward success. As she states, ‘My goal is to provide practical techniques to help you perform market research to validate the idea and then make a Go/ No-Go decision to move forward with your business. You will not find gimmicks or quick-fix techniques here. I will show you how to create a solid foundation to start from that can set you up for success. If you have an idea that you, and perhaps others, believe can solve a problem in the marketplace, and you do not have a marketing background, this book is for you. I will take you through a detailed process to confirm you have a valid product or service before you spend a penny on product development and marketing. For nearly two decades, I have consulted with start-ups and legacy businesses of all sizes. My favorite types of clients are start-ups because they are the most eager to learn and typically put the customer at the center of everything they do. It would be ideal for me to work one-on-one with every start-up looking for someone they can trust. Since that’s not a viable option, I decided to write this book as a guide to empower people to successfully research and validate their business idea before jumping into the creation of their actual business. It isn’t rocket science, and you do not need a degree in marketing to win in business. What you do need is a solid understanding of the fundamentals for bringing a product or service to the marketplace.’
In readily accessible terms Lauri discusses these topics: You Have a New Business Idea. Now What?, Do Your Homework: Is Your Idea Already Out There, Define the Problem: What, Who, and Why, Test Your Idea, Marketing Decisions: Price, Place, and Promotion, Reality Check Your Business Idea, Define What Success Means to You, Make a Go/ No-Go Decision, Recap and Action Plan, and Long-Term Profitability. Advice from the Pro written in a manner that makes the launch secure.
Filled with not only instructions keyed to new entrepreneurs, but also a book well stocked with references and websites and templates to make the road mare easily travelled.
Author Lauri Harrison earned a Masters in marketing from the University of Colorado, a bachelor degree of business administration in marketing from the University of Hawaii, and completed post-graduate studies at Stanford University as a member of the inaugural graduating class of 2014 for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) professional certificate program. She guest lectured at the University of Colorado (Denver), Colorado State University, Metro State University, University of Northern Colorado, and Denver University, and has been a panel speaker at industry conferences, including the Women’s Vision Foundation, Women in Technology, and Yellow Pages Publishing Association (YPPA). She is now a marketing lecturer at Columbia University, School of Professional Studies, having created a graduate level Introduction to Marketing and Marketing Management course she continues to teach today. Lauri also works for Google, guiding external customers on digital transformation journeys.
With the vast experience in the field of entrepreneurship Lauri has written the ’go to’ boo for budding entrepreneurs on how to put their time, money, and energy toward success. As she states, ‘My goal is to provide practical techniques to help you perform market research to validate the idea and then make a Go/ No-Go decision to move forward with your business. You will not find gimmicks or quick-fix techniques here. I will show you how to create a solid foundation to start from that can set you up for success. If you have an idea that you, and perhaps others, believe can solve a problem in the marketplace, and you do not have a marketing background, this book is for you. I will take you through a detailed process to confirm you have a valid product or service before you spend a penny on product development and marketing. For nearly two decades, I have consulted with start-ups and legacy businesses of all sizes. My favorite types of clients are start-ups because they are the most eager to learn and typically put the customer at the center of everything they do. It would be ideal for me to work one-on-one with every start-up looking for someone they can trust. Since that’s not a viable option, I decided to write this book as a guide to empower people to successfully research and validate their business idea before jumping into the creation of their actual business. It isn’t rocket science, and you do not need a degree in marketing to win in business. What you do need is a solid understanding of the fundamentals for bringing a product or service to the marketplace.’
In readily accessible terms Lauri discusses these topics: You Have a New Business Idea. Now What?, Do Your Homework: Is Your Idea Already Out There, Define the Problem: What, Who, and Why, Test Your Idea, Marketing Decisions: Price, Place, and Promotion, Reality Check Your Business Idea, Define What Success Means to You, Make a Go/ No-Go Decision, Recap and Action Plan, and Long-Term Profitability. Advice from the Pro written in a manner that makes the launch secure.
Filled with not only instructions keyed to new entrepreneurs, but also a book well stocked with references and websites and templates to make the road mare easily travelled.
February 13, 2019
Lauri Harrison's book presents a method for developing business ideas before "venture"-ing into the market. She uses the APIE method, without stating so directly, that is ubiquitous among professionals: In order to develop a solution one must 1) Assess, 2)Plan, 3)Investigate, and Implement, and 4) Evaluate. She has utilized this method as a template and inserted the appropriate information relevant to someone who has an idea for a business, but may not be educated in the process that one would utilize towards a successful launch.
There is an Appendix, Glossary, and list of URLs, and Downloadable Templates, but no index. Instead of a bibliography there is a section on Resources and Endnotes.
This book is on-point and not fluffy or cutesy. It is a brief (137 page) overview of a method one might want to use as a guide through a complicated culture. As a retired entrepreneur I appreciate her insights and unaffected writing style, and wish there had been such a book when I was getting started.
I'd recommend this book to someone who is just beginning to think about entering the market, who has a great idea, and who knows practically nothing. I'd also recommend this book for someone who knows what to do in their own area, but might want to change directions. The key to this book is stated in the listed goals: "you will learn how to make a decision with your eyes wide open; save time, money, and human resources; create and deliver value to the marketplace...; collect information, then use tools and templates to make a rational 'go/no go' decision."
There is an Appendix, Glossary, and list of URLs, and Downloadable Templates, but no index. Instead of a bibliography there is a section on Resources and Endnotes.
This book is on-point and not fluffy or cutesy. It is a brief (137 page) overview of a method one might want to use as a guide through a complicated culture. As a retired entrepreneur I appreciate her insights and unaffected writing style, and wish there had been such a book when I was getting started.
I'd recommend this book to someone who is just beginning to think about entering the market, who has a great idea, and who knows practically nothing. I'd also recommend this book for someone who knows what to do in their own area, but might want to change directions. The key to this book is stated in the listed goals: "you will learn how to make a decision with your eyes wide open; save time, money, and human resources; create and deliver value to the marketplace...; collect information, then use tools and templates to make a rational 'go/no go' decision."
January 7, 2019
Read this book before starting up your business!
Lauri's wealth of experience and passion for helping new business owners is obvious in this book.
She does a good job of stating the facts of 'Who, What, and Why before starting any business. She challenges the reader and prospective business owner to do leg work, extensive research not just for their product but for their competitors. I love the fact that Lauri encourages following competitors Social media platforms, email and Google alerts to get ideas and learn.
She also shares that success is not guaranteed just because there is a need and a product/service is created to meet that need. Sustainability, consistent marketing, being in tune with the times/seasons.
Overall, the book is laid out clearly and strategically to help a budding business owner or someone looking to reinvigorate their business.
Lauri's wealth of experience and passion for helping new business owners is obvious in this book.
She does a good job of stating the facts of 'Who, What, and Why before starting any business. She challenges the reader and prospective business owner to do leg work, extensive research not just for their product but for their competitors. I love the fact that Lauri encourages following competitors Social media platforms, email and Google alerts to get ideas and learn.
She also shares that success is not guaranteed just because there is a need and a product/service is created to meet that need. Sustainability, consistent marketing, being in tune with the times/seasons.
Overall, the book is laid out clearly and strategically to help a budding business owner or someone looking to reinvigorate their business.
December 6, 2018
This is a great book for anyone thinking of starting a business. It is a short book with good information and great examples to apply what you read. The templates are also helpful. This is a quick read that has significance for anyone thinking of starting a business. Although some of it seems basic, I have seen several businesses fail because they did not do the research required and assumed "if you build it, they will come", which Harrison advises against. A few steps can help you decide whether to invest heavily in an idea that may sound great but may not yield profits or be with the time. The easy steps and examples make it easy to understand. Well worth the time spent reading if you are considering opening a business.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews