,
, Praise for
Disciplined Entrepreneurship
“Entrepreneurship is not only a mind-set but a skill set. The 24 Steps present a practical step-by-step
process to channel the creative spirit to maximize the chances of success and ultimate impact.”
—Mitch Kapor, Founder, Lotus Development Corporation
“While I am not a big fan of business plans, I am a big fan of the business planning process. This book
provides an invaluable comprehensive framework for innovation-driven entrepreneurs to execute the
business planning process.”
—Brad Feld, Managing Director of the Foundry Group,
Co-Founder of TechStars, and Creator of the Startup Revolution book series
“We have had Bill working with entrepreneurs in Scotland for the past three years using the 24 Steps,
and we have been delighted with the results. Not only is the framework an extremely helpful road map,
it has also given entrepreneurs the confidence to go on the journey and take their businesses to the next
level. This is a very valuable approach that works across borders.”
—Alex Paterson, Chief Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise Scotland
“This is the book I wish I’d had when I was starting out—concise, great examples, in plain English,
combining classic entrepreneurship theory with what’s happening in today’s startup world. If you’re a
serious entrepreneur, read it carefully and keep it close at hand for the journey ahead.”
—Frederic Kerrest, Co-Founder, Okta, and
MIT Patrick J. McGovern, Jr. Entrepreneurship Award recipient
, “According to conventional wisdom, entrepreneurship is solely an innate trait. Nothing could be further
from the truth. Entrepreneurship is a learned skill which can be honed through crisp execution. This book
can help every entrepreneur dramatically increase the likelihood of success by providing step-by-step
guidance on how to approach starting a new business. I recommend it to all ambitious entrepreneurs.”
—Doug Leone, Managing Partner, Sequoia Capital
“Invaluable. This book superbly summarizes the lessons taught to us at MIT. It is the book I wish I had
when we were launching HubSpot six years ago.”
—Brian Halligan, Co-Founder and CEO, Hubspot, and author of Inbound Marketing
“Bill and I have had many discussions about entrepreneurship, and I really respect his perspective on
the topic. While the spirit of entrepreneurship is often about serendipity, the execution is not. This
book takes you through a systematic approach to significantly increase your odds of succeeding in
making a world-changing and sustainable company. I loved the content and the simple nature of
the book.”
—Joi Ito, Director, MIT Media Lab
“Ideas are a dime a dozen but great entrepreneurs are what create value. They have to be passionate
and skilled. Maybe passion can’t be taught, but execution skills can, and this book does a wonderful job
providing a structure and wisdom with each step to help entrepreneurs be more successful. I highly
recommend it.”
—Paul Maeder, Founding Partner of Highland Capital and
2012 Chair of the National Venture Capital Association
“Bill’s concept of a team creating an entrepreneur is intriguing but also validated by research and
experience. This list of disciplined steps to creating a venture can not only help entrepreneurs increase
their likelihood of success, but also identify the skills and people he/she will need on the team in the
crucial early steps in a company’s life, and to create a common language the team can share in talking
about the tasks before them. I might have suggested that he call his book The Holistic Entrepreneur.”
—Thomas A. McDonnell, President and CEO, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
, Praise for
Disciplined Entrepreneurship
“Entrepreneurship is not only a mind-set but a skill set. The 24 Steps present a practical step-by-step
process to channel the creative spirit to maximize the chances of success and ultimate impact.”
—Mitch Kapor, Founder, Lotus Development Corporation
“While I am not a big fan of business plans, I am a big fan of the business planning process. This book
provides an invaluable comprehensive framework for innovation-driven entrepreneurs to execute the
business planning process.”
—Brad Feld, Managing Director of the Foundry Group,
Co-Founder of TechStars, and Creator of the Startup Revolution book series
“We have had Bill working with entrepreneurs in Scotland for the past three years using the 24 Steps,
and we have been delighted with the results. Not only is the framework an extremely helpful road map,
it has also given entrepreneurs the confidence to go on the journey and take their businesses to the next
level. This is a very valuable approach that works across borders.”
—Alex Paterson, Chief Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise Scotland
“This is the book I wish I’d had when I was starting out—concise, great examples, in plain English,
combining classic entrepreneurship theory with what’s happening in today’s startup world. If you’re a
serious entrepreneur, read it carefully and keep it close at hand for the journey ahead.”
—Frederic Kerrest, Co-Founder, Okta, and
MIT Patrick J. McGovern, Jr. Entrepreneurship Award recipient
, “According to conventional wisdom, entrepreneurship is solely an innate trait. Nothing could be further
from the truth. Entrepreneurship is a learned skill which can be honed through crisp execution. This book
can help every entrepreneur dramatically increase the likelihood of success by providing step-by-step
guidance on how to approach starting a new business. I recommend it to all ambitious entrepreneurs.”
—Doug Leone, Managing Partner, Sequoia Capital
“Invaluable. This book superbly summarizes the lessons taught to us at MIT. It is the book I wish I had
when we were launching HubSpot six years ago.”
—Brian Halligan, Co-Founder and CEO, Hubspot, and author of Inbound Marketing
“Bill and I have had many discussions about entrepreneurship, and I really respect his perspective on
the topic. While the spirit of entrepreneurship is often about serendipity, the execution is not. This
book takes you through a systematic approach to significantly increase your odds of succeeding in
making a world-changing and sustainable company. I loved the content and the simple nature of
the book.”
—Joi Ito, Director, MIT Media Lab
“Ideas are a dime a dozen but great entrepreneurs are what create value. They have to be passionate
and skilled. Maybe passion can’t be taught, but execution skills can, and this book does a wonderful job
providing a structure and wisdom with each step to help entrepreneurs be more successful. I highly
recommend it.”
—Paul Maeder, Founding Partner of Highland Capital and
2012 Chair of the National Venture Capital Association
“Bill’s concept of a team creating an entrepreneur is intriguing but also validated by research and
experience. This list of disciplined steps to creating a venture can not only help entrepreneurs increase
their likelihood of success, but also identify the skills and people he/she will need on the team in the
crucial early steps in a company’s life, and to create a common language the team can share in talking
about the tasks before them. I might have suggested that he call his book The Holistic Entrepreneur.”
—Thomas A. McDonnell, President and CEO, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
