Just Start: Take Action, Embrace Uncertainty, Create the Future

Author(s): Leonard A. Schlesinger & Charles F Kiefer

Mind, Body, Spirit

Babson College president provides a simple, systematic, and research-based method - identical to the one taught at Babson - for achieving success in an uncertain world. In a world where you can no longer plan or predict your way to success, what is the best way to achieve your goals? It's a daunting question, but today - when change seems to be the only constant - it's one that everyone, from entrepreneurs and managers to newly minted grads, must resolve. The simple answer, say the authors of "Just Start": you must act. And then go from there. Written by a trio of seasoned business leaders - Babson College President Leonard Schlesinger, organization learning expert Charles Kiefer, and veteran journalist and author Paul B. Brown - "Just Start" draws both from academic research and proven practices in organizations to lay out a simple yet reliable method for moving forward on anything when you are faced with volatility. The key, say the authors, is not only to think differently (much like an entrepreneur would), but to then put that thinking into immediate action to see if you are right.
They also explain how "smart steps" can help move you forward on your path of acting, learning from that action, and building off that learning to create a productive cycle of iteration. Building on an earlier version of the idea embraced by thousands of people to date, "Just Start" is a proven method to help you achieve your goals - whether you are starting a new project at the office, starting your own company, or starting a new career. About the authors: Leonard A. Schlesinger is the 12th president of Babson College, widely recognized as the world's leading educational institution for Entrepreneurship; and formerly served as vice chairman and chief operating officer of Limited Brands. Charles F. Kiefer is president of Innovation Associates and a regular advisor to global companies on leveraging the human side of their enterprises. Journalist Paul B. Brown is a long-time contributor to "The New York Times" and a former writer and editor for "Business Week", "Financial World", "Forbes", and "Inc".


Product Information

"This is a must-read to increase the level of innovation in your organization. You'll leave this book being able to take immediate action to learn how to innovate in a way that is right for you." - Wayne L. Delker, Senior Vice President - Chief Innovation Officer, Clorox "Schlesinger, Kiefer, and Brown's "Just Start" is a distilled, step-by-step, proven method for how to create something new in uncertain environments." - Tom Watson, Dean, Omnicom University, and Cofounder and Vice Chairman Emeritus, Omnicom Group Inc. "This book is one huge step in the right direction for anyone compelled to forge a dynamic future in uncertain times." - Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church, and President of Board, Willow Creek Association "Just Start" is a uniquely practical book that helps prepare the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and will equip them with the key frameworks for success." - Marina Kim, Executive Director, Ashoka "In "Just Start", the authors take what the research tells us about those who have succeeded the most in volatile environments-serial entrepreneurs-and applies their lessons to the rest of us. They provide a practical, step-by-step method to navigate through complex and uncertain environments, bounce back from setbacks, and overcome obstacles. A must-read for anyone struggling with uncertainty." - Steve Mariotti, Founder, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship

General Fields

  • : 9781422143612
  • : Harvard Business School Publishing
  • : Harvard Business School Press
  • : 0.431
  • : February 2012
  • : 236mm X 165mm X 23mm
  • : United States
  • : March 2012
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Leonard A. Schlesinger & Charles F Kiefer
  • : Hardback
  • : 650.1
  • : 200