My Start-Up Life: What a (Very) Young CEO Learned on His Journey Through Silicon Valley - Hardcover

Casnocha, Ben

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0787996130 ISBN 13: 9780787996130

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 2007

Synopsis

Ben Casnocha discovered he was entrepreneur at age 12 and hasn't slowed down since. In this remarkably instructive book, Ben dissects the entrepreneurship "gene," explaining that everyone has inherited it if they have an idea to make the world a better place. In Casnocha's case, he found a better way for city governments to communicate with constituents on the Web. Six years later, Comcate has dozens of municipal clients, a growing staff, and a record of excellence. This book is the story of his start-up, but also a conversation with his mentors, clients and fellow entrepreneurs about how to make a business idea work?and how to have the time of your life trying. From Pat Lencioni to Marc Benioff of salesforce.com, Ben has won over the best and brightest of the business world?now it's your turn!

About this title

About the Author

THE AUTHOR

Ben Casnocha is a San Francisco–based entrepreneur, writer, student, and blogger. Currently 19 years old, he serves on the board of Comcate, Inc., the leading e-government technology firm he founded six years ago. In 2006, BusinessWeek included him on its list of "America's best young entrepreneurs." His work has been featured on CNN and in USA Today. He will attend Claremont McKenna College after publication of this book. In his free time he indulges in passions for ping-pong, bow ties, and chess. Visit his blog at ben.casnocha.com

From the Back Cover

MY START-UP LIFE

Ben Casnocha started his first company at age 12. By the time he was 16, he was nominated for Inc. Magazine's "Entrepreneur of the Year" and was chairman of his second company, Comcate. While playing high school basketball and editing the school paper, Casnocha was also sneaking away to early morning flights for sales calls with customers. With the support and advice of some of Silicon Valley's brightest minds, Casnocha crammed a lifetime of business experience into just a few years, all of which he shares in this unique book.

My Start-Up Life is full of specific, actionable entrepreneurial advice from both the author and his "braintrust" of advisors on topics such as:

• The fuss about "passion" and how to leverage yours
• Lucky or smart? How to be both
• Create and project Brand "Me"
• Becoming a corporate athlete
• "Life is a sales call"
• Taking mentoring relationships to the next level
• The road ahead: leadership in a global, fast-paced world

My Start-Up Life is more than a gee-whiz account from a precocious teenager it is a serious yet entertaining treatment of the ups and downs of an entrepreneurial life and the sacrifices necessary to pursue a vision. Casnocha reveals practical tools for you to use to start your own business, or simply become CEO of your own life. Prepare to learn, laugh, and join the conversation!

From the Inside Flap

Ben Casnocha started his first company at age 12. By the time he was 16, he was nominated for Inc. Magazine's "Entrepreneur of the Year" and was chairman of his second company, Comcate. While playing high school basketball and editing the school paper, Casnocha was also sneaking away to early morning flights for sales calls with customers. With the support and advice of some of Silicon Valley's brightest minds, Casnocha crammed a lifetime of business experience into just a few years, all of which he shares in this unique book.

My Start-Up Life is full of specific, actionable entrepreneurial advice from both the author and his "braintrust" of advisors on topics such as:

• The fuss about "passion"--and how to leverage yours

• Lucky or smart? How to be both

• Create and project Brand "Me"

• Becoming a corporate athlete

• "Life is a sales call"

• Taking mentoring relationships to the next level

• The road ahead: leadership in a global, fast-paced world

My Start-Up Life is more than a gee-whiz account from a precocious teenager--it is a serious yet entertaining treatment of the ups and downs of an entrepreneurial life and the sacrifices necessary to pursue a vision. Casnocha reveals practical tools for you to use to start your own business, or simply become CEO of your own life. Prepare to learn, laugh, and join the conversation!

Reviews

When Casnocha, a first-time entrepreneur and author, shares his life story chronicling a jam-packed 19 years, it's clear he listens to Oprah's encomium "live your best life." What's even more jaw opening is the level of wisdom and self-awareness he displays. Each brief chapter features at least one personal, headlined sidebar about, say, customer feedback, advisory boards, or the power of mentors. There are also short "braintrust" synopses from Casnocha's ever-expanding network; venture capitalist Heidi Roizen weighs in on taking responsibility, while writer Chris Yeh muses about the right blend of work and life. In between the snippets lies a compelling narrative, from the author's first meander into customer focus groups to hard-earned lessons about technology and bootstrapping. A simply written yet remarkably direct, honest, and, yes, a bit heart-wrenching account about a lost teenagerhood. Barbara Jacobs
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Edition details

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0787996130
• ISBN 13: 9780787996130
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208