Startup CEO

Whatever industry you may be involved in—whether it be architecture, medicine, or technology—scaling up your business can be one of the most difficult endeavors you may ever face. And in most cases, as the company grows, so will your role in it. Being a CEO is an incredibly complex job at any size company, but it can be especially challenging if you're part of a startup. In this case, you really don't have the luxury of making costly mistakes while learning on the job. Back in 1999, author Matt Blumberg, a technology and marketing entrepreneur started a company called Return Path that later became the driving force behind the creation of his blog, OnlyOnce—because "you're only a first-time CEO once." Now, with Startup CEO —the third book in the Startup Revolution series—Blumberg shares his experiences that led up to that point and discusses the details of this extremely difficult and unique job. Whether you're currently the CEO of your own company, an aspiring entrepreneur, or thinking about your own career development, the insights found here will put you in a better position to succeed. Divided into five comprehensive parts, this reliable resource skillfully puts the essential elements of this endeavor in perspective—from the startup stage, through the revenue stage, and into the growth stage. Along the way, you'll gain valuable knowledge on: Part I: defining your vision of the startup and effectively communicating it to all stakeholders Part II: running the people side of your company, from creating a culture and the full cycle of employment—recruiting, hiring, and retaining or firing—to the growing challenge of managing remote employees Part III: the key elements of execution, including the specifics of financing the company and budgeting, running great meetings, and setting goals Part IV: the main aspects of managing a board, from recruiting members to working with them on potentially thorny topics like their performance or your compensation Part V: managing yourself so you can manage others, including creating your own operating system; working with an executive assistant, executive coach, and a peer group; and balancing family and work life Startup CEO puts an emphasis on practical application. To that end, this book provides readers with exclusive access to a companion website filled with supplementary materials, allowing you to continue to learn in a hands-on fashion long after closing the book. Being a startup CEO is one of the hardest jobs you'll ever have. But if you're motivated, creative, and enjoy building things, it's also the best job in the world. Startup CEO will show you what it takes to make it in this position—and while it may not have all the answers, it can help you figure out the questions you should always be asking.