Books on Startup Management?

January 3, 2007 10:20 PM

I'm now managing my third startup, having successfully built and sold the first two. Nonetheless, despite my supposed expertise, I often have the sense that I'm totally faking it, completely flying blind. Are there any good books on startup company management? All the entrepreneurship books I've found are exceedingly basic, and focus only on business plan writing / fundraising; conversely, all the standard management books seem tailored only to Fortune 500s. Anything in between? A good book on how to manage a fast-growing (and, this time, non-tech) startup company day to day?
posted by anonymous to work & money (7 comments total)

Anything by Drucker. Check out the Effective Executive and the Essential Drucker. He isn't called the father of modern management for nothing.

Getting Real - its from a tech perspective, but it can be applied to any startup.
posted by rsanheim at 12:06 AM on January 4, 2007

Growing a Business is pretty good, more philosophy than nuts and bolts though.
posted by muddylemon at 12:51 AM on January 4, 2007

I asked a similar question earlier, so will be watching the answer and then heading to the bookstore.
posted by parmanparman at 3:48 AM on January 4, 2007

I second Growing a Business, FWIW.
posted by FauxScot at 3:58 AM on January 4, 2007

This isn't a snark, so please don't take it that way...Maybe what you're feeling has more to do with the (apparently) short-term view you take with your projects? Sort of a built-in sense of impermanence?
Perhaps, instead of building-to-sell, if you were to build something more permanent? Something you intended to build, grow and run for the long-term? A legacy or some sort?

Absolutely feel free to ignore this wild bit of arm chair psychology, of course.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:29 AM on January 4, 2007

You're on your third successful start-up?

I know this doesn't answer your question but maybe YOU should write a book.
posted by ASM at 11:57 AM on January 4, 2007

I often have the sense that I'm totally faking it

Welcome to the universe. Have you heard the phrase "fake it 'til you make it" or of "impostor syndrome"? Pretty much everybody is faking it and trying to hide it.
posted by kindall at 3:39 PM on January 4, 2007