Comments on: Books on Startup Management?

Question: Books on Startup Management?

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 22:20:29 -0800

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?

By: rsanheim

rsanheim — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 00:06:26 -0800

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.

By: muddylemon

muddylemon — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 00:51:35 -0800

Growing a Business is pretty good, more philosophy than nuts and bolts though.

By: parmanparman

parmanparman — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 03:48:10 -0800

I asked a similar question earlier, so will be watching the answer and then heading to the bookstore.

By: FauxScot

FauxScot — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 03:58:55 -0800

I second Growing a Business, FWIW.

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 07:29:18 -0800

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.

By: ASM

ASM — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 11:57:19 -0800

You're on your third successful start-up?

I know this doesn't answer your question but maybe YOU should write a book.

By: kindall

kindall — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 15:39:13 -0800

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.