The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything

272 Pages·2004·0.92 MB·English

by  Guy Kawasaki

The Art of the Start
Also by Guy Kawasaki
Database 101
Hindsights
How to Drive Your Competition Crazy
Rules for the Revolutionaries
Selling the Dream
The Computer Curmudgeon
The Macintosh Way
ART START
THE OF THE
THE TIME-TESTED, BATTLE-HARDENED GUIDE FOR
ANYONE STARTING ANYTHING
Guy Kawasaki
PORTFOLIO
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014,
U.S.A.
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Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices:
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First published in 2004 by Portfolio,
a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Copyright © Guy Kawasaki, 2004
All rights reserved
Publisher’s Note
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in
regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the
publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional
services. If you require legal advice or other expert assistance, you should seek
the services of a competent professional.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Kawasaki, Guy, 1954–
The art of the start: the time-tested, battle-hardened guide for anyone starting
anything / Guy Kawasaki.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN: 978-1-101-21844-0
1. New business enterprises. 2. Entrepreneurship. I. Title.
HD62.5.K38 2004 658.1'1—dc22
2004044773
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this
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Many years ago Rudyard Kipling gave an address at McGill
University in Montreal. He said one striking thing which
deserves to be remembered. Warning the students against an
over-concern for money, or position, or glory, he said: “Some
day you will meet a man who cares for none of these things.
Then you will know how poor you are.”
—Halford E. Luccock
To my children: Nic, Noah, and Nohemi.
A child is the ultimate startup, and I have three.
This makes me rich.
Acknowledgments
In giving advice, seek to help, not please, your friend.
—Solon
M
y thanks to all the people who helped me with this book. First, Rick Kot at
Viking, because this book was his idea. Furthermore, he tolerated my crazy ideas
—including the title and subtitle and having a cover-design contest. Every author
should be so lucky to work with an editor like Rick. (The converse is not
necessarily true.)
Second, Patty Bozza and Alessandra Lusardi of Viking, and the Portfolio
team: Joe Perez, Will Weisser, and Adrian Zackheim, as well as Lisa “Her
Highness” Berkowitz. Behind every successful author stands an amazing team.
Third, a group of readers who truly sought to help, not please, me. They
spent many hours reading and refining my drafts. My eternal gratitude to:
Marylene Delbourg-Delphis, George Grigoryev, Ronit HaNegby, Heidi Mason,
Bill Meade, John Michel, Anne P. Mitchell, Lisa Nirell, Bill Reichert, Gary
Shaffer, Rick Sklarin, and Andrew Tan.
Fourth, a group of people who contributed by making suggestions, course
corrections, and additions. They are: Mohamed Abdel-Rahman, Anupam Anand,
Imran Anwar, Dave Baeckelandt, A. J. Balasubramanian, Steve Bengston, David
Berg, Scott Butler, Tom Byers, Antonio Carrero, Lilian Chau, Pam Chun, Tom
Corr, Stephen Cox, Deborah Vollmer Dahlke, Martin Edic, Bob Elmore, Eric
Erickson, Elaine Ferré, Pam Fischer, Sam Hahn, Lenn Hann, Steve Holden,
Hilary Horlock, Katherine Hsu, Doug Ito, Bill Joos, John Michel, Cindy
Nemeth-Johannes, Tom Kosnik, Pavin Lall, Les Laky, Molly Lavik, Eric “I’m
Open” Lier, Anthony Lloyd, Robert MacGregor, Tom Meade, Chris Melching,
Fujio Mimomi, Geoffrey O’Neill, Bola Odulate, Colin Ong, Steve Owlett,
Lakiba Pittman, Gina Poss, Julie Pound, Warrick Poyser, the Propon Team,
Richard Putz, Anita Rao, Jim Roberts, Marty Rogers, John Roney, Aaron
Rosenzweig, Michael Rozenek, Brian Rudolph, David Schlitter, John Scull,
Izhar Shay, Marc Sirkin, Marty Stogsdill, Judy Swartley, Russ Taylor, Larry
Thompson, Amy Vernetti, Ryan Walcott, Shelly Watson, Tim Wilson, Ryan
Wong, and Jan Zones.
Fifth, the people who helped me to market this book: Alyssa Fisher, Sandy
Kory, Tess Mayall, Ruey Feng Peh, Shifeng Li, Shyam Sankar, Betty Taylor, and
Kai Yang Wang.
Sixth, my loving and lovely wife, Beth. Thank you for bearing with me as I
wrote this book during a very busy time in our lives, and for the best twenty
years of my life.
Seventh, Sloan Harris of International Creative Management. Thank God for
Sloan—otherwise, Rick Kot and Portfolio would have eaten me alive.
Eighth, Patrick Lor and the gang at iStockPhoto.com who helped this
graphically challenged author.
Finally, John Baldwin, Ruben Ayala, and Ken Yackel of the Ice Oasis
Skating and Hockey Club. Were it not for them, I would have finished this book
six months earlier. But then I wouldn’t be the best fifty-year-old, transplanted
Hawaiian, beginner ice hockey player in Silicon Valley. And this is certainly a
desirable niche to fill.