1st Edition
The Entirepreneur The All-In-One Entrepreneur-Leader-Manager
In this groundbreaking book Bill Bolton and John Thompson present a completely new take on the conventional domains of entrepreneur, leader and manager. They argue that in today’s turbulent and uncertain world, businesses no longer have the time for a business cycle that begins with an entrepreneur, hands over to a manager and finally brings in a strategic leader when things are flagging. ‘The New Normal’ that now prevails requires that these things run together and calls for a new kind of all-rounder.
Bolton and Thompson give us a new word to describe such a person:
The ENTIREPRENEUR
The entirely competent person, able to discern aright and make things happen.
Drawing upon the successful person-centred approach of their books on entrepreneurs they first tell the stories of over 40 entirepreneurs, demonstrating clearly that such people do exist. After discussing the ‘New Normal’ context they present a fascinating analysis that goes below the surface to describe the key Talent, Temperament, Technique and Discernment attributes that explain the entirepreneur. Readers have the opportunity to make a self-evaluation of their own attribute strengths, concluding with a final ‘entirepreneur’ score.
This fascinating and insightful look at the entirepreneur is a clear pointer to what will be demanded of those who wish to succeed amid the vicissitudes of the 'New Normal’.
Preface Introduction Part I: Entirepreneur Stories 1.Stories of Entirepreneurs and Entirepreneurs in Action Part II: The Entirepreneur and the 'New Normal' 2. The ‘New Normal’ World of Business 3. Conventional Wisdom – A Commentary and Critique 4. Dealing with the ‘New Normal’ 5. Growth and Sustainability Part III: The Person Dimension 6. The 3 T’s - Explained 7. Talent - Applied 8. Temperament - Applied 9. Technique - Applied 10. Discernment - Applied
Biography
Bill Bolton has spent his professional life working in industry (as Technical Director of a Swedish Multinational), in academia (at the University of Cambridge) and as an international consultant.
John Thompson has experience in retailing and the steel industry as well as spending many years as an academic. He is a Professor of Entrepreneurship but he has also taught strategy extensively.
This is the fifth book they have written together.
'If you are in senior management or aspire to be then this book is essential reading. It will help you to understand how to succeed as an entrepreneur, manager and leader - all at the same time. In this hands-on book you will find the key person-attributes in which you need to be strong and most importantly how they can be measured.' - Jill Garrett, Executive Director Tentpeg Consulting and formerly Managing Director of Gallup Europe
'In this book, Thompson and Bolton have not only developed their own ideas, but really moved forward the whole discourse on the interrelationship between entrepreneurship, leadership and management. Full of good theory, explained through well chosen case studies.' - Dan Corlett, CEO, Farming and Countryside Education, UK
'Bolton and Thompson challenge the conventional wisdom that entrepreneurs generally do not make effective leaders and rarely become strong managers. The authors present an integrative framework for business people to become entrepreneur, leader and manager for the ‘New Normal’ facing business today. A must read for both entrepreneurs and managers alike.' - Jeff Cornwall, Jack C. Massey Professor of Entrepreneurship, Belmont University, Nashville, USA
'This book on the entirepreneur is unlike any other books about entrepreneurship, from which it emerges. It is a direct and tangible reflection of what is being demanded by the challenges of the 'New Normal'; and it is interspersed with good, concrete examples which bring an academic subject into the realm of reality. I think anyone who will read this, will either want to start his/her own business at the end of it, or reflect upon their existing style and approach, fuelled with enthusiasm and drive emanating from this book.' - Patrick van der Vorst, Founder, valuemystuff.com, UK and USA
'The negativity toward entrepreneurial thinking has been reversed in the last 10 years – in many ways due to the work of Bill Bolton and John Thompson. In their latest book, The Entirepreneur, they explore the relationship between the entrepreneur, leader and manager and show how these three threads need to be woven together. They also highlight the need, constantly, to explore the social and economic horizon and not get caught by the urgency of the immediate. This is an important book, not just for those in the business world, but also for those who want to make a difference to society and approach the future with imagination and creativity.' - Rev. Canon Chris Neal, Mission Consultant, UK
'Bolton and Thompson have again provided a seminal text for those curious about entrepreneurship and their own potential in that area; with a simple but incisive format which extends the scope of analysis to the practicing manager' - Barry Whitehouse, Senior Lecturer in Enterprise and Strategy, Wolverhampton University Business School, UK
