Search results for ""Author Carlye Adler""

The real story of what it takes to risk it all and go for broke. Conventional wisdom says most startups need to be in Silicon Valley, started by young engineers around a sexy new idea, and backed by VC funding. But as Mikkel Svane reveals in Startupland, the story of founding Zendesk was anything but conventional. Founded in a Copenhagen loft by three thirty-something friends looking to break free from corporate doldrums, Zendesk Inc. is now one of the hottest enterprise software companies, still rapidly growing with customers in 150 countries. But its success was anything but predestined. With revealing stories both funny and frank, Mikkel shares how he and his friends bravely left secure jobs to start something on their own, how he almost went broke several times, how they picked up themselves and their families to travel across the world to California and the unknown, and how the three friends were miraculously still together for Zendesk's IPO and (still growing) success. Much like Zendesk's mission itself—to remove friction, barriers, and mystery in order to make customer service easier and more approachable—Startupland removes some of the myths about startups and startup founders. Mikkel's advice, hard-won through experience, often bucks conventional wisdom and entrepreneurial tropes. He shares why failure (whether fast or slow) is awful, why a seemingly boring product or idea can be the most exciting, why giving back to the community is as important as the bottom line. From how to hire right (look for people who are not offended by swearing) to which personas generate the highest response rates, Mikkel answers the most pressing questions from the perspective of someone still in the trenches and willing to share the hard truth, warts and all. While there are books by consultants who tell you how to build businesses, or by entrepreneurs now running billion-dollar businesses, there are few books from people still in the trenches who acutely remember the difficult daily decisions, the thrill (and fears) of the early days, the problems that scale with growing a business, and the reason why they all went on the adventure in the first place. Startupland is indispensable reading for all entrepreneurs who want to make their ideas the next big thing. The book will inspire and empower you to follow your own dream and create your own story.

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USA TODAY BestsellerA visual history of one of childhood’s most beloved icons—the Little Red Wagon—told through a rich collection of photos and stories that highlight its unique place in American culture.For generations, the Radio Flyer—the fire engine red wagon with the distinctive white logo emblazoned on its side—has fueled the imaginative adventures of children, transforming them into astronauts on a rocket ship to the moon, racecar drivers in the Indy 500, and pioneers traveling into the badlands of the Wild West. The Radio Flyer is the story of childhood—a story of wondrous journeys often accompanied by someone important: a parent, a sibling, a friend, a pet.Since 1917, the family-owned business Radio Flyer Inc. has created this cherished wagon, building a legacy of high quality, timeless, and innovative toys that spark children’s imaginations and inspire active play outdoors. With more than 100 million wagons sold—many of them passed down from generation to generation—Radio Flyers have carried, hauled, and fueled more hours of magical escapades than any other children’s ride-on toy in America.This beautifully designed and illustrated keepsake book pays homage to this cultural touchstone as it celebrates its first centenary and embarks on its second. Packed with 250 exclusive full-color and black-and-white illustrations, stories, and original drawings from the Radio Flyer Inc. archives, Radio Flyer chronicles the history of this popular brand for the first time. Radio Flyer’s story is America’s story—a story of an enterprising Italian immigrant’s dream realized, and a testament to the value and strength of family ties.Including a host of tender reminiscences from fans across the country, this touching tribute is a special piece of childhood, and the perfect gift for everyone who’s ever loved a Little Red Wagon.

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'This remarkable book can be your secret weapon for bringing your idea to life.' DAN PINK, bestselling author of Drive'Whether you want to get ahead inside a company or build a startup from the ground up, this fascinating book is a must-read.' REID HOFFMAN, co-founder of LinkedIn'A super-readable and actionable look at how to make your ideas take flight. Whether you're pitching a brand new startup or an idea for your company's next product, you'll find a wealth of insights and stories throughout.'MIKE KRIEGER, co-founder of InstagramNo one makes it alone. But there's a reason why some people can get investors or bosses to believe in them while others cannot. And that reason has little to do with experience, pedigree or a polished business plan. Backable people seem to have a hidden quality that inspires others to take action. We often chalk this up to natural talent or charisma . . . either you have 'it' or you don't.After getting rejected by every investor he pitched, Suneel Gupta had a burning question: could 'it' be learned?Drawing lessons from hundreds of the world's biggest thinkers, Suneel discovered how to pitch new ideas in a way that has raised millions of dollars, influenced large-scale change inside massive corporations, and even convinced his 8-year-old daughter to clean her room.Inside the book are long-held secrets from producers of Oscar-winning films, venture capitalists, founders of unicorn-status startups, and executives at iconic companies like Lego, Method and Pixar. Suneel used these invaluable lessons to become the New York Stock Exchange's 'New Face of Innovation'.Backable reveals how the key to success is not charisma, connections, or even your CV, but rather your ability to persuade others to take a chance on you. This groundbreaking book will show you how.

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How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world's fastest growing software company in less than a decade? For the first time, Marc Benioff, the visionary founder, chairman and CEO of salesforce.com, tells how he and his team created and used new business, technology, and philanthropic models tailored to this time of extraordinary change. Showing how salesforce.com not only survived the dotcom implosion of 2001, but went on to define itself as the leader of the cloud computing revolution and spark a $46-billion dollar industry, Benioff's story will help business leaders and entrepreneurs stand out, innovate better, and grow faster in any economic climate. In Behind the Cloud, Benioff shares the strategies that have inspired employees, turned customers into evangelists, leveraged an ecosystem of partners, and allowed innovation to flourish.

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Proven strategies for harnessing the power of social media to drive social change Many books teach the mechanics of using Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to compete in business. But no book addresses how to harness the incredible power of social media to make a difference. The Dragonfly Effect shows you how to tap social media and consumer psychological insights to achieve a single, concrete goal. Named for the only insect that is able to move in any direction when its four wings are working in concert, this book Reveals the four "wings" of the Dragonfly Effect-and how they work together to produce colossal results Features original case studies of global organizations like the Gap, Starbucks, Kiva, Nike, eBay, Facebook; and start-ups like Groupon and COOKPAD, showing how they achieve social good and customer loyalty Leverage the power of design thinking and psychological research with practical strategies Reveals how everyday people achieve unprecedented results-whether finding an almost impossible bone marrow match for a friend, raising millions for cancer research, or electing the current president of the United States The Dragonfly Effect shows that you don't need money or power to inspire seismic change.

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