Think Bigger: And 39 Other Winning Strategies from Successful Entrepreneurs

Praise for THINK BIGGER

"Starting a business is extremely difficult. Succeeding is even harder. And while there are no substitutes for hard work and good luck, there is a lot that entrepreneurs can learn from people—like Michael Sonnenfeldt—who have known both success and failure. Think BIGGER offers a wealth of wisdom."
—Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies

"Whether you are a successful entrepreneur or just starting out, Michael Sonnenfeldt′s book, Think BIGGER, shines a light on the often misunderstood challenges and lessons every businessperson should know. Wherever you are in your journey, read this book closely, and you will be on the road to understanding what it takes to start a business, to compete, and to win."
—Tony Robbins

"In Think BIGGER, Michael Sonnenfeldt offers sage advice, drawing not only on his own extraordinary entrepreneurial journey, but also on the collective wisdom of the membership of Tiger 21, a group of ultra–successful entrepreneurs from every industry who gather monthly to share investment strategies and personal insights. Sonnenfeldt′s frank and practical guidance will be appreciated not only by up–and–coming entrepreneurs, but also by prosperous serial entrepreneurs who remain curious about how others do it."
—Kerry Healey, President, Babson College

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Stage 1 Self–Assessment

Lesson 1 Know Thyself!

Lesson 2 Self–Control Beats Passion.

Lesson 3 Be Wildly Optimistic—Delusional, Even.

Lesson 4 Let Others Underestimate You.

Lesson 5 Grit Beats IQ—Most of the Time.

Lesson 6 Experience at a First–Rate Company Is Really Valuable.

Lesson 7 Your Disability Can Be an Advantage.

Lesson 8 Your Significant Other Must Enjoy Roller Coasters.

Stage 2 Team Building

Lesson 9 You′re Never Too Smart—or Too Old—for a Mentor.

Lesson 10 Mentors Are Available for the Price of Asking.

Lesson 11 The Right Partner Can Multiply Your Potential.

Lesson 12 Know When to Be Nice.

Lesson 13 Hire for the Good. The Bad Comes at No Extra Expense.

Lesson 14 Surround Yourself with People Who Are Smarter Than You.

Lesson 15 Diversity Makes You Smarter.

Stage 3 Risk Management

Lesson 16 Risk Is in the Eye of the Beholder.

Lesson 17 Approach Risk Like a Farmer.

Lesson 18 Identify Your Blind Spots with a Periodic Portfolio Defense.

Stage 4 Growing Your Business the Smart Way

Lesson 19 Entrepreneurship Is Rarely about Just Making Money.

Lesson 20 Hone Three Different Kinds of Focus.

Lesson 21 Curiosity Fuels Creativity.

Lesson 22 Think Bigger.

Lesson 23 Think Twice Before Investing with Friends and Family.

Lesson 24 Don’t Overvalue Your Company.

Lesson 25 Live Below Your Means.

Lesson 26 Make Failure A Key Part Of Success, and Don’t Let Success Blind You To Even Bigger Opportunities.

Lesson 27 Don’t Keep Your Family in the Dark.

Lesson 28 Hire Your Kids with Care.

Lesson 29 Take a Lot of Vacations.

Stage 5 Protecting Your Wealth

Lesson 30 Entrepreneurial Skills Can Limit Investing Success.

Lesson 31 Get Financially Literate.

Lesson 32 If You’re Not a Professional Investor, Be a Passive One.

Lesson 33 Diversify Prudently.

Lesson 34 Spend Less.

Lesson 35:  Don′t Give Your Kids Anything, but Be Willing to Invest Everything in Them.

Lesson 36 Consider Life Insurance.

Lesson 37 We Actually Live in an After–Tax World.

Stage 6 Making It MeaningfulLesson 38

Apply Your Skills to Solve Social Problems.

Lesson 39 Leverage Public/Private Support for Social Entrepreneurship.

Lesson 40 Seek Double Bottom–Line Returns.

Conclusion

About the Author

Index

MICHAEL W. SONNENFELDT is the founder and chairman of Tiger 21, the premier peer–to–peer learning network for high–net–worth first–generation wealth creators in North America and London. He is an accomplished serial entrepreneur and philanthropist, and is most excited that all of his proceeds from this book will support the Tiger 21 Foundation for young entrepreneurs.