My Start-Up Life: What a (Very) Young CEO Learned on His Journey Through Silicon Valley [Hardcover]

Ben Casnocha discovered he was entrepreneur at age 12 and hasn't slowed down since. In this remarkably instructive book, Ben dissects the entrepreneurship gene, explaining that everyone has inherited it if they have an idea to make the world a better place. In Casnocha's case, he found a better way for city governments to communicate with constituents on the Web. Six years later, Comcate has dozens of municipal clients, a growing staff, and a record of excellence. This book is the story of his start-up, but also a conversation with his mentors, clients and fellow entrepreneurs about how to make a business idea work?and how to have the time of your life trying. From Pat Lencioni to Marc Benioff of salesforce.com, Ben has won over the best and brightest of the business world?now it's your turn!

Foreword xi
By Marc Benioff

Introduction 1

1.0 My Dot-Com Life Begins 5

Brainstorm: Who Knows What Could Happen If You Raise Your Hand? 7

Brain Trust: Take Responsibility, by Heidi Roizen 11

2.0 Nature or Nurture? A San Francisco Upbringing 14

Brainstorm: All the Fuss About Passionand How to Tap into Yours 16

3.0 The First Axiom of Business: Find a Need and Fill It 18

Brainstorm: The Fringe-Thoughts List: Where Most Great Ideas Develop 19

Brainstorm: Feedback, Feedback, Feedback 22

4.0 Comcate is Born: The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Business 26

Brainstorm: The Business Plan Myth 28

Brainstorm: Why Some People Get More Stuff Done (and Start Real Businesses) 33

5.0 First Meeting with a VC (Its All About the Network) 36

Brainstorm: The Power of Mentors 37

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