Life Entrepreneurs
Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Lives
J-B Warren Bennis Series
1. Edition March 2008
256 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
"An inspirational and practical guide for anyone who wants to
incorporate the dynamic skills of entrepreneurs into their own
lives and work.
A new generation of "life entrepreneurs" is emerging: people who
apply their vision, talents, creativity, and energy not only to
their work but to their entire lives, changing the world for
themselves and those around them. In this book, successful
entrepreneurs Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek draw on
numerous interviews with fifty-five leading entrepreneurs worldwide
as well as the wisdom of multiple thought leaders to provide vivid
examples, moving vignettes, concrete frameworks, and practical
strategies for revving up our work and play through entrepreneurial
leadership. This book starts by providing strategies for
integrating life, work, and purpose and ends by capturing the
implications of the current entrepreneurial boom for our
workplaces, learning institutions, communities, and families.
Christopher Gergen (Washington, D.C.) is a founding partner of
New Mountain Ventures, co-founder and chairman of SMARTHINKING,
Adjunct Professor and Director of the Entrepreneurial Leadership
Initiative at Duke University, and a life-long entrepreneur,
Gregg Vanourek (Thornton, CO) is a founding partner of New
Mountain Ventures, former CEO of Vanourek Consulting Solutions, and
former Senior Vice President of School Development for K12
Inc."
Introduction xv
List of Interviews xxvii
PART ONE: SURVEYING THE LANDSCAPE
1 Understanding Life Entrepreneurship 3
2 Life Entrepreneurs in Action 25
3 Discovering Core Identity 38
PART TWO: PREPARING FOR THE JOURNEY
4 Awakening to Opportunity 65
5 Envisioning the Future 80
6 Developing Goals and Strategies 93
PART THREE: BLAZING A TRAIL
7 Building Healthy Support Systems 111
8 Taking Action and Making a Difference 129
9 Embracing Renewal and Reinvention 145
Conclusion: Creating a New Future 165
Appendix A: Life Entrepreneurship Primer 181
Appendix B: Exercises and Helpful Resources 187
Appendix C: Interview Methodology 189
Notes 191
The Authors 199
Acknowledgments 201
Index 205
make a life. Life Entrepreneurs helps all who are struggling
to integrate money and meaning in their careers to do just
that."--Dr. Mark S. Albion, New York Times best-selling
author, Making a Life, Making a Living®, and True to
Yourself
"Like jazz musicians, good entrepreneurs improvise, finding the
roads less traveled. Life Entrepreneurs does a great job of
capturing this spirit and sharing valuable lessons for work and
life."--Gary Erickson, owner/founder, Clif Bar & Company, and
author of Raising The Bar
"In Life Entrepreneurs, Christopher Gergen and Gregg
Vanourek address the central issue of every emerging leader,
'How can I design my life to be both fulfilling and
significant?' Through the life stories of many entrepreneurs
who are impacting the world in dramatic ways, this compelling and
refreshing new book provides deep insights that make it a must-read
for all of us to use on our own journeys."--Bill George, author,
True North and Authentic Leadership, former chairman
and CEO, Medtronic
"At last, a powerful guide to integrating life, work, purpose,
and work-life balance, one of the greatest needs of leaders in all
three sectors of the emerging work force. Christopher and Gregg
bring a new definition, a new clarity to life entrepreneurship that
will make a difference in the lives of leaders at every level. A
great gift."--Frances Hesselbein, chairman, Leader to Leader
"Business leaders and entrepreneurs alike will greatly benefit
from Life Entrepreneurs. It captures the essential qualities
of leadership including finding a worthy path, being willing to
fail, and taking courageous action. I highly recommend it."--Howard
Schultz, Chairman, Starbucks Coffee Company
"This is provocative reading for all those committed to creating
a life of significance and meaning. Filled with helpful strategies
and hopeful stories, Life Entrepreneurs is an intriguing,
challenging guide for the next generation of leaders."--Wendy Kopp,
president and founder of Teach for America
CHRISTOPHER GERGEN is a founding partner of New Mountain Ventures and a lifelong entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and chairman of SMARTHINKING, the leading provider of online tutoring in the U.S. He is also a visiting lecturer and director of the Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative in the Hart Leadership Program at Duke University. Christopher lives with his wife and two children in Washington, D.C.
GREGG VANOUREK is a founding partner of New Mountain Ventures. Previously, he ran Vanourek Consulting Solutions and served as senior vice president of School Development for K12 Inc., and vice president for Programs at the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation. He is coauthor of Charter Schools in Action and lives with his wife and daughter in Denver, Colorado.