The Intelligent Entrepreneur

By: Bill Murphy Jr.

Narrated by: Fred Berman, L. J. Ganser

Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Written with the cooperation of Harvard Business School, here is an instructive and inspiring book for anyone who dreams of starting a highly profitable business.

In 1998, three Harvard Business School graduates - two men and one woman - turned down six-figure salaries at big corporations, bet on themselves, and launched their own new companies. By their 10-year reunion, their audacity had paid huge dividends. They'd made many millions of dollars, created hundreds of jobs, and left their mark on the world.

The three entrepreneurs: Marc Cenedella (TheLadders.com), Marla Malcom Beck (Bluemercury.com), and Chris Michel (Military.com, Affinity Labs).

Based on dozens of interviews with highly successful entrepreneurs, Harvard Business School professors, and HBS alumni, The Intelligent Entrepreneur tells the compelling and instructive story of how these three young founders developed ideas, assembled teams, built ventures, and achieved their dreams. Along the way, they learned that starting great companies requires much more than a ferocious work ethic or good timing. Their hard-won insights distilled into 10 key rules that will help anyone become a successful entrepreneur. What they teach you at Harvard Business School is that intelligent entrepreneurship can be learned. In that spirit, Bill Murphy Jr. uses a unique combination of vivid storytelling and lucid instruction to tell would-be entrepreneurs how to improve their odds of creating dynamic, lasting businesses.

This audiobook includes an exclusive roundtable discussion with Marc Cenedella, Marla Malcom Beck, and Chris Michel.

©2010 Bill Murphy (P)2010 Audible, Inc

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Winner - Best Business/Educational Audiobook, 2011

"This is an excellent, thought-provoking overview of entrepreneurship... that uses actual cases to describe the challenges of starting a business and realizing success." ( Booklist)

"Narrators Fred Berman and L.J. Ganser split the narration, chapter by chapter, with one delivering the true-life accounts of three entrepreneurs who attended HBS while the other delivers the theoretical lessons to be learned from attending HBS." ( AudioFile)

Good story, Kept my attention

If you could sum up The Intelligent Entrepreneur in three words, what would they be?

smooth, and well done

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Intelligent Entrepreneur?

The fall of the internet boom

What does Fred Berman and L. J. Ganser bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Character

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes, and I almost did.

Any additional comments?

Great case studies

These 10 Rules Clear Rules With Life Examples

Marc Cenedella (TheLadders), Marla Malcom Beck (Bluemercury), and Chris Michel (Military, Affinity Labs) Are real living examples of being passionate and letting nothing stand in your way. This book is simple to follow and more should be written in this format. The two narrators-approach kept it fresh. I highly recommend it to anyone pondering what it will take to be a successful entrepreneur

Really enjoyed reading, learned some new things

Where does The Intelligent Entrepreneur rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is better than many out there and has 3 different stories in one so there are many of opportunities to like the book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked Mark Cenedella and it was because he was cautious but a great observer and in the end I read his stuff now every week.

Very enjoyable listen and full of great informatio

I really liked the format of this book, half the chapters biography and the other half like a college professor hitting the important points. This book felt like the big game version of the E-Myth by Michael Gerber.

Great points and I wish the book was longer. Too bad audible does not have any other books by this author. I would have bought it today.

One of the best....

I've been reading a lot of business books lately for my MBA. This book was so helpful as a part of my "life education" and was very helpful in broadening my thoughts of moving towards business creation.

This book changed my business

I was/am a struggling entrepreneur and I didn't have any notion of what I should do to better my business. This book through it's thoughtful and thorough examination of three HBS graduates made me understand what is necessary to achieve the kind of success I desire. I like the narration (using two different voices) and I love the content. No, it isn't like a recipe from a cookbook but it does give you very detailed ideas of what you should be doing for your business. I realized after getting half-way through the book that I was think much too small and that I needed more study in the business. As it stands, my business, in my estimation will do much much better due, in part, to this book.

Simply Inspirational!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book is definitely one I would recommend. It tells the story of average people who took advantage of getting into Harvard Business School and making the most of it. Even more, it helps the listener realize that going to HBS isn't the only avenue to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

What did you like best about this story?

My favorite part of the book was how the stories were woven together both personal and business, not just bare bones business talk.

Which character – as performed by Fred Berman and L. J. Ganser – was your favorite?

The art of two narrators reading the story gave it the feel of a work of fiction while learning what to do and what not to do when planning to start a new business venture.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Of course this book is too long for one sitting but I found myself getting through this book faster than any other book I've listened to on business and leadership.

Any additional comments?

I will definitely be listening to this book again. I generally don't write reviews but if you need to be inspired to start a business or start another one this could be the book for you.

A Great Book.

A compelling must-read baseline, especially for the intending serious online entrepreneur. I highly recommend it!

Inspiring Book!

Great and inspiring book for anyone looking to start a business or that wants to know and understand what it takes.

My First Audible Audio Book and I Enjoyed it.

I enjoyed this book. I love the real life stories of three entrepreneurs who went through some of the hurdles that I'm facing now. I also love the last part of the round table discussion between the author and the three main characters of the book. Besides all the education, it's neat to learn about the individual companies listed in the book.

Highly recommended for anyone who is thinking of launching a new business.