The Art of the Start

The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything

By: Guy Kawasaki

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

What does it take to turn ideas into action? What are the elements of a perfect pitch? How do you win the war for talent? How do you establish a brand without bucks? These are some of the issues everyone faces when starting or revitalizing any undertaking, and Guy Kawasaki, former marketing maven of Apple Computer, provides the answers.

The Art of the Start will give you the essential steps to launch great products, services, and companies - whether you are dreaming of starting the next Microsoft or a not-for-profit that's going to change the world. It also shows managers how to unleash entrepreneurial thinking at established companies, helping them foster the pluck and creativity that their businesses need to stay ahead of the pack.

Kawasaki provides readers with GIST - Great Ideas for Starting Things - including his field-tested insider's techniques for bootstrapping, branding, networking, recruiting, pitching, rainmaking, and, most important in this fickle consumer climate, building buzz.

At Apple, Kawasaki helped turn ordinary customers into fanatics. As founder and CEO of Garage Technology Ventures, he has tested his iconoclastic ideas on real-world start-ups. And as an irrepressible columnist for Forbes, he has honed his best thinking about The Art of the Start.

©2008 Guy Kawasaki (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Kawasaki covers the basics in an effectively casual tone." ( Publishers Weekly)
"His newest work addresses entrepreneurs who want to grow beyond being a company of one as well as innovators who work for large companies." ( Library Journal)

Great advice for aspiring tech entrepreneur!

Great advice for aspiring tech entrepreneur!

Bookmarked some key elements for startup strategies. I particularly liked the market survey techniques and shoestring budget startup techniques.

Starting From Where You Are is Key

What made the experience of listening to The Art of the Start the most enjoyable?

I've always enjoyed Guy Kawasaki. I wish many times that I have grown up in the culture of Silicon Valley as he and so many of our brightest entrepreneurs have.
He is such an entertainer and is one of my few marketing heroes.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It didn't dissapoint. It never does with Guy. He has mastered the art of keeping wanting, coming back for more.

Which scene was your favorite?

I like the simple practical structure of the 10 slide business plan, mapped to the word document. SO many start ups, and wanna be's and strategic planners could benefit immensely by just following an old principle that Guy teaches - KISS, Keep It Simple, Stupid. Or is that Stupid Simple these days?

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Examples always help to drive the point home and make the read something easier to share. I will remember so many lessons because of the stories that make the point.
One in particular is taking your report, printing it out and throwing all but the first two pages in the garbage, then with what is left ask yourself, is this interesting enough to invest in, or

Any additional comments?

I think the audible organization of audio material is very helpful. I tend to find myself falling asleep from time to time, or loosing focus or want to go back to a particular point and want to be abel to find it quickly. Sleep patrol, 30 second back up and smart bookmarks handle all that for me. SInce I prefer to see things written down, and I can't really do that while I'm driving, Audible recordings manage that challenge very nicely.

Created to read, not listen

This is wonderful book. So, as the title itself I rank it 5, but you should simply read it, and not listen. As audio-book I rate it 1.

There are things you need to read, and not listen.

Avoid

Narration sounds like text to speech. Unless you are a seven year old trying to find out how businesses work... Not worth the time and effort.

Great Content - Punishing Narration

Kawasaki's principles are fantastic. I went out and bought the book, perhaps a better format with all the lists and references. But, was the narrator a real person or was it text-to-speech software? That perfectly dispassionate monotone actually sounded computer-generated. Impossible to enjoy.

Fell far below expectations

Nothing really stood out about this book. Somehow, I expected more from an Apple evangelist.

Some good, some bad ideas... monotone voice.

Here's an example.. Not all of them are really validated: Don't use a company name starting starting at end of alphabet, like Xylinx. Use a verb -- I googled... I xeroxed! Someone forgot to fix/explain/proof read.Another one: Sinatra's test is stated as a valid test!

Terrible narrator

What would have made The Art of the Start better?

Would have loved to have listened to this because it came highly recommended but the tinny expressionless voice of the narrator sounded like it was piped from a computerized text-to-speech program and was intolerable to listen to. Had to buy the book.

Would you ever listen to anything by Guy Kawasaki again?

Sure as long as it was better performed.

Would you be willing to try another one of Paul Boehmer’s performances?

nope

The Audio Book is SO dry.

I listen to a lot of books to help me in my field. this was the worst so far. Disappointed.