On chap 10 – if you don’t include this sort of information ( and there ARE a lot of existing resources around) then make the dead-tree equivalent of link-love, and tell your readers where to find it – it DOESN’T hurt to send your readers away, paradoxically – the more you do, the more likely they are to return.

1) Unentangling from employers who see you as competition
2) Disaster plans…

GL

I’m currently a full-time employee with a dream for starting his own business but no idea how to bridge the gap. Your book sounds enticing enough to me (especially at how practical it sounds…almost like a work book)that I’d love to get it

All great comments so far so I won’t try to improve on that.

I agree with moving chapter 6 forward – I would put it after chapter 3. And leave the technical stuff in chapters 10 & 11 as an appendix. There if you want it, but not actually part of the book.

How about making those tactical chapters 10 & 11 into appendices instead? I agree it’s great to have them in the book but they don’t really fit the ‘flow’ of what you are creating here.

Overall I like the outline…but then I haven´t read very many books aiming to inspire the
entrepreneur in each of us – so I could not judge where it is different and stands out….

My main comment refers to the first chapter…
I am not sure that you need to elaborate too much on the issue of fake job security…
At the end of the day I believe we all know that there is none anyhow.

I might be totally wrong, but I think that the prime driver for throwing your self into self-employment is wanting to be the driver of your (professional) life. Security – even the fake one – is certainly an important element in the struggle to get there….But if someone really wants to set out he will overcome it eventually. On the other hand I don´t think anyone can be convinced to become self-employed. For those maybe the the fake security is like a self-made protection against too much indepence! …Some people just don´t want to break out or be self-employed (it doesn´t drive them) …and most likely they will not read your book or not act upon it.

So basically I would keep that chapter very brief as I think I will not contain breaking news for your prime readers…..
Sorry if this is very direct ….obviously this is only my opinion after a very quick read….

The rest looks really appealing ….I am definately looking forward to reading the book at some time in the future

Best, B

You mentioned having problems with the working title of Chapter Eight. Instead of “Making a Learning Plan”,
how about “Drawing the Learning Map”?

Knowledge is a treasure, and those of us who actively seek it are prospectors. In the process of preparing ourselves to seek such knowledge, we have first to find the tools to do so, just as any old frontier prospector would dare not leave his homestead without a shovel and a pick.

From that perspective, that which we have to learn in order to bring any goal to fruition becomes more of a treasure map than a learning plan, with all the adventure of the former, without the aseptic connotations of the latter…

Happy prospecting!

Seriously, I think you’ve got something great here that’s different than all the “small biz 101″ books. I’m a librarian pondering starting a side business as a freelance research consultant, and I must admit your blog is one of the things that made me start thinking I might have what it takes to pull this off. Now, with the fangirl stuff out of the way…

Chapter 1
I agree you can probably combine both the intro and the first chapter–the summaries seem like they’re covering a lot of the same turf.

Chapter 2: It’s not fortune 500 or nothing. I’ve made myself a cozy (if occasionally frustratingly slow) little niche in academia. Before that I did a stint working for the state while I was in grad school and licking my wounds from the telecom bust. All possible career paths have pros and cons, and one should at least briefly consider the options available.

Chapter 6: I think you need to hit this sooner. Your loved ones are by definition your biggest investors in your new enterprise, and if you do not get them on board (especially about the neccessary sacrifices that will come with startup) and get them engaged early, you’re doomed to fail, and frankly you’ll deserve it.

Chapter 8: I agree–promising chapter, awful title. Thoughts: “knowing what you don’t know”, “Climbing the Learning Curve”, “Build your own MBA-dventure”
–yes, the last one’s corny,but eye-catching perhaps?

Chapter 9–As a risk-averse little Librarian, I need this one NOW. I’m getting queasy and I haven’t even decided on a business plan yet.

Chapter 10: I can see keeping it or dumping it, mainly because it’s generally covered in an industry-specific start-up guide. However, there are some basic issues that many people have to consider. I definitely think if you don’t keep it, you need to explain in the intro/whatever that you didn’t cover that issue, and WHY you didn’t. (and maybe include some industry-specific guides in your resource guide at the end?)

Chapter 11–make sure you note that start-up loans are not an absolute must-have depending on the business. In any case, saving up for part or all of those expenses before you leave the W-2 gravy train can be a good dry run for you and your family, and make the sacrifices you’ll face on the way to freedom a little more real.

Sorry I went on so long, but I hope the constructive tips are useful, and i am looking forward to this book!