"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."

The Authors

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.

Zusammenfassung
"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."

Foreword, by Warren Bennis xiii

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