Curtis J. Morley - The Entrepreneurs Paradox: How to Overcome the 16 Pitfalls Along the Startup Journey

Praise for The Entrepreneurs Paradox

This is one of the more engaging startup books Ive read. It teaches principles of life as an entrepreneur in an enjoyable way that reaches the brain and heart simultaneously. The principles are core to startup success and are taught in a way tha t sticks.

Carine S. Clark, founding member of Silicon Slop es and CEO

The Entrepreneurs Paradox is the playbook for startup success. Grab this book and start winning.

Sean Covey, president of FranklinCovey and coauthor of the #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller The 4 Disciplines of Execution

The world needs entrepreneurs. And it needs the businesses these entrepreneurs create to flourish! Curtis Morley has done an outstanding job outlining the critical leadership and management requirements for all business leaders, especially those who have created and are running their own organizations. Filled with both tactical and strategic wisdom, this is a m ust-read!

Shawn D. Moon, Wall Street Journal bestselli ng author
and CEO of Zerorez

The Entrepreneurs Paradox is an essential book for taking your startup to the next level. Curtis Morley not only knows the path but has walked it ma ny times.

Dave Crenshaw, author of The Myth of Mu ltitasking

The principles taught in this book have been invaluable as Ive been building my company, Acanela Expeditions. They have helped me personally develop the entrepreneurial skills needed to rise to the challenge of transforming myself into not only a successful entrepreneur, but also a successful leader. In this book you will read stories of climbing the tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. I was there with Curtis as we climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and he has guided me as I have climbed the mountain of startup success. Building a successful company is similar in difficulty and also in reward. This is the guidebook on making it to the top of your own entrepreneurial mountain. You want to be a successful entrepreneur? Do it the smart and fast way and break free of the Paradox!

Kylie Chenn, founder and CEO of Acanella E xpeditions

Working with Curtis led to several quick epiphanies, brilliantly illuminating better and faster ways to create explosive growth. I doubled my business in one years time using these principles and positioned my company perfectly for acquisition shortly th ereafter.

Scott Severe, CEO of ClientRunne r Software

They dont teach these principles in business school. These lessons can only come from the entrepreneurial book of life. Curtis has written the definitive playbook on how to win at the star tup game.

Kevin Cope, CEO and founder of Business Acumen and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Seeing the B ig Picture

Curtis, Im proud of you. Youre bold, courageous even. Youve written a powerful book that can, and will, change the life of anyone who reads it. Thank you for your abundant spirit that yearns to help others succeed. If youre a fellow traveler along the entrepreneurial path, this book is written for you.

The Entrepreneurs Paradox is a reflection of Curtiss experiences run through the crucible of the real world. Read this book, apply the principles, and youll find success in any business endeavor.

Scott J. Miller, bestselling author of Management Mess to Leadership Success and Executive Vice President
of Thought Leadership at Fra nklinCovey

Curtis knows entrepreneurship. He openly shares his experiences and mistakes so you dont have to make them. This book is real! You wont be able to read it without exploring your soul and growing as an entr epreneur.

David Horsager, CEO of the Trust Edge Leadership Institute
and bestsell ing author

Curtis Morley has the unique gift of translating life experience into actionable steps to success. The Entrepreneurs Paradox is a bold look into the principles and patterns behind scaling any startup. This book is an arrow aimed straight towards triumph.

James Clarke, CEO and founder of Clarke Capita l Partners

The
Entrepreneurs Paradox

How to Overcome the 16 Pitfalls
Along the Startup Journey

By Curtis J Morley

Coral Gables

Copyright 2021 by Curtis J. Morley.
Published by FIU Business Press, a division of Mango Media Inc.

Cover Design: Meridith Ethington
Cover Illustration: Meridith Ethington
Layout & Design: Roberto Nez

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The Entrepreneurs Paradox: How to Overcome the 16 Pitfalls Along the Startup Journey

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication number: 2020949837
ISBN: (print) 978-1-64250-412-5, (ebook) 978-1-64250-413-2
BISAC category code BUS025000, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Entrepreneurship

Printed in the United States of America

For Taylor, Austin, Brooke, Isaac, and Malia

I will love yo u forever.

Table of Contents

I sat in the upstairs dining area of the original Giordanos Deep Dish Pizzeria in Chicago, surrounded by signed pictures of celebrities, athletes, musicians, actors, politicians, and Im fairly sure, a few local gangsters. The world-renowned pizza, smothered in fresh tomato sauce and layers of cheese, turned out to be nearly as deep as the conversation I was having with my friend, Greg. We were both entrepreneursme having started my first multimillion-dollar media agency at only twenty-six, and Greg having built a successful venture in Japan around the same time. My agency did everything from logo and branding design, radio and TV commercials, and trade shows, to heavy back-end database work. We specialized in interactive multimedia and rich internet application development. I even ranked second on an international certification for multimedia development. I loved being on the cutting edge of technology. I still do. It turned out for Greg and me that running our businesses was a part of our genetic makeupthe thought of not being some kind of entrepreneur just never occurred to either of us. If youve picked up this book because of the title, you likely know this fee ling well.

Over the course of our dinner that evening, we wondered aloud, Why doesnt everyone start their own business?

For Greg, a guy whose monthly checks were bigger than most peoples annual salaries, his entrepreneurial motivation was simple: The reason I do my own thing is that Im too lazy to do it the traditional way. I have to figure out a better and faster way to do business, so I dont have to work as hard as every one else.

We both laughed heartily at the joke, but it held a golden nugget of truth: there is a better way to do businessto work smarter instead of harder. It is possible to start a company without the traditional years of headache and heartache.

And thats what this book is about: teaching you a better and faster way to create explosive growth in your business.