Ben McDougal - You Dont Need This Book: Entrepreneurship in the Connected Era

To Ben, one of the greatest innovation catalysts in America... such a pleasure and honor to work with you and see you in action! Victor

These are the words I wrote in a notebook I gave to Ben during my time serving as the Vice President of Entrepreneurship at the Kauffman Foundation.

I used the word innovation in my personal note because Ben has been a champion of positive change on the forefront of entrepreneurship.

Ben has created companies that GO because of his persistence and leadership. Hes become proficient in the artistry of what he calls hobbies that pay. Most important, Bens interest in the success of other entrepreneurs is why this book is special.

I also used the word catalyst in my personalized dedication. Ben has transformative energy. He ignites a friendly vibe wherever he goes and uses that power to accelerate fellow entrepreneurs.

Ben and I first met at a 1 Million Cups Organizers Summit. This annual pilgrimage of 1MC organizers is a special time that unites community builders nationwide. It was 2017 and I spontaneously shared our first interaction in my opening remarks to the group that evening. Our discussion stuck out because of Bens genuine understanding of how community supports and connects us all.

Years passed, and we continued to share caffeinated conversations. Around the time Ben and I spoke about his interest in this book, I passed him a small collection of poems. One excerpt was in Letters from a Young Poet written by Rainer Maria Rilke. I love the fact that this poetry from 1929 pushed Ben, as a modern author, past his own mental mountain.

Bens book powerfully reminds us: everything great is created by people working together. As I co-wrote in the book The Rainforest , human networks generate extraordinary creativity and output. Innovation ecosystemswhat we call Rainforestscan only thrive when certain cultural behaviors unlock human potential.

The interdependencies of entrepreneurship have become clear in the connected era. As entrepreneurs work together within a Rainforest, the collaborative mindset nourishes an individuals entrepreneurial spirit and evolves the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Entrepreneurship thrives through the collective endeavors we share.

Through my work with over three hundred communities, cities, states, companies, and even entire countries, entrepreneurship remains a recognized method to greater economic prosperity. As Ive led nationwide initiatives and heard from thousands of remarkable entrepreneurs, its clear we are all starters. In the manifesto We Are All Starters , I explain how all of us are born with an innate right to start, to make an idea into reality. Its time to unleash that right in all of us. This means breaking down barriers, and giving people resources to adapt, start and grow. That will help millions of us find alternative incomes, restart closed businesses, make existing companies better, and open new businesses to provide whats next.

Ben McDougals leadership is brewed from the stories of starters. As you enjoy this poetic interpretation, I hope Ben can help catalyze your own innovative work. We are all born to be starters, makers, doers, dreamers. Together, we can and will renew one another.

Victor W. Hwang

Right to Start

January 2021

Before we embark on this literary journey together, here are a few quick thoughts to guide you through the book. First off, what youre about to read is brewed to be fun and easy to digest, but reading this book may take longer than you expect. While the page count is deliberately low, the density of this synthesized narrative may slow you down. Thats a good thing! I invite you to take your time with this book. Mark pages that catch your attention, share that tweetable thought, contact me if you have questions, and talk with those around you to turn these words into action.

Structure

This is comprehensive, yet approachable guidance on how to evolve your own ideas into reality. This is not a hardcore research project, and there are deeper dives into every aspect I cover in this book. While the concepts in this book will go wide rather than deep, I spent a ton of time thinking about how to pack everything in while still maintaining a smooth flow. To do so, the chapters in this book are also organized strategically. Youll encounter each situation at different times and in unique ways throughout your own entrepreneurial journey. Starting the ideation process, understanding the value of community, making a ruckus with side hustles, fueling innovation as an intrapreneur, knowing what to consider if you build a team, researching business ideas, testing the concept, marketing, sales, and learning how to grow a company is a common path. The structure of this book illuminates such a path, while also providing quick tips and tactics you can apply based on the current state of your own situation.

Tone

Ive removed myself from the primary content and purposefully avoided sharing too many personal examples. This was done to encourage more creativity as you apply the insight to your own unique environment.

Sidebars (which look like this) throughout the book, however, create a little space for me to share a few personal perspectives, fun facts, mistakes to avoid, and contextual examples that lighten the mood.

Style

My favorite author is Seth Godin. The way he bombards readers with knowledge taught me to appreciate (audio) books, and his art has dramatically affected my life. I hope youll feel a version of Seth Godins style here, as I spent over a year thinking deeply about every word in this book.

Who Am I?

My name is Ben McDougal. I am an experienced entrepreneur, multimedia marketer, and professional entrepreneurial ecosystem builder. I am passionate about the art of connection and accelerating fellow entrepreneurs. This book incorporates a massive amount of experiential knowledge distilled from my own entrepreneurial experiences. While this deconstructed wisdom is a good start, my direct interaction with thousands of inspiring entrepreneurs assembles a friendly voice you can trust. My confidence as an author comes from these people Ive met, connected with, supported, and learned from. More of my story lands in the closing About The Author section, and I look forward to connecting with you on www.BenMcDougal.com .

Why I Wrote This Book

I wrote this book because humans seek purpose in life, and we often find it in our work. This makes it natural for anyone who is passionate about something to consider ways of turning their ideas into a business. Sharing all that Ive learned about entrepreneurship is my way of encouraging you to build things you care about. You must work hard when others dont, but anyone who is persistent and willing to collaborate can be an entrepreneur.

I also wrote this book because I was never taught how to be an entrepreneur. I grew up thinking I needed to earn an expensive piece of paper for permission to build someone elses dream. My entrepreneurial endeavors have taught me that its easy to play it safe, but its more interesting to create your own future. Ive also learned that nobody cares about your great ideas. They care how you make ideas happen.

While the elusive title of my book is technically true, my hope is that this concise collection of consciousness accelerates your work and gives you more ways to champion change on the timeline of now.

Were in this together, my friend. I believe in you, and Im your biggest fan. All right, settle in and enjoy!