TY - BOOK AU - Kahan, Steven Mark TI - Be a startup superstar: ignite your career working at a tech start-up SN - 9781119660408 U1 - 004.678023 PY - 2020/// CY - New Jersey PB - John Wiley & Sons, Inc. KW - Career development KW - New business enterprises N1 - TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword by David Meerman Scott ix Introduction xiii Part I: The Best Opportunities are in Start-Ups 1 Chapter 1: Use the Tech Start-Up Boom to Zoom 3 The Unprecedented Opportunity in Tech Start-Ups 5 Why Work for a Start-Up Over a Big Corporation? 9 Fewer Barriers to Entry 10 Versatility in Roles 11 Access to Leaders 11 Financial Rewards 13 Culture 14 Upward Mobility 16 Chapter 2: Pick the Right Start-Up for You 19 How to Find Start-Up Opportunities 20 Research Posted Jobs Online 21 Explore Technology Accelerators 21 Attend In-Person Entrepreneur Events 21 Engage with Start-Up Leaders Online 23 Attend Hiring Parties 23 Be Willing to Intern (Preferably for Pay) 24 Seek Mentors 25 Five Criteria to Choose a Start-Up 26 Quality People Who Share Your Values 27 The Concept Fills a Big Market Need 28 A Great Product You Believe In 30 A Role You Can Fill Today with More Opportunities Tomorrow 31 The Start-Up is Well-Funded 31 Getting Hired 33 Part II: Seven Keys to the C-Suite 35 Chapter 3: Develop Your Leadership Skills and Self-Confidence 37 Visualize Your Success Until It’s Real 38 Use “Co-Opetition” and Competition to Stand Out 40 Become an Expert and a Constant Learner 41 Develop Strong Communication Skills 44 Embrace Accountability 47 Show Humility 49 Believe in Yourself 50 Chapter 4: Stand Out from the Herd 53 Differentiate Yourself 53 Ask More Questions 56 Take Calculated Risks and Challenge the Status Quo 59 Find the Courage to Make Tough Decisions 63 Call Out the Elephant in the Room 65 Be Known as an Idea Person Who Executes 66 Chapter 5: Act Like a Leader (Even If You Don’t Have the Title Yet) 69 Set Clear, Inspiring Goals 70 Three Pillars of Goal-Setting 70 The Baby Steps 71 Keep Your Goals in Sight 72 A Final Thought on Goals 73 Everything Can’t Be a High Priority 74 Create Order Out of Chaos 77 Make Fact-Informed Gut Decisions 80 Earn Your Stripes 82 Chapter 6: Adopt Winning Work Habits 85 Work Hard without Feeling Overworked 85 Show You Know Your Customers 88 Be Part of the Solution 91 Pay Attention to Details (without Being a Control Freak) 93 Add Value Through Simplicity 96 Persist and Be Patient 97 Chapter 7: Choose Carefully the Company You Keep 101 Surround Yourself with A-Plus Talent 101 Find the Right Mentors 106 Choose Your Mentors 107 Mentor/Mentee Relationship Guidelines 108 Know When to Stay and When to Go 109 When to Go 110 When to Stay 111 Leaving the Right Way 112 Trust Your Unique Path 113 Chapter 8: Embrace the Power of Kindness 117 Walk in Others’ Shoes 118 How to Develop Empathy 120 Get to Know Your Team 121 Say Thank You and Mean It 123 Gratitude is Contagious 124 How to Show Gratitude 124 Create Fun and Joy 126 Exude Energy and Optimism 128 Keep Your Surroundings Positive 129 How to Foster Optimism in Yourself and Your Environment 130 Chapter 9: Take Care of What Matters 133 Protect Your Calendar 133 Meetings 135 The Should-Dos Trap 137 Be Your Own Top Priority 139 Put Your Family First 140 Make Health and Fitness a Priority 142 Work Out 143 Eat Right 145 Sleep More 145 Live Life to the Fullest 147 Acknowledgements 149 About the Author 151 Index 153 N2 - DESCRIPTION Find a job and quickly climb the ranks at a tech startup, even if you’re not a techie. Are you underemployed or struggling to find a fulfilling career? Stuck on a low rung of the corporate ladder and don’t see a way up anytime soon? You’re not alone. Like many recent college grads and people who feel stuck in their corporate jobs, you’ve probably never considered working for a technology company that’s just starting out, especially if you’re not a tech whiz. That doesn’t matter. Tech startups are desperate for talent and creativity in all kinds of fields from people with leadership skills and new ideas—people like you! If you’re looking to turn your general business know-how into a wildly successful career, Be a Startup Superstar is your guide. Yes, you can love your work, feel energized by your role, and earn the income of your dreams. Author Steven Mark Kahan left his safe corporate job to join his first tech startup, and since then he has helped seven startup companies sell or go public (meaning early employees usually score big). In this breakthrough book, Steve shows you how to: Look for five key traits when choosing a tech startup Get hired at a tech startup with your existing degree, skills, and experience Develop the leadership attributes and entrepreneurial mindset that can launch you to the top Make better decisions and get better outcomes in the tech startup world and beyond Be a Startup Superstar provides the expert insider guidance you need to ignite your career by joining the tech startup revolution ER -