Spinning into Control

Abstract

Summary: Could everything we

2019ve learned about entrepreneurship simply be wronge There is no shortage of how-to books with

2018manual

2019 in the title, and articles promising

2018The 7 [or 6 or 10] key traits of successful entrepreneurs

2019, which breed an infectious optimism all too often quashed as startups fail. Amiel Kornel puts a persuasive case for an alternative theory that while grounded in the natural way great entrepreneurs operate resists reduction to a simple recipe or method. Kornel, who has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs, believes that disciplined planning, lean management, and commitment are no guarantee of success. The limited resources of a startup demand knowing when and how to explore and

2018tinker

2019, artfully recombining ideas, designs, media, software, and materials on hand. True venture craftsmen harness and redirect the energy of startups that might otherwise spin dangerously out of control towards failure. The stories of entrepreneurs like Sun Basket

2019s Adam Zbar, Minecraft

2019s Markus Persson, Y Combinator

2019s Paul Graham, and Metacode Technologies

2019 Joel Schatz are woven throughout the book, along with examples from beyond business, including legendary ocean-racing sailor Isabelle Autissier and acclaimed urban designer Gerard Penot. Kornel shows how meeting challenges in a broad variety of fields rife with uncertainty often relies on the ability to loosen the coupling between command and control, a prerequisite of skillful improvisation. ;