"The real question is not how to just make a living, but how to make a life. Life Entrepreneurs helps all who are struggling to integrate money and meaning in their careers to do just that."--Dr. Mark S. Albion, New York Times best-selling author, Making a Life, Making a Living®, and True to Yourself"Like jazz musicians, good entrepreneurs improvise, finding the roads less traveled. Life Entrepreneurs does a great job of capturing this spirit and sharing valuable lessons for work and life."--Gary Erickson, owner/founder, Clif Bar & Company, and author of Raising The Bar
"In Life Entrepreneurs, Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek address the central issue of every emerging leader, ‘How can I design my life to be both fulfilling and significant?’ Through the life stories of many entrepreneurs who are impacting the world in dramatic ways, this compelling and refreshing new book provides deep insights that make it a must-read for all of us to use on our own journeys."--Bill George, author, True North and Authentic Leadership, former chairman and CEO, Medtronic
"At last, a powerful guide to integrating life, work, purpose, and work-life balance, one of the greatest needs of leaders in all three sectors of the emerging work force. Christopher and Gregg bring a new definition, a new clarity to life entrepreneurship that will make a difference in the lives of leaders at every level. A great gift."--Frances Hesselbein, chairman, Leader to Leader
"Business leaders and entrepreneurs alike will greatly benefit from Life Entrepreneurs. It captures the essential qualities of leadership including finding a worthy path, being willing to fail, and taking courageous action. I highly recommend it."--Howard Schultz, Chairman, Starbucks Coffee Company
"This is provocative reading for all those committed to creating a life of significance and meaning. Filled with helpful strategies and hopeful stories, Life Entrepreneurs is an intriguing, challenging guide for the next generation of leaders."--Wendy Kopp, president and founder of Teach for America
From the Author
Hello dear readers! We invite you to be the entrepreneur of your life. To create an extraordinary life. To be a maverick in the art of living.
In our book, you'll find stories and strategies for integrating life, work, and purpose. And a boatload of inspiration and ideas.
Wishing you well with it!
-Christopher & Gregg
From the Inside Flap
Life Entrepreneurs
Ordinary people creating extraordinary lives. Leaders excelling through the power of entrepreneurship. Rising generations taking command of their lives and work by integrating them. But how?
Life Entrepreneurs is an uplifting and practical guide for enriching our quality of life and revving up our work through the dynamic force of entrepreneurial leadership.
A new type of leader 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. These people are not just living their lives--they're leading them. Welcome to the territory of life entrepreneurs.
In this book, successful entrepreneurs Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek draw on interviews with fifty-five leading entrepreneurs worldwide as well as on the wisdom of multiple thought leaders to provide practical strategies, concrete frameworks, vivid examples, and moving vignettes for leading a life of adventure, service, and purpose.
Today, people are looking for opportunity, challenge, and the chance to develop their talents, achieve success, and make an impact. But they are also looking for a rich home life, rewarding friendships, an active lifestyle, and deeper fulfillment. Life entrepreneurs are able to thrive in all these realms by proactively taking the following steps:
Discovering core identity
Awakening to opportunity
Envisioning the future
Developing goals and strategies
Building healthy support systems
Taking action and making a difference
Embracing renewal and reinvention
Life Entrepreneurs is filled with inspiring stories and practical strategies for integrating life, work, and purpose, and captures the implications of today's entrepreneurial boom for our workplaces, learning institutions, communities, and families. Whether you're an emerging or established leader--or a person experiencing significant changes and seeking direction--this is a vital read.
From the Back Cover
Praise for LIFE Entrepreneurs
"Pick up this book and read it. It might change your life." -Stephen R. Covey, best-selling author, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
"Business leaders and entrepreneurs alike will greatly benefit from LIFE Entrepreneurs. It captures the essential qualities of leadership including finding a worthy path, being willing to fail, and taking courageous action. I highly recommend it." -Howard Schultz, chairman, Starbucks
"This is provocative reading for all those committed to creating a life of significance and meaning. Filled with helpful strategies and hopeful stories, Life Entrepreneurs is an intriguing, challenging guide for the next generation of leaders." -Wendy Kopp, president and founder, Teach for America
"Gergen and Vanourek have done a spectacular job shining a light on a new approach to professional success and personal fulfillment: the life entrepreneur. With dozens of inspiring profiles and page after page of smart advice, this book belongs on the nightstand of every thoughtful businessperson in America." -Daniel H. Pink, New York Times best-selling author, A Whole New Mind
"A fresh and vital approach to life and career planning. The book speaks directly to the younger generations of Americans who increasingly reject pigeon-holed and segmented careers. I highly recommend the book to anyone who is seeking The Good Life." -James O'Toole, author, Creating the Good Life
"At last, a powerful guide to integrating life, work, purpose, and work-life balance... that will make a difference in the lives of leaders at every level. A great gift." -Frances Hesselbein, chair, Leader to Leader Institute, former CEO, Girl Scouts of America
"This book is true, smart, honest, hopeful, and helpful. Here's the good news: entrepreneurship isn't just a way of making a living—it's a way of life. Buy this book, read it, and then do it!" -Alan M. Webber, co-founding editor, Fast Company magazine, former editorial director, Harvard Business Review
About the Author
The Authors
CHRISTOPHER GERGEN is an author, teacher, advisor, father, entrepreneur, and changemaker reimagining investment to address systemic economic inequities.
GREGG VANOUREK is a writer, teacher, and TEDx speaker on personal development, leadership, and life design.
