New book by MIT Sloan’s Bill Aulet—author of bestselling Disciplined Entrepreneurship—breaks down the process of building a successful company

Provides readers with new materials, worksheets, assessments, exercises, and cases 

Cambridge, Mass., April 18, 2017—As any would-be entrepreneur knows, starting a business is a serious undertaking with plenty of risk and sacrifice to go around. So why not minimize the risk and make the outcome worth the sacrifice?Enter MIT Sloan’s Bill Aulet and his new manual Disciplined Entrepreneurship Workbook . The book, a comprehensive companion to Aulet’s bestselling Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup , helps aspiring entrepreneurs master the skills, tools, and mindset they need to move from the idea phase to execution.

“After I wrote Disciplined Entrepreneurship, I received incredible feedback from readers who had gone through the process of starting companies and in doing so, learned a great deal about what works and what doesn’t,” says Aulet, who is the Managing Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship and a Senior Lecturer at the school.

“It made me reflect on the practical capabilities and knowhow entrepreneurs need in order to implement my 24-step process. I couldn’t see writing any other book that would have as much impact as this one.”

Prior to joining MIT, Aulet was a successful entrepreneur. He directly raised more than $100 million in funding for his companies that led to the creation of hundreds of millions of dollars in market value for those firms. 

“Many believe that entrepreneurship cannot be taught and that entrepreneurs are born not made. But that’s absurd. Great entrepreneurs aren't born with something special—they simply make great products and build brands and businesses that customers respond to. This book is, quite simply, the book I wish I’d had when I first became a fulltime entrepreneur all those years ago.”

The manual, which debuts this month, breaks down the process of building a company into manageable steps. Real-world examples illustrate the framework in action, and case studies highlight critical points that can make or break a startup. Exercises and assessments help prospective founders confirm their strengths and highlight areas that could benefit from reinforcement.

The book also includes new tools and tips to help readers conduct primary market research, identify windows of opportunity, and develop a deeper understanding of timing and triggers. In addition, the book contains material on the common obstacles that entrepreneurs face—and how to overcome them as well as advice on how to use innovation to stand out in the crowd.

“As an author, my goal is to sharpen your instincts, engage your creativity, and help you work through hardship to give customers what they want—even if they don't yet know that they want it,” he says. “There has never been a better time to start a company and this book will hopefully help many more people successfully realize this dream.”

About the MIT Sloan School of Management

The MIT Sloan School of Management is where smart, independent leaders come together to solve problems, create new organizations, and improve the world. Learn more at http://mitsloan.mit.edu/.