Extraordinary Entrepreneurship or Employee Assistance Handbook

Extraordinary Entrepreneurship: The Professional's Guide to Starting an Exceptional Enterprise

Author: Stephen C Harper

Don't let your innovative business idea sit on the shelf one more day! Extraordinary Entrepreneurship is packed with insights on how to create an exceptional enterprise and examples of ventures that were created to capitalize on market gaps. It also provides more than 600 "Entrepreneurial Dos and Don'ts" from interviews with 200 successful entrepreneurs.

Here's what a few entrepreneurs have said about Extraordinary Entrepreneurship:

"Customers today are more open to new ideas. It's an incredible time to start a new business or introduce a new product because people are eager to try new things."
-Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks

"Dr. Harper has ingeniously captured and collected literally hundreds of years of entrepreneurial experience into an easy-to-read experience. Chapters 6 and 7 are the best treatment I've seen on business plans. You will find Chapters 8 through 12 extremely valuable if you ever seek funding of any kind-especially venture capital."
-Scot Wingo, cofounder of ChannelAdvisor Corporation

"Dr. Harper captures the excitement and anxiety, the courage and commitment, and the concepts and tools that stand at the very heart of entrepreneurship. He opens the door and gives us an insightful, comprehensive look at the entrepreneurial way of life-an attitude, a process, and a journey by which we can turn compelling ideas into profitable realities."
-Roger Rains, founder of Global Analytics

"Extraordinary Entrepreneurship touches all the essential steps an entrepreneur needs to start and grow his business. Steve tells it straight and to the point. His 'reality checks' contain all the essential ingredients for success."
-Michael Cain, entrepreneur and angel investor

"Dr. Harper demonstrates that opportunities are everywhere . . . as long as you offer a product or service that truly fills a need. Many of the techniques profiled in Chapter 3 have contributed to our success. More important, we will use a number of the new techniques in the future."
-Dr. Roy A. Archambault, DPM, founder of Xero Products

"Dr. Harper demystifies the process of critically evaluating each business opportunity. He has reminded us that opportunities have not dwindled after the age of irrational exuberance, but instead require both the enthusiasm of a true believer and the pragmatism of a sage. In a profession defined by risk and gamble, he asks the challenging questions that lead to the most confident solutions."
-Michael Rhoades, founder of Learning Perspectives, Inc.

Table of Contents:

	Introduction : the nature of entrepreneurship	1
1	Essential entrepreneurial qualities and capabilities	1
2	What type of venture do you have in mind?	35
3	Identifying new venture opportunities	67
4	Ventures that capitalized on market gaps	101
5	Evaluating new venture opportunities	125
6	Developing the business plan	169
7	Components of the business plan	203
8	Sources of funding	243
9	Debt financing	275
10	Seeking investors	297
11	Going the angel route	319
12	Venture capital funding	355
13	Initial public offering	381
	Epilogue : entrepreneurial dos and don'ts	391

Go to: Pickles and Relishes or Thomas Kinkade Cookbook

Employee Assistance Handbook

Author: James M Oher

Leading experts explain how to establish and run an effective Employee Assistance Program.

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer counseling and services for a variety of personal problems that affect workers and the workplace.

This Handbook provides clinicians, administrators, and human resource professionals with a comprehensive review of EAP "best practices." Experts from the employee assistance field, behavioral health organizations, and corporate sectors illustrate the unique role EAPs play in maintaining a vibrant and productive workforce and explain the skills and resources needed to provide effective EAP services.

This reference features innovative and groundbreaking program and service initiatives, which incorporate expanded areas of EAP practice while retaining the core mission and technology. The best intervention, treatment, and prevention programs for all issues affecting employee productivity are fully described, including:

• Substance abuse.
• Disability.
• Preventive and managed healthcare.
• Workplace trauma.
• Work/family problems.
• Management development.

The book also covers services currently in place in such diverse settings as Champion International, Du Pont, Bank One, Wells Fargo Bank, the University of Michigan, Mobil, and L.L. Bean. In addition, it discusses two current issues that will affect EAP practice in the future: accreditation of professionals and programs and the academic and field training of EAP professionals.

The Employee Assistance Handbook is invaluable reading for any professional who wants to promote health and productivity by creating effective EAP services for his or herorganization.