Introduction

Abstract

This book is the result of reflecting on a quarter of a century of personally researching, consulting, teaching, and helping to start hundreds of new ventures. These have been in industries as diverse as airlines, accounting, biotechnology, information technology, personal products, wineries, and food establishments. We could have subtitled this book in search of the black swan or hunting for unicorns, yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus, or even Grimm fairy tales and myths . In reality, it is a reminder that what often appears in the mass media as great new venture success stories, ultimately turns out only to show how fleeting growth is and vulnerable to excess and poorly conceived growth strategies as time progresses.