Product Description

Praise for The ParentPreneur Edge

"Who needs an MBA? Julie's book teaches you how to use your parenting experiences to build a business. Brilliant stuff!"
--Mary Cantando, author, The Woman's Advantage: 20 Women Entrepreneurs Show You What It Takes to Grow Your Business

"Finally! Something that successfully illustrates that parenthood is clearly an asset to gaining the edge in business and success. Julie has written a valuable book that inspires, motivates, and educates."
--Gina Robison-Billups, President, Moms In Business Network and The International Association of Working Mothers

"Whether you already have your own business or are thinking about starting one, you need to read this book. Full of actionable ideas that, when adopted, will bring benefits to your business before you're even done reading the book!"
--Dr. Tom Hill, coauthor, Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul

"At last--a book that demolishes the polarization of parenting and work! The skills and talents developed through parenting are a mirror image of those developed and needed in entrepreneurship. Julie Lenzer Kirk's . . . firsthand experience blows away abstractions and shows both parents and entrepreneurs how to thrive. This is a necessary and inspiring book for anyone wanting a whole life."
--Margaret Heffernan, author, The Naked Truth and How She Does It, Visiting Professor in Entrepreneurship, Simmons College School of Management

"Julie Lenzer Kirk integrates parenting and entrepreneurship in a way that incorporates the best of both worlds with a message that screams: You can do it all and enjoy it too!"
--Claudia Morrell, Executive Director, Center for Women and Information Technology

"This engaging book will inspire readers by showing them how the lessons and skills they've learned as parents can give them an edge in launching a business."
--Rieva Lesonsky, Editorial Director, Entrepreneur magazine

"Julie makes the case that parenthood and entrepreneurship are the two toughest jobs you will ever love. Successful parenting skills can be put to great use when you journey down the exciting path of entrepreneurship. This book will help readers make that important connection."
--Monica Smiley, Publisher and CEO, Enterprising Women magazine

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1078513 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 278 pages

Review
"If you are a parent, or an entrepreneur, or want to run your own business, this book is inspiring..."HotBrandsCoolPlaces.com May 2008

From the Inside Flap

Most people think you can't be serious about your business and also be a good parent. Or, if you're a good parent, you have to let things slide at work. The truth is, says Julie Lenzer Kirk, there are more similarities between these two roles than there are differences. Working parents share the same experiences and develop comparable skills—skills that can be drawn upon to provide an advantage in any business.

Unfortunately, there's no entrance exam for becoming an entrepreneur, and no way to earn a degree in parenting. Most of us start businesses or become parents without all the skills or tools needed to succeed, but we do it anyway. By sharing compelling stories of dedicated parents who run successful businesses, The ParentPreneur Edge offers inspiring proof that common wisdom is wrong. You'll learn how the abilities and lessons learned in one facet of your life can easily be applied to the other.

Julie Lenzer Kirk, a successful entrepreneur and mother, offers the word "ParentPreneur" as a way to describe entrepreneurs who are also parents. In The ParentPreneur Edge, she provides a proven, winning formula for everyone who's looking to embark on their own business adventure—or take their existing business to the next level—while still making time to balance a family life.

Julie has found five key traits that give parents an edge in their careers, whether they are running their own business or working in a larger organization: resourcefulness, perseverance, patience, passion, and vision. An expert who developed a multimillion-dollar business while raising her young children, she includes a wealth of practical advice on launching, growing, and running an entrepreneurial business.

The ultimate similarity between parenting and entrepreneurial leadership, this book reveals, is that you are building a legacy. As parents, we want to raise children who are happy, responsible citizens. As entrepreneurs, many of us create companies that we hope will make a contribution to our customers, our employees, and our community. We want to make a positive impact on the world, or at least our corner of it. The ParentPreneur Edge will show you how.

From the Back Cover

Praise for The ParentPreneur Edge

"Who needs an MBA? Julie's book teaches you how to use your parenting experiences to build a business. Brilliant stuff!"
—Mary Cantando, author, The Woman's Advantage: 20 Women Entrepreneurs Show You What It Takes to Grow Your Business

"Finally! Something that successfully illustrates that parenthood is clearly an asset to gaining the edge in business and success. Julie has written a valuable book that inspires, motivates, and educates."
—Gina Robison-Billups, President, Moms In Business Network and The International Association of Working Mothers

"Whether you already have your own business or are thinking about starting one, you need to read this book. Full of actionable ideas that, when adopted, will bring benefits to your business before you're even done reading the book!"
—Dr. Tom Hill, coauthor, Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul

"At last—a book that demolishes the polarization of parenting and work! The skills and talents developed through parenting are a mirror image of those developed and needed in entrepreneurship. Julie Lenzer Kirk's . . . firsthand experience blows away abstractions and shows both parents and entrepreneurs how to thrive. This is a necessary and inspiring book for anyone wanting a whole life."
—Margaret Heffernan, author, The Naked Truth and How She Does It, Visiting Professor in Entrepreneurship, Simmons College School of Management

"Julie Lenzer Kirk integrates parenting and entrepreneurship in a way that incorporates the best of both worlds with a message that screams: You can do it all and enjoy it too!"
—Claudia Morrell, Executive Director, Center for Women and Information Technology

"This engaging book will inspire readers by showing them how the lessons and skills they've learned as parents can give them an edge in launching a business."
—Rieva Lesonsky, Editorial Director, Entrepreneur magazine

"Julie makes the case that parenthood and entrepreneurship are the two toughest jobs you will ever love. Successful parenting skills can be put to great use when you journey down the exciting path of entrepreneurship. This book will help readers make that important connection."
—Monica Smiley, Publisher and CEO, Enterprising Women magazine

Customer Reviews

Excellent Book for Any Business-Savy Individual
So I'm an 18-year-old student attending the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland next year and I absolutely loved the book! I recently started my own retail company at the age of 16 and this book has provided me with so many helpful hints and has inspired me to further build my business in ways I didn't think possible. What's more, although I am not a parent, I was able to relate my childhood experiences (and current teenage ones) to the many parallels discussed by the author within the book. However, the best part of the book is the way the author has bulleted the book's major points with the close of every chapter. Because I couldn't put the book down and read it entirely way too fast, this was a MAJOR help to me when I wanted to go back to find valuable information. Using the bulleted summarizations, I was able to relocate excellent advice that I wanted to apply to my business. This truly is an amazing book and I recommend it to anyone who has created or intends to create his or her own business!

delightful reading, a unique and helpful way of viewing your business!
I couldn't put it down! The author writes in such an open and personal way that you feel that you are sitting down in your living room and speaking with her directly!

Full of original ideas and a unique way of thinking about your business. One point especially struck me and has caused me to rethink my business. With our kids, when the going gets tough, we don't quit, give them back, or find another one. We just figure out a way to work it out! Approach your business challenges with the same attitude and the business will succeed!

I enjoyed it very much, and definitely recommend it to anyone starting a business or already in their own business and wondering if they made the right choice to start down the wonderful, exciting, frightening challenge of entrepreneurship!

Young and old
I bought two copies for my daughters-in-law, who are both thinking about starting their own businesses, now that they have children. But, I am also planning to start my third business and found it extremely helpful, concise and relevant. I especially appreciated all the real-life stories about other entrepreneurs used to illustrate the lessons the author had learned in her own business.