Ready, Fire, Aim: Zero to $100 Million in No Time Flat

Chapter 18. A QUICK REVIEW OF THE PROBLEMS, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FACED BY THE STAGE TWO ENTREPRENEUR

Starting a business is great fun and very rewarding. But only a very small percentage of the population of dreamers ever accomplishes it.

Getting a business beyond that first million—to Stage Two (with revenues from $1 million to $10 million)—is an even rarer achievement. But if you follow the program I outlined for Stage One entrepreneurs earlier in this book, you will be able to do it. And if you follow the program for Stage Two entrepreneurs that I just outlined, you will be able to get your business to the next level—Stage Three (with revenues from $10 million to $50 million)—relatively quickly.

Growing your business from $1 million to $10 million as a Stage Two entrepreneur is enriching from every perspective. You will make more income. You will start to acquire equity. And you will be able to share your growing wealth with key employees.

And if you know a few secrets and learn a few tricks, Stage Two will also be easier. Being faster and more enriching and easier, it can't help but be more fun too—which makes this stage of entrepreneurial growth in many ways the best of all of them.

Here are some of the most important ideas about Stage Two entrepreneurship:

• Stage Two begins when the growth you have been enjoying from selling your first lead product ends. Some entrepreneurs make the mistake of assuming their first great success will go on forever. Accepting the fact that ...