The New Business Road Test: What Entrepreneurs and Investors Should Do Before Launching a Lean Startup, by John Mullins

John Mullins is a researcher, teacher and one of the world’s foremost thought leaders in entrepreneurship. Over the years, John has been hailed as an inspiration for entrepreneurs who have employed the models outlined in books such as Getting to Plan B or The Customer-Funded Business, in order to transform their ideas into global startup companies. Now in its 5th edition, The New Business Road Test guides the reader through the complex yet gripping process of testing a business idea. How can you be completely sure that your list of start-up ideas is good or bad? How much time or money should you invest in each of these ideas? And, for first-time entrepreneurs, should you embark upon a start-up just because you love your idea? Should you leave a stable job and focus entirely on what feels to you like a good business idea? Mullins’ book offers thoughtful readers guidance on the thorny issues associated with entrepreneurship that you yourself may be facing even as you read this introduction. In order to fully understand the theories behind the tools and advice for testing your idea, we must start by understanding Mullins’ vision of the entrepreneurial world. The book begins by defining three elements crucial to the success of a business: the market, the industry, and the entrepreneurial team.