Escape from Cubicle Nation from Pamela Slim is a wonderful book on entrepreneurship and something that many college students should consider. I want to review the book and you can decide if it’s something you’re interested in.
The book is a culmination of work Pam has been doing for years – helping people start a business based on what they love. She has a wonderful blog where she interacts with readers and their experiences. Her book grabs some of her best material, includes a ton of case studies, and has mini-interviews with those that have taken the plunge.
It’s a very accessible and informative book. Pam offers a practical guide for those making the transition from employee to entrepreneurs. If you’re curious as to the topics she discusses, here are the chapters.
Escape from Cubicle Nation Overview
1. I have a fancy title, steady paycheck, & good benefits. Why am I so miserable?
2. If it is so bad, then why am I so afraid to leave?
3. Detox from corporate life
4. What’s really involved in moving from employee to entrepreneur?
5. What are all the ways to be self-employed?
6. How do I choose a good business idea?
7. Recruit your tribe
8. Rethink your life: Options for scaling back, downshifting, & relocating
9. Do I really have to do a business plan?
10. Define the spirit of your brand
11. Test often & fail fast: The art of prototypes & samples
12. Look your finances in the eye
13. How to shop for benefits
14. Dealing with your friends & family
15. Line your ducks in a row
16. When is it time to leave?
I appreciate that she covers the realities of having your own business. some people have this unrealistic and romantic notion that it’ll be a breeze to run a business based on something that you love. That’s usually not the case- a business has to be maintained well if it’s to succeed. Many times that means hard work.
Pam covers topics such as developing a business plan, handling the financial side of your business, and how to properly market it later in the book.
My Take on Escape from Cubicle Nation
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