Part One: Storytelling -- Dream the possible dream ; Defining and testing the story ; Telling the story to your investors ; Telling the story to your team ; Revising the story ; Bringing the story to life -- Part Two: Building the company's human capital -- Fielding a great team ; The CEO as functional supervisor ; Crafting your company's culture ; The hiring challenge ; Every day in every way, we get a little better ; Compensation ; Promoting ; Rewarding: "It's the little things" that matter ; Managing remote offices and employees ; Firing: when it's not working -- Part Three: Execution -- Creating a company operating system ; Creating your operating plan and setting goals ; Making sure there's enough money in the bank ; The good, the bad and the ugly of financing ; When and how to raise money ; Forecasting and budgeting ; Collecting data ; Managing in tough times ; Meeting routines ; driving alignment ; Have you learned your lesson? ; Going global ; The role of M & A ; Competition ; Failure -- Part Four: Building and leading a board of directors -- The value of a good board ; Building your board ; Board meeting materials ; Running effective board meetings ; Non-board meeting time ; Decision making and the board ; Working with the board on your compensation and review ; Serving on other boards -- Part Five: Managing yourself so you can manage others -- Creating a personal operating system ; Working with an executive assistant ; Working with a coach ; The importance of peer groups ; Staying fresh ; Your family ; Traveling ; Taking stock.

Divided into five comprehensive parts, this reliable resource skillfully puts the essential elements of this endeavor in perspective-from the start-up stage, through the revenue stage, and into the growth stage. Along the way, you'll gain valuable knowledge ... Start-up CEO puts an emphasis on practical application. To thhat end, this book provides readers with exclusive access to a companion website filled with supplementary materials, allowing you to continue to learn in a hands-on fashion long after closing the book."--Publisher description.