A Deliberate Pause

Larry Robertson has spent two decades in the entrepreneurial universe in roles ranging from advisor to investor and many in between. In 1992, he founded Lighthouse Consulting, which, appropriately, guides entrepreneurial ventures, their leaders, and those who invest in them. Larry frequently lectures on entrepreneurship at Georgetown and Cornell Universities and is a recognized expert on entrepreneurship in public, private, and academic forums.

A deliberate pause is a conscious moment in which we open our minds and ask "why are things the way they are?" and wonder "how could life be better?" Pausing to ask such questions is a natural and uniquely human inclination. It's also the critical factor that sparks fresh ideas and is seized by entrepreneurs to catalyze seismic changes-ones that allow humanity to progress.A Deliberate Pause (the book) reveals the power of a deliberate pause (the action) while unveiling unexpected truths about entrepreneurship itself. Through example, exploration, and analysis of the innovative thoughts and achievements of more than 200 seasoned entrepreneurial leaders, Larry Robertson shows how each of us can adopt a deliberate pause and an entrepreneurial mindset to better our lives, our species, and our world. In the process, he gives us the understanding of entrepreneurship we've been missing-and need now more than ever.

Introduction: Hero, Villain, or Something More? Part I.  Entrepreneur Chapter 1: An Entrepreneur Defined Chapter 2: Exposing the Myths of the Entrepreneur Chapter 3: The Entrepreneur as Change Catalyst A Deliberate Pause – The “May Be” Parable Part II. Entrepreneurship Chapter 4: The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem—From One to Many Chapter 5: Completing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem—Other Roles Chapter 6: The Necessary Power of Community A Deliberate Pause – The Stone Soup Parable Part III. Perspective and Discipline Chapter 7: The Evolution from Dream to Reality Chapter 8: The Entrepreneur’s Filter of Perspective Chapter 9: Fundamentally Focused on Discipline Chapter 10: Not to Be Deterred A Deliberate Pause – The Buried Treasure Parable Part IV. Reward and Reason Chapter 11: Something More Chapter 12: The Power of Why Continuance A Deliberate Pause – The Three Questions Parable Endnotes Acknowledgments Contributors Books by Contributors