An Asperger’s Guide to Entrepreneurship: Setting Up Your Own Business for Professionals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Dr. Rosalind A. Bergemann has worked as a business leader for over 20 years, having held positions in global business strategy, finance and international human resources. She is Chairperson of Asperger Leaders, an organisation supporting people with Asperger Syndrome holding senior positions in business, Non-Executive Director of Dimensions, Non-Executive Director of Brain in Hand and CEO of a global change management consultancy. She is educated to doctorate level in the fields of international business and organisational psychology, as well as leadership studies through Harvard Business School. Dr. Bergemann was named Consultant of the Year at the National Management and Leadership Awards 2013 by the UK Chartered Management Institute. She is the author of An Asperger Leader's Guide to Living and Leading Change, also published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She is based in London, UK.

Are you a business person with Asperger Syndrome considering a new career path by going it alone, or a young graduate on the spectrum with a great business idea? This is a comprehensive guide to using Asperger skills to set up your own business and offers practical advice on the aspects of entrepreneurship that Asperger leaders may find difficult.

Acknowledgements. Introduction. Part 1: Understanding What it Takes to be an Entrepreneur. 1.Understanding Entrepreneurship and the Entrepreneur. 2. Why Do People Decide to Become Entrepreneurs? Part 2: Moving from a Corporate Job to an Entrepreneurial Career. 3. Strategic Planning and Decision-Making as an Entrepreneur. 4. Differences in Operational Processes in General. Part 3: Practicalities of Starting Up a Business. 5. I've Made the Decision ? What Now? 6. Initial Financial Forecasting. 7. Developing a Competitive Advantage. 8. Developing a More Formal Business Plan and Model. 9. The Entrepreneur as Leader. 10. Dealing with Suppliers. 11. Marketing Yourself and Your Business ? Your Public Face. 12. Initial Business Development. 13. The Tender and Contracting Process. Part 4: Personal Development for Entrepreneurs on the Autistic Spectrum. 14. Building Internal Relationships. 15. Networking ? An On-Going Requirement. 16. Making Your New Business the Focus in Your Life ? NOT Your Life in Totality. 17. Developing your Work Area to Optimise your Performance. 18. Taking on Other Shareholders ? The Challenge of Sharing Your Business. 19. Learning to Live with Change ? The Life of an Entrepreneur. Part 5: Practical Toolkits and Exercises. References. Index.