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The Successful Entrepreneur’s Guidebook is a practical guide to assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a business, the potential strategies for expansion and how to achieve growth objectives with a new business plan. It is the complete guide to strategy, finance and management for all entrepreneurs. Based on research at Cranfield School of Management, this book explores the characteristics of "champion" enterprises, distilling the very essence of how to achieve profitable growth. It also charts the problems that owner-managed firms are likely to encounter, and suggest ways to anticipate and resolve them. This second edition is packed with assignments and useful case studies, it will help any entrepreneur answer these key questions: Where is the business now – what are its strengths and weaknesses? Where can the business go from here – what strategies can be pursued? How do I create the complete business plan and achieve my growth objectives? The Successful Entrepreneur’s Guidebook has helped hundreds of participants on the Cranfield’s Business Growth and Development Pro-gramme realize their ambitions. Now you too can achieve these goals. About The Author Colin Barrow is head of the Enterprise Group at Cranfield School of Management. Robert Brown directed the Graduate Enterprise Programme at Cranfield School of Management, where he now leads the Entrepreneurship teaching on the MBA programme. Liz Clarke is a visiting lecturer at Cranfield who teaches on the Business Growth Programme. Table of Contents Where are we now? Your mission Opportunities and threats Strengths and weaknesses The financial position How to diagnose your organisation Assessing people, structure and systems Marketing options Marketing strategy: focus and priorities Choosing between alternatives Financing growth Acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures and divestment Visionary leadership How will we get there? The marketing plan The people plan Managing change The financial plan Writing and presenting your business plan Exit routes