The Engine of America: The Secrets to Small Business Success from Entrepreneurs Who Have Made It!

Hector V. Barreto

Wiley,  September 2007

A lifelong entrepreneur, the second longest serving administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the son of small business owners Hector Barreto has been involved in small business nearly all his life. He has seen firsthand how the small business sector drives a strong and growing American economy. In The Engine of America, Barreto reveals his personal and professional insights, and those of many of America's most innovative entrepreneurs, on why some small businesses succeed while others fail. This book explains how you can join the ranks of successful business owners.

Each year, millions of entrepreneurs start new businesses. Unfortunately, too many fail -- even when owners are passionate, driven, and dedicated. The most obvious culprit is the failure to plan thoroughly. The Engine of America presents the tools and knowledge you need to plan adequately, avoid common pitfalls, and follow proven paths to success. Whether you already own a small business, head a growing business, or are just starting to research a new venture, you'll find expert practical and motivational guidance to reach your ultimate dream.

Inside, you'll find all the hard-earned wisdom you need to insure that your great idea or smart product becomes a sustainable, profitable business. You'll learn how to procure capital and maintain cash flow, develop a loyal customer base, and manage all the technical and regulatory aspects of small business operation. Plus, you'll glean invaluable insight from the personal stories of such successful small business owners as:

• Thanh Lam, a refugee of the Vietnam War who built his multimillion-dollar chain on Ba-Le sandwich shops from the ground up
• Linda Alvarado, who founded her own company in the male-dominated construction industry and is now part owner of the Colorado Rockies baseball team
• Earl Graves, Sr., founder and Publisher of Black Enterprise magazine
• And Tom Stemberg, founder of Staples, the office supply megastore chain

Barreto's father believed that it wasn't enough that he be successful himself, but that he also help others achieve entrepreneurial success. Now, his son continues that family tradition with The Engine of America. This smart, hands-on guide will help you achieve your entrepreneurial dream and make your contribution to the small business engine that keeps America running.