Underdog Entrepreneurs: A Framework of Success for Marginalized and Minority Innovators

Description

Entrepreneurship is challenging, whatever your background, in the current science- and technology-driven Western world. However, unlike traditionally dominant, native-born, white male entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, those who face greater hurdles blocking their path to success primarily come from marginalized and minority groups, both real and self-perceived—including immigrants, refugees, women, blacks, Hispanics, and Asians. Despite their potential to innovate and add value in the global marketplace, they persistently struggle, or fail, because they lack the requisite code-breaking skills. This book helps these underdog entrepreneurs acquire those skills with actionable advice to achieve and sustain success. It proposes a framework that pinpoints what the author calls the outsider problem—that is, situations in which individuals are primarily disadvantaged because they lack access to networks that facilitate superior learning and performance outcomes. He completes the framework by incorporating personal qualities and strategies that can solve this problem. Along the way, Morgan distills insights and evidence from multiple fields, combined with a fresh look at the familiar stories of initially marginalized business leaders, such as Indra Nooyi, Jack Ma, Hilary Devey and Mike Lazaridis. He also shares the less known, but equally inspiring stories of others. This book will help readers thrive while transcending their underdog status. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiv Introduction: Underdog Entrepreneurs Are Everywhere (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 1-17 Front Matter ....Pages 19-19 Being on the Outside of Powerful Mainstream Networks (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 21-33 Lacking Relevant Know-How (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 35-41 Being Subject to Stereotype-Driven Discrimination and Stereotype Threat (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 43-61 Front Matter ....Pages 63-63 A Growth Mindset (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 65-71 Valuable Knowledge from Formal Education (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 73-81 Strategic Identity Orientation (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 83-91 Complementary Social and Political Skills (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 93-104 Front Matter ....Pages 105-105 An Integrative Framework (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 107-110 Commit to Ongoing Learning and Capability Development (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 111-115 Strategically Cultivate Mutually Beneficial Networks (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 117-122 Experiment with Self-Identities; Don’t Be Rigidly Defined by Them (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 123-129 Strategically Accumulate Power and Appropriately Use It (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 131-137 Strategically Target and Use Government Support (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 139-144 Cultivate Higher-Order Mental Skills (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 145-148 Conclusion: Underdog Entrepreneurs’ Most Enduring Asset (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 149-150 Epilogue: What Journey Brought Me Here? (Horatio M. Morgan)....Pages 151-158 Back Matter ....Pages 159-164