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How To Dream Big And Win In Business

In Dream Big and Win, author Liz Elting shares the lessons she learned―both the successes and failures―while building a billion-dollar company from scratch. She explains why you need not only passion and purpose to win big, but also:

  • a willingness to take decisive action
  • grit
  • sweat equity
  • determination
  • positive attitude

Elting’s fascinating story began with her entirely self-funded business launch that started in a dorm room. By possessing a disciplined set of principles and focusing on carefully developing her leadership skills throughout the process, she was able to achieve her goal of becoming #1 in the translation market that was already dominated by established competitors.

Today, Elting is the Founder and CEO of The Elizabeth Elting Foundation, which creates scholarship opportunities for entrepreneurial young women, funds exciting women-led startups and social businesses, and supports women-led organizations that foster women’s success through educational programs, mentorships, community building and more.

This fast-paced, honest, authentic and often humorous book is full of practical and inspiring tips you can implement immediately. You’ll learn:

  • Why ownership is a core value and a philosophy every leader should embrace.
  • Why the key to motivating employees is in taking a personal stake in your people’s success.
  • How an effective leader pivots to accommodate each of their employees’ work styles.
  • The importance of open communication and authentic employee feedback.
  • Why it’s imperative to foster an environment where your people are free to disagree.
  • How the quickest way to resolution between your employees is through immediate action and transparency.
  • How a billion-dollar idea can stem from something as simple as asking: What’s my problem to solve?
Liz Elting

Plus, Elting includes in her book these famous leadership, business and life quotes:

“Without continual growth and progress, words such as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” – Benjamin Franklin

 “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” – Henry David Thoreau

 “I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.” – Ernest Hemingway

“The ability to learn faster from customers is the essential competitive advantage that startups must possess.” – Eric Reis

“The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.” – Peter Drucker

“Change before you have to.” – Jack Welch

“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” – Jack Welch 

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi 

“A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions and outcomes for everyone.” – Sundar Pichai 

Thank you to the book’s publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book.

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