Getting There audiobook cover - A Book of Mentors

Getting There

A Book of Mentors

Gillian Zoe Segal

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Entrepreneurship

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Mind Map

Getting There
Core Message+
Nitin Nohria+
Marina Abramović+
Craig Newmark+
Wendy Kopp+
Sara Blakely+
John Paul DeJoria+
Actionable Advice+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
Why did Nitin Nohria initially struggle in his university studies before eventually becoming the dean of Harvard Business School?
  • A. He lacked the financial resources to attend a top-tier university.
  • B. He was pursuing engineering to please his father despite a passion for literature.
  • C. He spent too much time trying to start his own business instead of studying.
  • D. He was discouraged by his professors from pursuing a career in academia.
Question 2 of 7
How did Marina Abramović's difficult childhood influence her eventual career path?
  • A. She rebelled against her parents' paramilitary background by joining peaceful protests.
  • B. She channeled her isolation and her parents' strict control into creating emotionally charged performance art.
  • C. She used her mother's germophobia as inspiration for a medical technology startup.
  • D. She sought out mentors in the traditional art world to replace her absent parents.
Question 3 of 7
What personal weakness inspired Craig Newmark to create the platform that would eventually become Craigslist?
  • A. A lack of organizational skills
  • B. A fear of public speaking
  • C. Poor communication and social skills
  • D. An inability to understand complex computer programming
Question 4 of 7
How did Wendy Kopp overcome the initial lack of financial support from business leaders for 'Teach For America'?
  • A. She bypassed the donors and recruited interested students directly to generate media attention.
  • B. She lowered her initial budget of $2.5 million to make the project seem more realistic.
  • C. She partnered with a major St. Louis-based company to sponsor the first wave of teachers.
  • D. She abandoned her idealistic goals and started a smaller, for-profit tutoring company.
Question 5 of 7
According to the book, what crucial skill did Sara Blakely develop while selling fax machines that later helped her launch Spanx?
  • A. An understanding of patent law and corporate networking
  • B. An immunity to the word 'no' and a high tolerance for rejection
  • C. The ability to identify high-quality fabrics and manufacturing processes
  • D. A talent for creating viral marketing campaigns
Question 6 of 7
What core business principle did John Paul DeJoria carry with him from his early odd jobs to his success with billion-dollar brands?
  • A. Always undercut the competition's prices to gain market share.
  • B. Focus heavily on aggressive marketing to build brand awareness.
  • C. Strive to help customers make the right decision.
  • D. Never use your own money to fund a new business venture.
Question 7 of 7
What actionable advice does the book offer for making sure people pay attention to you during a meeting?
  • A. Bring detailed data and statistics to back up your claims.
  • B. Speak softly to force others to lean in and listen closely.
  • C. Convey optimism and enthusiasm in your tone of voice.
  • D. Wait until the end of the meeting to share your most important points.

Getting There — Full Chapter Overview

Getting There Summary & Overview

Getting There (2015) provides inspiring portraits of successful entrepreneurs, artists, writers and CEOs who through hard work and perseverance pursued their true passions against all odds. This collection of first-person stories aims to show how you too can “get there” and live your dreams.

Who Should Listen to Getting There?

  • Entrepreneurs starting their own business
  • Young people deciding what to do with their future
  • Anyone at the start of an ambitious project

About the Author: Gillian Zoe Segal

Gillian Zoe Segal started a career in law before pursuing her true passion of photography. She wrote Getting There to showcase stories of people who took risks and worked hard to live their dreams. Her writing has appeared in Forbes and the New York Times.

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