From one of the stars of ABC’s <i>Shark Tank </i>and the host of QVC’s <i>Clever & Unique Creations by Lori Greiner </i>comes a hands-on, nuts-and-bolts guide to getting a new product or company off the ground and making it profitable.<br> <b> </b><br> <b><i>Do you want to . . . </i></b><br> <b>Become your own boss,</b><br> <b>Make your first million,</b><br> <b>And achieve financial freedom?</b><br> <b>Lori Greiner shows you how.</b><br> <br> Lori Greiner is one of America’s most successful, well-informed, and approachable entrepreneurs. But before she created her first hit product, all she had was a great idea, a tireless work ethic—and no clue where to start. So Lori taught herself everything there is to know about the ins and outs of business, manufacturing, investors, patents, and marketing. Now, five hundred million dollars in retail sales later, she reveals her wealth of experience and hard-won wisdom so that you, too, can thrive.<br> <br> All it takes is some careful planning, a few basic technical and social skills, and the right attitude—which no one understands better than Lori. Sharing her own stories along the way, she provides vital information and advice on topics that often intimidate, frustrate, and stump aspiring entrepreneurs, including<br> <br> <b>• Market research: </b>Is your idea a hero or a zero? Don’t be so fixated on the end result that you forget to make something that people actually want to buy.<br> <b>• Funding: </b>Although loans, investments, and crowd-sourcing are great ways to access cash, first tap into your own resources as wisely as possible.<br> <b>• Product design:</b> Customers notice the little things, so it’s important to track your merchandise from the assembly line to store shelves.<br> <b>• Protecting your ideas: </b>Obtaining a patent can be a difficult process, but in many cases it’s the only way to safeguard an original invention. <br> <b>• The art of the pitch: </b>Buyers won’t take a chance on an unknown commodity until you convince them that you and your product are worth the money and the effort.<br> <br> Offering behind-the-scenes insights into her experiences on <i>Shark Tank </i>and <i>Clever & Unique Creations by Lori Greiner </i>as well as valuable lessons from the mistakes and triumphs of her early career, Lori proves that, with hard work and the right idea, <i>anyone </i>can turn themselves into the next overnight success.<br> <i> </i><br> So a note to all the weekend inventors, armchair CEOs, and get-rich-quick dreamers: No more excuses! With Lori Greiner as your personal mentor, the only thing left to do is make your product, get out there, and sell it!