The Entrepreneur's Faces: How Makers, Visionaries and Outsiders Succeed

In this dynamic new book, Jonathan Littman and Susanna Camp take us through the thrilling world of ten authentic entrepreneurs, drawn from around the world. They answer the human side of this all-important question: Where do entrepreneurs get their edge? The solution is to know your type. Here we meet the Maker, the Accidental, the Visionary, the Outsider and more. They’re archetypes, or Faces, and readers will be drawn to find themselves in these compelling journeys and take action on their own paths.

Jonathan Littman’s long collaboration with IDEO spawned the international bestsellers The Art of Innovation and The Ten Faces of Innovation, with over 600,000 in sales worldwide in more than a dozen languages. Many of his books have been optioned for film, and his award-winning journalism has appeared in Playboy and the Los Angeles Times. Susanna Camp is the Editor-in-Chief of SmartUp.life. She specializes in emerging tech and design. An early Wired team leader, she also played key roles at Macworld, PCWorld, and Outside.

The ten individuals profiled in the book are each characterized by an emblematic type, people who master challenges with a characteristic approach, and echo the models and behaviors of renowned innovators.

The Types
The Maker: Prototypes everything, learns by doing.
The Leader: Rejects traditional structures, seeks inspirational role models, tests leadership ideas.
The Accidental: Hobbyist mentality, obsessive tinkerer, passionate beyond practicality.
The Guardian: Turns empathy into a lens to better serve customers. Improves lives and heightens human interactions.
The Conductor: Thinks big, undaunted by regulations or limitations. Platform builder.
The Evangelist: Sparks imagination by telling a story, plants seeds for future products, conveys experiences and emotions.
The Collaborator: Embraces teamwork, synchronizes efforts, shares tasks and goals.
The Visionary: Strategic, prophetic. Sees years ahead, understands how the future will build on present realities.
The Outsider: Brings a “beginner’s mind” to reimagine and reinvent an industry or product category. Turns amateur status into an advantage.
The Athlete: Maximizes human performance, finds inspiration in motion. Self-starter who thrives on challenges.

Praise for The Entrepreneur’s Faces

“There’s only one Steve Jobs but Littman and Camp show there are many paths to becoming a successful entrepreneur. This engaging, accessible book demystifies the essential process that they all go through – and that you can too.” – Peter Leyden, Founder of Reinvent and Host of the What’s Now: San Francisco event series

“I was delighted to discover The Entrepreneur’s Faces and could not stop reading until the end. A must-read not only for all entrepreneurs, but also for intrapreneurs in large corporations. A game changer!”– Danielle Winandy, Chief Innovation Officer, BNP Paribas

“Littman and Camp spin real-life stories that read like thrillers, keeping you turning the page to find out what happens next. Read The Entrepreneur’s Faces as a guide and companion to remind you that you are not alone in your struggles on the often tumultuous but ultimately rewarding journey an entrepreneur. Enjoy!” – John S. Couch, Author of The Art of Creative Rebellion and VP of Product Design, Hulu

“The Entrepreneur’s Faces clearly shows us that entrepreneurship – far from being a linear trajectory – is a diverse journey filled with different paths to success and different types of entrepreneurs. A must-read!” – Nuno Gonçalves Pedro, Founder and Managing Partner, Strive Capital

“The Entrepreneur’s Faces goes to the heart of entrepreneurship, capturing the personal journeys of ten founders and their struggle and passion to succeed.” – Steve Hoffman, CEO of Founders Space, Author of Make Elephants Fly