ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FOREWORD INTRODUCTION WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES AND REWARDS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP?DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR?VISUALIZING AND TESTING YOUR BIG IDEA CUSTOMER DISCOVERYKNOWING WHEN TO PIVOT AND WHEN TO PERSEVERECREATING AND REFINING YOUR BUSINESS PLANMAKING IT REAL—SALESUNDERSTANDING LEGAL AND TAX ISSUESMASTERING THE NUMBERSTHE IMPORTANCE OF A MENTORETHICS: DOING THE RIGHT THINGCONCLUSION APPENDIX A SAMPLE INCOME STATEMENT, BALANCE SHEET, AND STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWSAPPENDIX B SAMPLE STATEMENT OF FORECAST ASSUMPTIONSAPPENDIX C STATEMENT OF FORECAST ASSUMPTIONS TEMPLATEAPPENDIX D HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN FOR A NEW VENTUREAPPENDIX E NEW VENTURE IDEATION AWARD—JUDGE’S EVALUATION FORMAPPENDIX F BYGRAVE AND ZACHARAKIS’S OPPORTUNITY CHECKLISTGET IN TOUCH ABOUT THE AUTHOR

More often than not, college students don’t take advantage of their time at university in exploring their entrepreneurial passions. Graduate a CEO provides a great step-by-step approach to launching a new business with an early emphasis on feasibility and customer discovery. Any student that’s interested in launching a business should use this guide to explore their entrepreneurial passions. — James N. Zebrowski Jr. Executive Director, Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Inc. “Jim Hunter is the consummate entrepreneur and teacher. His clear, easy-to-apply advice will inspire young adults to become all they can be.” Alan Katz Founder, Katz Bagels, Inc. President, Katz Consulting Milwaukee, Wisconsin “In his book, Graduate a CEO: Why College Is the Perfect Time to Start Your Business, Jim Hunter gives a clear and inspiring road map for college students to become successful entrepreneurs. The book is based on the author’s distilled practical wisdom gained from his own successful serial entrepreneurship experience and from years of teaching excellence in entrepreneurship courses, insights from judging numerous student new-venture business plan competitions, and guiding scores of entrepreneur interns at a major university. For Jim Hunter, nurturing students’ entrepreneurial spirit and helping them to launch well-planned, high-potential start-ups are an important mission, and his book reaches out to fulfill it very effectively!” V. Kanti Prasad Past Dean, Lubar School of Business University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee “I enthusiastically endorse Jim’s book, Graduate a CEO. For many of our students, the best part of their education is learning precisely these out-of-the-classroom applications of the concepts and tools they are learning in their courses. Jim has packaged the essential how-tos of becoming an entrepreneur while in college in a highly readable, useful book that all students should read.” Mark Mone Chancellor, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee For many of our students, the best part of their education is learning precisely these out-of-the-classroom applications of the concepts and tools they are learning in their courses. Jim has packaged the essential how-tos of becoming an entrepreneur while in college in a highly readable, useful book that all students should read. — Mark Mone Chancellor, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee “Having worked with countless young people interested in starting their own businesses through various programs and academic courses, a proper curriculum or readings have been lacking. With Graduate a CEO, Jim Hunter offers budding entrepreneurs an essential and heartfelt guide to the business start-up as a college student. Students may see themselves in these pages and be inspired to take their ideas and passions to the next step. Thanks for writing this important book.” Scott Niederjohn Professor of Economics and Director, Free Enterprise Center Concordia University Wisconsin Mequon, Wisconsin Moving forward in turbulent and changing times is difficult. Graduate a CEO is a refreshingly easy guide on how to do it well. This is a must-read for any student entrepreneur. Kauchal Chari Dean, Lubar School of Business University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Jim Hunter and I go back over thirty years when he first asked me to guest lecture his entrepreneur class. His passion and great skill for enlightening students on the art of achieving business success places him in the league of outstanding educators. With Graduate a CEO, Jim again is on the money, as he offers leaders an essential and heartfelt guide to a business start-up as a college student. Enjoy the read! Paul Stewart Owner, PS Capital Partners Milwaukee, Wisconsin Graduate a CEO by Jim Hunter is a hands-on practical book on the entrepreneurial journey. Whether starting a business while in college or simply having the mindset of growth that every entrepreneur should have, this book is must-read. It can be argued that one is never fully ready to be an entrepreneur, as the journey most of the time is on roads less traveled. Remember, every challenge is an unforeseen opportunity, and there’s no better way to learn about this journey than through the lens of a proven entrepreneur and teacher of entrepreneurship such as Jim. Jerry Jendusa Cofounder, Stuck Breakthrough Strategies Author and serial entrepreneur Milwaukee, Wisconsin Graduate a CEO contains a lifetime of Jim Hunter’s relevant personal experiences, keen insights, and practical advice that will assist aspiring entrepreneurs to conceptualize their business, guide them in developing a strategic business plan, and show them how to rapidly test its validity in the market. Jim can help you get to your business destination faster, cheaper, and smarter. — David Lubar President and CEO, Lubar & Company