What every entrepreneur needs to know about growing a business with purpose and resilience.
Grit and Growth: Candid Stories and Lessons for Building a Small Business with Purpose is a captivating journey into what entrepreneurship really looks like, packed with invaluable insights to help you build your small business toolkit. From doubt and disappointments to passion, purpose, and resolveall are on the path to starting and growing a successful small business. Authors Anne Haines, Amber Kani, and Laura Marrich share practical tools alongside real-life stories, drawing on DreamSprings 30-year evolution from a tiny startup to a national leader in small business development.
Through real-world lessons, authentic testimonials, reflective exercises, and practical frameworks, this guide lays out the skills and resources that every entrepreneur needs to master, like clarifying your purpose, developing values-driven leadership, amplifying your strengths, and cultivating communities of support. The authors on-the-ground guidance prepares you to meet obstacles head-on and leverage your unique capabilities.
In the book, you will:
Learn to define and refine your businesss core values and mission for clearer direction and impact. Gain insights from real small business owners who have turned their struggles and challenges into steppingstones for success. Develop a robust understanding of leadership and self-assessment to enhance your entrepreneurial journey.
Whether youre an aspiring entrepreneur, a small business owner, or a nonprofit leader, Grit and Growth is a clear-eyed companion for navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Get your copy now and start forging your path with grit, growth, and purpose.
Introduction xiii
Chapter 1 The Sparks: Early Influences, Lived Experiences, Values, and Your
North Star 1
Chapter 2 The Leap: Fear, Courage, Risk-Taking, and Passion 15
Chapter 3 The Part No One Talks About: Isolation, Self-Doubt, Vulnerability,
and Networks 29
Chapter 4 The People Factor: Relationships, Culture, and Communication 45
Chapter 5 Breakthroughs: Small Wins, Creativity, Resourcefulness, and
Perseverance 59
Chapter 6 Laughing All the Way: Play, Humor, and Joy 73
Chapter 7 The Pivot: Change, Reinvention, and Adaptability 85
Chapter 8 Home Runs: Success, Growth, and Impact 99
Chapter 9 Reckoning: Crisis, Failure, Burnout, and Clarity 113
Chapter 10 Clawing Back: Comebacks, Financial Insight, and Resilience 127
Chapter 11 Full Circle: Succession Planning, Exits, and Legacy 139
Epilogue: Life Lessons from Three Decades of Entrepreneurship 153
Notes 157
Acknowledgments 161
About the Authors 165
Index 167
Anne Haines is an award-winning visionary and founder, nationally recognized for helping thousands of people realize their dreams of business ownership. A passionate champion of economic opportunity, she is the Founding President/CEO of DreamSpring, a small business lending organization.
Laura Marrich is an award-winning writer and editor and DreamSprings Senior Communications Specialist. Over her two decades in journalism and marketing, Lauras work has received numerous regional and national honors including recognition from the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Press Women Association, and the American Advertising Awards (the ADDYs).
Amber Kani is Chief Engagement Officer at DreamSpring and an advocate for economic opportunity with more than 20 years of experience in community development finance and nonprofit leadership. Amber has successfully scaled fundraising, financial education, and volunteer engagement for mission-driven organizations.
