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9781400225347

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'To succeed, a first-time founder has to make smart choices about a myriad of matters--and lacks prior experience with most of them. Is my concept compelling? Do I have the right cofounder? Are these financing terms fair? A seasoned entrepreneur, Nadkarni offers sage advice on all of these topics. Everything a founder needs to know is here, packed into one book.' -- Tom Eisenmann, Howard H. Stevenson Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School * Harvard Business School * 'From Startup to Exit is a fantastic resource for any startup founder, even more so if you are a first time founder and entrepreneur. Building a successful startup takes investments at all stages -- in your leadership capabilities, your product strategy, your go-to-market strategy, how you provide value to customer, and how you build your team. Shirish's anecdotes and lessons in this book are highly relevant and apt to help any entrepreneur build and scale a successful technology business.' -- S. Somasegar, Managing Director, Madrona Venture Group * Madrona Venture Group * 'With thousands and thousands of new tech startups launching every year, it's shocking how little practical guidance for entrepreneurs has been published. Shirish's new book provides rarely seen real world advice for founders overwhelmed by the real world. Every tech entrepreneur should take a few hours off from the grind, in the wee hours of the morning or over a weekend, to benefit from the wisdom of a compatriot who has been there several times before.' -- Craig Sherman, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and amp; Rosati * Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati *

Colin Cowie's events are the gold standard for creating unforgettable experiences. His relentless pursuit of excellence sets him apart in the customer service industry. Following his advice, you will impress your customers and keep them coming back for more.' -- Susan Dell, Philanthropist, MSD Capital * MSD Capital * In today's world, service is the only true differentiator, making The Gold Standard a must-read book for anyone interested in improving service in their business. Colin Cowie's mastery of service excellence delivery is unsurpassed and can be applied in virtually any industry. This is a guidebook to success as he shares all of his secrets to creating happy and loyal customers in a compelling 'how to' anecdotal style.' -- Cindy Novotny, Radical Mentor, Master Connection Associates * Master Connection Associates * 'In Colin's enjoyable, fascinating book, he shares his secrets of A+ customer service. Readers can surprise their clients and customers with what their clients and customers didn't know they wanted. That's the ultimate in proactive service.' -- Jackie and David Simon, Chairman and CEO, Simon Property Group * Simon Property Group * 'Colin's engaging writing style is evident from the first page. His unique references exploring standards of excellence ranging from McDonald's fries in North Dakota to a royal wedding in Doha make this book truly stand out. Frankly, it's the best first-person analysis I've read on the topic of customer service. It's an enjoyable read with unforgettable practical advice you can put into use immediately.' -- Ken Blanchard, The Ken Blanchard Companies, Co-author of Bestsellers, The New One Minute Manager and Raving Fans * The New One Minute Manager * 'Let's face it, at some level, we're all in the service business, regardless of our profession. If you are looking for a way to get the most positive reaction to whatever you do, get The Gold Standard. Colin's stories and practical advice will help you remove the bumps you don't see now on your road to success.' -- Ryan Seacrest, Emmy Award Winning Television Host and Producer * Emmy Award Winning Television Host and Producer * 'Excellent customer service begins long before the customer walks in the door. It's created, planned, and organized with each step thought through in a way that your customer is sure to enjoy-- a seamless, unsurpassed experience that they'll want to repeat, over and over again. In his book, Colin tells you how you can create your version of The Gold Standard.' -- Jean Georges Vongerichten, Chef, Bestselling Cookbook Author and Television Personality * Home Cooking with Jean-Georges * 'Colin Cowie is a master at creating unforgettable experiences. His latest book is a must-read for all those seeking new ways to elevate their services, delight their customers, and build lasting relationships.' -- Pauline Brown, Former Chair of LVMH North America and Author of Aesthetic Intelligence * Aesthetic Intelligence * 'I truly believe Colin Cowie's The Gold Standard is more timely than ever, as businesses look to engage with the shifting needs of their guests. A copy of this powerful book in the hands of the people who work with you can elevate the experience of everyone involved and undoubtedly increase the size of your audience.' -- Radha Arora, President, Rosewood Hotels and amp; Resorts * Rosewood Hotels & Resorts * 'Colin is the epitome of The Gold Standard. As a hospitalitarian at some of the finest luxury hotels, clubs, and real estate developments globally, I have looked to Colin to help me transform my teams to ensure a memorable guest experience for all! Thank you, Colin, for your fabulous visionary leadership.' -- John Carlton Tolbert, Blackstone Real Estate Hotels and amp; Resorts and Founder, Revelation Consultancy * Revelation Consultancy * 'Incredible nuggets of wisdom. Nothing teaches like experience, and the insight that Colin Cowie shares in The Gold Standard is a must-read. Inspirational and energizing for those who aspire to deliver the absolute finest in customer service.' -- Alan Fuerstman, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Montage International * Montage International * 'What I enjoy most about restaurant life is the sense that I am inviting the world to dinner. There is a rarefied thrill in surpassing our guests' high expectations-- every day, year in and year out! If your goal is consistent excellence, Colin's The Gold Standard offers you far more than you expect. Everyone who works with me is going to have a copy!' -- Eric Ripert, Chef and Owner, Le Bernardin, Bestselling Cookbook Author and Television Personality * 32 Yolks * 'To succeed, a first-time founder has to make smart choices about a myriad of matters--and lacks prior experience with most of them. Is my concept compelling? Do I have the right cofounder? Are these financing terms fair? A seasoned entrepreneur, Nadkarni offers sage advice on all of these topics. Everything a founder needs to know is here, packed into one book.' -- Tom Eisenmann, Howard H. Stevenson Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School * Harvard Business School * 'With thousands and thousands of new tech startups launching every year, it's shocking how little practical guidance for entrepreneurs has been published. Shirish's new book provides rarely seen real world advice for founders overwhelmed by the real world. Every tech entrepreneur should take a few hours off from the grind, in the wee hours of the morning or over a weekend, to benefit from the wisdom of a compatriot who has been there several times before.' -- Craig Sherman, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and amp; Rosati * Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati * 'From Startup to Exit is a fantastic resource for any startup founder, even more so if you are a first time founder and entrepreneur. Building a successful startup takes investments at all stages -- in your leadership capabilities, your product strategy, your go-to-market strategy, how you provide value to customer, and how you build your team. Shirish's anecdotes and lessons in this book are highly relevant and apt to help any entrepreneur build and scale a successful technology business.' -- S. Somasegar, Managing Director, Madrona Venture Group * Madrona Venture Group *

'To succeed, a first-time founder has to make smart choices about a myriad of matters--and lacks prior experience with most of them. Is my concept compelling? Do I have the right cofounder? Are these financing terms fair? A seasoned entrepreneur, Nadkarni offers sage advice on all of these topics. Everything a founder needs to know is here, packed into one book.' -- Tom Eisenmann, Howard H. Stevenson Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School * Harvard Business School * 'With thousands and thousands of new tech startups launching every year, it's shocking how little practical guidance for entrepreneurs has been published. Shirish's new book provides rarely seen real world advice for founders overwhelmed by the real world. Every tech entrepreneur should take a few hours off from the grind, in the wee hours of the morning or over a weekend, to benefit from the wisdom of a compatriot who has been there several times before.' -- Craig Sherman, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and amp; Rosati * Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati * 'From Startup to Exit is a fantastic resource for any startup founder, even more so if you are a first time founder and entrepreneur. Building a successful startup takes investments at all stages -- in your leadership capabilities, your product strategy, your go-to-market strategy, how you provide value to customer, and how you build your team. Shirish's anecdotes and lessons in this book are highly relevant and apt to help any entrepreneur build and scale a successful technology business.' -- S. Somasegar, Managing Director, Madrona Venture Group * Madrona Venture Group * Colin Cowie's events are the gold standard for creating unforgettable experiences. His relentless pursuit of excellence sets him apart in the customer service industry. Following his advice, you will impress your customers and keep them coming back for more.' -- Susan Dell, Philanthropist, MSD Capital * MSD Capital * In today's world, service is the only true differentiator, making The Gold Standard a must-read book for anyone interested in improving service in their business. Colin Cowie's mastery of service excellence delivery is unsurpassed and can be applied in virtually any industry. This is a guidebook to success as he shares all of his secrets to creating happy and loyal customers in a compelling 'how to' anecdotal style.' -- Cindy Novotny, Radical Mentor, Master Connection Associates * Master Connection Associates * 'In Colin's enjoyable, fascinating book, he shares his secrets of A+ customer service. Readers can surprise their clients and customers with what their clients and customers didn't know they wanted. That's the ultimate in proactive service.' -- Jackie and David Simon, Chairman and CEO, Simon Property Group * Simon Property Group * 'Colin's engaging writing style is evident from the first page. His unique references exploring standards of excellence ranging from McDonald's fries in North Dakota to a royal wedding in Doha make this book truly stand out. Frankly, it's the best first-person analysis I've read on the topic of customer service. It's an enjoyable read with unforgettable practical advice you can put into use immediately.' -- Ken Blanchard, The Ken Blanchard Companies, Co-author of Bestsellers, The New One Minute Manager and Raving Fans * The New One Minute Manager * 'Let's face it, at some level, we're all in the service business, regardless of our profession. If you are looking for a way to get the most positive reaction to whatever you do, get The Gold Standard. Colin's stories and practical advice will help you remove the bumps you don't see now on your road to success.' -- Ryan Seacrest, Emmy Award Winning Television Host and Producer * Emmy Award Winning Television Host and Producer * 'Excellent customer service begins long before the customer walks in the door. It's created, planned, and organized with each step thought through in a way that your customer is sure to enjoy-- a seamless, unsurpassed experience that they'll want to repeat, over and over again. In his book, Colin tells you how you can create your version of The Gold Standard.' -- Jean Georges Vongerichten, Chef, Bestselling Cookbook Author and Television Personality * Home Cooking with Jean-Georges * 'Colin Cowie is a master at creating unforgettable experiences. His latest book is a must-read for all those seeking new ways to elevate their services, delight their customers, and build lasting relationships.' -- Pauline Brown, Former Chair of LVMH North America and Author of Aesthetic Intelligence * Aesthetic Intelligence * 'I truly believe Colin Cowie's The Gold Standard is more timely than ever, as businesses look to engage with the shifting needs of their guests. A copy of this powerful book in the hands of the people who work with you can elevate the experience of everyone involved and undoubtedly increase the size of your audience.' -- Radha Arora, President, Rosewood Hotels and amp; Resorts * Rosewood Hotels & Resorts * 'Colin is the epitome of The Gold Standard. As a hospitalitarian at some of the finest luxury hotels, clubs, and real estate developments globally, I have looked to Colin to help me transform my teams to ensure a memorable guest experience for all! Thank you, Colin, for your fabulous visionary leadership.' -- John Carlton Tolbert, Blackstone Real Estate Hotels and amp; Resorts and Founder, Revelation Consultancy * Revelation Consultancy * 'Incredible nuggets of wisdom. Nothing teaches like experience, and the insight that Colin Cowie shares in The Gold Standard is a must-read. Inspirational and energizing for those who aspire to deliver the absolute finest in customer service.' -- Alan Fuerstman, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Montage International * Montage International * 'What I enjoy most about restaurant life is the sense that I am inviting the world to dinner. There is a rarefied thrill in surpassing our guests' high expectations-- every day, year in and year out! If your goal is consistent excellence, Colin's The Gold Standard offers you far more than you expect. Everyone who works with me is going to have a copy!' -- Eric Ripert, Chef and Owner, Le Bernardin, Bestselling Cookbook Author and Television Personality * 32 Yolks *

Author Information

Shirish Nadkarni is a serial entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience in creating consumer businesses that have scaled to tens of millions of users worldwide. He was the co-founder of Livemocha, the world’s largest language learning site with 15+ million registered members. Livemocha pioneered the concept of social language learning and was later acquired by RosettaStone. Prior to Livemocha, Shirish was the founder of TeamOn Systems, a mobile wireless e-mail pioneer that was acquired by Research in Motion in 2002. The TeamOn technology served as the core foundation for Blackberry Internet E-mail, which had over 50 million users at its peak.

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