The Unfair Advantage: How You Already Have What It Takes to Succeed

by Ash Ali, Hasan Kubba

Overview

The winner of the UK's Business Book of the Year Award for 2021, this is a groundbreaking exposé of the myths behind startup success and a blueprint for harnessing the things that really matter.

What is the difference between a startup that makes it, and one that crashes and burns? Behind every story of success is an unfair advantage.

But an Unfair Advantage is not just about your parents' wealth or who you know: anyone can have one. An Unfair Advantage is the element that gives you an edge over your competition.

This groundbreaking book shows how to identify your own Unfair Advantages and apply them to any project. Drawing on over two decades of hands-on experience, Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba offer a unique framework for assessing your external circumstances in addition to your internal strengths. Hard work and grit aren't enough, so they explore the importance of money, intelligence, location, education, expertise, status, and luck in the journey to success. From starting your company, to gaining traction, raising funds, and growth hacking, The Unfair Advantage helps you look at yourself and find the ingredients you didn't realize you already had, to succeed in the cut-throat world of business.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250280527
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	06/07/2022
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	510,520
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 5.60(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

ASH ALI is the co-founder of Uhubs, a skills training platform to help entrepreneurs and professionals. He sold his first internet business at age 19. With over 20 years of hands-on experience creating and growing startups, he has consulted, advised, and invested in hundreds of startups.

HASAN KUBBA is a specialist in technology startups, marketing, and fundraising. His TEDx talk titled Startups, Entrepreneurship and Unfair Advantages was voted highest ever on the Official TED subreddit.

Table of Contents

Preface to the US Edition ix

Introduction 1

Part 1 Understand

1 Life is unfair 13

2 Our entrepreneurial journeys 20

3 Success is both hard work and luck 39

4 Introducing Unfair Advantages 51

Part 2 Audit

5 Introducing the MILES Framework 63

6 Mindset 71

7 Money 82

8 Intelligence and Insight 95

9 Location and Luck 115

10 Education and Expertise 139

11 Status 152

Part 3 The Startup Quick-Start Guide

12 The why 177

13 The type of startup 183

14 The idea 192

15 The people 203

16 The business 213

17 Fundraising 225

Conclusion 239

Acknowledgments 243

Editorial Reviews

Crucial business advice that you won’t get anywhere else.”
—Derek Sivers, entrepreneur and author of Anything You Want

“A powerful way to think about success as a creator and entrepreneur. It's a fantastic concept I teach to all my students.”
—Ali Abdaal, YouTuber and Podcaster

“A fast-paced read with excellent insights from a remarkable entrepreneurial story.”
—Daniel Priestley, author of Entrepreneur Revolution

“What a masterful and thought-provoking book: a must for every entrepreneur regardless of the stage of your journey.”
—Byron Cole, Business Growth Expert and author of Self Made

“In a no-nonsense approach, this book shows you the truth that business and life aren't fair, and goes into the methods and practices to let you take full advantage of your unique skills and assets.”
—Rune Sovndahl, founder of Fantastic Services

“The Unfair Advantage breaks down how people from all walks of life and backgrounds can achieve unfair advantages in their entrepreneurial journey or career. An indispensable handbook for the masses.”
—Dion McKenzie, founder of Colorintech and Tech Investor

From the Publisher