What if every successful start-up followed a predictable pattern, and by knowing that pattern ahead of time, you could be more successful? In The Hockey Stick Principles, business consultant Bobby Martin shares his findings after studying more than 100 new businesses, from Lending Tree to Under Armour to iContact, which reveals that each one has followed a growth curve that's in the shape of a hockey stick - starting with a tinkering period, moving through the daunting and relatively flat 'blade years,' then hitting a crucial growth-inflection point that leads to upward surging growth. Included throughout the book are revelatory and highly engaging stories of real-life entrepreneurs’ struggles as they grew their businesses as well as 92 Hockey Stick Principles, which are bite-size chunks of text throughout the book providing tried-and-true advice and best practices to keep in mind when starting your own business. In this easy to follow and incredibly helpful book, Martin takes us through each growth stage and gives you a road map that will help any entrepreneur navigate the inevitable ups and downs of their business's early years.