The Misfit Economy: Lessons in Creativity from Pirates, Hackers, Gangsters, and other Informal Entrepreneurs

First-time coauthors Clay (cofounder, League of Intrapreneurs) and innovation strategist Phillips explore the creative business tactics of pirates, gangsters, hustlers, and many others as they relay the stories of misfits who skirt the line of legality to solve a business or service need. Examples range from a membership-owned farm providing camel's milk to pivoting the perception of the Latin Kings to a civic-minded organization. Clay and Phillips diagram their five key principles of a misfit economy—hustle, copy, hack, provoke, and pivot—with examples of industry and innovation. It's noted that just because the misfits aren't waiting for opportunity but creating it doesn't necessarily make them entrepreneurs. The informality of these economic endeavors frees people to depend on their intrinsic motivations.