Book excerpt: How do American entrepreneurs conceive their business ideas? Where do they find their first customers? How do they survive? Why do they later describe their business successes as unplanned accidents? Glorious Accidents sheds light on how American entrepreneurs get new ventures off the ground -- from a personal, rather than a strictly business perspective. It portrays the human drama of entrepreneuring in America: the summons and uncertainty, the passion and fear, the surge and reprieve, the hilarity and tears, the freedom and restraint, and the ultimate triumph. Chapters such as, Seizing the Opportunity, Radiating Zeal, Working with Tenacity and Giving Mind-Boggling Service reveal the true life experiences of a diverse group of successful start-ups. Features the stories of business founders coast-to-coast who describe the exhilaration and exhaustion of conceiving an idea, implementing a concept, and building a successful enterprise. Features profiles of 30 businesses, such as Cannondale, Nguyen Electronics, Jazzercise, Blimpie, Burbidge Disposal, Franklin Quest, Icon Sports, and Huntsman Chemical.