Book excerpt: The last thing Gerry Murphy planned to do was start his own business. However, a social plan to regenerate his hometown of Churchtown in North Cork led to a brief encounter at a fuel forecourt which eventually led to the establishment of a company that was turning over €100 million within three years. In Part I of The Accidental Entrepreneur Gerry Murphy tells the fascinating story of how he became a social entrepreneur and the difficulties he encountered (and overcame) along the way, and how this led to the development of GreatGas Petroleum. It’s a gripping behind-the-scenes look at how a business is born. Part II provides a step-by-step guide of how to launch and build your own successful business even if you have neither capital nor commercial experience. It includes dozens of case histories, international examples, invaluable checklists and lots and lots of inspirational advice. Concise, practical and honest, The Accidental Entrepreneur is an essential read, whether you are an established entrepreneur, starting out with your first business or just dreaming of creating your own company. Everyone can become an entrepreneur. Read this and be inspired.