Dream First, Details Later

How to Quit Overthinking & Make It Happen!

By: Ellen Bennett

Narrated by: Ellen Bennett

"Ellen Bennett is the platonic form of a go-getter who inspires go-getter after go-getter to become a better go-getter." (Zooey Deschanel, actor and musician)

You’ll never know where to start...until you start. This gutsy guidebook will help anyone who's procrastinating on a goal, career change, or business idea stop the obsessive worrying and leap into action.

As a 24-year-old line cook, Ellen Marie Bennett couldn't stand the kitchen staff’s poorly designed, cheaply made aprons. So when her head chef announced he was ordering a new batch, she blurted out, “Chef, I have an apron company” - even though she had no company, no business plan - just a glimmer of a design idea and a business license. Through hustle and a willingness to leap into the unknown, time and time again, she built that first order into a multi-million-dollar company called Hedley & Bennett, making aprons and kitchen gear worn by many of the world’s best chefs and home cooks everywhere.

Dream First, Details Later shares Ellen's journey and her forged-in-the-fire personal playbook for starting before you stop yourself. If you've ever imagined doing something and immediately thought, "that's impossible", or "I wouldn't even know where to start", or "I'm not qualified to do that", in these book, you'll learn how to shove aside your inner worrier and launch into action. This honest and bold book will be like having Ellen - your personal hype woman - there with you, all the while yelling, "Don't stop! You got this!" She'll share hard-won advice on:

• Squashing doubts and reservations about venturing outside your comfort zone. (These doubts masquerade as rational, but they’re more likely coming from a place of fear.)
• Saying screw it to the perfect plan and using creative problem-solving - and heart and guts - to conquer the shit storms as they come.
• Eventually transitioning from the "flying by the seat of your pants" stage to the "well-oiled machine" stage.

You don't need to have all the answers to make your dream a reality. You just need to start before you're ready.

©2021 Ellen Bennett (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Full of passion and color, highly motivating and aspirational. That is Ellen Bennett and H&B to a T! It is also the perfect description of what her debut book is. Ellen gives us a rare, honest and occasionally blood pressure-raising first account of how a successful business gets built and the traps you might (will!) fall into along the way. Dream First, Details Later is the best guidebook, pep talk and cheerleader to anyone who is at the base of the mountain of their next big dream.” (Jesse Tyler Ferguson, actor and author of the cookbook Food Between Friends)

"I love, love, love this book! The true story of a true heroine for our times - bold, brash, and entirely honest about the downs and ups of making dreams come true." (Angela Duckworth, New York Times best-selling author of Grit)

“Ellen Bennett’s infectiously inspiring story of grit and entrepreneurial spirit, Dream First, Details Later is a powerfully honest and colorful account of her wild journey from line cook to business owner. In it, she gives license to break free from self-doubt and to seize the wheel for your own journey to success.” (Danny Meyer, author of Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business)

Inspirational!

Incredibly motivating book, love the story and his background. I love how the motivation and the energy is intertwined throughout the reading love to very much as one of my personal favorite.

The book you didn’t know you need it. A masterpiece for every entrepreneur.

This book was f***ing excellent! Ellen shares her success and struggles that any entrepreneur faces during this long journey. Starting from her childhood, her Mexican voyage, and then starting her career as a cook. I feel identified with it because it’s a struggle making little money, and yet she decided to chase her dream still. At times, I could feel her pain because I have been there too. Her persistence in going after what she wanted and being resilient is very inspiring. I cried just like she did while recording this book. Thank you, Ellen! Thank you for sharing your story, teaching us that if the door is closed, climb through the window. I learned so many lessons from this book, not just life lessons but business lessons that I will keep in mind as I start my own small business from now on.

So many amazing truth bombs!

I discovered and then purchased this book after an AHHHHMAAAAZING personal shout out from the author herself thanks to my equally amazing life coach and listened on my commutes. I'm a full time family medicine physician who loves creating in the kitchen and my dream is to have a cooking show one day! Both our moms are nurses and I felt like Ellen was speaking to my soul...how did she know I appreciate well placed F bombs 😂😂. This book reads FAST and I am sure to listen to it again and remind myself to stop letting my overthinking get in my way!

Such an inspiring story, full of great advice!

This book reminded me everyone has mountains climb. Keep climbing and don't ever give up!

Infectious Enthusiasm

Ellen Bennett's Infectious Enthusiasm helped me move from dreaming to starting my Forest Bath business.

Ellen Bennett Strikes Again!

Short, sweet, and to the point. Loved how action oriented and approachable it was. My only wish is that I could have had the bulleted lists as a download with the audiobook! Would definitely tape that last one on the wall.

The Entrepreneur How-To

Great inspirational stories of pivoting under pressure and thinking outside the box. Applicable to any career.

LOVED!!!

I have been following and buying H&B for years! So grateful to learn more of BTS. Thank you Ellen for waking up and fighting everyday! Cheering you on!!

Incredible.

Ellen is one of the most inspiring people out there. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. This audiobook is just what I needed.

High Energy Inspo!

Erin kills it with this high energy book full of actionable ideas - highly recommend taking a listen!