Secrets of Business Project: Twitter: @Secrets_of_Biz

Dear fellow Rodinhood members,

I am delighted to share with you details of a project I am working on this year.

I wonder if there is anyone in the Rodinhood community who might be interested in collaborating with me on the project?  If so, message me – I would be pleased to explore this with you.

Regards,

Jeff

Dear Alok,

Many thanks for your message on Twitter recently (@rodinhood: @Secrets_of_Biz sure – mail me –alok@rodinhood.com) and I’m delighted to connect with you.

The project I am excited to share with you is this:

Background:

Wearing my social researcher hat, I have observed a growing trend over the last 2-5 years towards entrepreneurship and self-employment – particularly among the younger generation – needless to say you will have probably made the same observation through your network. There are probably a myriad of reasons why but perhaps one explanation is this generation has seen what an enabler technology is to achieve success in business.

I have also noticed a trend among this generation towards Social Entrepreneurship – being in business for a cause greater than just making money.

Still however, there are many young people with great ideas but without many of the essential business skills, know-how, inspiration or courage to start and/or make their business a success and support networks such as yours are essential.

The Project:

It is with these things in mind that I intend to publish a book next year called Secrets of Business. It will essentially be a collection of interviews with and telling the stories of successful business owners / CEOs – not necessarily the already household names but perhaps business owners who do not have a high profile or who are widely known.

The book will be supported by a website called www.SecretsofBusiness.com (I own this domain and the dot com dot au) which I envisage will, in time, be leveraged into something akin to www.30secondMBA.com– an ongoing video “curriculum” of really good advice from the business trenches.

One of the key themes I want to promote in the book (and on the website) is the importance of cause related entrepreneurship – entrepreneurship with a public good.

So, I would like to use this project to support a worthwhile Not for Profit organisation – presently I have in mind Jane Tewson’s NFP called Igniting Change.

Realistically, this is not a project I can execute by myself so I am reaching out to a few key enthusiastic people who share my passion for entrepreneurship and education – already I am enjoying some good support for the project from the likes of ENYA – the Enterprise Network for Young Australians.

The Opportunity:
The benefits for a business owner of being featured will include the opportunity to increase their profile both in Australia, NZ, Asia, the US and Europe – I have already spoken with people about marketing the book and website in these countries – the reputation benefits, the opportunity to increase their network, and the opportunity to collaborate with new people. 

There will be 16 – 20 business owners featured in the book and it (and the website) will be promoted by each of them to their contacts / personal network / supporters. Further, the website will allow links to any of your business websites so will become a great source of qualified leads!

So, I would be interested in particular whether you know anyone in your network who would be interested in featuring in the book and on the website – (Maybe you would like to be featured in Secrets of Business?!) or interested in supporting / promoting the project in India?

Through my networks I am expecting the foreword will be written by either Sir Richard Branson, John Symonds or Mark Bouris which will add to the cache and marketability of the book / website. (Jane Tewson is one of my friends here in Melbourne and she enjoys a 30-year friendship and association with Richard Branson and Virgin. Jane sits on the board of Sir Richard’s charitable venture, Virgin Unite.)

Is any of this of interest to you?

I’d be pleased to have your thoughts / feedback on the idea Alok and especially if you know of anyone who would like to be one of the 16 – 20 business owners profiled and we can talk about the next steps.

(I’m also thrilled to share the other project I am working on –www.LeavingSchool.com.au – was featured in The Age in September – and I anticipate will launch early in 2013. It will be a website, with resources to assist students make the transition from life at school to life after school.  After writing to the Premier I have been granted a meeting this week with his Special Adviser on Education and this will likely result in some seed funding from Government or introductions to the private sector.) 

So, 2013 is shaping up to be very exciting!

Looking forward to hearing from you Alok.

Regards,