[legit hustler]

I wish I knew about this forum before yesterday. After spending sometime checking out the interesting threads I figured it would be in my best interest to register, and become an active member of this forum. The quality of info and discussions is uncomparable to other sites out there.

Anyway, I'm currently working on a book, which is basically a guide to entrepreneuralship targeted towards a younger crowd. I am about 90% complete with the title, and I already have a nice publishing situation in place.

The Concept: this book is targeted towards the inner city/hip hop culture, and a all together younger audience that has traditionally opted to not read this type of material (for multiple reasons: one being that the particular sector has not been properly marketed with this type of product).

I would love to hear some of the content you would like to find in this type of book. There are many books on this topic, but I am penetrating a market that traditionally doesn't delve in these types of reads. However, today there is such a strong desire that people have to be independent business men/women, especially in my targeted demographic, but don't have the "know how" to go about it. Along with the marketing plan I have in place, i forecast that I will be able to move a lot of units. I will be in the major book stores in select markets, but the bulk of my business will come from the internet and strategic product placement for high visibility.

Please give me some feed back on this concept, as well as some ideas for content, or even just ideas beyond the content. I'm open minded and respect you all for your entrepreneurial spirits.
Like I said, I am 90% complete with the book, but I am more than willing to incorporate some ideas/info you think would be great to add in the book, because it will only help others in the end.

I would love to give you an overview of all the areas I have touched on so far, but if I did so, this post would be very very long.

[i appologize in advance for any incorrect spellings or punctuation]

[BradG]

Who's funding your book? Any publishers behind you yet?

[legit hustler]

I am actually going through a self publishing compnay, but I have investors backing me. So all the costs as being covered by the investors. I choose this road because I want/need full control of the entire project, since it is "so" out of the box. I had two publishers offer me decent deals, but it's really not all that lucrative for a first time author. But I will say that many investors and publishers were/are interesting in supporting my project... but I think inorder to do what I plan for it to do I need 100% control.

[BradG]

I don't see what this book adds to the scene that isn't already there, however...do you have any credentials? How about a great, real-life experience? If the answer to both of these is no, it could be a tough road...

Also, how much are these "investors" putting up?

[BradG]

...by the way, if you want 100% control, you'll need 100% funding from your own pocket...

Just like I am

www.youngentrepreneursbook.com

The book will be up later this week.

[legit hustler]

Originally Posted by acuravo

Probably the best advice I could give you would be to send a copy of the book to professors involved in entrepreneurial studies programs at universities across the country. If they like it, they may make it a required read for the course, which means 100-200 copies sold per semester, every semester. The result could be 1000+ books sold for sending out 1 free book to the professor.

The other place to be is obviously amazon.com and bn.com.

I look forward to reading the book when it comes out.

I have recieved backing by a group of professors from various universities from around the country. So I do understand how important it is to have their input involved in this project and also for the numbers as well. The major book stores I spoke about included: walden, barnes, boarders, amazon, and few others(regional).

[legit hustler]

Originally Posted by BradG

I don't see what this book adds to the scene that isn't already there, however...do you have any credentials? How about a great, real-life experience? If the answer to both of these is no, it could be a tough road...

Also, how much are these "investors" putting up?

I would answer yes to both of those. My education and previous work prove my creditability. As far as real life experiences: that's the main thing that motivated me to take on this venture. I have been sucessfull in a number of business endeavers ranging from marketing to real estate; and my sucess has been largely contributed to being innovative and more creative than the compitition. i am discussing some of my short comings, and of course sucesses, but i'm really focussing on the basics; writen in a format that is easily understood and relatable.
as far as how much the investors are putting up... I'm not going to get in to numbers, but I would say it's a decent amount to press enough books so that my profit margin are pretty high.
i have marketing deals set up in a number of urban/hip hop magazines that have recieved a synopysis of my book, and have agreed to review my work once it is released, and I have also worked out a very aggressive marketing campaign with the same mags, as well as some other syndications.

I understand that you don't know what I'm adding to the scene... Honestly, I'm not adding a whole lot of new substance. The wheel has been created. Most of the sucessful books out have the same basic premise, the difference mostly based on a different experience. That's what I'm doing. I'm baising this book off of my personal business philosiphy's(which don't strongly differ from yours). The current system in place still works well, it's just that some don't have the same access to that info as others...I'm bringing that info to them via my book.

[BradG]

Float some numbers about this experience (e.g., revenue, growth rate, etc.)...

[legit hustler]

Originally Posted by BradG

Float some numbers about this experience (e.g., revenue, growth rate, etc.)...

I believe you and I have a lot in common. I want to see the numbers...just like you. Money talks, all the other mumbo jumbo is BS, if the number's aren't right. I can't discuss the numbers too deeply, but I can say that I'm only recieving backing from my investors on my initial printing ($10K). I'm handling everything else. So this initial investment is rather small, but I felt it was necessary to show my worth for future ventures, which is important, or I would have just paid for it out of my pocket. My cost for each book will be about $1 (roughly more) so I'll be getting close to 10,000 books, with a retail of $10 per book. Of course this is a teired planned, so the more or less I get printed, the more or less it will cost per book. The printing cost is discounted for my release because I have negoiated a deal with the printing company... so my future prints will be slightly higher, until I reach a higher quantity. I can’t disclose everything. I can say that I have a very indepth business and marketing plan. However, I’m far from perfect, so that is the reason I have decided to start this thread. The profit margins are not as high in the big name bookstores(which I will be in still, for exposure and availability purposes). I also have designed discount programs for non book stores to purchase in bulk. For Instance, I will be selling high volumes to Job Core of America, Boys and Girls Club, and other teen/young adult organizations and of course I wont be selling for the MSRP. I will take a severe cut in those arenas, but my profit margin will still be pretty good. I have so many out of the box angles that I am using to promote and sale this book. In the future, the goal is to take a publishing deal from one of the big name publishers. In the early stages, I think it is important to show my worth, the value of the book, so that I can negoiate the deal that I really want. [sorry, but I can't discuss the Publisher, I'm sure you understand that].
As far as growth, that is where it gets exciting. I have so much lined up, that I really can't touch on, because like I said above, I've become sucessful because of being so innovative, if I were to disucss my strategies too deeply they would not have the same effectiveness once I go to execute... I have to keep my competitive edge. You understand, you're a young entrepreneur.
I'm not trying to keep secrets or anything, I'm just trying to keep my competitive edge.
Your questions, concerns and feedback help me greatly and I truly appreciate it. Because if nothing, it challenges me to make sure I'm on top of my game.

[legit hustler]

Originally Posted by Scott Taylor

Just like I am

www.youngentrepreneursbook.com

The book will be up later this week.

Are you doing an ebook? Or are you getting it printed. Just curious. I'm interested to check it out.