Making Money is Killing Your Business, by Chuck Blakeman
I recently reached out to author and business coach Chuck Blakeman, at the recommendation of a couple of my Denver-based friends. I was looking for a project to break into digital book production for my business.
It was essentially a cold call. As I don’t see myself as a sales person, I had to step out of my comfort zone to make the connection.
I had to work to convince Chuck that I was a good vendor to take on his book. He didn’t understand what I was calling him about at first. 90 minutes later I had received a good free coaching session, but hadn’t really sold him on my idea. Hours later I received a long email from him to add to his delivery of how I can better do this business, and a request for a proposal of my rates and technique.
So I took on the job for an approximate 60% discount, and was able to take the book to the digital marketplace while learning the best practice for conversion. There were a lot of unexpected speed bumps in my process, but I was successful nonetheless. I am grateful for the opportunity he gave me, and the willingness to risk my total failure with it!
It seemed I had to explain to a lot of my associates and peers why I did the project. I am an art director and passionate about design and illustration, and just about anything with a creative process. It is a good question.
If you’ve read my Enfineitz Manifesto you will know that I believe that every aspect of life has creative options, and can be turned into an opportunity for some sort of artistic expression. Even though taking an already-designed and published print book to the digital marketplace is akin to menial data entry, I knew that a creative strategy was warranted in the process. Also, I knew that it would give me a unique strategy for taking a book to the digital marketplace and help me create my own process. The other benefit is the experience and referrals I can use to gain the confidence of new writers, authors and publishers. Perhaps I will encounter a writer/author who just has the idea of a manuscript and I can be their partner on the whole process.
I have formed a strategic alliance with Caleb Seeling of Samizdat Creative Services. We will be combining our respective talents and strengths to bring great books to market, essentially functioning as a full-service publishing collaborative.
Somewhere in all of this business there should be some real design!