Hi,
Berry
Gordy (record producer, songwriter, film producer and television producer)
started Motown Records, the hit-making enterprise born in Detroit, Michigan,
after working on the auto assembly line.
Gordy
used that auto assembly line concept to create a string of hit songs.
This
week, we are spotlighting other rising stars that are the result of
incorporating lessons from earlier job activities to build a publishing empire –
“Code M.”
"Code
M" is a hot new magazine that is taking America by storm. The publishers are a
former fireman and a former marketing and sales executive, who came together to
start a fire with their new media business.
Bilal
Akram, a retired Cleveland fireman, decided to start a magazine. He created one
that was nice-looking and published once a quarter, but he struggled with sales
and marketing.
Brad
Bowling, a former sales and marketing executive, saw the magazine and realized
it had great potential – but was in dire need of marketing.
Brad
reached out to Bilal and shared his ideas which Bilal implemented. Sales went
up. Bilal and Brad decided to become partners and move from quarterly publishing
to a monthly magazine.
They
expanded their reach beyond Cleveland and the magazine took off. Today, they are
one of the hottest magazines in America.
During
my interview with them for my Willie Jolley Wealthy Ways radio show on Sirius
XM, here are 8 pivotal entrepreneurial concepts they stressed:
- Everything
starts with a dream, a vision, and a picture in your mind. Once you get the
vision, then you must do all you can to take the picture from your mind to the
real world.
- Start
without knowing all the details and be willing to continue to learn along the
way. The key is to be willing to be a student even while doing the work.
- Bootstrap.
There will be times when you will keep it together with Scotch tape, rubber
bands and popsicle sticks. Just stay positive and keep fighting for your
dream.
- BET
on YOU! You are designed for accomplishment. You might get tired and weary. Take
a nap. Then, get back up and get back at it. You are designed to
achieve!
- Be
relentless. Intensity and focus are essential to succeed in business. Berry
Gordy didn’t know how to run a record company, but he kept his intensity strong
and kept his focus on his dream. He did it.
- Solve
a problem. Your business must solve some problem, even if it’s an informational
problem.
- Develop
discipline. Either you will discipline yourself or life will discipline you!
It’s less painful when you discipline yourself.
- Take
accountability. Choose people in your life who will keep you accountable and
cheer you on as well as tell you when you have broccoli in your teeth. Keep
friends who encourage and correct with love!