I chose to visit with an entrepreneur, D.R. Baker, who owns and operates an assisted publishing business called Transtemporal Publishing. He is the owner, and his wife, Debbie, is the vice-president, and she also keep the books. They also have two part-time employees -- one who assists with Information Technology IT issues , and one who is a graphic designer and HTML programmer.
I learned a lot of things during my interview with Mr. Baker, and will transcribe some of the more salient quotes he made during the interview. Before he started Transtemporal Publishing, Mr. Baker was a correspondent for a newspaper, but worked part-time as a freelance writer, and even wrote poetry for pleasure. Baker stated that his life was filled with work obligations and responsibilities to others, but that it was a burden denying himself the pursuit of his own dream -- to continue to write but own an assisted publishing business. He is now in his mid-40s, and began his business in late 2009. Before this period, he had worked at a number of journalism-related jobs. Baker graduated from a major University with a Bachelor's degree, but stated that he did not feel that his degree prepared him for the real world of work. However, he also stated that he learned how to think critically, and communicate effectively while he was a University student. Nevertheless, he felt that he was in an environment that only prepared him to work for someone else's benefit -- especially for a major corporation. "I just never felt that that was my path -- ever," Baker said. "At the same time, I wanted to get out of the academic world, and try something new, something I could enjoy," he continued.
Baker's role models, he said, were primarily inventors, scientists, and writers, as well as musicians. Growing up, he read a lot about Albert Einstein, and Ben Franklin, as well as books by George Orwell, Dostoevsky, J.D. Salinger, and Carl Sagan. He loved to read books by Isaac Asimov, and astronomy was one of his favorite hobbies. My entrepreneur graduated at the top of his class in Tucson, and later attended the University of Arizona, where he majored in psychology and business. He stated that his education was very helpful insofar as it taught him how to think critically, and communicate his ideas effectively. It also taught him more about the merits of hard work and self-discipline, as well as postponing instant gratification, and the value of making sacrifices.
Baker further stated that the opportunity to have a business of his own was always his dream. "I couldn't stand working for other people who ignored my ideas, and bosses who had no knowledge of their respective businesses, and did not earn my respect as leaders," he said. Baker stated that the opportunity was not by chance, or by a stroke of luck. The opportunity, he said, took years to earn, in terms of know-how, affiliating with others with similar goals, as well as financial savings. He said that he evaluated the opportunity more in terms of what his passions were than sitting down and drawing up a list of critical elements for success. Baker's definition, at the time, of success was doing what he was passionate about, and earning a living while doing it. However, due to associating with clients in the freelance writing business, he networked with and met other people who could be potential clients. Long before he set out to embark on his own business venture, he had established relationships with business people who already needed his services. He laid out a financial sheet, and calculated what his monthly expenses were, as well as his projected revenue. He stated that he needed very little in terms of start-up capital, and said that he needed much more in terms of "sweat equity." From initial conception to his first day of operations was a matter of a few months, but those months were jam-packed with preparation, such as marketing and advertising. Baker said that he relied much on outside consultation to get his business up and running, such as incorporating it, tax advice, and learning more about his trade.
Baker stated that being an entrepreneur is an non-stop enterprise. Often, he finds himself working 10-12 hours per day, and much of that time is spent marketing and advertising. This includes everything from business cards, social networking, conferences, seminars, book fairs, and school visits. He stated that, ideally, he would like to work a bit less -- as burnout is always a danger for compulsive workers, and especially curious-minded entrepreneurs. "I need at least Sundays off, so I can dedicate time to being with my family. They are my bedrock and I derive strength from them," he said. Baker said that he has not yet met his goals, although his business is self-sustaining and profitable. "I would like to be a more proactive voice in the community, but I lack the time to do everything I wantso, yes, my goals have changed over the years. I would also like to be able to employ more people in this enterprise. I perceive the need to be a contributor to the local economy, and this is how I want to help people."
Baker stated that he has learned only a little from his successes. On the other hand, the dips in the road along the way have taught him much more about himself, his knowledge, his work ethic, and, above all, his resilience, in a tough, and competitive world. One of his ventures that did not work out well was publishing very little-known authors only in paper book format. He invested a lot of capital in this venture, but lost most of his money, stating that "boutique industries are no longer my interest."
Baker considers his best asset to be his work ethic, as well as his ability to be resilient, and adaptable to changes in his field. "As I look back, I see that my desire to be independent combined with my innate curiosity, have been the two traits that have helped me survive this business climate -- and even make a profit, as well as a difference in people's lives. Also, it helps to know as much about your chosen field as possible. Learn from mentors, teachers, business associates, books, seminars, anything you can get your hands-on. Today, we have a wonderful resource for learning at our fingertips -- and it's called the internet."
"Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart or for people who easily give up, or procrastinate. You must be a special type of person. Some people say that entrepreneurs can be made, and are not born that way. I am inclined to disagree with that assertion. I believe that entrepreneurs are people whose innate God-given curiosity and motivation to learn have not been crushed by demands to conform to societal norms. Being an entrepreneur is the most difficult profession I can imagine, especially in terms of "sweat equity."
"I tell all aspiring entrepreneurs to be the master of their field, work harder than anyone else they know, and sooner or later, they will stand on their own, but only if they are willing to stand apart, and follow their dreams, their passions."
Works Cited
Baker, D.R., (owner). Transtemporal Publishing, Ltd. Retrieved on 27 Oct 2014 from www.transtemppub.com.
