Book writing is as popular as ever. There are between 600,000 and 1,000,000 books published every year in the U.S. alone. Technology and the emergence of self-publishing have given the common everyday person the ability to write and publish their story, expertise, and message for the world to see.

The majority of authors today are not professional writers and they are not publishing books to amass riches. So why write a book if you aren’t going to be a New York Times Best-selling author or sell the rights to produce a movie about your story?

The benefits of writing a book do not have to be strictly money based to be a worthwhile endeavor. Surely the hundreds of thousands of people writing books every year do not have illusions that they will become one of a handful of millionaire authors. The answer comes from a passionate and brilliant author, Kytka Hilmar-Jezek.

Kytka Hilmar-Jezek is a renowned best-selling author, entrepreneur, international speaker, and an inspirational role model to many. Among her many talents are writing and sharing her expertise with others. I recently interviewed Kytka about her newest book, the benefits of writing a book, why entrepreneurs should be authors, and more.

Michael Luchies: You recently wrote an article; How to Inspire Your Child’s Creative Genius to Come Out and Play. Where does your passion for helping young people explore their creative side come from and why are you so passionate about it?

Kytka Hilmar-Jezek: Children are born with an amazing awareness and skill set of observation to the point of total immersion. It is wired into the human brain and is necessary for our survival and growth. To simplify this is to say that children are learning all of the time, they do not only learn in school. They learn from the moment they are born, and they learn through all of their senses. 55% of messages that are processed and received by our brains are based on body language. 38% are based on tone of voice and only 7% of the actual meaning will be based upon the words which are spoken. We create artificial processes to teach a child to read, yet I know that a child will read when ready if exposed to books. Are we there to teach our child to eat, or does the child know how to eat when ready? Are we there to teach a child to walk or does the child’s desire for movement make him stand upright and walk across the room? Children learn by watching and doing. When they are exposed to entrepreneurs and creative visionaries, they have an opportunity to watch and a natural inclination to do, to try out their ideas. Children have limitless thinking, bold ideas and incredible creativity. They are naturally optimistic and have no fear of failure. If given the opportunity to share their dreams, they surprise adults with their outlook, solutions and unique perceptions. Sadly, the school system places them into unnatural schedules, pattern interrupts and social segregation, forced to spend their days with only same age peers. We had greater growth and genius arise when classes were of mixed age and the older students would mentor the younger ones. There is a well-known Japanese Proverb that says “To teach is to learn.” We do not give children the opportunity to share what they bring to the world. By empowering them to write a book, I feel I am giving them a platform for their unique voices to be heard. Of course, Book Power also teaches them what to do after they write their book.

ML: You are credited as being a best-selling author, entrepreneur, international speaker, and parenting expert among many other things. Many entrepreneurially minded people have many different interests and passions and have a hard time focusing on a single profession or business venture. How are you able to balance your interests and how have you become successful in many different areas?

KHJ: I have learned to outsource and delegate the technical things that used to slow me down. Any successful person knows that the power of a team surpasses the power of an individual. None of us is as smart as the sum of us. I used to have a very difficult time trying to do it all myself and I think this is very common for entrepreneurs in general. We have all of these amazing ideas and creativity and yet physically we cannot learn all of the software, the processes, the applications and so forth. It’s best to understand what we bring to the world, which is vision, and formulate a team where that vision can be implemented.

ML: Why is it important for entrepreneurs to have author added to their title?

KHJ: It is an excellent marketing, branding and credibility building tool. With a book they have a platform from which to share their message in a way that attracts the people who are natural potential clients, investors or joint venture partners. A book presents their content in a well-structured and pre-framed way that gives the audience a deeper understanding of what they do, how they do it and why they do it. Additionally, if the entrepreneur shares why they do what they do, it adds value in terms of communicating their purpose. Leaders inspire us because of their “why” and when we are in alignment with the vision, we are more inclined to hop on board and show support. Author Simon Sinek best explains this in his book “Start with Why”, which I highly recommend.

ML: Book Power: A Platform for Writing, Branding, Positioning & Publishing is your newest book, which focuses on why and how to write a book. What benefits have you encountered from being a best-selling author?

KHJ: The most obvious benefit is that it positions you as an expert in your field. You gain instant credibility and this opens many doors to opportunities which did not exist before. Getting access to media and interviews becomes simple because you now have the book, which positions you as “the voice” on your particular subject. Media channels are constantly seeking expert and professional opinion on various topics and are eager to have you share your knowledge. In addition, you may be asked to speak professionally at workshops, seminars, conferences and offering keynote addresses. You gain respect from your colleagues and peers. You attract a higher amount of clients and they are more valuable clients because they are already familiar with your business, product or message so they come to you ready to move forward. Writing a book is not the end, it is the beginning of building a brand and a platform for maximum marketing in today’s social oriented marketplace.

ML: Can anyone write a book? If so, should they?

KHJ: Absolutely. It is certain that someone will benefit from your information. The creation of a book is a discipline where you create an outline and a framework for your message or what you do. Not only does the finished book provide insight, guidance or inspiration for the reader, it gives the author more clarity and awareness of their own message. I meet hundreds of entrepreneurs that are brilliant, yet they do not recognize their own gifts. They measure themselves based on what they have produced and many can share what they do when consulting or speaking on their subject manner, but when it comes time to try to summarize what they do in writing, they get stuck. Their vision and creativity is simply too great. They get overwhelmed when they try to sit and write and that is what shuts them down. Author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi , in his brilliant book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience discusses that place of consciousness where creativity flows forth, and it comes quickly. I would interview people and when we had to pause for me to take notes; they would lose their train of thought or go off on a completely different subject. Writing was too slow a process to capture their information. That is when I began recording them and I share a funny story in the book where a restaurateur who also does marketing shared some information with me in a moment of flow that I later had transcribed and shared with him. He did not recognize his own work as his own. His comments were “This guy is awesome, brilliant” and when I told him that it was a direct transcribe of the conversation we had earlier, he was in complete disbelief. He was surprised because he had invested so much time in convincing himself “I am not a writer.” What people do not realize is that most authors today do not even write.

ML: Is there a certain level of expertise that someone needs to have on a subject to write a book?

KHJ: My philosophy, as I shared briefly before, is that we are born to learn and learn our entire lives. Whether you are 20, 40 or 60, you have had experience, insight and perspective. With over 7 billion people on earth and as many online, how many could benefit from your unique experience? There is no one size fits all version of success. I can guarantee that there are others who are walking a similar path you have walked. Would your story inspire them to continue? Would knowing which pitfalls to avoid, which tools to use, which steps to take make their journey easier? Of course. We are all experts in the life we have crafted. How can that ever be measured? Does the Harvard professor who spent his life in the library know about living? It’s all relative. We are all experts and gurus in doing what we do, and as long as we present our version in an authentic manner, someone out there will benefit from our sharing. If you’ve written a book, it shows you have the determination, discipline and perseverance to accomplish the goals you set your mind to. In today’s world where there is so much noise and distraction, that is often enough. Traditional publishers sought to keep it an elite group who were to represent culture and society, but it was all artificially structured. Today, with self-publishing, we are seeing new viewpoints and visionaries, thought leaders and entrepreneurs are breaking the old molds assisting us in moving forward faster. Today it is the people that decide whose voices need to be heard. So everyone should write a book, it will highly influence and impress those in your current circle, and if your message and mission is grander, it will naturally gain momentum and can grow virally.

ML: What is your best piece of advice for an aspiring author?

KHJ: Take action and commit to writing it now. Don’t put it off until you have more time, more information, more of anything. You have what you need now. You can revise your editions or add more titles later. Set the goal and then go about taking the necessary steps to get it done. In Book Power I teach capturing the flow with a recording device. You can edit and structure later to fit your outline. The important thing is to capture your information as it comes and it usually comes at rapid speed. When you sit down to write, your brain tends to over think, analyze and judge what you write and oftentimes the feeling of being stuck or writers block is just not being able to type as quickly as it comes. When you record, the content is pure and authentic. It is the essence of your message and that is what is most powerful and most unique to you. Record yourself, get your recordings transcribed and then put the pieces together like a puzzle. You’ll have your book written in no time this way and it will be the very best of what you have to offer.

Summary

Kytka Hilmar-Jezek is a passionate supporter of entrepreneurship and a talented entrepreneur and author. Her message is one that I completely agree with, “Take action and commit to writing it now.” Too often we think of great things that we want to accomplish and set lofty goals, but forget to get off of the couch and start working on it. We were born to learn and have the capability to accomplish great things, so get started now!

Thank you to Kytka for the great interview and I look forward to reading Book Power, which isavailable now on Amazon.

References:

http://www.accuconference.com/resources/non-verbal-communication.aspx

http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm

http://www.finerminds.com/career-entrepreneurship/childs-creative-genius/

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Power-Platform-Positioning-Publishing/dp/0615771777/

By Michael Luchies

Trying to beat downtown Chicago traffic during rush hour will give anyone an uneasy feeling in their stomach, but the sick feeling I had leaving Chicago on May 3^rd was of a different nature. This feeling was as if I just left family when I didn’t want to leave. Although I had only been at SOBCon 2013 for around 7 hours, I had already made connections with many of the entrepreneurs and enthusiastic experts in attendance and felt like I was at home, and in great company.

Over 100 entrepreneurs and experts came together for SOBCon 2013 at the Summit Executive Center in downtown Chicago, IL May 3-5. The theme for this year’s conference was The Customer Centered Business. The event has been held for a decade and has grown significantly from humble beginnings.

Over 125 people crowded the sessions led by some of the most influential people on the internet. Speakers included Co-founders Terry “Starbucker” St. Marie and Liz Strauss, Sean Ogle, Jane Boyd, Chris Brogan, Ric Dragon, Steve Farber, Mark J. Carter, Carol Roth, and many more. Groups of 5-6 at each table made the “mastermind” sessions intimate and beneficial to work through real problems and opportunities in each attendee’s venture.

Although I only was able to attend for a fraction of the conference’s 2 and a half day program, here is just some of what I was able to take away from the event:

• You can’t market to statistics! -Sean Ogle
• Asking questions in auto-responding emails is extremely beneficial to learn about who your customers are and how to market to subscribers.
• While wearing a name tag at a conference or event, the backside will be shown approximately 40% of the time. Who knew? We all wrote our name on the opposite side to solve the problem of name tag lanyard displacement.
• When you respond to your subscribers, not only are they shocked, you create an instant bond with them.
• Know the right people. I had the pleasure of sitting next to #RamonWOW (Ramon De Leon) who is a brilliant Domino’s franchise owner of six locations and marketing mastermind. Ramon shared that he even makes friends with liquor store owners to find out the local fraternity houses that are having large parties so he can market them pizzas! Genius!
• “We are working hard to belong elsewhere” – Chris Brogan
• “A raise is the change leftover in the bottom of the couch, go for the promotion or the next job” -Chris Brogan
• “Play your own damn game” – Chris Brogan
• “Superb customer service = When you care more about your customer’s problems than yours” – Ric Dragon
• “Blog posts should be beneficial and interesting. Beneficial and not interesting is Wikipedia, interesting and not beneficial is lolcats.” – Sonia Simone from Copyblogger
• “Solve the easy problems for free, create specific detailed solutions that you can sell” – Sonia Simone from Copyblogger
• I need to come back next year!

I want to personally thank co-founders Terry “Starbucker” St. Marie and Liz Strauss for having me and for having the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) as an event sponsor. It is very clear why this event has a tremendous impact on those who attend and it was one of the best events I have ever attended…and that is after only part of one day! To find out more about SOBCon and future SOBCon events, visit: http://www.sobevent.com/.

Interview with Bourdages Photography’s Emilie Bourdages

Whether a picture is worth 100 words, 1,000 words, or 10,000 words – you can’t overestimate the importance of an effective image. From an online dating website to a commercial about a fast foodrestaurant, a single image can result in an action by the intended audience. As someone who found my wife due to an online dating website, I can credit professional headshots with assisting me in getting an introduction to my soul mate.

Due to the growth of social media, our online appearance can be just as important, or even more important than our in-person image due to how many people view online profiles including decision makers. While a grainy profile picture might not look as bad to a potential employer as an image of you taking body shots off of a friend at a St. Patrick’s Day party, your profile picture should reflect your attention to detail and professionalism.

Emilie Bourdages is a professional photographer and owner of Bourdages Photography, which is based out of Roseville, California. She specializes in professional business portraits, corporate, and executive headshots. I interviewed Emilie about her business, her start as a photographer, and the importance of having a professional headshot.

Michael Luchies: How did you get started as a photographer?

Emilie Bourdages: A family member put a camera in my hand at the age of five. I was their shadow from that point on. We went on lots of photo adventures. As I practiced daily, I kept craving more, and people kept telling me I should do this full-time because I was born to do this. After much hesitation I started up. I had a very experienced mentor, who still offers valuable support today. Now I’m a busy entrepreneur, I have my own photography business that is flourishing; I’m freelancing for several publications, and serving as a Director on the board for Sacramento Valley Portrait Professionals.

ML: What inspired you to start Bourdages Photography?

EB: People. I love people. Through working in business services for over ten years I had thousands of interactions with really great people. When customers started to value my work and even cry over how amazing they look in their business headshots, I knew it was right. I produce something that is so valuable on occasion people tip me more than the session even costs. That is very unexpected, but reassuring. With all the encouragement from others I pursued my dream of being a professional photographer and don’t let anything get in my way. I absolutely love it!

ML: Many photographers focus on weddings and high school senior photographs, why do you place such an emphasis on business portraits and executive headshots?

EB: Weddings and Senior Portraits are great, but this empowers people and changes their lives by giving them that missing piece when they’re job hunting or being looked at for a promotion. When recruiters look online it helps the job seeker come across as being somebody who cares about their professional appearance enough to invest in it. It takes your standard black and white resume and turns it into a real-life human being. When a hiring manager sees who you are, you stand out and become harder to forget amongst hundreds or even thousands of other applicants. Bottom line is you become a face instead of a piece of paper with words on it.

ML: Why should everyone have a professional headshot?

EB: It could be the difference between $40,000/yr. and the next level which maybe $120,000/yr. I have seen it with my clients, no joke. I think everyone should know to do this, and how important it is over the long run. People who are in executive positions have been strategically doing this for years, it is not sexy, but it is functional. If you could advance your career and give yourself a competitive edge, just by doing something this simple why wouldn’t you, it pays off.

ML: What is wrong with having casual photographs as your picture for social networking profiles?

EB: Nothing is wrong with a casual photo. I’ve photographed business owners at their location on a casual level countless times. The thing is, professionals know professional work when they see it. If you have an amateur photo you’ll be standing out from candidates who’ve done it the right way, with the proper professional equipment and lighting.

The people hiring are highly intelligent people. As much as I’d like to say go ahead and take a picture with your cell phone, you’re not fooling anyone. It comes across as exactly as what it is AMATEUR.

ML: What tips would you give young professionals about their headshots and social networking profile pictures?

EB: I’ve talked to recruiter friends of mine about this quite a bit, often they won’t even look at a person as a candidate unless they have a professional image on LinkedIn. If you don’t have them yet, set them up ASAP and be consistent by using the same photo for all your social networking websites. Also, aside from what people may assume attractiveness, of a person actually makes no difference, what recruiters are wanting is to see the confidence the person conveys in their photo.

So get out there and find somebody to take your professional photograph! Invest in a nice outfit, something you would wear to an interview, and be confident that you are worth every penny of it!!

ML: How can people find out more about your work?

EB: If you’re interested in seeing a small sample of my vast collection of work please visitwww.bourdagesphotography.com. I just rebuilt a fresh new site, I’d love to hear what you think!

Summary

After my interview with Emilie I immediately checked my online profile pictures to make sure they were what I wanted to present to the world. Although I am not currently searching for a job, you never know who is looking at you. If you are searching for a job, it is extremely important to give yourself every opportunity to shine above the people you are competing against. A professional headshot could be the difference between continuing your job search or landing that dream job you have been searching for. Thank you to Emilie Bourdages for her insight and for the interview.

Miles won an all-expenses paid trip to Chicago to explore the city and the entrepreneurial community. He had the opportunity to spend a couple days shadowing top entrepreneurs and game changers in the Chicago startup scene – Mike McGee, co-founder of the Starter League, and David Gardner, co-founder of Color Jar.

The Starter League is located in the heart of downtown at 1871. The Starter League offers programs to teach beginners from around the world how to code, design, and build apps. Mike founded this company with his partner Neal Sales-Griffin . It is the first company that 37signals has invested in to date.

ColorJar helps clients create custom website and apps focused on strategic positioning. It was founded by serial entrepreneurs Jeff Hoffman, founder and CEO in the Priceline family of companies, and David Gardner, named by Empact as one of the ‘Top 100 Entrepreneurs Under 30 in the US.’

Here is a recap from Miles in which he shares more about this remarkable learning experience.

By Kaeya Majmundar

Winner of the 2012 National Elevator Pitch Competition, Co-Founder of EzBox

Not to sound cliché, but before I pitched the first time at the 2012 CEO Elevator Pitch Competition, I was sweating bullets. I mean, my goodness, I’d never done anything like it before and judging from the people around me holding their products and getting coached by their mentors, I knew I was up against some pretty tough competition. Everyone looked so professional backed with a whole team of people advising them and here I was, standing awkwardly alone with my little box. It was quite the sight, and it was no help that a million thoughts were flooding my head! “Does it sound like I’m bragging too much?” “Will people be engaged?” “Do I want to sound happy or serious or pointed? Maybe all three?”

The one thing I did know for certain, however, was that I had my iPod loaded with all the Beyoncé songs that ever were because if you know me, you know that I eat, sleep and breath her music. The last song that played before I walked into the banquet hall was “Run the World.” It got me thinking about the music video. I remember when the video came out I hopped onto YouTube, started watching, and WOW was I hooked!!! Beyoncé exuded confidence. She was strong. She was captivating. She was beautiful. And most importantly, she had me wanting more.

Then it hit me. In every sense of the phrase, I had to be like Bey! I had to be confident, friendly, and relatable. I had to engage my audience so that they would want to see more. I got up there to pitch my product with Beyoncé’s music video in mind. I didn’t get too bogged down in detail and really focused on the overall picture. After all, just like Bey, I only had a couple minutes to impress. I moved around the room and looked everyone in the eye. I smiled; I spoke fluently, and projected my voice so that the furthest person in last first row could hear me just as well as the closest. And, it worked.

I made it to the semi-finals, then onto the finals, and then won the whole competition. Every time I exited the auditorium after the pitches were done, people would ask me to demonstrate my product over and over again to the point where I would have a crowd around me even before any results came out! It was exhilarating. In fact, that pitch took me all the way to earning a spot as a finalist for ABC’s television show, Shark Tank.

Nowadays, I have to pitch all the time. And, whenever I do, I keep Beyoncé’s “Run The World” music video in the back of my head. It is my secret weapon; so, go and find yours! Or, feel free to join in mine. Be like Bey. That is my advice to you.

Most students go to college to get the skills and knowledge to get a good job. Heather Ptak went to college and used her skills, knowledge, and passion to start a business. Heather graduated from the University of Tampa of launched Business Breaks in 2012.

Business Breaks provides corporations and employees with philanthropic opportunities around the world. The business helps with every aspect of the mission based on the needs and goals of the businesses that want to give back. I interviewed Heather about Business Breaks, how she got started, and her journey as an entrepreneur.

Business Name: Business Breaks
Date Founded: 2012
Founders: Heather Ptak
Employees: Heather Ptak
Website: www.businessbreaksnow.com

Michael Luchies: How did you come up with the idea for Business Breaks?

Heather Ptak: As a freshmen at The University of Tampa I was given an opportunity to apply for an Alternative Break, which is a student run volunteer spring break trip. While all of my other friends were flying out to Mexico, I was packing my bags for a week of volunteering with the Cherokee Indians in Tennessee. I like to say from there it was history. After that trip I applied to become an alternative breaks coordinator and then ended up becoming the Director of the Alternative Breaks program at UT. Throughout my four years at UT I was able to grow our program from four trips to eight, plan over 26 trips, attend 17 of those trips, and work with over 400 students and 100 non-profits to help promote social issue awareness and active citizenship. In May of 2012 I attended my last alternative break trip to Thailand where I took 15 students to volunteer at an orphanage just two hours south of Phuket. During our experience we were able to teach english, travel throughout the city with the kids, help build a driveway and be culturally immersed in the Asian culture. After returning from that trip, I was sitting on my apartment floor filling out Pre-Physican Assistant applications for graduate schools and realized that this was not what I was meant to do with my life. I went to bed that night creatively thinking about what I wanted to do and what truly my passion was in life. I woke up that next morning and started filling out a note book. I realized that as I looked for careers in the corporate world something was drastically missing, and that was the ability for me to advocate and raise awareness of social issues locally, domestically, and internationally through volunteering. Specifically I wanted to be an employee at a corporation that could change the way the business viewed the social issue that they gave back to. I knew I wanted to change the world but not just on a student level, but on a corporate level. The result was Business Breaks.

ML: Once you knew that you wanted to launch Business Breaks, what were your first steps?

HP: Once I knew I wanted to start Business Breaks, I really ran with the idea. I worked for a startup that summer as a marketing intern, which allowed me to see the hard work, dedication, and effort that went into a business. I would work there during the day and then come home, grab the Business Breaks bible (aka my black binder with all those business secrets), and then sit at Starbucks for hours working on the business plan, pitch, mission, and values. Then I utilized all of my resources at The University of Tampa. I ran to UT with my binder and pitched the idea to a professor in the Center for Entrepreneurship who gave me the courage to continue on to pursue the business. From there I was able to find a lawyer, create the LLC, and work on the overall marketing plans and lots of grassrooting . If it wasn’t for the UT Entrepreneurs(Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization Chapter), professors, friends, and family members who believed in my dream, there would be no Business Breaks. As for startup capital, I utilized all of my own funds, I knew I never wanted to be in debt with the business.

ML: Have you had any regrets up to this point?

HP: No regrets! I put my soul, passion, leadership, and drive into this business. I believe that there can be a world of corporate citizens who want to challenge others to bring about corporate change and value our communities worldwide. I want to see Business Breaks as a national movement and until then I have risked it all to see it happen.

ML: What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?

HP: Having the ability to see where my passion and vision has taken me and how I can use that passion to motivate others while building a start-up. Being an entrepreneur has been life changing.

ML: What has been one key to your success up to this point?

HP: Building relationships. I like to get to know people at their core to find out what motivates them and build a friendship rather than just a partnership.

ML: What advice do you have for other young entrepreneurs?

HP: As young entrepreneurs – we’re the people who are zagging when others are zigging, so challenge yourself and prepare to work as hard as you can to see your vision come to life. Have a lot of self motivation and surround yourself with positive influences. Everyone has days when they think this just might not work but it’s persevering through those challenges to take that risk and if it doesn’t work now, there may just be another opportunity further down the your path, so take the leap because if you don’t someone else will.

Summary
“Take the leap because if you don’t, someone else will.” Those are great words of inspiration to any young entrepreneurial minded person from someone who set out to turn an idea into not only a business, but a movement. Congratulations to Heather Ptak on Business Breaks and thank you for the interview.

There is something extremely exciting and encouraging about the development and explosion of young entrepreneurs making a difference and impacting the world through their businesses. Hannah Davis, founder of BANGS shoes is a strong example of a passionate young entrepreneur who is making a difference while doing something she loves.
Hannah’s journey to turn BANGS from an idea into a reality is one that would have left a weaker person far behind. Her passion and perseverance would not allow her to fail or even to consider giving up. Even through what seemed to be an endless battle of finding a manufacturer and gaining the resources to produce her product, Hannah knew that it was not a matter of ‘if,’ but ‘when,’ as she explains in the following interview. 

General Business Information
Company: BANGS Shoes
Founder: Hannah Davis
Date Founded: June 2010
City/State: Charleston, SC
Current Employees: 1 person on BANGS payroll
Website: http://www.bangsshoes.com/

Michael Luchies: Have you always considered yourself entrepreneurial?

Hannah Davis: I do see myself as having the qualities necessary to be an entrepreneur, but founding and operating a business was never on my list of things to do. I have a degree in Political Science with a minor in Mandarin. My passion resides with the potential for individual action to positively impact social development. Running a social enterprise that uses a business plan to make this impact a reality seems to fit with my passion and drive.

ML: How did you get the idea for BANGS Shoes?

HD: BANGS is a social enterprise that connects an ideology to a specific style of shoes.

There was no one event that sparked the inspiration for the ideology behind BANGS. In retrospect there were a series of experiences that helped form my worldview and an inextinguishable desire to affect change. There was, however, one specific event that inspired me to connect this desire for change with the style of BANGS shoes.

While teaching English in China after I graduated from Clemson, a friend and fellow teacher at Nantong University bought a pair of Chinese worker’s shoes from an army surplus store. This event showed me the potential for this specific style of shoes in the Western market and inspired me to develop the quality and look of the shoes to sell in the US.

ML: Very cool. How did this experience result in associating each color of BANGS shoes with a specific nonprofit cause?

HD: The correlation between colors and causes for BANGS shoes was developed through conversations and bouncing around ideas with trusted friends. Once the decision was made that each color of BANGS would represent a different cause, I had to make a decision about how this could maximize positive impact. Would BANGS start a new organization to benefit each cause? Would we partner with already existing organizations? What would partnerships look like? I ultimately decided that impact is made through community leaders, and because there are so many amazing organizations that are already have a presence in communities around the globe, why not work together?

ML: You have four colors representing different causes, are you planning on creating any more in the near future?

HD: Yes! We are currently in development of all-black and all-white high tops that will roll out in July 2013. The black high tops will invest in Education in the USA, and the white high tops will invest in Financial Empowerment.

The nonprofit partner for Financial Empowerment is Kiva, and we are still researching partners forEducation in the USA. Please send suggestions of US-based 501(c)3 organizations that work to provide Education in the USA to standonissues@bangsshoes.com!

ML: After you had the idea to bring the shoes over to the US, how did you decide on the name?

HD: I decided on the name of the company long before I ever saw an order of BANGS shoes. The summer of 2010, a few weeks after I conceptualized the color – cause correlation for a shoe company, I decided to link the name of the company to the ideology behind the brand. The Chinese character for the word “help” is phonetically spelled b-a-n-g. BANGS.

ML: The first shipment of BANGS took just over two years from an idea to being shipped to your door, how did you stick with it, and what hurdles did you have to overcome to make your dream a reality?

HD: I get that question a fair amount, and the honest answer is the idea of giving up rarely crossed my mind. When you are so far in to something that an idea becomes an indistinguishable part of who you are, your reality switches and it’s not a matter of “if”, but “when”.

The biggest hurdle was securing a manufacturer to make the first order of BANGS. When you’re competing for spots in a factory with companies like Nike and Adidas who place orders of 50,000 pairs of shoes every couple of weeks… there’s a lot of waiting around you have to do.

ML: Has your age been an obstacle or benefit to your business? Why?

HD: It depends on the situation.

When I am speaking to college groups, I think my age is a benefit. I can easily relate to the audience because I remember very vividly what is was like to be where they are.

When I am speaking with people who have established 20 or 30-year careers running profitable businesses, I think my age can be an obstacle. I have found, however, that in most situations if you are respectful, maintain confidence, and prepared for the situation- age is irrelevant.

ML: What is your best piece of advice for young entrepreneurs?

HD: My two best pieces of advice are: 1) Be confident no matter what. Not cocky or arrogant, but confident, and 2) Ask for help when you need it.

I had someone once say to me, “I want you to entertain the idea you don’t know everything. I’m not saying you don’t know everything, but just entertain the idea.”

Once I came to terms with the (painful) reality that I do not know everything, it certainly became easier to ask for help. Asking for help has, without a doubt, been a factor in propelling BANGS to where it is today.

ML: What do you like to read? What are your favorite business related books?

HD: I spend a lot of time in my car these days so I’ve been in to books on tape. I just finished Into the Wild, which I highly recommend. I choose to read books for pleasure so the majority of my business reading is done online through articles and blogs.

ML: Who are your entrepreneurial role models?

HD: I find Steve Jobs’ story inspiring. Obviously he was wildly successful with an idea that revolutionized the way people live, but he is so far removed it is difficult to soak in real, every day lessons. My Grandfather is an amazing, relatable entrepreneurial role model. He has run a successful Optometry business in Illinois for over 65 years and has a remarkable aura of wisdom and diplomatic poise I can only hope to one-day garnish.

ML: Did you have any mentors to help you through this journey?

HD: Absolutely. Most notably is George Derhofer, part owner & Chairman of BANGS. I met George and his wife, Gail, while bartending in Charleston, South Carolina during month 20 of BANGS development.

George is year six in to retirement. His first entrepreneurial venture was with Klondike Ice Cream Bars from 1978 – 1989, and his most recent position was Senior Executive level held with VF. VF is a multi-billion dollar company that owns and manages apparel brands. Aside from George’s wealth of knowledge obtained from a 32-year career in business, his teaching style is direct, honest, and centered around constant communication.

I have spoken with George 4 days a week (give or take a few here and there) since being a signed partner in BANGS, and he has never once been condescending or held his experience over my head. I won the mentor lottery.

I would urge every young entrepreneur to seek out a mentor, which remains in line with my advice to ask for help when you need it.

ML: What is next for BANGS Shoes?

HD: At our core, BANGS will work to continue inspiring a generation of leaders to take conscious action with a focus on long-term sustainable development.

BANGS’ next tangible steps are to expand our retail partners and college ambassador program to the West Coast. BANGS currently has a presence on 21 campuses on the east coast, and is always looking for new campuses to work with! To find more information about how to get involved, find details byclicking here.

Summary
Hannah’s story and business are hard to ignore. She was destined to succeed no matter what obstacles she had to overcome. Whether you are a bartender in South Carolina or doing landscape work in the Midwest while working on developing your dream business, don’t ever give up on what you are passionate about.

Thank you to Hannah Davis for the incredible interview and for sharing BANGS Shoes and her story.