Successful Business in 30 Days?

[Nick Thacker]

Hi there-I've begun work on my book on how to build a successful business in 30 days. Obviously a daunting task, but I believe most businesses, whether online or off, share common factors in becoming successful.

I was curious--what your thoughts were as to the order of the steps? What things are mandatory, what things are optional?

ANY advice, comments, suggestions, etc. would be greatly appreciated!

By the way, the book will be targeted toward college/university-aged students, interested in building something successful before or upon graduation.

Thanks!

[Nick Thacker]

So I received a reply to a similar post I'd made on another forum... seems there's a bit of skepticism, which I completely understand! Just to clear things up, here's the statement made and the response:

Basically it was a "I don't think you can build a successful company in 30 days. We need fewer get-rich-quick schemes and more HARD work" sort of response. And my answer:

"Hmm, interesting thoughts. Thanks for the response!

First, I don't intend to project a "get rich quick" scheme at all--frankly, the book's introduction will touch on the fact that by focusing on the "30 Days" technique, you can successfully build a foundation--like you said--that will host a successful business in the long term.

I lay out in the introduction that the "30 Days" really stands for "30 Tasks," each task, if done properly, can be implemented within a day. Depending on the business idea/owner's talent & knowledge, however, a certain task may take a week, or a month, to "successfully" complete.

Understand that I am NOT meaning provide a system (or more accurate: a scheme) for making money hand over fist in 30 days or less, but offering a framework for pointing a business in the right direction in as few as 30 days with 30 "business building" techniques.

I have used this mindset to build two successful offline businesses--one a music publishing company, and the other a web design/print media company, and numerous online businesses, from the ground up.

Finally, you mentioned society and perhaps the implication of the economic situation. I feel like small business startups, if done right, will be a key factor in jettisoning us out the semi-depression state we're in. Many aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners, however, feel daunted by the huge task of building a successful company that will "solve all their problems." This book will be the answer to that--by splitting tasks into smaller chunks of larger pieces (writing a business plan, marketing plan, financial requirements, etc.), readers will be able to implement these necessary strategies in a much quicker, focused way.

Once again, thanks for your support and feedback! Let me know what other thoughts you may have,

--Nick"

So what are your thoughts? Is this a legitimate idea that I should run with? I really encourage responses, as I truly value the WF community's insight into things like this. I'm new to IM, but I've been around the block a time or two with entrepreneurship, so I'm pretty confident I can write this book. I would just like to take a litmus test of the community's opinion... any takers?

[myob]

Writing such a book may be a help to you on the path to goal setting and self-discovery, but unless you are considering realistic ideas this does not seem to pass the basic sniff test. There are thousands of similar books already on the market (including "How to Build a Successful Business in 30 Days" - google it) which are of no use to anyone but the marketer. I have seen even some books on how to get rich in 7 days. This is not meant to discourage you in such an undertaking, but there is a cynicism surrounding this topic that may cause anyone serious about starting a business to ignore - especially college students. They spend years preparing for a successful business or career, and offering such a book is an insult. You might consider writing about a subset of success principles, or a business specialty such as IM or affiliate marketing reviews. Hope that helps.

[Nick Thacker]

myob, I completely understand your skepticism, and will be taking strides to ensure that the book is not perceived as a "get-rich-quick" scheme, like many others have pointed out.

I've used these tactics (affectionately referred to by me as the "30 Days" method) to build three successful companies, one an online business, and two offline.

I truly hope business student graduates don't see the book as insulting, but I understand how it could be perceived that way. However, I view the book as a "lightbulb" for younger, undergraduate students "on the fence" about whether or not to start their own enterprise or wait until they have the knowledge gained from four to six years of business school. I, for example, was a music major interested in business but unable to take many business courses. Throughout trying out different ideas, working through my fair-share of "schemes," and finally reading book after book of worthless- to semi-helpful guides on business building, I decided that it would have been great to have had a resource that guided me through the process of idea-generation to launch requirements, regardless of business type.

Obviously differences exist in any business, and the book will help shed light on some of the issues of trying to start something too big, too small, too expensive, etc. and hone in on a "business goal" and "success goal" that makes sense for the business owner. It is only in this way, by defining success and creating the measurable goals for its implementation, that "creating and building a business in 30 Days" can actually happen.

I hope this helps to argue my point a bit, and I'll be updating you all on the book's progress as I get further in.

Thanks,
Nick

[myob]

Nick,

I missed your point that you have used this mindset yourself in building your businesses. It just shows the title is so glaring as to blind the truly golden substance within. Perhaps the title needs to be reworked a bit, as the connotation is highly negative. Your clarification as "30 Tasks" certainly piques my interest now, as "business goals" and "success goals" does make sense for the prospective entreprenuer. Quite appropriate for the younger, undergraduate students "on the fence" or undecided about their future it seems. However, I think the emphasis should be that while not easy, it is achieveable, because you have done it yourself. Layout the steps and examples of how you built successful businesses repeatedly from the ground up, using measurable goals. And change the title.

[Nick Thacker]

Thanks for the tip, myob. You and several others on other forums as well as my own blog site have expressed concern that the "golden nuggets" of information may not be discovered since the title leads to excessive disbelief. I will certainly consider this point!

Nick

[kimkia]

Originally Posted by NThac2000

Hi there-I've begun work on my book on how to build a successful business in 30 days. Obviously a daunting task, but I believe most businesses, whether online or off, share common factors in becoming successful.

I was curious--what your thoughts were as to the order of the steps? What things are mandatory, what things are optional?

ANY advice, comments, suggestions, etc. would be greatly appreciated!

By the way, the book will be targeted toward college/university-aged students, interested in building something successful before or upon graduation.

Thanks!

Interesting project.

You heard of Joe Kumar? He compiled an ebook called "30 Days To Internet Marketing Success".

His idea was brilliant. Perhaps you can read some review about his approach. Of course Joe Kumar is gone for the mistakes he made.

Nevertheless, the "30 Days To Internet Marketing Success" is full of golden nuggets.

Get a copy and read first, if you have not.

[Nick Thacker]

Joe Kumar, isn't that the guy who got in trouble for fraud?

Haven't read the book, but it sounds intriguing--all that info from so many gurus. I wonder if anyone around here has a copy they'd let me "peek" at...

[kimkia]

Originally Posted by Nick Thacker

Joe Kumar, isn't that the guy who got in trouble for fraud?

Haven't read the book, but it sounds intriguing--all that info from so many gurus. I wonder if anyone around here has a copy they'd let me "peek" at...

Yup, he is. His '30 days' are a collection of IM marketers' gems. I find it inspiring reading from the IM marketers, not Joe Kumar himself, of course. LOL!

Allan Tan