Author's Bio: Dr. Bruce D. Dunams is a
serial entrepreneur and an expert business strategist who works with hundreds
of entrepreneurs every year. His management consulting firm works with hundreds
of entrepreneurs and business leaders each year to help improve their
effectiveness. Dr. Dunams holds a Doctor of Business Administration focused in
Strategic Management and has practical knowledge in business strategy, product
development, and project management. He has been an inspiring entrepreneur,
and, through this book, he is playing his role in shaping the future generation
of entrepreneurs.
Making
Dough: A Young Entrepreneur's Tale is a tale of young Maya Santiago, a 12-year-old Latina, who
struggles to find her financial independence. She lives in a single-family home
with an ill brother. With encouragement from her best friend, Sasha, Maya
decides to start her own cookie business to help support her family and gain
the financial independence she craves. Each chapter of the book introduces a
new challenge that is common in small businesses, including product
development, marketing strategies, and raising capital. The book details the journey
to overcoming these challenges.
DL: What’s the inspiration for writing your book?
BD: As a management
consultant, I work with so many entrepreneurs who are really great at what they
do. Whether making furniture or selling jars of salsa, they are usually focused
on their craft and are often really good at it. However, they often lack the
business acumen needed to run an organization. I wanted to try and catch that
aspiring entrepreneur earlier in the business start-up process, so I wrote this
book on entrepreneurship targeting young people.
DL: Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in
any way either growing up or as an adult?
BD: Interestingly enough, I
was never a child that read much. I just didn’t like to read. I loved math and
science, and despised language arts.
DL: How long did it take to
write your book?
BD: It was off and on for
about 4 months. This is really a short read. And that was done on purpose. I
wanted to produce a book that could fit into anyone’s schedule, so it took
several iterations where I was cutting and condensing content.
DL: Do you write with an outline, or just let it flow organically?
BD: I definitely like to organize my thoughts
before I write. I have a methodical approach to writing to ensure that I can
actually get to the end and hit all of my objectives.
DL: Do you listen to music when you write? If yes, is there a
theme song for this book?
BD: Entrepreneurship is all
about being motivated to work harder than your competition and it’s easy to get
tired and demotivated. So I do have a song that gets me going. I love the song "Old San Juan" by Spyro Gyro. It always gets me hyped.
DL: What are the keys to success in marketing your book?
BD: I have found that the key
to marketing any book is simply getting out there and sharing your book with as
many people as possible. Hitting book fairs, using social media to share with
your network, and even writing potential influencers to share your book.
DL: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
BD: I don’t know if I have a
lot advice. But like anything, remember that no one will care about your
product like you. Don’t be discouraged if you hit a wall writing (it happens)
or if publishers ignore you (it happens) or if people don’t understand your
product (it happens). There will be many
obstacles that will make it easy for you to give up. However, if you make your
dreams bigger than your excuses, success will be within reach.
DL: How about sharing an excerpt from Making Dough: A Young Entrepreneurs Tale
BD: Here you go:
Maya sighed, “This isn’t
fun, Sasha” she said looking down.
She
explained to Sasha how her mother struggled to pay bills again. Making rent
each month had been hard lately. If that wasn’t enough, her little brother
George went to the hospital again because of problems with his weak immune
system.
“I don’t want to be
another burden to her, Sasha. I want to help her, but I can’t even get a job!”
Maya blurted all in one breath.
Sasha nodded and said,
“Girl, I get it. You are a strong and hardworking lady. Have you thought about being an entrepreneur?
Have you ever thought of owning your own business?”
Maya looked at her as if she’d grown two
heads, four eyes and sprouted green hair. “I don’t have money to invest in a
business, let alone any money to risk,” Maya said sadly.
Sasha placed a hand on
Maya’s arm and explained that being a business tycoon wasn’t about just
investing and risking money. “An entrepreneur is someone who can take any idea,
a product, or service and have the skills, will, and courage to turn those
ideas into a successful business,” she explained. “And you have these
qualities,” she continued.
Now Maya was intrigued and wanted to know
how.
DL: What’s next for you?
BD: My firm has been using
the book as a basis to introduce entrepreneurial skills to students in grade
school. We are hoping to facilitate a movement that encourages young people to participate
in the economy as business owners.
DL: Where can readers find out more about you and your book?
BD: The book is available on
Amazon and Kindle right now. Its also available on the Book Patch.
It’s been a pleasure
having you here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you
and your work.
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