This is where I share my ideas, inspiration & thoughts. Generally though I'm just the Creator of Rockstar Awesomeness and this tumblog is further proof of that.
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A couple of weeks ago I posted about about the rockstarbusiness.com domain that I had bought and would be implementing soon. Back then (makes it sound like ages ago), I wasn’t in the position to really share any details for this little side-project, as I had to confirm them first… Today however I can share some more exciting news in this regard.
I’ve always had the ambition to write a book sometime in my life and I believe that there’s really no better time than now. So for the past couple of weeks, I’ve been planning and writing a new book called Rockstar Business. It’s a little earlier to box the book off with a specific definition, but in broad terms the book will look into how I have conducted my businesses and thus publish ideas on how you too can be a rockstar at what you do.
The book will be similar in structure to 37Signals’ Getting Real and I will also implement a similar business model (free online version, PDF and on-demand printed copy). Style-wise, the book will be similar to my recent writing here on the blog and I won’t be adding a bunch of fluff to the book simply to increase its length; the idea is for the book to be to the point and offer the reader value in as short a time as possible.
To accomplish all of my goals in this regard, I’ve enlisted the help of two people whom I really admire.
First up, I’ve asked Nikki Friedman to join me as co-author on the book. I love Nikki’s style, as it has a certain spunk to it and I believe that she can take my words / ideas and mould them into something that the Average Joe can relate to… I also know that my grammar is shocking at times; so Nikki will have the “privilege” (hehe) of having to edit all of my work and structure my ideas into some logical.
Then… I’ve managed to persuade my favourite digital artist to illustrate the book cover (and thus the identity of the book) for me. James White – Mr Signal Noise – has an extremely unique style, which I’m totally in love with and I definitely feel that his signature style reinforces my own rockstar brand. I also felt that I needed an artist that would be able to create an identity for the book, instead of just adding some art to it – so this is something that I believe James’ will contribute to the project.
This post would just not be as exciting, if I didn’t include a little snippet of some sorts… So below is a little excerpt from a mini-snippet with a working title “Rogue-starness”…
I’ve always been a bit rogue in the way I do business, because I just can’t bring myself to do things that are expected or demanded of me (in a business sense).
In this regard, I’ve always made the decision to make my own mistakes, instead of allowing someone else to discourage me from making a decision, because that decision didn’t work out for them previously.
So being independent in terms of your ideas and decisions, gives you the freedom to achieve the unexpected. Why? Simply because the traditional way of doing anything, has generally become irrelevant in current times.
By being a bit of a rogue (not in a negative manner), you’re constantly challenging your own and other people’s viewpoint of who you / your business are. This can be one of the most liberating experiences ever, since you’ll be building a business the way you want it; not in the generally expected way or in a way dictated to you by other’s previous mistakes.
Be your own person when it comes to running your business, because you definitely do not know how to run your business the way I do mine; and be better than me at that.
You can only be successful, if you take all of the advice out there (including the snippets in this book) and mould it into your own plans and ideas. Otherwise you’re just a copycat and I haven’t met many rockstars who copied someone else’s work…
Many of you have been really helpful since I rebooted this blog a month ago, in providing me with feedback on the direction of my new posts, as well as challenging my views through your discussions. I’d like for this to continue during the next couple of weeks, as I translate all of my ideas for the book into sections for the book.
So I’d love for you to make suggestions for sections that you’d like to read in the final book. You can suggest any topic that you feel I have implemented in a “rockstar way” during my relatively short career as a rockstar. Remember that the emphasis of the book is on defining the concept of being a rockstar entrepreneur / business person.
I look forward to your feedback…
This is great news, and I’m going to enjoy reading it once finished
I think this comes across as a bit egotistical (is that the right word?):
“Be your own person when it comes to running your business, because you definitely do not know how to run your business the way I do mine; and be better than me at that.”
I mean… I know how to run a business like you… or at least I think I do. Maybe I’m just reading to much into it?
I’m looking forward to reading a business book written from the perspective of an intercontinental entrepreneur. Well outside of the reach of silicon valley and european influences.
Good luck!
Very very excited!! Will DEFINATELY be buying when it’s finally released.
I’d like to see what your book could offer me as a Business Administration student in terms of online business model you used/developed/or wourld advice.
Do courier to Malaysia?
I want it coz you two (Adii and Magnus) are awesome. Adii the marketeer and Magnus the hardworking genius that Woothemes have.
Sorry Mark, I got only a little update of yours so I didn’t know more but you have unique ideas and quality that people don’t have.
Please inspire me by your writings as I want to be genius like you guys.
I always neglect the books that sold by Internet Marketeer as they are not from my field and only know to talk about money, money, money… and don’t know any things about creativity. Only bought from Sitepoint. I hope you can make difference.
I’m waiting for it
Hey Adii,
Great news on the book and look forward to you finishing it and getting it out there to the masses.
Here’s something for you. I’ve been reading your blog for well over a year now, maybe longer and read probably every post since then. Rockstar Adii’s view, motivation and ideas are always intriguing but… you’re about to write a book about rockstar business and how you’ve setup various businesses over a couple of years that have all succeeded and in the case of WooThemes it sounds like it has taken off extremely well.
In setting up radiiate, you tweeted regularly about there being a lack of recession in your eyes with the amount of business coming in.
My question is; if you have been so successful in business and you never tweet about mistakes or bad times can you actually know if you’re doing things wrong/right or better than you could be? Is it a case where everything is going well now and if you hit hard times we’ll see a totally different Adii? Will you be able to dig WooThemes out of a hole if it ever happens? Will you even know how to dig yourself out of a hole?
You seem to be one of those people who I’d love to work with, you have an energy and enthusiasm which most people would wish for and I’m certainly not trying to be offensive, it’s simply a side of you we’ve never seen.
Gavin
Be careful. Rockable Press already publishes a series of “Rockstar” books, and you could be in dicey water if you try to use that same branding in the same field of business.
Wow! Will definitely be buying a paper copy of this! Would love to hear about the “tipping points” in your various business models – when you went from being mildly successful to really doing well for yourself. Would also love to hear about advertising strategy, some of the best business and freelancer books that I’ve read recently really really LACK any innovative or interesting ideas in this area!
Seems like years since I commented on your site Adii, used to be a regular thing, this post got my interest and I’m really excited to see what comes of this little project of yours, Woothemes is really cooking and I’ve made use of one or 2 of your themes recently for client work so I’ve already benefitted from your growth as an entrepreneur.
All the best with the book and look forward to learning loads from it as well.
Let me just say Wow. You and others part of WooThemes are an inspiration to many designers around the world. I am just going to each one of the members (WooThemes) and checking out the background before becoming a member. So far you guys seem to be dedicated. I have always liked to research before becoming a member of any paid site.
Impressive work so far. Good job and good luck with your book.
Hey Adii,
You are inspirational. I am at that stage in life where every part of me wants to resist the “traditional rat race”. Unlike you, I have not found that “thing” that will make me see how to operate differently.
I am looking forward to your book and am sure that will assist me.
Any other words of wisdom for me?
Keep rockin`.
Xane
I promise to send you a free copy!
The only thing I meant with that paragraph, was that if I had an idea, I’d be the best person to execute that idea, because of my intimate knowledge thereof. So not because I’m better at executing ideas, but because I’m better at execute *my* ideas compared to anyone else.
In the same vein… If two guys (one of which is Bill Gates) had to re-built Microsoft completely from scratch now, I’m sure you’d back Bill to build the better MS again, right? Why? Well, because Microsoft was based on his ideas and strategies.
My good man, everything that comes out with an “I think …” is egotistical. And you know what, that’s fine! Why not have an opinion?
That’s the first time I’ve been called an “intercontinental entrepreneur”!
But I must admit, that I’ve definitely enjoyed building a business with Magnus & Mark, without being overly influenced by the Silicon Valley way of doing things.
I think the most important difference between this book and the stuff that we get taught at varsity, is that I’m purposefully trying to put an alternative angle on “routine” business principles. So I hope that a lot of people will find value in exactly the fact that the input and ideas are slightly different to the traditional things we get taught.
Wow – thanks for the kind words.
The printed copy of the book will be available via Lulu.com and I’m pretty sure that they’ll be able to ship to Malaysia!
Rockstar Business won’t however be overly influenced by WooThemes, but instead is a collection of unique ideas / experiences from the various business projects that I’ve been involved with. I have however pitched the idea of another book (”The WooThemes Story” <— working title) to Magnus & Mark; so we might just write that later this year.
I guess I see what you mean, but it wasn’t to clear for me in that context
You guess!?
And that is exactly why I got Nikki to co-author the book with me… I can’t always communicate my ideas clearly so that even Norwegian peeps may understand me…
Fair point. In the context of your questions, I might have had an easier ride than most until now. So to that extent, I can honestly persuade anyone that I have the skill to turn around a business that is truly struggling.
That said though, I believe that everything I’ve learned until now (and the type of ideas I’m putting down as Rockstar Business) will serve me well if I were ever to be tested in such a difficult situation. I don’t think there should be a distinction made between offensive and defensive business either, because good business practice stays good business practice; irrespective of whether you are in good or bad times.
So I don’t think that I’d change much if I were to fall into hard times. But as I said first up: there’s no way of predicting my response accurately until I’ve actually been in such a situation!
Well, fact is that I was the original WordPress Rockstar (i.e. I started with that branding)…
I’m not overly fussed about it though since rockstar is a pretty generic term and I thus don’t think there’s a conflict.