Just American News recently got a chance to interview Elijah James in regard to his book The Entrepreneurs’ Companion. We got insights into his book, his source of inspiration and much more!
Q. Welcome! Your new book is now available on Amazon. What inspired you to write this book, and how does your book uniquely equip readers for the challenges of today’s business landscape?
A. It is true that many entrepreneurs are knowledgeable about business. They have taken courses, attended seminars and workshops, and through other means, they have acquired the skills necessary to run a successful business. But this is a minority. But most entrepreneurs don’t fall into this category. Most of them are like Joe who is skilled at a particular task such as cooking, but lacks the knowledge and ability to make good business decisions. It is a desire to help people like Joe that inspired me to write The Entrepreneurs’ Companion.
The book offers proven strategies, practical tools, expert insights, and case studies to equip readers for the challenges they will encounter on the entrepreneurial journey.
Q. For readers just starting their entrepreneurial journey, what are the key skills or mindsets you believe are crucial to develop, and how does your book help guide them through this process?
A. Not everyone can be a successful entrepreneur. Essential skills that a successful entrepreneur must possess include risk-taking, perseverance, perceptiveness, self-motivation, passion, and creativity. By practicing the strategies and employing the tools provided in this book, readers are guided through the process.
Q. In a highly competitive business environment, making informed decisions is critical. Can you share a specific tool or framework from your book that readers can immediately apply to make better strategic decisions?
A. Certainly. In starting a business, one has to choose a form of business organization. The book discusses the various legal forms of business organization including how to choose on the basis of one’s particular circumstances.
Q. What personal experiences or lessons from your own business career shaped the advice and strategies you provide in the book?
A. I am trained formally as an economist and a business consultant. Therefore, I learned a great deal of theory that may not be immediately useful to the entrepreneur. My experience as an entrepreneur taught me the practical side of business. The book contains a good mix of theory and practice as evidenced by the strategies and practical tools that it contains. Pricing strategies and business planning are examples.
Q. Entrepreneurship often involves overcoming challenges and setbacks. What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in your journey, and how did that experience influence the direction of this book?
A. One of the biggest challenges I faced as an entrepreneur was record-keeping. As a consultant, I saw how little attention was paid to record-keeping. As a result, in the book, I emphasize the crucial importance of maintaining financial and other records.
Q. Lastly, as we ask all our guests on our platform, do you have any closing thoughts that you would like to share with the world and our readers?
A. Sure. Thanks for the opportunity to share these thoughts with you. Entrepreneurs play an important role in our society. By providing certain goods and services, they make our lives more enjoyable. It is my wish that The Entrepreneurs’ Companion will be a useful reference book that will help entrepreneurs run their businesses more efficiently and effectively and thus improve the quality of life for all.
About the author: Elijah M. James has been an economics professor for more than 40 years. He has taught at Concordia University in both undergraduate and Master’s programs; Dawson College; John Abbott College; and McGill University. He has lectured on the principles of economics, microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics, money and banking, economic development, current economic issues, and quantitative methods (statistics). He is the author of numerous books and articles in the area of economics and business management.
Unlock the keys to successful entrepreneurship with The Entrepreneurs’ Companion: A Useful Reference Book for Decision-Makers in Business. Drawing inspiration from the timeless classic, The Students’ Companion by Wilfred D. Best, this book is designed to be an indispensable resource for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.
The Entrepreneurs’ Companion isn’t just another textbook. It’s your go-to guide for practical, no- nonsense advice on navigating the complex world of business.
