What did you first produce ?
The first book that I wrote was The Growers Guide : Coco Coir and Soil , showing how to grow in coco and soil using a hand-fed , run-to-waste system . I chose this as my first publication as it seemed a good system to start with , considering its popularity and ease of use . It also covers lots of the fundamentals of the whole indoor growing experience that you would need to know if you were to move on and use a different system .
What other books are in The Growers Guide series ?
Currently , we have three books in The Growers Guide series : Coco Coir and Soil , Bubblers DWC , and Organics , which have all been published through Machiavellian Media . We have another book due out later this year based on passive watering systems . We currently have lots of other exciting projects in development , one being a series of indoor gardening audio books / guides .
Where do you distribute ?
Throughout the UK via Eden Horticulture and online via Apple iBooks / iTunes .
“ I travel around visiting stores ,
attending trade shows nationally and internationally , and just trying to be a positive presence representing my brand and its values .”
What significant things have you learned so far about the industry ?
I have learnt that in this industry , there are many different opinions and characters . I have learnt that to build business and personal relationships effectively , you have to respect everyone ’ s opinions , needs , and beliefs and most importantly , listen to them . To build a genuine rapport , you can ’ t use a scripted sales pitch or be fake , as it will be spotted a mile off and you will never earn anyone ’ s respect . I always try to take the time to get to know people , listen , and understand where they are coming from , which usually leads to some really interesting conversations , ideas , and points of views that I may not have considered before . It ’ s a bonus for me also as it means I am always learning and gathering more knowledge .
What have you learned about starting and growing a company ?
I have learnt that it is bloody hard work and that it ’ s not for everyone . It takes real passion , determination , sacrifice , and understanding in order to try and get things off the ground . It is such a rewarding experience , however , and seeing the end result of your efforts makes it all worth the while . My mantra is “ Be true to yourself , believe in yourself , and work harder than everybody else .”
What have the start-up years been like ?
The business officially started last year when I published the first three books in The Growers Guide series . The business is still very young and is still evolving . It is all things on any given day , uncertain , daunting , exciting , and rewarding . That is part of the ride though and so far , I am enjoying it .
What were some of your struggles as you started the business ?
My biggest struggle was trying to find a publisher for the book . After exhausting many avenues while trying to secure this , I decided to take a big step . Knowing little about book publishing , I decided to take the plunge and start my own publishing company , so Machiavellian Media was born . I have since raised funds to publish the first three installments of The Growers Guide . It ’ s something that I am immensely proud of .
Has your company expanded since the beginning ?
Not as yet , but we had a new office built in the same location to accommodate an audio sound booth as well as a meeting area .
What are some of your proudest moments ?
Without doubt , being published as a freelance writer in Maximum Yield around the world has been a real highlight . It is one thing to believe in yourself , but when you have recognition from an industry powerhouse such as Maximum Yield , it does reinforce those beliefs and removes any little traces of self doubt that you may have had in yourself .
Please feel free to include anything further you ’ d like to share .
Knowledge is power . If you want to be a better person , open your self up to learning , however young or old you are .
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