Business Kung Fu: Modern Strategy | Ancient Truth | Your Success was the winner in the SELF-HELP category of the 2024 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Craig Cooke.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Business Kung Fu: Modern Strategy | Ancient Truth | Your Success . Published November 16, 2023
What’s the book’s first line?
I’m assuming you want the first line from the first chapter rather than the preface. Here is how Chapter 1 starts…
Chapter One: Building A Foundation
“Things are only hard if you make them hard.” ~ Daoist Proverb
I was taught early on that one must build a solid foundation to learn martial arts effectively.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Business Kung Fu is a mindset book at its core. It is geared towards helping entrepreneurs build mastery in overcoming challenges on their journey. The concepts can also be applied universally to various aspects in life .
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Books were my first passion in life. As soon as I could read as a kid I always had a book in my face. By the time I was a teenager, I knew I wanted to write a book one day. I just needed time. In 2011, I realized it was time and came up with the idea for Business Kung Fu. I created my outline and started writing. It took me twelve years to finish but it’s a better book now then it would have been a decade ago.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
This is a non-fiction book. So the main character is me. Essentially it is a hero’s journey in a business-world-driven-by-technology context. Computers, martial arts, overcoming; I would say the closest fictional character is “Neo” in “The Matrix,” but that’s a stretch. However, there are aspects that parallel it and it’s my favorite movie so I’ll go with it!
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
To be inspired and empowered to become a master of their craft.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I was seventeen years old. It just struck me as something I wanted to do one day
Is this the first you’ve written?
Yes it is, but there will be more.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I provide business consulting and advisory services. I am also a qigong practitioner, certified as a Master in Chinese Energetic Medicine. I combine this with my consulting practice and also provide individual energy session work, mainly with professionals of all sorts.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Throughout my career, writing has been an essential skill. I have always been writing in a variety of mediums; websites, email marketing, proposals, presentations, contracts, video scripts, etc. But as far as my book is concerned, it is hard to gauge since it took twelve years. It was sporadic writing during that time. But when I would focus on the book, I would usually write for two to four hours at a time.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
It’s all brand new to me, but so far I like the control I have. My book is entirely my own intellectual property and I have full control to make things happen. The hardest part is that there is so much to do. Even with my marketing background, it’s an entirely new field, but it’s fun. It’s a brand new adventure.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
I would consider it. Mainly because I like to be open to exploring possibilities. However, I would need to understand the value of entering into a business relationship with a publisher. At the end of the day, it needs to be a win-win relationship.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
At this stage of my life, I am most interested in fulfilling my purpose which is to create things that inspire and empower others to fulfill their potential. I gain the most fulfillment in any activity that serves this purpose.