In this podcast, Matthew talks about his late entry into entrepreneurship, taking advantage of opportunities that emerged as Kindle offered a new way to distribute books. In his career as a journalist with well known business publications he enjoyed talking to entrepreneurs, even having his editor turn down his pitch to interview Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Starting a business was something he had always been open to, but journalism came first until quite late in life. He shares how his initial idea of publishing short-form books from well-known authors pivoted into the bigger opportunity of publishing back catalogues. Matthew describes how and why larger publishers missed the boat due to conservative pricing and a feeling that ebooks might just "go away." He discusses the importance of a "problem-solving mindset," persistence, and being ready to hustle. We learn what being a fiction author has in common with being an entrepreneur, and how crucial it is to handle and manage rejection. Matthew also delves into his path to an exit, the loyalty he felt to his authors and staff, and the challenges of management and leadership. He particularly highlights the learning process of dealing with the fact that the founder is often more motivated than the people they hire.
Links relevant to the interview.
Matthew’s books Death Force series
Lume Books
Joffe Books - acquired by Lume Books
Matthew’s Bio
Daily Telegraph - columnist - 2013-2024
Money Week - columnist - 2008-2024
Bloomberg - columnist - 1999-2012
The Sunday Times - Reporter and columnist - 1992-2000
Business magazine - reported - 1988-1991
Asiaweek, Hong Kong - 1986-1988
Financial Adviser magazine - 1985-1986
Founder - Lume Books - 2013- 2023
Author
Death Force - Hodder Headline - 2010
Fireforce - Hodder Headline - 2011
Shadow Force - Hodder Headline - 2012
Ice Force - Hodder Headline - 2013
Insecurity - Random House - 1997
The Watchmen - Random House - 1999
Education:
Balliol College, Oxford. Politics, Philosophy & Economics.
Richard Lucas’s TEDx talk on Opportunity Readiness and on Why everyone should embrace rejection
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