South Florida based janitor turned serial entrepreneur, Patrick Muhammad
took what some would call an unconventional route to his newest venture. “What I do now has evolved. It truly took my passion and has turned it
into a profession for me. I can see myself mentoring and sharing my story with
young people easily for the next 20 years.
I love talking to young people and showing them, what entrepreneurship
looks like. I love sharing my stories of how I came to be. I didn’t just wake up one day and have all
the answers. My wife and I bumped our
head A LOT. I just want to say to them,
look…here’s the blueprint. Start now,
don’t wait until you’re 30. Passion has
no age requirement, and has no limit on how many you can have. I started out as
a janitor, then became a baker now I am into motivational speaking. They just
have to have the passion and guidance. Anything is possible.”
“Patrick Turns His Play Into
Pay” is the 1st book in a series of children’s books authored by
husband and wife writing partners, Shani and Patrick Muhammad. The idea for the
book was created one night while trying to explain the reason there was a
gigantic, neon, pink and orange food-truck, now sitting in their front yard to
their then 4 year-old Qadeer. Patrick
and his wife came up with the idea that they would write a keepsake item for
all their children, detailing the road they took to becoming
entrepreneurs. The primary message is
simple. By tapping into your passion early in life you can turn your playdays
into paydays. Once the book was published they both realized that the story could not only
inspire their own children to entrepreneurship, but others as well. Shani
figured out how to self-publish it and Patrick would take it to different youth
groups in his community. “I began
shopping the book around to childcare centers and non-profits that served young
people in the projects and the adults loved it.
“They really loved the idea that it was based on a true story and that
the message was coming from a black male perspective. A story their children could
relate to. The images were brown like
them and I just always got a positive response.
We took that book everywhere with us, and the response was this is a
message that’s needed. Children can’t be
what they can’t see.”
Patrick currently lives in South Florida
with his wife and three of his youngest five children. He has a passion for planting the seed of
entrepreneurship and carving out wealth building opportunities for his
children’s generation. When he’s not writing books he’s on tour, speaking to
groups of young people about basic principles of financial literacy and the
benefits of early investing using cryptocurrency as a vehicle to establish
future financial goals. When he’s not doing that…he’s on a creek with a fishing
pole in his hand.
Shani Muhammad has been married
to Patrick for 17 years now. Together
they have 5 children and 3 grandchildren.
Shani has spent the past 15 years in a classroom as a teacher. She too
is a serial entrepreneur and has in the past owned a one-price shoe store,
group homes and several online businesses. When she’s not working on the next
children’s book in their series, she too enjoys researching and investing in
crypto currencies and planning her family’s next “staycation.”
WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:
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About the Book:
The first book in a series,
"Patrick Turns His Play Into Pay", details the journey of an
entrepreneur, through the eyes of a child. The book uses vivid illustrations
and lively words, to explain the road little Patrick took into the world of
entrepreneurship. It demonstrates the
benefits of tapping into your passion early in life. “Patrick” tapped into his passion of baking to
help solve a money problem. This book
also shows the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur. You witness a 9-year old take the power and
control of his future into his own hands. You also see what happens when
“Patrick” finds help in a friend, to help grow his business. Above all, this
book motivates both young and young at heart and serves as a reminder that we
all have the ability to turn our playdays into paydays.
ORDER YOUR COPY:
Thanks for this interview, Patrick. When did you determine that writing for
children was for you?
Growing up I never wanted to be a writer. Prior to writing this book, I
was a janitor for 25 years. I kind of fell into writing.
The idea for the book was
created one night while trying to explain the reason there was gigantic, neon,
pink and orange food-truck, now sitting in their front yard to our then, 4
year-old Qadeer. My wife and I came up
with the idea that we would write a keepsake item for our children and God-willing…grandchildren,
detailing the road we took to becoming entrepreneurs. The primary message is simple. By tapping
into your passion early in life you can turn your play days into paydays.
What was the inspiration behind your children’s book, Patrick Turns His
Play Into Pay?
My children and grandchildren were my inspiration.
How do you get into the mind of a child to create a fun reading
experience? Are you around kids? Are you a kid at heart?
I just imagined the book being read by my then, 4 year-old Qadeer. Also,
I’m a kid at heart. The main character
in my book is named “Little Patrick”. That’s basically me.
What was your favorite book as a child?
The Bass Pro fishing catalog book.
What kind of advice would you give writers who would like to write
children’s books?
Don’t write books that preach or lecture and don’t talk down to them.
Their smaller than adults, not dumber.
What are your goals for the future?
More children’s books?
Yes, this is the 1st book in a series. The next one takes you
on a journey using crypto-currency. Of course, it too will be a picture book.
It’s entitled Patrick Turns His Play Into Pay using Bitcoins.
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