We recently connected with Dr. Rodney Rogers and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Rodney, appreciate you joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?
SInce the early age of 12 years old my father showed me what were the most important lessons of starting a business and working the business to feed a family and grow a reputable business. I am the product of a father and mother that worked hard to build a small business. My father a Vietnam veteran from the rural area of Selma Alabama landed in Columbus, Ohio after the war. There he began to work towards a vision of business ownership. He started a small fish market and a janitorial service while my mother drove the local city bus in Columbus. My parents wanted me to learn the importance of work, creating and producing through services to the community. They were my teachers in life and business and frankly there was little difference between the two. Our life was our work and care for our community and customers were the highest priority. My parents not only taught me lessons of life and work but also the people had the inherent right to freedoms that permit flourishing. Therefore, my life lessons included the importance of civic action for the support of the many vulnerable people less fortunate than ourselves. Ultimately, my parents taught me that my life had no limits if I continued to work, share, and engage life with a desire to help other and trusting God with the results of good actions.
Dr. Rodney, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I found my creative voice during COVID era and the intense feelings of hopelessness in the midst of butal and lethal treatment and outcomes of police and African American men. I knew that my heart was telling me to share with the world stories that would help sensitize, educate and celebrate faith and courage. The creative arts are I feel uniquely situated to speak truth to power. I wrote my first novel Beauty of the Battle: Spiritual Warfare Reimagined. It is a story that teaches to question the realities presented in the news, the church, and the political systems. The story included poetic expressions that were pouring from my soul as evidence of the trama I so deeply felt in the wake of Freddie Grey, George Floyd etc.etc.etc… I realized after completing the novel and being offered a publishing deal that didn’t align with my vision for the novel that I choose a different route. I started WorkHouse Publishing with the thought that there are other authors i.e. storytellers, poets, songwriters and people with a dream to make a difference was the motive for starting the company. I am a small shop with a big vision to make a difference and help others to promote their work in a fair and just way. I look for those stories that are intent on changing minds, social conditions, and anything that prohibits human flourishing.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I had to grapple with the parts of the publishing industry that wasn’t so clear to me. There is a lesson to be learned in every project and impatience will lead to time, energy and resource waste. For a small business that is an ever evolving process. For instance, in writing and publishing my first novel it was difficult finding the right editors to work with. I began so focused on my deadlines for publishing that I overlooked several editing mistakes. Did a first run on the book and after reading it decided to not publish it. The cost, time, and energy disappointment made to learn the importance of patience in the process. I now really slow things down and do more extensive research on collaborating entities. You learn in the publishing business that the right questions and a process that gives more insight impacts the end result.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I had to personally fund my project and business. There were two banking entities that I was able to obtain small credit facilities to start operations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.workhousepub.com
- Instagram: DocSoul500
- Facebook: Rodney Rogers, Dr. Rodney Unmasked, Covenant International Leadership
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/drrdrr500perfectfit/recent-activity/all
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@Dr.RodneyUnmasked_InspiredPodc
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjNReFdqWVEzNVdOQkczcEY2T0xnUHVGZmVwd3xBQ3Jtc0trdlFOeVJjaDlRVGZGcy13bVdBSFdxU2poeVBEN0NRU18xR2pBczQzSldRV1R3WVJaZlhIZkRZamRmeFNPZHp4VDFjblhuMnFQOW91bUxHajhMemJ1b1FXbUJzdGRwZkxic0oycVByZXVuNGxSdWI3UQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fstores%2FDr.-Rodney-D-Rogers%2Fauthor%2FB0CV4PSVH5%3Fref%3Dap_rdr%26isDramIntegrated%3Dtrue%26shoppingPortalEnabled%3Dtrue