Sabirul Islam

Shared by emma_kate Make Your Mark team

Sabirul believes profoundly in the power of positive role models. He himself was inspired by a teacher and his cousin early on in his business career, and has written a book that aims to inspire others.

With his teacher’s guidance and his cousin’s motivating influence, Sabirul founded a web design business at just 14 along with some friends from school. The company’s success gave him a taste for entrepreneurship, which has become his passion. Now he shares his story with other young people who might lack to confidence to bring their ideas to life as Sabirul has done. Sabirul’s book ‘The World At Your Feet’ aims to inspire and encourage young people to make the most of their entrepreneurial talents. In November 2008, he was awarded Mosaic’s Entrepreneur Award by HRH the Prince of Wales.

Sabirul self-published ‘The World At Your Feet’ in early 2008 and the book went on to sell over 40,000 copies to schools and academies across the UK. ‘The World At Your Feet’ attracted the interest of mainstream publishers Marshall Cavendish, who plan to take the book worldwide in 2009. At 18, Sabirul is now in the process of launching a television programme he hopes to brand under the same title, as well as a ‘World At Your Feet’ boardgame. “I want to bring the business world into everyone’s living room!” Sabirul says.

Are there enough entreprenurial role models out there?

Role models are there in the world for every young individual to learn from, but when it comes to role models from ethnic minority backgrounds I am a bit worried. There are entrepreneurs of all cultures out there, but young individuals of today’s world don’t always pick up on these success stories. Young entrepreneurs of today’s world from ethnic backgrounds are not getting enough media attention to inspire and influence people from diverse backgrounds to put their ideas into action. Being born and raised in a deprived area has motivated me to be different.

Who has inspired you?

It’s not always about inspiration like the Richard Bransons and the Peter Jones. Families themselves can be great influences and inspiration to achieving success. At the age of 10, I always wanted to do what my cousin did. Where ever he went, I wanted to go. If he had not gone to Swanlea Business and Enterprise College and started his own business, I don’t think that I would be where I am today. He stands tall today and still believes that I can always improve and become a successful entrepreneur. He made me realise that success and inspiration don’t have to come from the outside world, they’re always there in those who are close to you.

What would your advice be to someone thinking about setting up their own business?

Starting at a young age puts you ahead of so many successful entrepreneurs. Young people have inspirational role models to look up to; this should be used to their advantage as the professional entrepreneurs of today did not always have that asset. If any young individual has a great idea, put it into action and who knows; you could be the next dragon investing in other peoples businesses on the Dragon’s den. ‘The World At Your Feet’ encourages young entrepreneurs to take that step forwards and not be scared. You look at today’s millionaires; they achieved their success through trying and believing that failure is a starting point for a successful tomorrow. If they could achieve great success, so can anyone else.