Battered. Pages with paragraphs underlined and corners turned down. Festooned with Post-it notes. Passed from hand to hand.

I found my old, much loved copy of Starting Your Own Business by Jim Green this weekend while clearing shelves.

I must have read it twenty times. I still remember so much of the author’s advice.

It was a birthday present from my wife, Bev, 25 years ago or so. She got so bored of me saying I wanted to run my own business “one day” that she took action.

So I read it… and then I took action.

Jim Green’s Starting Your Own Business made launching a business feel accessible. Possible for anyone, not just people born as entrepreneurs which is what I suppose I’d deep down believed before. Possible, then, for me.

I’ve often thought of this book, and its author, and the difference he made to my life. Perhaps to the lives of others too.

I’ve googled to see if I could find him. Used ChatGPT to try and uncover where he is now. Looked on Amazon at the author’s profile. And I’ve drawn a blank.

Part of the problem is there are a lot of Jim Greens on LinkedIn (never mind the James Greens). Hundreds, maybe thousands. It’s a rabbit hole.

So here’s my slightly unusual LinkedIn request:

Does anyone know what happened to Jim Green, the author?

I’d genuinely love the chance to thank him personally for inspiring me at such an important stage of my life.

And, if Jim is sadly no longer with us, perhaps someone in his family might see this and know that his work had a real impact on people he never even met.

So come on! The campaign starts here: #FindJimGreen

(PS and while you’re at it let me know: what’s the business book that’s inspired you to take action?)