EP 44 | From Aerospace to Authors: Dr. Hassan Younes on Business, Passion, and the Power of a Book

The Leap of Faith: From Engineering to Entrepreneurship Dr. Younes began his career as an aerospace engineer with the Australian Department of Defence and Boeing. However, a life change prompted an audacious decision. When he and his wife, Sarifa, an education professional, couldn't find a suitable childcare centre for their young son, he suggested they build one themselves. This was the start of a new career path. For the first five years, he worked behind the scenes while still at his engineering job, but his passion for business grew. Despite a handsome salary at Boeing, he decided to take a leap of faith. He took a few months of unpaid leave to test out full-time business management. This period allowed him to be fully present with his family, taking his kids to school and being part of their daily lives. The experience was so rewarding that he decided to resign from his engineering career and become a full-time entrepreneur. This pattern of identifying a gap in the market and filling it became the blueprint for his future ventures. When he and his wife needed a travel agency in their suburb and couldn't find one, they started their own. This travel business quickly expanded to three locations. The same philosophy led to the founding of a successful training organisation. As Lauren notes, this "fabulous grassroots approach to entrepreneurship" is a common and inspiring story in Australia. The ABLE Book Awards and Expo: A Platform for Authors The idea for the ABLE Book Awards and Expo was born from another personal experience. In 2019, after Dr Younes and his wife published their books, they realised their books were "just in a box on the shelf." They hadn't properly launched them to a wider audience. They saw a need for a professional platform where authors could launch their books on a real stage, with media coverage, photography, and video. Dr Younes explains that many authors put immense effort into writing their book but then stop, failing to promote it properly. He believes this is due to a lack of understanding about the marketing process and the belief that they need a huge online following to succeed. The ABLE Book Awards and Expo fills this gap by providing a professional, ready-made platform that gives authors the marketing support, exposure, and community they need. For an author to participate, they simply register, provide professional assets like their book's images and a bio, and the ABLE team handles the rest—marketing, promotion, event organisation, and stage management. Authors get to enjoy the "spotlight and the exposure." This includes a physical expo where authors can speak, get professional videos, and sell their books, as well as an opportunity to connect with other authors and industry leaders. The Able Book Awards is a key component of the event. It's open to authors from around the world and from any genre, whether fiction, non-fiction, children's, business book or autobiography. Authors who launch their books at the expo are automatically entered into the awards. Authors who aren't launching can also nominate their books, regardless of when they were published. Dr Younes and his team use a thorough, collaborative judging process that includes a panel of judges and author interviews to ensure every book is given a fair and comprehensive review. Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs When asked what advice he would give his younger self, Dr Younes's answer is simple and powerful: "Start everything sooner." Reflecting on his journey, acknowledging the mistakes and failures along the way but seeing them as essential learning experiences, he emphasises that life is short and that it's important to put your heart and soul into what you're passionate about, learning and growing from every experience. His journey is a testament to the idea that success is not a straight line, but a series of ups and downs from which you learn and grow. If you have a book sitting in a box in your garage, the ABLE Book Awards and Expo offers an incredible opportunity to share your message with the world. Your book deserves to be well-known, well-paid, and wanted. Links: EXPO: https://www.authorexpo.com.au ABLE Book Awards: https://www.authorexpo.com.au/gba-nominate