There's entrepreneurial synergy going on in the Tru Images Barbershop in Albany. But 14-year-old Ayyub Ali is not there to get a haircut, but rather his mentors are helping him make sure his dreams never fade.

Ayyub just published his first book titled "I’ll Start Now," and Paul Collins-Hackett from The Red Bookshelf is giving the writer a head start.

"So we took it upon ourselves to really support you bro," said Hackett.

They purchased 100 books, more than $1,200 worth of copies, that anyone will be able to pick up at Red Bookshelf locations around the city for free.

"I can’t even describe [the feeling] right now," Ali said in response to receiving the check for $1,250.

"We’ve learned that to not just survive, but to thrive, takes a collaborative approach," said Hackett.

Angelo Maddox is also collaborating with the young author’s goals by selling and warehousing copies of the book out of his Albany boutique, Fresh and Fly Clothing.

"It feels good to help this young man along in his entrepreneurial journey," said Maddox.

The book itself is about Ayyub's journey to entrepreneurship. He said seeing the support for it is overwhelming, considering it all started with trying to earn back change from a $20 bill he’d lost one day on his way to the grocery store.

"I didn’t even like to read at first, but then I just started getting into history a lot more, and our ancestors, they fought a lot just to read, so that how I knew that it was important," said Ali.

Now Ali is sharing his motivational journey one copy at a time.

"It just taught me that I could really do anything I put my mind to," said Ali.

His mentors say this is only the beginning.

"We are going to buy more books and we are going bring him to schools and other young people, so they can see exactly what’s possible in a tangible manner," said Hackett.