For more than two years I had my speaking audience, clients and many others request that I write a book, but the process always seemed too daunting.
I had taken many writing courses and had developed a mass of information to help guide entrepreneurs to more success, efficiency and productivity so I knew I had the content to offer.
But after one of the writing course instructors told me I should just buckle down and write the book, I protested, I’m afraid I’ll use every word I know on the first page!”
He is a best selling author and even had two of his books produced for television movies and one for theaters. His point of reference was a bit different than mine.
It was several years later when one of my clients told me about an expo in Sacramento for small business owners and the producer of the event was looking for speakers. Of course I called the producer and explained why my experience would be of great value to his audience.
He asked me what the title of my book was and when I told him I didn’t have a book he told me only authors would be on the program. I asked him when the event would be and he told me it was in June and since that was five months away I said, “No problem, I’ll have the book.”
If you could make a list of all the things to do wrong when writing a book, I inadvertently committed each and every one of them! But true to my word, I picked up the book on the way to the event and even sold 50 books there.
One of the other speakers at the event was very well known and stayed to hear what I had to say. His praise bolstered my self confidence not only in what I had to say, but as a speaker as well.
Soon I began to encourage others to write their books and establish their credibility throughout their business community.
“Who would buy my book?” was the response I received most often. Indeed, no one will if you don’t have a book, but when you have a book, it gives you an opportunity to let others take your knowledge home with them. Being an author opens doors you don’t even know are closed to you at this point.
I have been able to speak at many expos, conventions, chamber and business organization events, because I am an author. It doesn’t mean you can not be a speaker if you’re not an author, but it does elevate you to a much higher status of acceptance when you are and you will be able to obtain many more speaking engagements.
One of my favorite benefits was about three years after my first book was published. I was asked to speak on a ten day cruise. I never imagined enjoying a cruise let alone being a speaker on one. I had more fun and met more amazing people from around the world than anything I have ever done.
I have been interviewed on more than 200 radio programs, I’m able to speak at ten to twelve events a year and have been able to alter my business model to work from home the majority of the time.
That is the name of the game: how do you do more of what you want to do and less of what you don’t want to do and make more income than you’re doing currently? The first step is to write your book.
When you write about what you are passionate about, you will achieve much greater success more rapidly than if you write for the sake of getting published. You can become an instant expert on any topic just by getting published and achieve greater success.
You can outline your chapter titles, bullet point your content in each chapter and have your book complete in four to six weeks with only an hour a day. It takes an average of two-and-a-half hours to write a chapter using the outline method. Typically a book should be ten to twelve chapters which would take 25 to 30 hours to write the book. With editing and book cover designs you could have your own book published next month at this time.
So, what is stopping you? All you have to do is develop the discipline and focus to write consistently and get your book done!
You have no idea how it will change your life!
