| Can you picture this scene? You're relaxing beside | | | | at what you do. Team up with a professional |
| a swimming pool when you happen to notice a | | | | writer who's good at what he does. A competent |
| child teetering at the end of the high diving board. | | | | professional ghostwriter will make your book |
| The child leans forward, bends his legs, and | | | | better and save you an enormous amount of |
| prepares to jump. Then he backs away. | | | | time and frustration. |
| After a few moments he again musters his | | | | 5. "It costs too much." |
| courage, walks to the end of the board, leans | | | | Writing and self-publishing a book typically costs |
| forward, and starts to jump. But again he backs | | | | $15,000 to $20,000. That's not a trivial |
| away. He just can't seem to make the plunge. | | | | investment. But brochures are not cheap either, |
| For many people, thinking about writing a book is | | | | and books are much more powerful marketing |
| like that. They know they'd like to become an | | | | tools than brochures. |
| author. It sounds exciting. They strongly believe | | | | As you consider whether to write a book, don't |
| that the visibility and credibility they would gain | | | | just look at the cost side of the picture. Carefully |
| would be good for their career and their business. | | | | evaluate the potential return on your investment. |
| But for some reason, they keep backing away. | | | | Consider how you could use a book to take your |
| What are the roadblocks that keep people from | | | | career to the next level. |
| taking the plunge and becoming authors? | | | | Joan Walsh, president of Kashbox Coaching, did |
| Here are seven negative reasons people give, | | | | just that. Here's what she wrote me: |
| with some advice about how to overcome them. | | | | "Writing a book has been the one of the best |
| 1. "I'm too busy." | | | | moves I've made at this stage in my career. The |
| Like most successful people, you probably don't | | | | impact in terms of visibility and credibility has been |
| have any "free" time on your hands. But have | | | | huge. Now when I'm introduced to people, I'm not |
| you ever noticed that it's the really successful | | | | only a business coach and consultant, I'm also an |
| people who find time to write books and do other | | | | author. |
| things that bring even more success? How do | | | | "As a direct result of the book, my speaking |
| they do it? | | | | engagements have increased almost 50 percent. |
| First, they put first things first. They set priorities, | | | | Many of the organizations who invite me to speak |
| plan their work, and work their plans, so they're | | | | buy my book and give it to the attendees. That, |
| not always putting out fires. | | | | of course, brings in additional revenues and further |
| Second, they leverage their capabilities. They | | | | promotes my services. |
| know they can't do everything equally well, so | | | | "On several occasions, it's opened doors to |
| they concentrate on doing what they do best, | | | | profitable new business. In fact, before the first |
| and they enlist the help of qualified people to do | | | | copy of the book was in my hands, it had already |
| the rest. | | | | brought in two new consulting contracts that |
| If writing a book is really important to you and to | | | | more than paid for its cost." |
| your career, you can make it a priority and find | | | | And here's what another very successful |
| the time to do it. And you can leverage your own | | | | businessman, David Herdlinger, had to say his |
| capabilities by engaging the services of a | | | | book, Healing A Hospital: |
| professional ghostwriter. | | | | "Initially I viewed my book strictly as an |
| You'll be pleasantly surprised to find out how | | | | expensive brochure to give away to promote my |
| much time a competent ghostwriter can save | | | | coaching services. Well, the promotion part |
| you. He'll do the heavy lifting and leave you free | | | | certainly happened. The book has brought in new |
| to concentrate on your business. And just as | | | | business and increased my speaking invitations |
| important, he'll make sure your book project | | | | beyond my wildest expectations. |
| keeps moving forward, even when you're | | | | "But something else happened that I didn't expect. |
| tempted to put it on the back burner. | | | | People began to buy my book, sometimes in |
| Yes, you are busy, but you're not too busy to | | | | quantity. Within the first three months of its |
| write a book if you really want to. You can join | | | | publication, proceeds from book sales had more |
| that select group of successful people who don't | | | | than paid for the entire writing and publishing |
| buy into the excuse, "I'm too busy." | | | | process. Instead of a somewhat effective |
| 2. "I don't know what to write about." | | | | brochure that would have cost me money, I |
| To overcome this obstacle, ask yourself | | | | actually had a highly effective sales tool that |
| questions like the following:o What are you | | | | became an additional revenue stream." |
| passionate about?o What knowledge or expertise | | | | I can't guarantee that your book will pay for itself |
| do you have that will interest and benefit | | | | within the first few months of publication, or even |
| others?o What would you choose as your topic if | | | | that it will generate a significant return on your |
| you were invited to speak to a group of people? | | | | investment over time. However, I know firsthand |
| Brainstorm with your friends, colleagues, clients, | | | | that writing a book has been a good investment |
| and customers. Throw out a few ideas and get | | | | for many others. |
| their reactions. | | | | 6. "My friends and relatives haven't encouraged |
| If you have a strong interest in writing a book, | | | | me." |
| and if you're passionate about your life and your | | | | Unfortunately, that's not uncommon. Those |
| vocation, you probably have a worthwhile book | | | | closest to us sometimes don't see our potential. |
| inside you. Shut down those negative voices in | | | | Perhaps they even feel threatened because |
| your head, and ideas will start bubbling up. | | | | you're about to take a big step. |
| 3. "No publisher would want my book." | | | | It's important to listen to your friends, family, and |
| That's possible, but you won't know for sure until | | | | colleagues. Their advice can be very helpful. But |
| you test your book idea with a few people who | | | | it's a mistake to depend on their encouragement |
| know the publishing field. Besides, finding a | | | | for your inspiration. Writing a book is a creative |
| publisher is not nearly as important as it used to | | | | process. Your motivation must come from within. |
| be, because self-publishing is becoming increasingly | | | | Get plenty of input, and then make an informed |
| popular and profitable. | | | | decision. |
| In the past several years, the publishing world has | | | | 7. "Frankly, I'm afraid to take the plunge." |
| witnessed enormous changes. Advances in printing | | | | Fear typically rears its head when we face new |
| technology make it easy for anyone to | | | | challenges. Some people let fear stop them in |
| self-publish a book. The Internet has dramatically | | | | their tracks. Others utilize the energy aroused by |
| changed the way books are marketed. | | | | fear to drive them forward. Choose to be in the |
| So, you don't really need a publisher in order to | | | | latter camp. |
| publish your book. In fact, you might be better | | | | Since uncertainty is a major cause of anxiety, |
| off to publish it yourself. To find out more about | | | | reduce the fear level by learning more about the |
| self-publishing, I recommend reading Dan Poynter's | | | | writing and publishing process. List the specific |
| Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print and Sell | | | | benefits you would derive from writing and |
| Your Own Book. | | | | publishing your book. Once you've done your |
| 4. "I'm not a good writer." | | | | homework, you'll probably feel very comfortable |
| You don't have to be a good writer to write a | | | | with whatever decision you make. |
| good book. You're successful because you're good | | | | |