Applying Pareto’s Principle to Your Book

There is a pervasive myth about books that says the best books are chock full of facts and information—and this is simply not true—so let's see what our friend Pareto says.

Think of the 80-20 rule from our dear Italian friend. When applied to your book, that means that 80% of your book should NOT be about facts and information.

(What, what?)

You heard it right.

Because with too much information, people either:

1. get overwhelmed and never contact you; or

2. get a sense of false closure (i.e. “I know exactly what to do) and they never contact you.

Either way, you can’t elevate their business, life, or both.

Good news! 

I’ll tell you what to do instead at the end of this piece, so keep reading….

But in the meantime, I want you to know that myths and like this become false beliefs that often keep some people stuck.

And that’s also why 9 out of 10 books fail.

Six other pervasive myths are:

1. not enough time 
2. there are so many books out there already (why mine?)
3. not sure if it’s worth it
4. wrong strategy
5. using a traditional publisher
6. getting stuck by the “stuff” that blocks books

I’ll be debunking these other six myths twice this week!

• Today (Monday, 16 Sept.), at the Author = Authority Summit. If you can’t join live, there are recordings available.

• Tomorrow (Tuesday, 17 Sept.), at the Don’t Die With Your Story Inside masterclass. If you can’t join tomorrow, catch us on the 3rd Tuesday each month or message me directly.

So if we circle back to Pareto’s Principle and your book, the first thing to know is that it’s not your fault.

Almost none of us were taught what I’m sharing.

(Again, that’s why 9 out of 10 books fail.)

Second is what to do instead: help people shift their beliefs from disempowering to empowering beliefs.

Help them see what’s possible.

You don't want to bury people with too much information.

The best books help people shift their ideas and beliefs. 

Because if people can't see what's possible, then how are they going to say yes to you?

You can give them all the information in the world, and it won’t matter, because they don’t believe they can do it.

If that happens, how are they going to have their business or life or both transformed by what you offer? 

In summary:

Myth: “The best books are chock full of facts and information.”

REALITY"  The best books help people shift their ideas and beliefs (instead of just burying them with too much information). They make your reader want to contact you.

Make sense?

(80/20 Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash)

P.S.

See you this week:

• Today (Monday, 16 Sept.), at the Author = Authority Summit. If you can’t join live, there are recordings available.

• Tomorrow (Tuesday, 17 Sept.), at the Don’t Die With Your Story Inside masterclass. If you can’t join tomorrow, catch us on the 3rd Tuesday each month or message me directly.

•••

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