Your book can change the world...when are you going to start?

I recently read Stan Grant's essay in the September edition of The Monthly magazine titled, Once upon a time in America. It's an interesting piece, especially that the world is now six sleeps away from the US Presidential election. I wake up most mornings wondering whether I should be terrified or lean into the mantra of focusing on what I can control. I choose the latter - what else is there to do.

And, I am fortunate that I work with terrific business leaders, consultants and experts in their fields who want to share their knowledge and make a positive difference in the world. And, boy, do we need more of this right now.

Here's what caught my eye from Stan.

When you get to my age, you'd hope you know something. That big one thing. If you want to be a writer, you need to know something deep in your gut that you would have died for, that you have learnt the hard way. That's all you've got to tell the world. That's why you write.

As it happened I met up with a potential client on Monday who has that 'something deep in his gut' . . . and an experience of almost dying, and now has a passion and purpose that he wants to share with the world. The article photo is the venue of our meeting.

Of course, we were meeting as he'd be told he needed to talk to me if he was thinking about writing and publishing a book. (I am grateful for the recommendation).

It's an interesting thing though. Most of the business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs I work with are reticent or downright terrified about writing and publishing a book. As one of my clients shared with me, 'it's like running around naked'. Thanks Owen Morgan for that visual.

I get it. However, I approach the challenge somewhat differently.

If you have expertise, insights and knowledge to share, writing and publishing a book is a great way for you to share this with hundreds or thousands of people, rather than one-to-one.

It's a powerful way to make an impact at scale.

It's a unique way to control and leverage your message.

Below I list 5 ways writing and publishing a book (self publish, hybrid publish or traditional publishing) can make an impact at scale, leverage your knowledge and build recognition as a thought leader.

1. Leadership influence

If you’re looking to develop recognition as a leader or expand your leadership influence you need to show your peer group, networks, industry leaders, your expertise, knowledge and insights.

Being able to articulate your knowledge in a succinct, coherent, interesting and engaging way will increase your visibility to those who matter and increase the influence you can have in your role, company and industry in Australia and maybe the world.

2. Establish yourself as a thought leader

Thought leader is a description that I believe is overused and misused. I subscribe to the following definition: an individual recognised as an authority in a specific field, a person who specialises in a given area and whom others in that industry turn to for guidance. A thought leader leads others in the thinking around a given topic.

Not everyone who writes and self publishes a business book is a thought leader, nor wants to be. And that’s OK.

However, if you want to establish yourself as a thought leader you need to have specialist knowledge in your field AND have developed new thinking, a new approach, different perspective within your specialist area and demonstrated this over time.

A book is the best way to demonstrate your knowledge, insights and perspectives. Not only does a book ‘package up’ your knowledge, but it gives you a tool through which you can present and engage with others about it – that’s where real thought leadership has power – in sharing.

3. Speaking opportunities

There’s so many people on the speakers circuit, so many motivational speakers and/or inspirational speakers. And you might have noticed that many of the best motivational and inspirational speakers have a unique story to tell, thoughtful and considered insights and lessons learned that they can share, are brilliant presenters and, probably have a book.

And there’s a reason for the book.

Capturing their story in a book has helped them craft their story so that it’s meaningful and relevant to their audiences. It gives them ‘street cred’, expands the reach of their message way beyond those they present to, another revenue stream (from individual and bulk book sales) and helps them secure new speaking opportunities.

4. Business exposure

For many business owners, consultants, professionals and board directors their business book is a vital part of creating awareness of their business and generating new business. For professionals a book is seen as a super-charged business card; for consultants it delivers instant credibility; for business owners it becomes a valuable business development tool that can set them and their business apart from competitors.

With a business book in hand (literally and figuratively) you have the ability to capture the attention of your potential clients, your industry networks, the media and global business networks.

A well constructed and executed book marketing plan can deliver 12-18 months of exposure to the key target audiences you want to reach. We have clients who are still using their books as part of their marketing and engagement after 4 years. That’s the power of a well-written, quality book.

Many of our clients have built new consulting businesses using their book as the initial platform for this. Others have secured radio, television and print media coverage as direct result of their book, while others have built their speaking profile.

5. Building your own community

Writing and self publishing a business book is a great way to build a community around you that’s engaged and active.

Your book and the content you can re-purpose from it (into blogs, posts, articles, presentations, podcasts or newsletters) underpins engagement with your community and, if you want, help you change the world for the better.

Your book, planned, executed and marketed well, can focus attention on your purpose and goals, capture your key messages and can act as a catalyst for action.

Some non fiction books that have had a global influence over time that come to mind for me are:

On Liberty, John Stuart Mill

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

In the Shadow of Man, Jane Goodall

The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking

The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People by Steven R Covey

Man’s Search for Meaning. Victor E Frankl

Thinking Fast, and Thinking Slow, Daniel Kaheman

Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman

And here’s just one interesting list from The Guardian.

My list is more than rather eclectic...I'll share it on another post.

What are the books that have change your life, your perspective or your values?

My nest question to you then is, ‘When are you going to start your book?’

If you're ready to explore this, contact me.

2025 can be the year that your book starts to make a positive different in the world, and I have this sneaking suspicion that the world is going to need ALL the positivity, smart, actionable ideas it can get.