| 9 out of 10 professionals and small business | | | | gifts and back-of-the-room sales. |
| owners have at least one book or information | | | | 8. They provide a platform for you to expose |
| product inside their head, but lack the time and | | | | your readers to your mind and your heart, |
| organizational skills to get it out into digital or print | | | | showing not only what you know, but how much |
| form. | | | | you care. You can reveal your deepest |
| You may cringe when you read this list of ten | | | | philosophies through your writing, as well as your |
| things keeping you from writing your book, | | | | personal stories. |
| because it rings too close to home for you. You | | | | Three Solutions to the Book-Writing Problem |
| may have already written a book or an e-book, | | | | Of course, there is no problem if you've got a lot |
| or have come close to starting it. It's hard, we | | | | of money. You just hire a book writer. There are |
| know it, and we've been there too. But go ahead | | | | many of them listed at Some professionals do |
| and read this list, see if you can identify, and let's | | | | this, especially when they need to get something |
| discuss a possible solution to the book writing | | | | published fast and there are not a lot of complex |
| problem. | | | | issues to put forth. But is this really what you |
| 1. I can't seem to find the time. | | | | want to do as a professional who has an |
| 2. Every time I sit down to write I go blank. | | | | important message to convey? |
| 3. I need an uninterrupted time period to immerse | | | | Here is a list of solutions: |
| myself. | | | | 1. Hire someone to write your book for you (you |
| 4. I need clarity on my message, but there's no | | | | can always rewrite it in your own voice and add |
| one to consult with. | | | | your own stories). When finished, hire a publisher |
| 5. I don't know where to start or how to organize | | | | and then a publicist to market it. |
| all the chapters. | | | | 2. Hire a writing coach who will walk you through |
| 6. I'm afraid of losing clients and having my | | | | the steps, chapter by chapter (again, for a |
| business suffer if I take time away from it to | | | | substantial fee). Then when finished, hire a |
| write my book. | | | | publisher and a publicist. |
| 7. I agonize over the writing, the grammar, the | | | | 3. Bite the bullet, put your business on hold for a |
| sentence structure and punctuation. | | | | few months, and devote your time to just |
| 8. I know what I have to say, just can't put it | | | | getting it written. You will have to turn it over to |
| into written form without losing clarity and impact. | | | | a book designer and get it formatted; search for |
| 9. I keep thinking about all the time involved in | | | | the right publisher such as self-publishing or |
| writing the book, and wonder if it will ever bring | | | | print-on-demand services, and then market it |
| me the results I want. | | | | yourself. |
| 10. Once I get it written, I have no idea how to | | | | Expensive? Yes, all three solutions are expensive. |
| get it formatted, let alone marketed. | | | | They each have their advantages and |
| Ok, you know why you haven't started writing | | | | disadvantages. |
| your book. Do you know why you need to write | | | | The Fourth Solution |
| a book? | | | | There is another solution! What if there was a |
| Why You Need to Publish a Book | | | | way to help you get your book down in print and |
| Here are a few reasons why writing and publishing | | | | ready for formatting in 90 days? |
| a book is important to you as an independent | | | | What if you could do this by following a system |
| professional, small business owner, or solo-preneur: | | | | that organized you chapter by chapter, included |
| 1. Having a book, whether in digital, soft-cover, or | | | | testimonials, input from peers, professional editing |
| hard-cover establishes you as an expert in your | | | | resources, design and formatting resources at low |
| field. | | | | costs, and only took a half-hour of time per day? |
| 2. People buy from people they know and trust; | | | | Could you afford to invest that much time and |
| reading your book is one step in creating client | | | | energy out of your busy day? Would it be worth |
| confidence and relationship. | | | | it to you even if it meant an hour a day for 90 |
| 3. Once people buy and read your book, they will | | | | days? |
| want more of what you have to offer in the | | | | If you already have a blog that you use to |
| way of services and knowledge. Your book can | | | | communicate with readers online, you can use |
| attract readers into your sphere of potential | | | | your blog to write your book. |
| clients; once they have bought your book, they | | | | The blog format is perfect for organizing your |
| are ready to buy other services from you. | | | | ideas, chapters and getting feedback from |
| 4. Having a published book is a great marketing | | | | readers. |
| tool, and people will actually pay for your | | | | If you don't have a blog yet, you may wish to |
| expertise. | | | | create one. They are simple to set up and use |
| 5. Books are one of the major sources of passive | | | | (we recommend Typepad.com). It can be used to |
| income for professionals; once it is published it can | | | | stay in touch with clients and to write your |
| continue to generate sales for you, over the | | | | thoughts in an informal way. A blog is like having a |
| years and while you sleep. | | | | conversation with people interested in your |
| 6. If you don't get a book out soon, your | | | | subject or expertise. Once your book is finished |
| competitors will have the edge, because many of | | | | and formatted, you can then use your blog to |
| them already have one and even two books out. | | | | market it. You already have a built in audience, |
| 7. If you are a speaker, they make great bonus | | | | hungry for your content. |