New Year, New You… New Book?

Most of us in this business are, at heart, writers. And most writers at some point entertain the idea of conquering the mother of all writing projects: the book.

Then we immediately doubt ourselves, throwing up every possible obstacle to getting it done:

• I don’t have time.
• I don’t have enough to say.
• It’s too hard.

You can do it

If these roadblocks sound familiar, then allow me to retort. 

First, heed the words of Laozi, the ancient father of Taoism: “Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.’” The bottom line? We make time for the things that are important.

Second, you’ll be surprised at how much you have to say. But you might not discover that until you start. Your work and life history are a treasure trove of useful experiences, wisdom and viewpoints just waiting to be tapped.

Finally, here’s something that helps me anytime I confront a task that seems too hard, whether it’s writing a book or picking up and moving to a new city. Just look at those who have done it. Are they smarter, better or braver than you? Doubtful. Most likely they didn’t overthink it!

The big question is “why.” Why commit all the time and energy necessary to write a book?

One terrible reason to write a book

Let’s start with the worst possible reason: to achieve fame and fortune.

Estimates vary, but as many as 4 million books are published every year in the United States alone! The average book sells just a couple of hundred copies in its first year — maybe a thousand over its lifetime.

So if this is why you want to write a book, then just stop right now. Buy a lottery ticket instead. It’s much easier.

On the other hand, you never know what might resonate with the marketplace. While my first book’s sales were pretty much in line with the averages, my latest vastly exceeded them. 

And though I’m not famous, it’s been highly beneficial to have my book rank alongside the works of noted experts in my niche. 

Three great reasons to write a book

There are many good reasons to write a book.

The first is simply to express your beliefs and document your experiences. This was one of my main motivators. The spark was a new business pitch I took part in. We dug deep into the subject of communication and I was surprised by all the information, examples, stories and viewpoints I had accumulated. That’s when I realized I do have something to say.

Next, a book can be a useful branding, marketing or sales tool. If you’re on the client services side, whether on your own or especially if you lead an agency, having a book is pretty much the price of entry these days. Even if clients never read it, a book is a mark of credibility.

Finally, bringing a book into the world can be deeply fulfilling, professionally and personally. Yes, millions have done it, but billions have not. It’s a huge accomplishment. And whatever else happens in your career and life, it’s something you can always point to with pride. It’s a legacy that will outlive you.

Bonus reason: to help others

I was speaking with a friend who was noodling over a book idea. When we got to the No. 1 question — why — she had a breakthrough. She realized that she was writing it for her niece.

She wanted to share what she’d learned about the career world to help this young woman and others like her successfully navigate the workplace and life.

And that really is the best possible reason to write a book — to help others. That’s what we’re all here for, right?

So if this is something you still want to do, tune in to next month’s column where we’ll go beyond the “why” to the “how” of writing and producing a book.