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LESSONS LEARNED AFTER PUBLISHING MY FIRST BOOK

My book, "The Integrated Entrepreneur: Achieving Happiness in Relationships, Business and Life" hit the Amazon shelves on September 1, 2021.
 
It is a business book 10 plus years in the making, with plenty of stops and starts, rewrites, and course corrections.
 
There were jokes that the infamous manuscript would forever be buried in the bowels of my laptop, never to see the light of day.
 
But it did. And now that it is out there, I'd like to share a few lessons I learned about my experience of writing a book while running a business.
 
LESSON #1: IT'S HARD.
 
Plain and simple. I'm not often lost for words, but writing a book is not easy as everyone thinks it's going to be. Organizing your thoughts and articulating those thoughts in a way that is valuable is difficult.
 
Start with an outline of what you want to cover in your book, and plan a schedule to slowly but surely get it done.
 
Make it a priority, and a project you keep pushing along. I did everything the wrong way. Make the investment in the process out of the gate and stick to it.
 
Dedicating four to six hours a month doesn't seem like it would be enough, but those months will go by whether you work on your book or not. Prioritize your project, and at the end of each month you'll be closer to your goal.
 
LESSON #2: KNOW YOUR WHY.
 
Be clear about why you want to write a book. For me, it was a discovery process and vetting my own thinking. It forced me to catalog and organize my thoughts on important topics.
 
I recommend writing a book about something you are a subject matter expert on, or something you WANT to be a subject matter expert on that relates to your profession.
 
LESSON #3: WRITE IT TO SATISFY YOUR OWN CURIOSITY.
 
Your reasons for writing a book should be less about the book and first and foremost about satisfying your own curiosity, with a bonus that along the way it will hep other people.
 
If you are writing it exclusively to help other people, it might be a loss. It's greater to satisfy your own curiosity.
 
LESSON #4: DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF YOUR WORDS.
 
If you don't start because you don't think you have anything to say that hasn't already been said, think again.
 
Don't underestimate the impact of articulating your thoughts and opinion on a subject. You will be able to seamlessly talk about the topics covered in your book that didn't come naturally to you before.
 
It will also impact other people. You will be able to reach people and help them make sense of things by the way you present them.
 
If you're in an advice-driven business, the book will give advice. If you are not in an advice driven business, you will have to formulate the content in a fashion where there will be takeaways.
 
LESSON #5: HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM TO HELP YOU.
 
It's your book, but you don't have to do all the heavy lifting.
 
I wrote part of my book myself, hired a couple ghostwriters, a researcher, editors, proofreaders and a company to help design the cover and pages. Have a dedicated team with a dedicated process who will get that book through the finish line.
 
LESSON #6: BE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BOOK AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.
 
Once you've written a book, people will ask you questions about the content in your book, or ask you to elaborate about specific chapters.
 
I was pleasantly surprised and flattered to receive questions about parts of my book from people who had read it. They were curious, interested, and wanted to know more. Be prepared for those conversations and discussions - and enjoy knowing you've made an impact!
 
Are you a business owner who has written a book or has considered writing one? Share your experience with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!


INDEX
  • 4 PILLARS OF A SOLID BUSINESS FOUNDATION
  • A NEW WAY TO SET GOALS IN 2023
  • WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A PRESIDENT?
  • WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER?
  • WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER?
  • WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A COO?
  • HOW TO EXIT YOUR BUSINESS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A BUYER
  • WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER?
  • IT'S NOT THE GREAT RESIGNATION; IT'S THE GREAT REALIGNMENT
  • WHEN SHOULD I HIRE AN HR MANAGER?
  • WHY YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS A PRICING STRATEGY
  • THE 4 Cs OF EVERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
  • WHAT IS A CEPA ADVISOR AND HOW CAN ONE BENEFIT YOUR BUSINESS?
  • THE FALLOUT ON CULTURE WHEN YOU DON'T HIRE A PLAYERS
  • THE ROLES OF SALES IN YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
  • FINDING THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THE ENTREPRENEUR IN YOUR LIFE
  • THE BENEFITS OF OWNING A SMALL BUSINESS
  • WORKFORCE IN MOTION
  • GOAL SETTING FOR 2022: WHAT TO DO NOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL NEXT YEAR
  • LESSONS LEARNED AFTER PUBLISHING MY FIRST BOOK
  • WHY YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS INNOVATION
  • THE COVID-INSPIRED SPIKE IN ENTREPRENEURIALISM
  • THE PROS AND CONS OF OUTSOURCING YOUR FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE
  • HOW TO SET GOALS IN 2021
  • THE LEADERSHIP EVOLUTION OF YOUR BUSINESS
  • HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR ADVISORY BOARD
  • THE PANDEMIC-INDUCED INNOVATION OF MEETINGS
  • HOW TO USE THE 8 P'S OF MARKETING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS
  • BEST PRACTICES FOR COLLEGE FINANCING
  • SCALING A BUSINESS - ARE YOU READY?
  • THE HALFWAY POINT: IT'S TIME TO REVISIT THOSE BUSINESS GOALS
  • GROWTH WITH PURPOSE: SUCCESSION PLANNING
  • GROWTH WITH PURPOSE: EVOLUTION OF FAMILY LIFE
  • GROWTH WITH PURPOSE: FINANCIAL RISK
  • GROWTH WITH PURPOSE: INTEGRATION
  • GROWTH WITH PURPOSE: WHY ARE YOU GROWING YOUR COMPANY?
  • GOAL SETTING 2020: HOW TO KEEP YOUR GOALS FRONT AND CENTER ALL YEAR LONG
  • ASK GERBER: HOW TO STAY LASER FOCUSED DURING THE HOLIDAYS
  • Ask Gerber: How to Identify Your Business's Culture When You Don't Think You Have One
  • Ask Gerber: When Should I Hire a Professional Manager?
  • Ask Gerber: Should You Mix Business with Friendship?
  • ASK GERBER: HOW DO I ESCAPE THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SLUMP OF FEELING TRAPPED IN MY BUSINESS?
  • ASK GERBER: HOW CAN ENTREPRENEURS CREATE SHARED EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR CHILDREN?
  • Ask Gerber: How Can I Recognize Permanent Failure as an Entrepreneur?
  • Ask Gerber: How Can I Recognize and Overcome Temporary Failures?
  • ASK GERBER: HOW DO I HELP EASE EMPLOYEE STRESS DURING BUSY SEASON?
  • ASK GERBER: DO I NEED TO HIRE HR?
  • ASK GERBER : DO I NEED A CEO?
  • ASK GERBER: DO I NEED TO HIRE A COO?
  • ASK GERBER: DO I NEED TO HIRE A CMO?
  • ASK GERBER: DO I NEED TO HIRE A CFO?
  • ASK GERBER: HOW DO I KEEP PASSION AND PROFITS TOP OF MIND IN MY BUSINESS?
  • ASK GERBER: WHY DO I NEED TO INVEST IN HOSTING AN ANNUAL RETREAT FOR MY TEAM?
  • ASK GERBER: HOW CAN I ENGAGE WITH MY CLIENTS/PROSPECTS WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK?
  • ASK GERBER: WHAT IS A CLIENT SERVICE MATRIX? PART DEUX
  • ASK GERBER: WHAT IS A CLIENT SERVICE MATRIX? PART ONE
  • ASK GERBER: THE HIRING PROCESS. WHY IS IT SO DAMN HARD?
  • ASK GERBER: WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW AND GROW YOUR COMPANY CULTURE
  • ASK GERBER: HOW DO I ACHIEVE THE WORK/LIFE BALANCE AS A BUSY ENTREPRENEUR?
  • ASK GERBER: HOW DO I PREPARE MY FRIENDS FOR LIFE AS AN ENTREPRENEUR?
  • ASK GERBER: FIRST GENERATION ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS EXECUTIVES, HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?
  • ASK GERBER: I PUT SO MUCH OF MYSELF INTO MY BUSINESS THAT I WORRY I AM FALLING SHORT AS A SPOUSE AND PARENT. WHAT CAN I DO?
  • ASK GERBER: ARE CHILDREN OF FIRST-GENERATION ENTREPRENEURS MORE LIKELY TO BE SPOILED?
  • ASK GERBER: WHAT'S YOUR STANCE ON REMOTE ACCESS FOR EMPLOYEES?
  • ASK GERBER: WHEN DO I NEED TO HIRE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT?
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