You have my permission not to write your book — not that you need my (or anyone else’s) permission — but if it helps, permission granted!
Now let’s talk about why even though you hate writing and you’re busy “wearing all the hats” and you haven’t actually written a word in a month or six, it’s still hard for you to let go of the feeling that you should write a book.
Here are some reasons:
1. Everyone keeps saying you should write a book.
2. You have a great idea for a book.
3. You want to be a thought-leader.
4. You want to feel like an expert.
5. You think having a book will help you curb imposter syndrome.
6. You know having a book will help you serve a wider audience.
7. You know having a book will help you gain access to bigger and better speaking opportunities.
8. Your closest competitor, frenemy, or business rival wrote a book.
9. You know having a book is great marketing for your business.
10. You want to help people.
11. You have a tried and true system or method or approach that you’re dying to share with the world.
12. You’re an industry leader and you know so many others could benefit from your expertise.
13. You’re ready to move from one-on-one work to serving the many.
14. You have written tons of presentations, blog articles, and articles for industry magazines.
15. You’re a great writer.
16. You know a book would help you clarify your brand, service offerings, and differentiate you from your competitors.
17. Writing a book sounds like a fun challenge.
These are only some of the reasons you might feel like you should write a book. You may have others to add. I’m sure if I thought long enough, I could come up with a hundred or more.
However, none of these is a good reason to write your book. They are good reasons for you to publish a book. They are good reasons for you to share your ideas. But you can publish a book, share your ideas, and gain all of the same benefits without doing the writing yourself. If only you could get past the mindset challenges.
Yeah, but aren’t you a bit biased?
Sure, I’m a ghostwriter, so I have a dog in this fight. It’s in my interest to convince you to let go of the feeling that you should write your book. But this is so much more than a marketing ploy. I came to a deep realization last week: No one should write their own business book.
And I’ve been turning this idea over in my mind ever since, testing it out to see if it’s real, checking to see if it’s a die in a ditch belief for me. I’ve decided that it is real. I have principled reasons for believing you shouldn’t write your own business book.
First, you’re an expert. You are really good at what you do because if you weren’t, you wouldn’t even attempt to write a book about it. This is all the more reason to leave the book writing to an expert. Not only will you get a better result and someone to guide you through what can be a lonely and demoralizing process, you’ll also be able to focus on your own zone of genius without the distraction of writing.
If you’re an expert at content creation, well then, writing a book might be your jam. Otherwise, I suggest you find an expert, who will make writing your book her full time job.
Second, two heads are way better than one. There are certain hazards that come with being an expert and writing a book about your expertise. One of those hazards is writing a book for yourself (and a handful of other experts). You’re likely too close to the material to do your great idea justice. That’s where the right writing partner can do wonders.
In addition, without the burden of writing, you’re free to chase your ideas without a filter as far as they will take you. A magical thing happens when you work closely with another human being to get your ideas out of your head. Without realizing it, you’re actually teaching that other person and as we know, teaching is one of the best ways to verify our own knowledge. It’s like brainstorming on steroids!
I’ve seen clients figure out — through the ghostwriting process — their core marketing messages, branding, online course ideas, even how to show up for their clients and for themselves.
Third, the whole point of writing a book is getting your ideas out there. The point isn’t that you have jumped through some hoop that makes your ego feel special. The point isn’t that you’ve proven you’re an amazing writer (you aren’t trying to prove this, are you?). The point is that your ideas have reached the minds of your readers and sparked in them a transformation.
Now, there are a lot of ways to get your ideas out there. You can hire a ghostwriter, like me, to write your book (my process takes 16 weeks). Or if your budget doesn’t allow you to invest in a ghostwriter (yet), you could share your ideas through your blog, in e-books, in PDFs, or via social media. You have so many options besides knocking your head against your keyboard (I don’t recommend this).
Your book should make you feel like an expert
Yes, I’m biased, but here’s what I know: Your book should make you feel like an expert, but you don’t need to write the thing to feel like an expert.
If, however, the mere thought of working with a ghostwriter makes you worry about accusations of fraud, I invite you to look more deeply into that judgment. What is the underlying belief? Are you worried about others seeing you as a fraud? Do you look down on others who have used a ghostwriter? Are you worried that your book won’t sound like you or that you might not know what’s in your own book?
These are more mindset challenges. I can promise you that if you find a ghostwriter offering a collaborative process, like mine, not only will your book sound like you, you will take full ownership over your book. This is one of my goals for all my clients. I want you involved every step of the way. I insist on it.
Maybe it’s an unpopular opinion, but not everyone should write a book. In fact, I’d take it one step further and say no one should write their own business book.
When you’re ready to feel like an expert and stop banging your head on your keyboard, let’s chat!
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