A Book is NOT a Business Card

As a ghostwriter who specializes in writing business books, I’ve seen and studied, at length, why some authors fail while others succeed. For starters, it takes three things to get a maximum ROI from authoring a business book:

1.    The Right Book (A book written that addresses its audience in a voice that captivates).

2.    The Right Plan (A book without a plan is like a paddleboat without oars, it'll float, but you'll have no control where it takes you).

3.    The Right Team (Someone other than you needs to help execute the plan).

One other thing, not mentioned in the top 3, is the author's perspective on what it means to be an author. Having the wrong mindset is why many books go MIA. Meaning, we haven't seen results, but we hope it's still fighting on our behalf.  

The authors with the wrong mindset are those who say, "My book is like a glorified business card." Oh, wow. I just cringed as I wrote that!

Here's the deal, if you leverage your business book as you would a business card, glorified or not, you're not going to get out from it what a book should get you. Here's why:

You have a book. Since the beginning of humankind, knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation in whatever served as books in their respective eras – cave walls, scrolls, parchment, hardcover, paperback books, eBooks, etc. Books are, and always have been, revered by the masses as important works, created by experts.

A book is not a business card.

A business card can’t educate.

A business card can’t inspire.

A business card can’t triple your business.

A business card can’t make someone sad; feel vindicated, happy, or melancholy.

A business card can’t make someone hopeful during tough times.

A business card can't make you feel like part of a community.

A business card can't be converted into a movie.

A business card can’t be the foundation for an online course.

A business card can’t get the author on a stage.

A business card can’t get someone media attention – television shows, radio shows, podcasts, or magazine articles.

For those who understand how to wield the power of a business book, it doesn't merely open doors; it becomes more like a wrecking ball that knocks down walls and frees the author to walk down paths otherwise never known.

For those who continue to use their business books as a business card, they’ve already reaped all they can – a few compliments. For those who want more from their book, follow me. I know the way.