BOOKS Are More than BUSINESS CARDS!
Heads up - mini-rant coming.
A ghostwriting service reached out to me on LinkedIn today - obviously they hadn't even glanced at my bio - to say "YOUR BOOK IS YOUR BEST BUSINESS CARD!!!"
They then proceeded to promise they could write my book in 30 days, post it on Amazon, and turn it into a GUARANTEED bestseller.
For a fee, of course.
Sigh.
Calling a book a "business card" relegates it to simply being a one-way transaction solely (soul-lessly?) designed to serve only you.
At their best, books serve humanity.
They have the capacity to change lives - for good.
They have the capacity to connect with people of all ages and stages who think "You too?" and "Me too!"
They have the capacity to codify and leverage accumulated knowledge from the beginning of time - and the best of humankind - to provide shortcuts to success.
They have the capacity to:
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Books can be free (thank you libraries).
They are accessible to everyone who can read or listen.
Books are one of our greatest inventions. They capture our history, help us envision a more appreciative, effective, equitable future.
As Stephen King says, "Books are a uniquely portable magic."
And as Anna Quindlen says, "Books are the plan, train, and road. They are the destination and the journey. They are home."
So, the next time someone tries to tell you books are BUSINESS CARDS, smile and remind them they're so much more than that.
And if you're fortunate to be an author, gladly, graciously accept the collective responsibility to pour your head, heart and soul into creating quality books that fulfill their full promise.
What say you?
I ghostwrite educational email courses (EECs) for founders and business owners. #Author #Entrepreneur #DigitalMarketing
4 个月Somehow, everything you mentioned about books are related to your newsletter as well. I feel guilty, if I miss them. Reading past issues today. Thanks for giving fresh and more benefits of books as I also do ghostwriting.
Seasoned Leadership/Organization Consultant. Best-Selling Author. TEDx & Global Speaker. Coach. Facilitator & Trainer.
4 个月A resounding AMEN to this beautiful, precious rant, Sam Horn!!!! Anyone who relegates a book to being just a business card has never written a book. And business cards, unlike books, are something that's gone by wayside, so the metaphor isn't a powerful one anyway. I take writing my books very seriously. And foremost in my mind is how can I help someone grow, learn, process their emotions, challenge their thinking and so much more. It's about opening doors, minds, and hearts. So, I think I may be unintentionally joining your rant---but happily. Thank you for the forum to do so. ??
SmartsWithHeart? for Professionals: Focus, Measure and Thrive with OKRs | Cut Through Noise, Get Results, Develop Leadership with Emotional Smarts.
4 个月Sam Horn, absolutely yes, books are MORE than business cards! A book is an intimate conversation with the author, the adventure, the mystery, the languaging, the insights, the laughs, the beautiful way in which words can be used to bring a tear, a heavy tug on my heart, a sigh of relief when the hero is saved and so on and on. A business card ... is just a business card. A book? That's life! Homer's Iiliad, Huckleberry Finn, Treasure Island. Need I say more?
Book Author at Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group
4 个月What a great post Sam! As authors we know how much time and energy and heart goes into writing books. Thank you for pointing out all the ways that books add richness to the lives of so many!
Performance Coaching & Speaking serving individuals aiming for peak performance. Having authored multiple books my systems help professionals like you design brighter futures.
4 个月Thank you Sam. This is such an appropriate and powerful way to challenge the popoular view of books. If I'm honest I have often said this without thinking. I will no longer say 'books are giant business cards.' thank you. They turn your experiences your perspective and your life into a legacy!! Thank you for helping me expand my thinking. Books truly don't deserve to be demoted