An Author? Who, Me?

Yes, you can write a book.  And, no, I don’t mean the one on your nightstand, the one you think you’re reading as you doze off and turn out the light.

I mean a book that you write–sharing your wisdom, explaining how you got where you are, demonstrating your expertise, telling all those entertaining and enlightening “war stories” that make your points clearly and interestingly. A book that builds your business or your career.

And, as any journalist knows, a good story gives the reader the 5 Ws: who, what, when, where, and why. An even better story also tells how and what it means.

Right now, for example,  we’re working with a client to write an atypical corporate history about a privately held company that’s approaching its sixtieth anniversary. The book’s purpose is not only to get a fascinating family-business story “down on paper” for posterity but also to impart some valuable management and leadership lessons that any business owner could put to good use. In addition, the book will be a differentiator as a marketing tool by showing how this company’s approach to doing business got it this far and will take it even further in the future. It will set the stage for the next generation of growth.

You just might have a book inside you, too. You’re successful, so you no doubt have the experience and the expertise to help your readers improve their performance. Or your company has survived–even thrived–by overcoming tough challenges in imaginative ways or identifying opportunities and then pursuing them. Business owners like nothing more than hearing about their peers’ experiences.

Many of us have thought about writing a book.  Some of us have even tried it.

But like dieting and exercising we’ve found it too time-consuming or difficult over the long haul. Plus we might think of writing as lonely drudgery–the isolated writer burning the midnight oil. Not true!

Unlike diet and exercise,  there is a way not only to speed up the book-writing process but also to virtually guarantee you’ll reach your goal. It’s a proven method to develop, shape, and polish your rough ideas and get them printed or digitized for the world: Work with a professional writer or editor.

Sure, a nutrition coach or a personal trainer can help you take off the pounds or put on the muscle. But they can’t actually get the job done for you. A professional writer or editor can.

While the process is not completely turn-key –you’ll still need to diligently watch what you write and get your brain off the couch to do serious road work–a professional scribe can actually make your book a reality. A personal trainer can’t give you her six-pack abs. A nutritionist can’t give you his low cholesterol count. But a professional writer can translate his talent into your words.

To learn more about how to tell your story, or your company’s, just get in touch at spemberton@productivestrategies.com or (312) 560-0992.

Scott Pemberton   is a senior consultant at Productive Strategies, Inc., specializing in sales, marketing, and executive communications. In a 30-year professional creative and business career, he has launched more than 60 new publishing products. He’s helped scores of authors–“Pros” and “Joes” alike–put their thoughts into words and their words into print, on the Web, or “out there” in cyberspace. He’s been thinking about writing a book for a long time. You can reach him at  spemberton@productivestrategies.com  or (312) 560-0992.

A version of this story originally appeared in “Productive Insights” as “Yes, You Can Write a Book.”

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