We live in a highly competitive and knowledge-driven era, and simply knowing your field and/or your industry better than others won’t be enough to truly set you apart. Writing a book about your zone of genius, though, can be a game changer.
Writing a book about your area of expertise is not just for academics or celebrities; as a professional or an entrepreneur or a thought leader — and this applies across industries — you absolutely should get your knowledge out of your head and into the hands of readers. Here’s why:
Your Book Establishes You as a Thought Leader
In your field, you might be well-known for your expertise, but how many others outside your immediate circle know you and could benefit from working with you? A book cements your knowledge and experience among your peers and puts you in front of new audiences. Your book also showcases how you think, identify and approach problems, and provide solutions.
Building your book on a defined trajectory where you present insights, personal experiences, and clearly connected dots supports your position as a thought leader. Enhancing your credibility in this way opens the door for additional speaking engagements at higher price points, participating in panel discussions at prestigious industry events, and securing media features for increased social proof. In short, you’re amplifying your reach.
Your Book Enhances Your Personal Brand and Reputation
In addition to really knowing your field, your market niche, and your industry, you must also consider yourself as a brand and define the promise you (as a brand) deliver. Writing a book gives you a distinctive edge that helps define your professional identity and control the narrative of your expertise.
Your book demonstrates your active participation in your field and your industry. You also highlight your contribution and willingness to articulate your expertise, your experiences, and the wisdom you’ve gained along the way.
Your Book Creates New Opportunities to Grow Your Business
Writing a book instantly stamps you as an expert, so think of your book as the most effective business card you could ever create. Conversations about your book can lead to a new connection such as attracting new clients or sparking a new partnership, strengthen a current connection, or impress potential investors.
Your book is also an additional stream of revenue. Readers are more likely to seek your services, buy your products, or engage with you or your business on a deeper level through courses, webinars, workshops, and merchandise.
Your Book Fosters Your Personal and Professional Development
While your book may focus on the more professional side of your life, the writing process will almost certainly include a good measure of personal growth. As you reflect on your journey and write about it in a way that connects with your ideal reader, you’ll clarify your experiences, theories, and belief systems. You gain deeper understanding of your knowledge and identify opportunities to explore new ideas.
Final thoughts
As you move toward placing the final period at the end of your last sentence, you’ll feel the headiness of excitement and anticipation mixed with a touch of anxiety. You started AND finished the book that’s lived in your head for 10 years.
Be sure you celebrate. Take time to revel in your accomplishment. You earned it.
Of course, now you need to market and sell your book, but that’s a blog for another day.