096 - I’m Too Busy To Write A Book!

Let me first say that no one is too busy to write a book! It’s a myth. It’s a cop out. It’s a lie!

Hey Guys! Nicole Gabriel here! I’m the host of the Let’s Get Your Book Published podcast. I’m also the author of 4 books, a Book Designer, and a Publishing Coach as well as an intuitive Business Coach. I’ve been in the book business for awhile now. I’ve helped many clients get their book published over this time and I’ve learned many things. I share personal stories, client stories, and some of the truths about the publishing business here on this podcast. I love what I do but I don’t like seeing people being taken advantage of or given false promises on the journey to publishing their book. I do my best to keep things raw and real here and I don’t build you up with false promises of fortune and fame. I help you align the content of your book so that it returns the greatest value personally and professionally. Ultimately, I shoot to give you the truth about the publishing industry from a girl that’s been there and done that.

Before we get going today, I want to say hello to new friends listening in Germany, France, and Switzerland. It’s an honor to have you here!

So, today’s topic - I’m too busy to write a book!

It’s a funny thing…writing a book. You have to have a passion so intense that nothing will stop you from sharing the voice in your head that keeps you dialed in on the idea that you must write. Everything in life is what you make of it. If it is not a priority, you don’t have a passion, you will not have the focus to remove (or, at the very least, deaden the noise of) all the other obstacles from your life to stay on target and make it happen.

Are you one of those marathon TV watchers? How about someone that can’t sit still and always has a project going that draws your focus away from completing something? Or maybe you are loosing your mind in all things covid and you’ve been on the phone or video chat with everyone you know to avoid the loneliness? I know some of you have a legitimate beef that you don’t have time…you’re a change-maker out enhancing the world. But, writing a book, simply put, means that you must make it your greatest priority!

It’s kinda like going to the gym….or not….you don’t show up you don’t get results! You have to want it more than you want anything else. If your sitting home eating bad and watching TV you don’t have the right to complain about getting fat, right? So…if you aren’t putting in the blood, sweat, and tears to make your book a reality then how do you expect it to be any different?

Writing a book isn’t for a passive personality I can tell you that! And something I can promise you is that if you have a passion in your belly to make this happen you will annoy all your friends, family, and co workers because it will consume you. There is a point where it's no longer a passive idea when you cross over a certain barrier. For me, this is like the first 15 minutes into any exercising…it’s HARD! But, when you know this, you just work through it and move on. You get focused on the goal and the finish line.

When people say they are too busy to write a book they begin thinking about hiring a ghost writer and believe somehow this is going to make things easier. But, in fact, it can often complicate the effort. I did a podcast on why not to hire a ghost writer awhile back, so please take a look at that. There is a lot of re-work and time required to get the tone and details correct, but there is also a huge expense. In my opinion, hiring a ghost writer is a bit like sending someone to the gym on your behalf. If your book is simply a memoire and you intend to do nothing else with it, it may be ok to hire a ghost writer to help complete your book. You will have to make yourself available for interviews and proofreading nonetheless, so it does still require some time. It’s nearly impossible for a ghost writer to get a true reflection of character though.  So, plan on doing plenty of interviews and lots of re-work.

The greatest obstacle, in my opinion, is not time, but lack of commitment. The idea of trophy hunting a book as a vanity project to serve the ego is perhaps great for a celebrity to make some quick cash, but for most of us, it doesn’t boomerang into massive success. It’s done, now what?

We are all busy people, but personally, one thing I’ve relished during all things covid is the idea of being gifted down time. It’s as if the world has said, slow down, think it through, plan your next step, and be ready to run when light turns green. We have all been grounded lately and now we have time to look at how we can function more effectively; what we subtract out of our lives and still remain efficient; what we can add into our lives to create more value, etc. Where can we run more lean? How can we systemize some of our processes or serve more personally? Where do we offer value? How can we affect lives more genuinely? We’ve all been able to sit and analyze pretty well everything these days. So, what did you come up with? Where are you going to? Where did you come from? How are you going to serve?

The greatest gift a book can offer a busy or smart entrepreneur is freedom!  Documenting or showcasing strengths, defined processes, methods, formulas, or other valuable facets of you, your products, or services is a great way to avoid repetition, a great way to defend mindless chatter, or level out your playing field. Your book says “yeah I’ve been there, done that!” It says before we get too far down that road, let’s just start here - here’s my book! And, yes, it’s also great for the ego because now you are an expert in that thing someone wants to argue. Yep, here are my thoughts…as you hand them your book.

When you are busy in life you don’t always get to fill in the gaps. You don’t always have the time to get to know someone. People don’t get to see your character. But, a book takes all the chaos and noise and neatly organizes it in one place and then you get to decorate it with your style, your brand, your personality, and tell all your other busy friends a little more about who you are and how you can serve.

It’s really important that a book becomes a window to your soul because it reaches into places you don’t always get to showcase. It will introduce you like your best friend at the party you couldn’t attend. It will represent you when you can’t physically be present… and highlight you were you do show up with it in your hand. But, the only way this is going to happen is if you take the time to make it a reality. You’ve gotta think about it like that advanced degree, that special certificate, or that little extra training you do to get yourself ahead. Please don’t think someone else can do a better job by hiring a ghostwriter because you will actually spend more time correcting what isn’t right and you will loose the personality and character that only you can offer.

I can walk you through the whole process. This is perhaps just a once in a lifetime thing. So, let me coach you on how to work with an editor, a designer, and how to best align and personalize your content to your overall value proposition, message, and brand. Let’s get you going on creating a defined and aligned platform that puts a bit more structure around the chaos. It’s great to be busy, but let’s get you dialed in to your purposeful passion with a book as your foundation.

Hang in there guys! As they say, this too shall pass! There is a light around the corner! Keep going!

As always, wishing you peace, love, and light!