The Automatic Expert:
Writing a Book as a Tool to Get Ahead in Business
Let’s face it. The way to excel to the top-most floor of leadership in most careers is to be considered one of the smartest and most knowledgeable in your field. Our world values “subject matter experts,” “industry authorities” and “thought leaders,” quickly booking them for seminars and conferences, and eagerly placing them at the helm to lead growing organizations.
These individuals are people whose perspectives about a particular subject matter are considered current, accurate and reliable. Well respected for their knowledge, these people can have a considerable influence on others, because people listen to them.
But when you think about it, aren’t you just as trained, experience and knowledgeable? Why should other people be considered heads and shoulders over you, when the truth is you can lead a good seminar and train industry insiders along with the best of them. As quiet as it’s kept, you actually are a subject matter expert; the world just doesn’t know it yet.
But how do you convince people that you fit the criteria? How do you get your name circulating among the decision makers as they’re tossing around names of different thought leaders or authorities to address the next professional organization meeting or speak at the next conference? How do you get the higher ups in the C-suite to see you for the brilliant mind you are?
Sure, you can put all of your accomplishments and experiences on your resume, but your expertise only translates so far on a cluttered piece of paper. And besides, who wants to read your resume after you’ve already been a part of the company or organization for years?
You can also try to drive the right people to your LinkedIn page, but again, how many people are going to just read through your education, experience and accomplishments? Decision makers are busy and don’t have time for all of that.
Here’s a better option. What if the decision makers were sitting around brainstorming industry experts and someone said, “You know, Ms./Mr. XYZ wrote a book about that topic!” The others would say, “Well, that’s promising. They must know a whole lot about the subject in order to write a book about it.” The next thing you know, your name is being circulated as a thought leader and subject matter expert.
What many people don’t realize is the power of the published book to position them as a thought leader and industry authority. When you write a book, the assumption is that you had so much knowledge and so much experience about a certain subject that it was enough to fill a book. After all, only people who are confident and bold enough to believe that what they know needs to be heart would right a book, right?
People who have published books and used them as a tool to advance their position in business will tell you that being able to say, “My book about ABC is available…” can open so many doors than a mere business card, resume, self-introduction, or social media marketing campaign.
There’s just something about writing a book that establishes
that you and your expertise supersede that of others.
Therefore, get those brilliant business topics out of your head and begin writing about them to share with others. Before you know it, you’ll have a book in print, and your name will be floating around as one of the foremost industry authorities. You’ll be right where you deserved to be all along.
These individuals are people whose perspectives about a particular subject matter are considered current, accurate and reliable. Well respected for their knowledge, these people can have a considerable influence on others, because people listen to them.
But when you think about it, aren’t you just as trained, experience and knowledgeable? Why should other people be considered heads and shoulders over you, when the truth is you can lead a good seminar and train industry insiders along with the best of them. As quiet as it’s kept, you actually are a subject matter expert; the world just doesn’t know it yet.
But how do you convince people that you fit the criteria? How do you get your name circulating among the decision makers as they’re tossing around names of different thought leaders or authorities to address the next professional organization meeting or speak at the next conference? How do you get the higher ups in the C-suite to see you for the brilliant mind you are?
Sure, you can put all of your accomplishments and experiences on your resume, but your expertise only translates so far on a cluttered piece of paper. And besides, who wants to read your resume after you’ve already been a part of the company or organization for years?
You can also try to drive the right people to your LinkedIn page, but again, how many people are going to just read through your education, experience and accomplishments? Decision makers are busy and don’t have time for all of that.
Here’s a better option. What if the decision makers were sitting around brainstorming industry experts and someone said, “You know, Ms./Mr. XYZ wrote a book about that topic!” The others would say, “Well, that’s promising. They must know a whole lot about the subject in order to write a book about it.” The next thing you know, your name is being circulated as a thought leader and subject matter expert.
What many people don’t realize is the power of the published book to position them as a thought leader and industry authority. When you write a book, the assumption is that you had so much knowledge and so much experience about a certain subject that it was enough to fill a book. After all, only people who are confident and bold enough to believe that what they know needs to be heart would right a book, right?
People who have published books and used them as a tool to advance their position in business will tell you that being able to say, “My book about ABC is available…” can open so many doors than a mere business card, resume, self-introduction, or social media marketing campaign.