Many of my clients lack vision or possess limited visions of their own potential. They don’t look beyond the article or book they want to write or publish. They don’t look beyond the title “writer” or “author.” They don’t think big. And so, they don’t create big results. They may become writers or authors…but not much more than that.
Having a grand vision of who you can (and would like to) become and what you want to accomplish will take you farther in your career and in your life. That’s what author and speaker Patrick Schwerdtfeger talks about today, Day 26 of National Nonfiction Writing Month (NaNonFiWriMo). Put Patrick’s advice to use. Add a large vision to the hard work you did during NaNonFiWriMo and the information you’ve received about writing, publishing, promoting, about building a business around your nonfiction writing. You will be amazed at the success you will create.
Think Bigger About Your Nonfiction Book or Writing Business
By Patrick Schwerdtfeger
Howard’s a yoga instructor but he didn’t stop there. He wrote a couple Kindle e-books on Amazon and also hosts luxury yoga retreats in exotic destinations. And as a result, he’s not just a yoga instructor. He’s a guru. He’s an expert on yoga and mindfulness. Even better, he has very little competition because most people are too busy chasing “realistic” goals.
Stephanie started a small publishing company but she didn’t stop there. She also started an online “Non-Fiction Writers Conference” and it grew so quickly that she launched the “Non-Fiction Authors Association” as well. She’s not just a book publisher. She’s an industry leader who’s at the center of a thriving community. And to top it off, she has no competition because nobody else thought that big.
Laurel has a small business selling premium foods online but she didn’t stop there. She organized a 7-day “culinary tourism” trip to Italy and offered it to her customers. She had 20 spots available and it sold out immediately. Why? Because she positioned herself as a leader, not a follower. And the best part is that…you guessed it…she had almost no competition along the way.
How Will You Position Yourself?
What do people think when they think about you? Most of the answer depends on how you position yourself in your industry. You can position yourself in the middle of the pack or, alternatively, you can position yourself as a leader. It takes courage to think bigger but the benefits are clear. Your life becomes more exciting, you inspire everyone else around you and you end up with almost no competition.
Business is all about packaging. If you present yourself as an industry leader, people will assume you are one. When they find you for the first time, their initial impression is formed within seconds. So what do they see when they visit your website? Do they see an exotic yoga retreat in Sedona? Do they see an online conference or an association? Do they see a culinary tourism trip to Italy? If so, they will automatically assume you’re an industry leader.
The Benefit is in the Offering
Many people shy away from these ideas because they’re worried nobody will buy their new expanded offering. Who cares? Who cares is anybody buys it? It doesn’t matter. The benefit comes simply from offering it. When Howard offered his first retreat, only 2 people signed up. When Stephanie held her first conference, only 28 people attended. Laurel got lucky only because she had a big customer base to begin with.
Take your most expensive product or service and multiply the price by 10. Sell something at that 10x price, and don’t worry if anybody buys it. Offer it proudly on your website, complete with all the details, and let the rest take care of itself. Start thinking bigger, and see what happens to your business. In many cases, it will immediately translate into deeper engagement, increased interaction and higher profits.
Think Beyond Your Book
For writers, think beyond your book. You’re not just an author. You’re an expert. What would an industry leader do? They would probably be speaking at events, doing interviews, holding events of their own, and providing educational resources for their demographic. Think bigger about your role as an author and start doing the same things that industry leaders do. The result will probably have the exact same effect your business as it did for Howard, Stephanie and Laurel.
About the Author
Patrick Schwerdtfeger is a leading authority on global business trends including “big data,” self-employment and the social media revolution. He’s the author of the award-winning book Marketing Shortcuts for the Self-Employed (2011, Wiley) and a regular speaker for Bloomberg TV. Patrick has spoken about global mega trends, big data and the social media revolution at conferences and business events around the world. www.patrickschwerdtfeger.com
Photo courtesy of wavebreak_media | stockfresh.com
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