Why your book is NOT your business card

Ever hear this before…

THAT BUSINESS CARD CHANGED MY LIFE

Probably not. But have you ever heard this before…

THAT BOOK CHANGED MY LIFE

Probably so.

Your book is not a business card

I go to a few conferences a year. Many times I meet authors or aspiring authors. I often hear them refer to their books as a business card. I’ve heard them say statements like:

I need to crank out some kind of book so I have more credibility in my industry.
My book is just an extra thick business card.
People don’t actually need to read my book; I just want them to think I’m an expert.

Sad, but true. These types of books don’t change lives. What business card ever has?

Your book can change lives

I take the topic of books very seriously. Why? Because books have changed my life. For starters, my favorite book is the Bible. That book has shaped the way I see myself, the world, and God.

Other books have inspired me to make major shifts in my life—like The $100 Startup. It came to me a time when I needed vision. It helped me think my Dream Job was possible. Notice the pic. Do you think I got a lot out of it?)

Just the other day I got a handwritten card from someone in the mail. This girl read my book (Your Secret Name) AND joined our related coaching program (Your Secret Name 5 Week Journey). Here’s what she said:

Thank you for your gift of journeying through Your Secret Name program. My roommate has gone the longest she has ever gone without acting out her eating disorder. She’s at over 3 months now.

By going through the program together, so many deep spiritual things were brought up that we had never discussed together. We had some incredible conversations and were challenged with so many things to think about and talk to God about.

I feel it helped me in my intimacy with Jesus. I feel like I grew in the ability to ask God really genuine questions and I feel like he revealed His love for me in a new way. You are a wise and Godly man and I am so thankful that you are willing not only to share your story, but also to provide a safe and beautiful place for others to share theirs. Thank you for your gift! Two lives were changed!!

Your book can be a business

If you want your book to become a business you need to position it that way. Successful authors think of their books as a business. Even better, they structure their books as a business, even during the writing phase.

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QUESTION: What book changed your life?

(Please comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you know someone who needs to read this, please encourage them by sharing this post)

Need help on this topic? If so, check out my FREE resources. Click on the pic below. Discover how to write, publish, and market your book the right way.

About The Author

Kary Oberbrunner

KARY OBERBRUNNER is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best-Selling Author and CEO of Igniting Souls Publishing Agency, a global company that runs on EOS. Its core focus is helping people write, publish, and market their books the right way and turn them into 18 streams of income. He’s an award-winning author of ten books, a screenwriter, and he’s been featured in Entrepreneur, CBS, Fox News, Yahoo, and many other major media outlets. As a young man, he suffered from severe stuttering, depression, and self-injury. Today a transformed man, Kary ignites souls. As an international speaker, he loves topics that capture his heart and mind such as: leadership, personal growth, human performance, blockchain technology, and entrepreneurship. As a futurist and host of the Blockchain Life podcast, he often consults on marketing, branding, IP, and NFTs. He has several earned degrees including a Bachelor of Arts, Masters in Divinity, and Doctorate in Transformational Leadership. He lives in Ohio with his family.