We all have a message to share. A purpose. A “why” that drives us. It may be related to our work, or it may not be.
Some of us are crystal clear on our purpose and message. Some of us are still clarifying and refining it. And some of us may still be trying to figure it out.
No matter where you are in the journey of formalizing and refining your purpose, you’ll probably find that, whatever it is, it’s something that you talk about a lot. For folks who haven’t totally landed their purpose, it’s probably just a topic or belief that comes up a lot in conversations.
For those who are a little further down the path, you’ve probably started sharing your message in a variety of ways that make sense to you, such as conversations, social posts, articles, presentations, etc.
These are all amazing ways to communicate your purpose and further your mission. I celebrate all of them because what’s most important to me is that you share your “why” with the world. But when you’re ready to take your message to the next level, it’s time for a book.
Books add a whole new level of structure and clarity to your message, and here’s why.
Intentionality
Books require a whole new level of intention as it relates to your message. Yes, you were probably intentional about it before. What are the topics and components that can fit into socials? How can the topics of the article best be structured? Questions like that are definitely intentional.
But short-form content is different than long-form content. We can spread a thought or idea out over several posts, tie in new stories and life events as they happen in real time, etc. But a book is different. A book requires you to dig deeper.
Who do you really want to impact? What action do you really want your readers to take after they turn the last page? What are you really hoping happens when you share your message?
Yes, these are all relevant questions no matter how you share your message. But a book is different. A book contains all your knowledge, insights, and stories related to a particular topic. It’s all in one place. And it can’t be easily changed once it’s published and put out into the world. It’s an evergreen piece of content that leaves a lasting mark.
The level of intention required for that is deeper than how we operate in our everyday lives.
Common Threads
When we share short-form content or engage in a conversation, we are sharing quick blurbs of information. Often, the message ties to what is topical in our lives at that time, such as a story or experience that prompted a new idea or thought related to our platform. These messages all exist in the same general universe but aren’t required to be related. One of my highly engaged with LinkedIn posts was about being stuck driving behind a tractor… We tend to stay on brand or on theme in our shorter messages, but we can take a lot of liberties.
A book is different. In a book, we’re forced to find the common thread that ties all those messages together. Do they all relate to a particular theme that you’d like the world to understand? Do they all tie into a process that you want to teach the world about? You get the idea. We can’t just go including messages and stories in a book because we feel like it. They have to be cohesive. They have to be on theme. Ultimately, it has to make sense to the reader why they’re included in the book.
If the reader can’t understand how all your stories and messages in your book tie together, you’ll lose them before they even finish. The message won’t resonate, and they’ll promptly forget what they read. In the end, it’s about the reader and not about you.
Writing a book helps us to put structure around the scattered messages we’re used to sharing. And there’s nothing wrong with how we currently share (this is how I share, too), but a book requires more of us.
Reflection
Finally, a book forces you to reflect. You not only have to think about what your message is, but you have to think about how you want to convey it. I’m not just talking about the physical way in which you convey it, but a layer deeper than that.
How do you want your reader to feel? What actions do you want them to take? What objections do you need to help the reader overcome? What other perspectives might you need to consider or address over the course of the book?
Because a book is an asset that truly leaves a legacy and isn’t easily changed, authors naturally spend a lot of time reflecting on what they want to say and how they want to say it. This often leads to new revelations and awareness of gaps that may exist in the messaging.
Oftentimes, the results of this reflection time lead to pieces of the puzzle that make the message more cohesive, more compelling, and more impactful. Sometimes they even impact how the author approaches their work.
The process of writing a book is incredibly powerful for an author, whether they are writing it themselves or collaborating with a ghostwriter. There is a shift that happens in which the message becomes more powerful and more inspiring.
If you’re curious about how a book can take your leadership message to the next level, let’s chat! Book a free strategy session using the button below.
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.