You Cannot Succeed As An Author Without A Positive Attitude

One of my former clients, Jack Nadel, a brilliant businessman who made a fortune in the premium sales business, advises that in order to succeed in business one must believe in themselves. He wrote in Use What You Have To Get What You Want the following: “I believe our problems can best be solved by our own efforts. You have greater capabilities than you think you have and many of these can be translated into profit at the marketplace.”

So how do you go about adopting the entrepreneur’s mindset to promote yourself and your book?

First, assess your skills and determine your strengths and weaknesses. Figure out what you are good at and what you’re not. Ride your strengths but don’t ignore your weaknesses. Find a way to compensate and to close gaps. You don’t have to be perfect or do everything well but be prepared to pay others to do what you can’t or don’t want to do. Time is money, so even if you do something well, it may not be in your best interests to devote too much of your time or resources to them when you can do something that will yield a bigger pay-off.

Second, figure out what you want to do. Will you look to become a paid speaker or do you want to do consulting? Or is it both – or something else?

Third, determine who can help you and think about what you can get from those you know as well as who you can pay or barter with to get what you need done.

Fourth, list what you need, such as a Web site, promotional fliers, a video, etc.

Fifth, make up a budget both of time and money. Just how much of either do you have access to and are prepared to commit to this venture?

Sixth, find a way to learn and grow and to have fun in the process of pursuing wealth, fame, and respect. You will notice that this will become less work and more play when you connect with your readers.

Seventh, don’t lose sight of your purpose. Keep writing new books, continue to live a balanced life, and keep up your non-writing obligations, such as work and family, so that you don’t feel overwhelmed.

Eighth, have an exit strategy. At some point you need to determine if a new tactic is needed. Keep evaluating and keep changing approaches.

Some Basic Business Advice Shared In Nadel’s Book Includes The Following:

·         Your business should be market-driven, not product-driven. Don’t try to sell your writings; write what the market wants to buy.

·         Find a need and fill it. You should sell what people need – or be ready to convince them that you fill a desire of theirs.

·         Do not resist change. Times are certainly changing, mainly due to technology and the Internet. Don’t buck the trend.

·         Features tell and benefits sell. People buy something because this item – hopefully your book – will do something for them. They buy a book on relationships not because you’ll tell us jokes but because  you will help us find the person of our dreams and live happily ever after.

·         If you can’t explain it in 30 seconds, you probably cannot sell it. Short, sweet, and direct. Be ready to summarize who you are and why people should buy your book.

·         Sell the sizzle, but make sure there is a good steak underneath. You can fool people once, but not twice. Sell your book based on facts, features, and benefits, but make sure your book is as good as you say it is or they won’t refer others or come back for your next book.

·         A good idea has no geographical boundaries. Think big for your book. Unless the book is about a specific region, or city, sell your book across the state, country, continent, and world. If you can make a book by traveling overseas or selling to groups or individuals in far-off towns it is just as good as selling to your local bookstore.

Work on your attitude – it will guide you to success or doom you to failure as a writer.

Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are his alone and not that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2019. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America.