Interview With Inspiring, Self-Help Author Joe Sipher

1. What inspired you to write this book?
While there are countless “success books” that use world-class people like Bill Gates or Roger Federer as examples and try to reverse engineer how they found success, I couldn't find a book that showed how ordinary people like you and me can overcome obstacles, make transformations, and find success. When I couldn’t find that book, I decided to write Outsmart the Learning Curve which chronicles seven regular people who made dramatic transformations without superhuman gifts - like the marketing manager who became an aerospace engineer at 36, or the failed kindergarten teacher who became a consultant to every top MBA program globally. Their stories prove that with the right approach, anyone can outsmart the learning curve.

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for?
Outsmart the Learning Curve provides inspiring guidance to everyday people on how to make dramatic transformations or overcome significant obstacles. It breaks down practical techniques for getting through the tough times when trying to learn or achieve something new. The book is structured around five key elements: finding your purpose, cultivating openness, getting help, building confidence, and developing resilience. It's written for anyone who wants to make a major career change, learn a challenging new skill, or overcome a seemingly impossible obstacle. If you've ever thought "I suck at this" while trying to learn something new, this book is for you.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?
I hope readers will gain practical techniques to transform their lives and careers without requiring world-class talent or 10,000 hours of practice. Beyond the specific strategies, I want readers to understand that most things are "figure-out-able” — that with the right mindset and approach, they can achieve things that currently seem impossible. Most importantly, I want readers to find their own "glimmer" — that strong feeling that draws you to an activity or subject area — and turn it into their purpose. The stories in the book prove that regular people can achieve extraordinary success, and my deepest hope is that readers will apply these lessons to write their own success stories.

4. How did you decide on your book's title and cover design?
The title Outsmart the Learning Curve came after extensive testing which a chronicle in the book on the lessons of applying A/B testing to your daily life. I actually tested three different title options by creating landing pages and Google ads to see which one resonated most with potential readers. The data clearly showed that Outsmart the Learning outperformed the alternatives. The subtitle "How Ordinary People Can Achieve Extraordinary Success" reinforces that this book is for and about regular people, not just the naturally gifted. The cover design metaphorically represents the S-shaped learning curve that's central to the book's learning curve framework.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?
Write every day, but don't burn yourself out. I blocked out two-hour writing sessions each morning and afternoon—every day including weekends and holidays because I believed the mantra “write every day”.  But found I couldn't maintain that rhythm for more than three weeks without my productivity dropping. Take strategic breaks to recharge, then return to your daily practice. Also, use A/B testing for important decisions like your title - don't just go with your gut or what your friends like best. Most importantly, find a group of brutally honest readers who will tell you when something isn't working. My daughter, wife, and sister were my most valuable critics because they didn't sugarcoat their feedback.

6. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?
Absolutely. My career transformation from an English major who got fired from his first job to a successful product leader who helped build mobile technologies used by hundreds of millions of people gave me firsthand experience with many concepts in the book. I relied heavily on techniques like volunteering to learn high-value skills (by programming my father's business software as a teenager), cultivating openness (by jumping into hardware design with no background), and getting help from loose connections (like when Microsoft product manager Melinda French inspired my career pivot). These personal experiences helped me recognize and validate similar patterns in the stories of the book's subjects.

7. How would you describe your writing style?
My writing style is conversational and grounded in research - blending engaging personal stories with evidence-based insights. I weave together narratives about ordinary people making extraordinary transformations with relevant academic studies that validate their approaches. I aim to be practical rather than overly theoretical, offering actionable bulleted recommendations at the end of each chapter. I also try to be authentic and occasionally self-deprecating, acknowledging my own struggles and shortcomings rather than positioning myself as an all-knowing guru. My goal is to make complex concepts accessible without oversimplifying them.

8. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?
The biggest challenge was finding the right subjects whose stories would illustrate the book's central themes. I initially tried Google searches and AI chatbots, but my "conversion rate" on reaching out to strangers was terrible. When I finally looked at my own network, I discovered amazing transformation stories hiding in plain sight. Structuring the book was another challenge - early drafts seemed to regurgitate success clichés like "be confident" or "be resilient." The breakthrough came when I realized I needed to focus not just on what to do but how to do it, providing practical techniques for implementing these concepts. Finally, maintaining a consistent writing schedule while balancing other responsibilities required significant discipline.

9. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?
If you've ever found yourself feeling like you just "suck at this” or afraid to follow your dream because you “just don’t have it” or “it’s just  too late”, my book offers practical, research-backed techniques to break through that barrier. Unlike books focusing on elite performers who put in 10,000 hours of practice, Outsmart the Learning Curve shows how regular people can achieve mastery without world-class talent, coaches, or circumstances. Through real stories of everyday people making extraordinary transformations - from a marketing manager who became an aerospace engineer at 36 to an artist who finally found success after decades of setbacks - this book proves that with the right approach, you can achieve things that currently seem impossible. If you're ready to transform your career or master a challenging skill, this book will show you how.

About The Author:  Joe Sipher started his career helping two nascent startups grow into multi-billion-dollar public companies (Palm and Handspring). Next, he founded two profitable mobile app companies that generated over 200M downloads. Joe has held various VP and C-level positions in both product management and marketing for tiny startups to public companies. He holds 26 patents related to mobile technology, wireless communications, and user interface design.

The above is the bio I've used for years, but the real story is...

‍Joe started his career as a rudderless English major fired from his first job for incompetence. Somehow this aimless, unemployed 22-year-old, who steered clear of STEM classes, built a successful career in technology and business. This remarkable transformation spawned his book Outsmart the Learning Curve.

 

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About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2025.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum