Most entrepreneurs think writing a book will help them get more speaking gigs or generate business. I get it. Who doesn't want more exposure? But, what if I say there is something even far stronger standing between the covers of any book?
I have one such story that can completely alter how you view book writing forever.
Not too long ago, I met a business veteran who wasn't interested in another typical business book. He came to me worried about something deeper. “I've built this company from nothing,” he told me, “but what happens to all these lessons when I'm gone? My kids, my team-they'll inherit the business, but will they understand the journey?”
It came like a ton of bricks. All this time, myself and the team at Authors on Mission have been helping clients bring their experiences and expertise to life in a specific way. We have helped over 1,100+ entrepreneurs and thought leaders frame their stories with specific goals in mind based on their desired book outcome. This means that we have been tailoring our services to expand their client base, gain more popularity, increase sales, or achieve whatever else they were aiming for. It’s what we’ve done for years, as proven by our many success stories. (If this sounds awesome to you, check out our testimonials!) But, when this particular client came to me with his idea to take his book a step beyond sales, it made me realize something:
Book marketing strategies are important. However, creating something meaningful, a way to share decades of hard-earned wisdom and pass it on… Well, that is what writing is truly about.
My client and I discussed his vision a bit more, and we developed a plan to frame his book in exactly the right way so that he would receive a large ROI but also meet his goal of creating a legacy. We made sure that we effectively bottled two decades of hard-earned wisdom and passed it on. In the process of doing so, however, I took it another step further. I helped him leverage his content so that would speak not just to his family and team but even to those entrepreneurs and audiences he would probably never meet.
So, what does it mean to create a legacy? Having a book that hits those key marks will do the trick every time.
That conversation flipped everything for me about how I viewed business books. See, a book isn't just some paper and ink. It's a time machine for your most important lessons. It's your voice, your experience, your failures and victories, all preserved in a way that can guide others long after you've moved on to your next venture.
Think about it: how many times have you wished you could sit down with somebody who's been through precisely what you're facing? That's what a legacy book does. It's like sitting across from someone over coffee who has walked the path in front of you and who is willing to share everything that they learned along the way.
The article will explain to you exactly how you can convert business wisdom into a timeless legacy with the use of writing. Whether you're a long-time CEO, a founder of a startup, or an industry thought leader, you'll learn exactly how to package your experience in a way that will create lasting impact while still delivering the immediate benefits you're looking for.
Beyond Business: Your Story Counts
Think of books that actually changed you. They weren't just lists of facts or dry strategies, were they? No, they were stories that felt like a friend was giving you life-changing advice over coffee. The kind of conversation that stays with you for years.
Just last month, a tech founder told me that she still remembers reading a blog about Steve Jobs' calligraphy class and how it influenced Apple's design philosophy. It wasn't the business strategy that stuck with her. See, it was the story of how seemingly unrelated experiences shape our biggest breakthroughs.
Building your author platform and establishing thought leadership requires more than just writing. A great book will teach the audience, but it should also connect. It converts your unique journey into a roadmap that may help someone else navigate through their own challenges. Perhaps you are a CEO who learned to lead through tough failures, or a consultant who found an innovative approach through an unexpected crisis. These stories count.
This is why it's so important to focus not only on ROI, but also on legacy. But how do you do that? After looking at Forbes’ “101 Famous Authors And Greatest Writers Of All Time”, I found that the most timeless books, especially in the nonfiction realm, all have a few things in common. Let me walk you through the four most important pillars.
The Four Pillars of a Legacy-Building Book
Before we talk about the ingredients to making a book that will last the test of time, let me ask you a question: What do you wish you had known ten years ago? What hard-earned wisdom might spare another person a decade of trial and error? Your answers are exactly what you should be thinking about when planning your book. Whether you're considering self-publishing a book or working with the best book writing services, here are four important factors that you need in order to make your book evergreen.
- Wisdom Over Information
We live in a world dripping with data, but any sense of wisdom is on rare loan. Wisdom involves a lot more than highlighting the things that will still matter decades from now. This means talking in detail about what worked, what didn't, the accidental lessons, and what you wish you'd have known sooner.
Your book shouldn't simply be a recitation of events and a list of statistics. When giving an interview for an article, Andrew Johnson, a former senior content analyst for Content Science, notes that “the size of the digital universe is currently doubling every two years, so there’s no shortage of content out there for your audience to choose from.” This means that, when you think about it, the factual content doesn’t matter as much as the meaning behind it.
For example, firing your best friend from your startup isn't about the mechanics of termination. It's a highly thematic moment in terms of thinking about leadership, friendship, and making difficult choices when your instincts are to avoid them.
If this goal sounds challenging, remember that professional book editing services can help ensure your wisdom is conveyed clearly and effectively.
Actionable Step: Take a reflective look at your defining moments, those challenges, decisions, and lessons in your life journey that have turned you into the person you are today. Further, ask yourself why they will matter and can guide others. With this enhanced understanding, bring form, purpose, and impact into the building of your narrative.
- Storytelling That Resonates
Nobody remembers statistics, but a story of failure, resilience, and eventual success? That leaves a lasting impression.
Consider this: what sticks better in your head? Some statistic that says, “90% of startups fail,” or the personal story of the guy who survived three failures before he finally made it? A story of surviving on ramen for a year, nearly losing a spouse, but learning critical lessons with each failure is what people remember, not data.
Your personal stories are your biggest strengths. The more authentic you are about your journey- the late-night doubts, the missteps you'd rather forget, and the triumphs that caught you by surprise- the more your audience will connect with your message. If this is something that you struggle with, book ghostwriting services can help capture your authentic voice while crafting compelling narratives.
Actionable Step: Take the time to define the most important moments of your story that show, besides achievements, how you grew. Tell those experiences with detail of emotions and lessons that formed the character on this path. This is where your audience finds meaning and inspiration.
- Solving Timeless Human Challenges
Business trends change fast. Yesterday, it was cryptocurrencies. Today it's AI, and tomorrow? Nobody knows. One thing, however, remains the same: the human side of business.
The most impactful books address challenges that transcend time. How do you stay motivated when it feels like everything is falling apart? What do you do when your largest client suddenly walks away? How do you lead a team through uncertainty when you're not even certain yourself?
I once worked with an influential leader in the field of human capital management, and wanted to write about business transformations. Valuable, yes, but the real gold was deeper in his stories. Together, we wrote about how he used creative ways to unite his team. We wrote about the authentic (and dangerous) way that he came up with his newest business venture. We told stories about well-known business transformations in the past but in a narrative style that all readers could follow and relate to. Those lessons will resonate just as powerfully in 2024 as they will in 2054.
Timeless problems call for timeless solutions. How you worked your way through a difficult business relationship in 1995 is still how you work your way through a tough Zoom meeting today. The tools change, but human nature doesn't.
Actionable Step: Look for themes in your story, including challenges in leadership, resilience, trust, or adaptability. Strip the writing down to the human stories and lessons behind the events so that the message remains timeless, whatever the trends.
- The Art of Humble Expertise
When’s the last time you read a book with a flawless main character? Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, and Frodo Baggins all had flaws for a reason. They were relatable! The same goes for nonfiction books. If you present yourself as having a 100% success rate and rising straight to the top with no struggles, not only are you not believable, but your audience (a sea of readers struggling and looking for answers) will not relate to you.
Here's what most business authors don’t always see. The truth is that readers are not interested in heroes. They want real people who have faced struggles, doubts, and even major failures but kept moving forward.
Be willing to show your scars. Share those moments when you almost gave up or when you came to a realization that you were totally wrong about something you had held onto for years. It's these honest reflections that make your expertise real and relatable.
One of our authors, a very successful cryptocurrency expert, included both his business successes and failures in his book. In fact, we even created a chart where he listed his various experiences and analyzed the pros and cons of each. This setup made him more relatable. Readers connected with his journey because they saw themselves as nervous beginners who eventually found success.
Actionable Step: Think of one time when you struggled in your career, a moment of vulnerability. Now, write about what happened, how you felt, and what you learned from that. This is a powerful way to show your readers that success is built on perseverance, not perfection.
Conclusion
You're not just writing a book. You are creating something that can continue to change lives after you've moved on to the next thing. That startup founder reading your book at 2 AM when they think of giving up? They need your story. That mid-career professional who is wondering if it's too late to start something new? They need your wisdom.
You might be thinking: This sounds great, but I barely have time to write emails, let alone a book. That's where Authors on Mission, our leading book publishing company, comes in. Our process is designed for busy leaders like you. We take care of everything from the structuring of your ideas right through to crafting your narrative and keeping your unique voice and wisdom at the center of everything. Plus, we are more than just a resource for writing a book. We help you craft something of real importance. Something which showcases not only what you did, but who you are, and what you learned on your journey.
Your expertise doesn't have an expiration date. Your stories matter. Your lessons could be the guidance someone needs ten, twenty, or even fifty years from now.
Ready to turn your story into something legendary? Ready to create a legacy that outlasts your business career?
Whether you need book marketing services, book editing services, or comprehensive book publishing services, head to https://www.authorsonmission.com/call , and let's discuss how we at Authors On Mission can support you in bringing into the world a book that truly matters. Your wisdom is too valuable to keep to yourself; let's make sure it continues to inspire people for generations to come.
