Writing books is exhilarating & frightening, all at the same time

While writing my new books, I’ve had my fair share of struggles and triumphs in the world of strategy and leadership literature. While some may think it’s a dry and boring field, I’ve found it to be anything but. In fact, the whole experience of writing and publishing business books can be quite entertaining, to say the least.

There’s always the risk that your book will fall flat.

It’s a sobering thought to realize that all of your hard work may go unnoticed or unappreciated. But at the same time, it’s also what makes the experience so exhilarating – the knowledge that you’re taking a risk and putting your ideas out into the world. But, of course, there’s also the possibility that your book will be a runaway success.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of receiving endorsements for your book from other thought leaders and experts in your field. When Marshall Goldsmith, the global authority on executive coaching and multiple bestselling author, sent his endorsement I literally cheered “woo-hoo!” from the top of my lungs. Hearing from readers what value they take from your writing is the validation that all of the hard work and long hours were worth it. However, before reader reviews comes writing.

The writing process itself can be a rollercoaster ride.

There are times when inspiration strikes and the words just flow effortlessly onto the page, and other times when it feels like pulling teeth to get a single sentence out. But even in those frustrating moments, there’s always a glimmer of hope that the next idea or phrase will be pure gold.

One of the most entertaining aspects of writing and publishing business books is the sheer amount of research involved. Whether it’s poring over case studies, conducting interviews with industry experts, or diving deep into academic literature, the process can be both fascinating and overwhelming.

I remember spending hours reading through a dense academic paper on the psychology of decision-making, hoping to find some nugget of insight that I could apply to my book on strategy. By the time I finished, my eyes were bleary and my brain felt like mush. And sometimes you find a needle in a haystack, which is infinitely more satisfying.

Research can also be a double-edged sword.

The more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know. It’s easy to get lost in the weeds and lose sight of the big picture. But at the same time, that’s also what makes the process so rewarding – the feeling of gradually piecing together a complex puzzle and seeing the whole picture come into focus.

Then there’s the challenge of actually putting those ideas into words. I’ve found that there’s a delicate balance between being informative and engaging. It’s not enough to simply present facts and figures; you also need to tell a story that will resonate with your audience.

I remember struggling with this exact issue when I had all of these great examples of successful leaders, but I couldn’t figure out how to make them come alive on the page. It wasn’t until I started weaving in personal anecdotes and insights that the book really started to take shape.

Writing and publishing business books is a unique and rewarding experience.

It’s a chance to explore new ideas, challenge yourself, and hopefully make a positive impact on the world. And even with all of the highs and lows that come with the territory, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. After all, as a business author, there’s always another book to write, another idea to explore, and another story to tell.

Main image by Seven Shoote