Leadership Perspective

But for most authors, there’s a gaping hole between the "buy now" button and the "book a call" button. Readers finish the book, feel inspired, and then… nothing. They disappear back into their lives. You’ve successfully built rapport, but you haven’t built a pathway.

Most authors think of PR as getting reviews in major publications. While that’s nice, it’s a low-probability game. A much more effective and direct path to building your expert platform is targeted outreach, and your book is your key that unlocks the door. When you pitch a podcast host, a conference organizer, or an association leader, you are not just another coach asking for a spot. You are a published author.

Here’s what nobody tells you about getting booked to speak: meeting planners, conference organizers, and podcast hosts are not looking for a walking, talking table of contents. They are not hiring you to read your book aloud.

You poured your heart, your expertise, and your best stories into your book. You hit 'publish,' and for a moment, it felt like the finish line. But then the silence set in. The sales trickled in. The phone didn't ring. The speaking invitations you dreamed of? They were nowhere to be found. Here’s the truth most publishing gurus won’t tell you: your book was never meant to be the final destination. It’s not the trophy you put on the shelf. It’s the raw material.

By the time a coach finishes writing a book, something important has already happened. They’ve clarified their thinking. They’ve articulated what they believe. They’ve earned the right to be taken seriously. And yet, this is often the moment where growth quietly stalls

One of the most common things coaches say to me is: “I know my book is valuable… I just don’t know how to turn it into something people will actually pay for.” What’s interesting is that the answer is almost always already inside the book . Most coaches don’t struggle because they lack ideas. They struggle because they haven’t organized their thinking into a framework . A framework isn’t a gimmick. It ’s not branding fluff. It ’s simply the structure that helps people underst

One of the most common things I hear from coaches after publishing a book is: “I just need to promote it more.” More podcasts. More posts. More emails. More social media. And while visibility matters, it’s rarely the real issue. What’s missing is direction.

If you wrote a book and expected it to do more for your business than it currently is, you’re not wrong for expecting that. You’re also not broken, behind, or bad at business. What’s missing is not effort. It’s strategy and structure.

And a question crept into your mind that no one prepared you for: “Now what?” If that question has been sitting with you, I want you to hear this clearly: You’re not behind. You didn’t miss a step. You didn’t misunderstand what a book is supposed to do. You were simply never shown the system that comes after publishing.

For many coaches, consultants, and thought leaders, it’s something they’ve dreamed about for years. The message is clear. The manuscript is done. The book is live. And then comes the quiet question no one prepared them for: “Now what?”

Many authors expect the book itself to “do the work.” Visibility will increase. Clients will pour in. Speaking invitations will stack up. Let me tell you , it rarely happens that way. Your book doesn’t automatically grow your business. Your strategy does.

I’ve owned more than a dozen businesses, overseen thousands of events, and spent years helping coaches scale their message — and there’s a truth I wish every entrepreneur learned earlier: Your business can grow without you…but it cannot depend on you. The moment your business becomes dependent on your presence, your constant content creation, your energy, or your availability, your growth is capped.

One of the most powerful lessons I learned from owning 12 businesses, planning more than 4,000 events, and coaching hundreds of entrepreneurs is this: Your book doesn’t create income. Your offer does. A book opens the door. Your offer invites them into transformation.

People don’t remember the agenda.They remember the story that reached them. This is why authors make exceptional speakers. Your book captures your message. Your story carries your authority. Your voice turns that authority into influence.

A good funnel isn’t about automation. It’s about instilling confidence, clarity, and next steps. After working with my sales and marketing mentor, Jim Edwards (Author of the life-changing book - Copywriting Secrets), for several years, I can tell you this: Most sales funnels don’t fail because the content is bad. They fail because the buyer's journey is broken.

Your book is not the destination. It’s the catalyst. It’s the spark that opens doors, builds trust, and positions you as the guide your readers have been waiting for.

One of the biggest misconceptions I see among coaches and service-based entrepreneurs is the belief that writing a book automatically positions you as an authority. It doesn’t.

When people hear I’ve planned more than 4,000 events, they usually imagine glamorous stages, big-name speakers, perfectly timed lighting cues, and audiences cheering in unison. And yes — I’ve been behind plenty of those moments. But the real story of event planning isn’t in the glitter. It’s in what happens when human beings gather with intention… and leave changed.

If you’ve spent any time in the rooms I’ve led — retreats, events, coaching sessions, strategy intensives — you’ll notice something quickly: Women don’t just build businesses. Women build legacies.

Every author remembers the thrill of launch week — the messages from friends, the screenshots of bestseller rankings, the flurry of social posts celebrating your hard work. But after the confetti settles, something sobering happens. Sales slow down. The attention fades. The book you poured your heart and soul into starts gathering digital dust on Amazon.