As a kid, my favorite classes involved art and writing. I loved taking a blank page and turning it into whatever my imagination desired. Teachers often told me I was a good writer and I always wondered what that meant for career options. Admittedly, I had a somewhat limited view of the world -- I thought if I wanted to write, I needed to pour my heart out in a romance novel or write a column in the newspaper. It just didn't occur to me that my interest in writing could be applied in blogs (those weren't around yet) or self-published works that didn't feature Fabio on the cover.
In 2009, I was 28 and starting a career consulting business. To gain exposure, I put together an eight-week free career seminar series for job seekers at local libraries. At the end of the series, many of the participants asked for the notes. Upon compiling all of my workshop outlines, I realized I had over 80 pages of valuable advice. What to do next? I realized I had the beginnings of a book -- possibly an ebook, maybe even a paperback. Could this be my opportunity to write something for the world? I decided to keep going with it; I interviewed people who followed my advice, told my own story, and wrote connecting chapters. Before I knew it, I had written a 200-page book for job seekers and aspiring entrepreneurs.
On December 9, 2009, I quietly self-published my book, The Anti-Resume Revolution, and my whole life changed. The day before, I was a career consultant, a blogger and a speaker. But that day, I became an author. This one act -- writing a book -- quickly turned my world upside down. Here are six unexpected shifts I experienced:
1. Instant Credibility
The first thing that changed was the look on people's faces. I fielded a lot of questions and confused stares. "How did you write a book?" was the question I heard over and over again. At first, I couldn't tell if people were confused or impressed. What I learned was that when you become an author, your credibility and status is elevated by about 1,000 percent. Even though most of the things I wrote in my book were also on my blog, the fact that I published an actual book you could hold in your hands somehow meant I now knew way more than I did the day before.
2. I Made More Money Without Doing Anything Differently
Since I was already speaking, I could use that platform for two new purposes. I could sell my books at each gig and now also charge a higher speaking fee because I had a book. This new "author" credential not only improved my credibility, it also built my bank account.
3. I No Longer Experienced Writer's Block
Writing a 200-page book requires attention, focus and discipline. I improved my ability to sit and write for long periods of time. Because I created helpful strategies to get through the self-criticism and wandering mind, I no longer experienced that blank stare that often comes with a writing session. I just started writing about whatever I wanted and then switched over to the actual topic once in a writing zone.
4. I Created Material I Could Reuse In the Future Without Realizing It
I now had a ton of content I could reuse in speeches, workshops, mini ebooks, blog posts, online courses and one-on-one with clients. My book became the core of my business and acted as a guidebook for most of my work. It was not only useful for the people I helped, but also useful for me to have a framework in which to refer.
5. I Unknowingly Created a Launchpad for More Books
Becoming an author and seeing all of its benefits made me want to keep writing. This year, my second book launches on October 15th. Based on years of helping aspiring entrepreneurs, I've compiled 13 of my best self-assessments to help people go from wondering to knowing if they should start a business. I have a third book coming out in January of 2016.
6. I Realized Anything is Possible
After my book came out, people around the world starting reading it. To my surprise, colleges started teaching it. Corporations featured it in their book clubs. I was getting emails from fans who were taking my advice. Seeing the impact one book can make made me realize I could keep going with my ideas and push myself to write more, speak more, and build more. That one book opened my mind and helped me see that I could do anything I wanted with my business. I realized becoming an author is not an opportunity saved for the chosen few; it's an option for all -- if you're willing to take it.