Today there are very many ways for authors to get published. Among the methods of publishing include: traditional publishing, self-publishing, digital publishing, scholarly publishing, nonprofit publishing, etc. The reasons why authors want to get published are just as many. Authors want to get published because of: passion, fame, preservation, creating movements, legacy, etc. Authors who want to get published for reasons other than family/personal matters should be called authorpreneurs.
An authorpreneur is an author who is also an entrepreneur. S/he understands everything it takes to be successful in today’s publishing industry rather than using tactics from two decades ago. Such an author learns from highly successful entrepreneurs and applies the lessons learnt to sell books. An authorpreneur’s methods lie not only in writing, but also in public speaking, creating strategies for social media, networking, and marketing to mention but a few. S/he knows very well that writing a book is just one piece of the puzzle. It is supported by other things such as blogging, networking, and speaking.
To become a successful authorpreneur, a person has to deliberately balance targeting a specific audience and using strategic practices to win them over and convert them into loyal followers. One of the most important things about succeeding as an authorpreneur is to become a thought leader.
A thought leader has a two-fold definition. S/he is a person that clients, intermediaries, referral sources, and competitors recognize as an authority in a field. The result is that colleagues, partners, and even competitors make that person the go-to guy when it comes to issues relating to the thought leader’s field of specialization. A thought leader not only has to be skilled, s/he also has to be highly effective and a forward thinker. This takes us to the second part of the definition. A thought leader leverages his position to make significant amounts of profit.
Let’s come back to authorship. It is important for any author to consider himself as a thought leader and to work hard to make it a reality. In Tom Rath’s bio he calls himself a “leading business thinker.” He is the author of the best-selling book, Strength Finders 2.0. E.L. James who wrote Fifty Shades of Grey is a thought leader when it comes to relationships and bringing back the passion.
Authors who convince themselves they are thought leaders approach marketing differently from conventional thinkers. They are more likely to look outside the box than ordinary authors. As an author, it is easy to write a book, approach a publisher, and have the book published. However, it is quite difficult to do well in today’s publishing industry. In the mindset of a thought leader, the book is not the destination but rather one step on an endless journey to the destination. The destination of a thought leader is always success.
An authorpreneur’s mission goes well beyond writing a book. The book only plays a supporting role to ensure the success of his mission. To become a thought leader is not something that happens overnight; it requires a lot of dedicated effort to embrace all the tools available to the author to not only deliver a book but also the message.
