Yesterday I was in the recording studio which is one of my favourite places because it means I’m either there to sing and record a song or that I’m there to audio record a new project. Yesterday was largely the latter; a new book I plan to produce.
I do quite a lot of different types of writing in my work including articles for website and magazines, blogging and other writing for my business, and of course the occasional book as well.
I write articles and blogs quite freely and easily and intuitively. When it comes to books there are a few more factors involved. My first book A Zest for Business (2007) was fairly easy; I was one of 5 writers and I basically wrote a chapter and then the opening introduction and conclusion of the book. The second book The Gift of Inner Success (2008) was something I was really proud of.I had written an earlier incarnation of the book a few years before which I had sent to a few publishers to no avail. It reminded me of the letters you’d get from sending stuff to record companies back in the days where I was pursing music previously; short, polite, but essentially disinterested.
In the interim I’d recorded some audio talks for my websites. Then a huge US based self development site at the time had plans to enter the UK market and wanted to use a talk of mine as part of their materials. I wasn’t sure about using my Become who you are talk which was my most obvious choice. So I decided to record something specific with their audience and market in mind – but my style covering some of the themes not always touched on. So I decided to record The Gift of Inner Success. I wrote the ‘track’ list and spoke the audio as a stream of consciousness… unscripted. Later I had it transcribed and turned it later into an e-book. A while later when I became keen to have my own physical book I took a look at this short book once again to see if it could work. I asked Steve Bryne, a very talented designer friend and former colleague to design the cover – an image which I had seen in my mind from way back when the first incarnation of the book came to me. I self published this book myself to take the bull by horns which was an approach I had learned through necessity. I tend to be at my best when I just get on a do something, when I just trust what feels apt to do at that time.
My third book Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your Business (Oct 2012) is the one that has (already in short lifespan since last Oct) changed the game. I’d always wanted a book and products that could have their own life and journey separate from me – especially as my time becomes more in demand by myself and other key projects/clients. As with The Gift of Inner Success I already had the title. In this case my original title was ‘Soul Trader- Building Your Business by Heart’. It was the title of a talk that I’d already given at City Business Library. Then some time later I was at the British Library’s Business & IP Centre, where I’m life/business coach parter and delivering a session during a bootcamp I met Liz Gooster a budding business coach who was also the new Editor-At-Large at Kogan Page. We spoke, I invited her to my workshop at the library and at that workshop she asked me if I planned on writing another book. Having had publicity and promotion in my blood since 18 and always alert to a possibility I said ‘yes’ immediately. At that precise moment I hadn’t been thinking of books or publishers as I had parked it and was focusing on other things. But I went home and she had a one page outline in her email inbox within the next day or two. That’s how I love to work! Working with a publisher brought great possibilities – and brought other considerations. The first was a set word-count of 60,000 words. I’m an intuitive and creative. My preferred style was to ‘speak’ the book again. I realised that this word count would mean I wouldn’t probably get the whole book in one stream of consciousness but I could start. So I went in EQ Studios where I do my music recording with studio owner, John Hamilton. I had the list of chapter headings – as always – and spoke it.
Probably the book is 20-33% that original audio I then worked on it and built on the text. For me it’s essential that the writing is true to the heart so it was a good and rich challenge to write this book that needed to hold up both as a valid business book and if you like a self / personal development book with a spiritual with a small ‘s’ core. It took 2-3 months to write and another month or so to edit – pretty full on. I described it as ‘like being under house arrest with friendly guards’.
For me the test of a book is when I get the printed copy and I read it back the first time. Does it hold true. It did. Then there was another acid test and that was the feedback of others. I have been deeply struck by how warmly people have felt about this book. The feedback has – to date – been universally positive and that’s kind of apt. I was really wonderfully surprised by people getting in touch from the USA, Australia, Europe, Asia telling me that they had read it, enjoyed it, got the spirit of it and that it has helped, encouraged them and inspired them. People have come to sessions clasping it. People have told me they have seen it in airport shops and on colleagues desks. It’s been quite something. That said there is still much to do with this book….I will return to that topic again soon I’m sure. For me I want this book to be one of the titles that people say
So what’s the concept of my next book?
The new book is about leadership. It’s working title is Heart Centred Leadership; (The Art of Inspiring, Authentic, leadership) based on my talk / workshop of the same name. It really picks up on one of the last themes in Soul Trader on leadership and being authentic. I’ve seen how some of the Chief Executives that I have coached grown. I’ve seen some of the entrepreneurs blossom. I’ve seen how people have sung their song. I’ve also found myself doing more work in this area and much of my passion and mission is around helping teachers, healers and leaders to be in the world and authentically. Leaders with all hats from obvious ones like Chief Execs and politicians to those who lead in others ways – in music, entertainment, sport and who have influence. Through to those in management, in community group and those who lead in other contexts; at home, locally, in other fields – and those studying leadership. It is not a traditional leadership book. It is a book of, from and for the heart. So I’ve recorded it and will get the wonderful Joanne Jarrett of Totally Typing or one of her team to transcribe it. Then I will have a read and see where this manuscript is. I will then take it from there so that hopefully it can be published and find it’s way into the world too…
If you’ve read anything I’ve ever written then I’m very thankful and grateful.
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