Written by: Vickie Sullivan | June 20, 2017
An Up Close and Personal Look At Success
Ya know what I love more than success stories? Stories that go behind the scenes and talk about the journey to that success. A recent article in GrowthLab about the wildly successful launch of Michael Bungay Stanier’s book The Coaching Habit is a long read but worth it.
Yes, this is great material for authors. Look beyond the book launch, though. This drill-down can also be applied to launching your thought leadership. Key learning for all of us:
• Check out the upfront investment he made. This is far more critical than folks think. His commitment—both mental and financial—makes the difference between the pros and the players. Whether it’s a book or your overall thought leadership campaign, you have to go big or go home. The days of bootstrapping are over.
Listen: 2 stories that hold us back
• Notice out how the glitzy path didn’t pan out. No disrespect to traditional publishers or agents, but Stanier was inspirational without the sugar coating or bragging. It’s a great example of how conventional wisdom doesn’t always work. I call these “short trips to the dark side.” You can point out the problems without going negative.
From a content marketing perspective, also note the voice. His authenticity shines through. We should all want to communicate like him.
It’s one thing to desire success. It’s another to go after it. Stories like this not only inspire us to the possibility, but they help us navigate the pitfalls. Success is not linear.
Other Resources You May Like:
- The Most Important Conversation You Will Have
- Springboard Marketing: Leveraging Your Expertise Into an Empire