"Why does it matter if I write this book since there are probably hundreds if not thousands of books out
there that talk about the same thing?"
That's the question I received from a client earlier this week. Let's call her "Sally."
She's a brilliant, successful, accomplished woman and she's working on her first book. She felt stuck and requested a pep talk—which I sent.
It occurred to me, maybe there is someone else out there who needs to hear this exact same pep talk today.
Perhaps that person is you.
This is the message that I sent to Sally. I hope it brings comfort and a new perspective. Feel free to forward this email to a friend who might need to hear these words today.
__________________
I am a big music lover. I listen to music pretty much all day long while I am working in my office. What I have noticed is that there are 100,000,000 songs about love.
Literally, millions of people out there writing love songs, recording those songs, and sharing them publicly.
So many songs—all about the exact same topic. And yet, each love song is unique. Like a fingerprint of the artist who made it.
And, different love songs resonate with different listeners. One listener might resonate with Taylor Swift and another with Billie Holiday and another with a heavy metal musician from Norway.
Writing a book is a lot like this.
You might be writing about a topic that's been covered before (like "health" or "courage" or "parenting" or "business") but you are writing a unique love song.
Nobody else in the world has your exact voice, sense of humor, life experiences, perspective, tips, or interesting true stories (stories about friends, family, colleagues, pets, or yourself) that you include in your book.
Even if it's difficult to believe it, right now, try to believe this…
There is someone out there who is going to read your book and resonate strongly with what you're saying.
One day a reader will pick up your book and have that feeling of, "Ahhh, well when you put it like that, it makes so much sense." Or, "I feel like you wrote this just for me." Or, "I've heard this said before, many times, but something about the way you say it just clicks with me."
This is the truth.
Once your book is completed and out there in the world—you will see.
I hope this pep talk is helpful. Wishing you a beautiful and inspiring week. Keep writing.
You're doing a great job.
-Alex
PS. One last thought...
You asked, "Why does it matter if I write this book?"
It matters because someone will read it—and benefit from it. Because this book will change someone's life.
But also because this book will change your life, too.
Creating a book is a process that requires you to think deeply, concentrate, organize your ideas, put concepts into words, and "make sense" of this life and body of work that you've created thus far. It’s a process that stretches you and—on the other side, upon completion—you are a stronger communicator and a more patient and focused person.
Even if not one single person reads your book (which is honestly pretty unlikely) it's still a worthwhile endeavor because of the way it touches your own life. You know?
__________________
Everyone reading, please send a silent burst of encouragement, power, and confidence to "Sally" and to everyone else, out there, who is tackling a big project and trying to create something great. Send that same blessing to yourself. Your project matters. A lot.
Go create your own love song (which might be a book, painting, album, company, non-profit, fundraiser, community project, or something else) and add it to the world.