Walking through the aisles of a bookstore or library will never be the same for me. Now that I’ve completed the process of publishing a book from defining an idea to writing multiple drafts, editing, designing and publishing, I have a new appreciation for anyone who chooses to write a book. Bringing a book to life is not for the faint of heart, it requires resilience, energy and a willingness to accept feedback on your work.
Sitting down to write my first book, I knew I had unique insights to share and wanted to do so in a way that was different from other business books. Many are strictly professional. Like with social media, people expect books to contain vulnerability and authenticity in ways they didn’t a generation ago. Effective business books today need to incorporate those concepts to resonate and make an impact.
Looking back, I’ve learned three key lessons from writing an authentic business book that combines vulnerability, storytelling, the latest research, case studies and success tactics.
1. Workshop your ideas
For years, people encouraged me to write a book. I’m passionate about storytelling and have seen how social media activity by leaders can impact business results, so I knew this was at the heart of the book. The deeper I delved into the concepts and research, the more I needed feedback from people not as closely involved in the project.
This is the same inquisitive technique that every entrepreneur and research and development team rely on. They ask questions like: Do people want or need what I’m creating? Am I solving a problem? Is my solution interesting?
Authors must ask the same questions to people they trust. I scheduled coffee and lunch outings with people in my network, asking them specific questions about topics where they had unique expertise, experience or insights. Each person made the project better. I’ll be honest, I didn’t listen to all their advice, but each bit of information was helpful and contributed to the final product.
2. Write, rewrite and rewrite again
The first version of Flip Your Script: Own your story & unlock the positive power of social media looks completely different than the final version. The first version lacked personal stories, which made it feel like it wasn’t coming from my point of view. Everything changed once I decided to get vulnerable and share not just insights from executives I’ve met and their results, but also my personal stories.
It can be intimidating to be vulnerable, share personal experiences and blend it with professional expertise. The fear of getting personal is a common reason people avoid being active or authentic on social media. The reality is that if a business book doesn’t offer unique insights and personal experiences, someone else could and perhaps already has written it.
3. Know your goal
If you are a business leader, you likely aren’t writing the book to quit your day job and become a full-time author. So, sales typically aren’t the number one goal. Some business leaders are fully relying on AI to write their book or are allowing their marketing team to pen every word. Why? Because someone suggested adding “author” to their biography would be valuable. I’d suggest that if something is going to have your name on it and it is going to have an impact on your reputation, you should play an active role in the concept and the stories shared.
Fundamentally, I believe businesses exist to help people, communities and stakeholders. The same holds true for writing a book. The primary goal for business leaders who write a book for thought leadership should be helping people. Certainly, there are other benefits to writing a book, but they shouldn’t be the sole motivator. If the other advantages to being an author outweigh the importance of helping people, the final book could a recipe for disappointment.
Writing a book isn’t easy, and you can’t do it alone. But if your book adds value and helps people, it will be worth it.
Kristi’s article was originally posted in Inc. on November 19, 2025.