Writing a book isn’t easy, but it is a highly rewarding experience (and anyone can do it).
For full-time employees, publishing a book is a particularly daunting challenge (mainly due to the lack of time), but the ROI is 100% worth it.
I’ve written several books while being employed (including 4 Amazon bestsellers), and I’m working on my next one now.
Here are four reasons why you should write a nonfiction book if you’re employed.
1) You’ll establish yourself as an expert
By writing a book about your field, you’ll solidify your expertise in that area and establish yourself as an authority figure, which can differentiate you from your peers.
You’ll also build a strong personal brand for yourself, which would help you stand out among your colleagues or other job candidates.
2) You’ll learn new skills
Writing and publishing a book is a lot like running a business. You’ll pick up collateral skills related to marketing, social media, analytics, and more.
You’ll also get to improve your research, writing, and design skills. Most importantly, the act of writing alone will improve your critical thinking skills, which is always a huge plus.
All those are transferable skills that you can leverage in other roles or jobs that you work on in the future.
3) You’ll make some money on the side
Chances are that you won’t be quitting your job after you write your first book (writing isn’t a very lucrative profession for the majority of authors), but you will make some passive income on the side.
The amount of money will depend on several factors, including the market you publish in, the demand for your particular topic, and the price of your book.
However, you’ll probably make more money because of your book, than from your book.
In other words, you’ll probably make more money through indirect channels such as training, consulting, or speaking engagements, compared to direct book royalties.
And if money isn’t a motivating factor, you can always use your book as a tool to give back.
When I published “Fun Virtual Team-Building Activities” a couple of months ago during the coronavirus pandemic, I raised over $3,200 in 30 days and donated all the profits to Cisco’s COVID-19 fund, to match the proceeds and help people in need (note: I work for Cisco Systems, and views are my own).
4) You’ll get exposure to exciting opportunities
Finally, the opportunities that you’ll have opened up to you from writing a book are endless. Some examples include being invited to speak at conferences or being asked to work on cool projects.
You’ll also build new relationships and a network of like-minded professionals all over the world.
After publishing “Influencing Virtual Teams,” I was fortunate enough to be highlighted in several media outlets, including Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. I was also asked to serve as the technical editor for Tara Powers’ “Virtual Teams for Dummies” book (which was a very gratifying experience).
In summary, writing a book while being employed takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but the results are worth it. So if you’ve been on the fence about writing that book, just go for it.
Interested in writing a book? Grab a copy of “Write Your Book on the Side” (it’s free)