by Seun Yewande Williams | Sep 14, 2017 | Book writing, marketing and publishing
We all have a story and we should share it. That has been my mantra for a while now and today I want to tell you ten reasons why you should share your story in a book
Of course, there are various methods you could use to share your message as an individual but the place of a book cannot be overly emphasized.
So here are my top 10 reasons to write a book
1. It gives you healing –
This is probably my favourite reason because it is all about you. And like it or not we might all want to do some noble deeds but the fact remains that we usually ask ourselves what is in it for me – the answer is healing. If you can’t write a story about what you have gone through with no fear or trepidation then you might still be dealing with the issue and by knowing this you can get the necessary help you need.
2. You impact lives with your book –
Our story and lives are connected and by telling your story, you are helping someone else who might be in the same situation as you know something they would never have known if you had never written the book.
The fact remains that books are more affordable and by having a book written You help people who can’t afford your services with your book – now that is more impact with your book.
3. You impact the lives of people you might never get to meet –
Well, this is simple. if you want your message to reach other people in the world that you have yet to meet then you need to write a book because that is by far the most easily transferred method of knowledge.
4. You impact lives long after you have gone –
Even when you are dead your voice through books still speaks in the lives of others. This is one great perk for writing because books are forever.
5. You become an authority in your field –
I don’t know where it was conceived but the status of being the expert is usually accrued to people immediately they write a book. Why because only someone who knows volumes as you do can fill up blank pages with your knowledge and relevant life experiences.
6. You earn money from your book –
Now, this is an incredible reason to write a book simply because by selling your book you can make a comfortable living for yourself, doing the work you love.
7. You can build a business around your book –
Now writing a book on web design might have been the first step for you, but that could you to build a web design business where you offer consultancy services. Since your book already serves as proof that you know what you are talking about.
8. It opens big opportunities for you –
Especially speaking opportunities well one thing Timothy Ferris, Anthony Robbin and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie have in common is that they have all written a book and they all speak on big platforms.
9. You can build a movement with your brand –
Harriet’s uncle tom cabin did so – she created a movement that helps stir up the anti-slavery movement that later saw the end to slavery in the United States of America – your book can be the next movement.
10. You can help preserve a moment in time –
Who would have known of the atrocities that happened in World War II if not because it was documented by individuals were there? Who would have known the story of Nigerian civil war – If it wasn’t documented? when you write you help do this.
There are so many benefits of writing a book, some are direct and plenty are indirect. Some are for personal gains and other really is about impact but irrespective of the purpose for which you may one to write a book, one thing I want to leave with you is this you need to share your story – and why not use a book to do so after all books are forever.
by Seun Yewande Williams | Sep 7, 2017 | Book writing, marketing and publishing
We want to impact lives using the book, we want to be authentic, we want to tell a story but can’t seem to find which story to tell, we think our lives stories are neither boring or ones that can’t make a difference – how definitely wrong are we.
Method 1 – realizing our lessons or lives message or experiences
When we think of our lives most times we isolate it into different phases – it could the phase I went to school, the phase I got married, the phase I started my business etc.
Yes, there are various phases of our lives and there are various reasons we find ourselves in but we all have a story to tell with our lives and that story is unique to us as individuals
So, what if for once we could look at everything that has happened to us as one big story what would it be called – a story of restoration, or a story of discovery or a story of impact
Think about it carefully what would your story so far be called, what has life taught you with your various seasons – I believe if you truly tried out this exercise you could find one theme that rings true with your life so far.
It could be a truth you are discovering in this particular phase you are in or it could something that has ringed true for quite a while in your life – you have a story there find it
Now is that enough to write a book – of course not but it is a start, all you need is the how-to, the breakdown of that story into bit size and viola your book might be on the way?
Method 2 – the 3 questions to ask
So, you still can’t find a story to tell, by providing answers to these questions I believe you should be on your way to knowing what story to tell?
- What are the top 3 painful experiences you have heard
- What are the top 3 achievements you have gotten
- What are the top 5 things you have learned so far about life – it might not even be your experiences
Hopefully, these questions should spur you on to more answers
Method 3 – help share other people’s story
Lastly if you are still finding it hard to tell your story – may be due to you believing your answers are not good enough or you really still don’t want to put yourself out there but still want to write a book that is truly authentic and can change lives – then it is time to tell someone else story.
There is a quote I love in the movie – ultimate gift (it is a lovely movie by the way) it says I may not have a dream but I would help others fulfil theirs (author paraphrased)
I have a dream but I also want to help others fulfil theirs through storytelling – I hope you see how even when we think our lives have been lived plainly there is still a story in it
by Seun Yewande Williams | Aug 31, 2017 | Book writing, marketing and publishing
Writing a book might seems like a very hard task to do especially if you have to think of the blank pages and sometimes blank inspiration that can follow a writing journey.
It seems that writing a book is something we tell ourselves we would do “someday”. While writing a book may not be the first thing on your list it never should be the last and I will give some awesome reasons why
BUT WHY should you write?
I have always said and will continue to advocate knowing your WHY. No matter what endeavour you do. If you can truly connect with your WHY the rest is usually not that hard
Personally, this is the first thing I do I when I want to undertake a project that is time-intensive and would take lots of my energy. I connect with WHY I am doing it. And as much as I want to do something good for myself I always try to find a reason greater than me.
But if you are finding it difficult to do connect with your WHY Today that what I want to do for you – I want to help you connect with 3 reasons WHY we need you to write your book
1. You get healing when you write
Okay so I know there are lots of ways people get help out there but one way I have found that is super cool and doesn’t cost money is to write about it.
when we write about things we have gone through we connect with our emotions in a way like never before we see who we are, what we are about, how we felt about such a situation. Writing about our life experiences helps us untangle any knots that might have been there without our knowledge
You know when people who have been heartbroken in a relationship say something about requiring closure – that what writing can do for you. It can give you the necessary closure you seek
I deeply believe that if you cannot write about a situation you have gone through in detail – you might still be having some unresolved issues with it Tweet it Writing truly brings healings, it lets you deal with unresolved issues through the use of a paper.
I used to say to friends and family “I write because my paper can’t talk back to me, it can’t shout at me or get angry with me, it can’t complain it can only listen” and as weird as that might sound that listening is one of the most needed ingredients in our healing process.
2. When you write you give others healing?
While the aim at the beginning might not have been to help others it usually falls to that
A statement of fact I now believe is – you are not the only one going through a particular situation in your life, yes currently it might feel like it is only you in the whole wide world facing that challenge but it is not true
Human are connected in ways that our minds can’t even begin to fathom or explain
That situation you might have passed through is also the experience of another person
that pain, that joy, that knowledge you know – someone else needs to know it and you need to share it
And just in case you are wondering why your writings matters – well one answer I would give is, it is your story, it is your perspective and we need to know it
3. You create a healing tool for generations yet unborn
Once a book is written you can be revised it, turn it into a movie, upgrade it with courses do whatever you want with it but one thing is definite you have something in your hands that can change the lives of the people you will meet, people that you might never meet and the ones yet unborn.
Have you ever read a book by someone who impacted you so much, but then you found out that the person was long gone – if you have experienced that then that is a classic example of why you should write
Wondering if you have a story – then lookout for my next post
But above all find your why and start writing that book today – we need it
So, my question for you is what areas in the writing Journey scares you the most let me know
by Seun Yewande Williams | Aug 24, 2017 | Life lessons and Others
Have you ever found yourself alone trying to make things work in your business and life thinking you have lots of supports only to find out that you actually don’t?
Well, this is true for me – I found myself all alone trying to build a business that would last a lifetime and then realizing I am going on this journey all alone.
And yes, I have a family and yes, I have friends but they are not all invested in my business, yes, they wish me well and hope I succeed but really would it be a big deal if I fail not really. It was a sad realization at first but that is not the end of the story.
I am not here to rant about my life as realizing this (being alone) is something I have come to accept as an individual sometimes you just have to go alone for a while before people get you. You will have people in your life who love you but truly can’t understand your drive, passion and dreams
But what are you going to do because this is happening, fold your hands and give up – no! you need to become your own support system.
It may seem strange and it may seem out of the norm but the fact is Are you going to follow people’s expectations or plan for you? or are you going to trust in yourself and believe that you are enough to do what needs to be done?
And it seems like I am preaching to the choir here (myself) but I also believe that a lot of people are going through the same journey and I have some tips that can help you out. The fact is you are enough to go on this journey – you just need to believe in yourself enough.
So, what if your only support system is just you what should you do – I have 5 tips that will help out
- Totally get clear on what it is you want from your life – the truth is if you don’t know what you want anywhere will look like the bus top. So, you need to know for yourself what it is you want – not for your family not for your friend but yourself, what does success mean to you? what would make your life a fulfilled one – you need the answers for yourself.
- Believe in your dreams and visions – if you don’t believe in yourself, no oneself can and it would only be a matter of time before you will be derailed to someone else plan. So as much as you can remind yourself of your vision and your dream and Why you are doing It
- Take action toward your plan and vision – a favorite quote of mine is if you can’t soar – fly, if you can’t fly – run, if you can’t run – walk and if you can’t walk – crawl, but by all mean get moving towards your goals (Martin Luther King Jnr) this quote says it all, do something every day in line with your dream. Be intentional about your life.
- Positive self-talk and self-visualization – it is a common saying that you cannot become what you cannot see and you cannot have what you can’t say – so forget the naysayers and start talking positive, start speaking your dreams like it was already fulfilled start believing it. Your reality would always at some point time align with your mind – so get a mindset that sees unlimited possibilities.
- Don’t give up – it usually takes time. It may be hard but don’t give up on your dreams and vision. Believe in it and know It usually takes time. Learn the act of enjoying the journey while also looking forward to the destinations you want.
Remember success is who you are every day when you do something towards your goals.
Lastly, if you don’t have a lot of support from people around – you can join online communities where you meet people that can take you beyond where you are currently to where you want to be
I hope this helps you, so what part of walking this journey alone scares you. Let me know in the comment section.
by Seun Yewande Williams | Aug 17, 2017 | Life lessons and Others
Have you ever set a goal in which you didn’t believe that you would achieve? You believed it was impossible – that is being unrealistic with your goals.
Also, have you set a goal that looks good on paper but you really can’t find time or resource to achieve it – this is when you don’t understand your reality.
One of the main filters I use for goal setting is SMART – which is being Specific, your goals being Measurable, it being Attainable, Realistic and Timebound.
I also mention the fact that you need to be conscious of your reality when setting your goals.
So then, what is the difference between setting a realistic goal and knowing your reality? They are not the same and their definition and the following explanation should explain why.
Your reality is being conscious of your daily life experience.
The fact is that when setting your goals, you have to be conscious of your daily reality – you can set a goal to read every day for 3 hours after work. when in reality you get home by 9 pm and you are supposed to get back up by 4 am. This is an impossible goal.
And while a lot of people use sleep deprivation and other means to see they get this done – you really are not working optimally on your best output and the possibility for you to crash is very high and once that happens there can occur a spiral trail of you losing the initial momentum you started with and then getting back to achieving even 20 minutes of reading may seem impossible.
So, when setting goals, you want to be fully conscious of your daily reality examples of these are being truthful with the time you actually have against what you think you do have.
Another example would be energy level – knowing when you get tired easily and when you are refuelled, also concentration level and output level all this thing affects your goals – this is what it means to be conscious of your reality but what does it mean to be realistic with your goal.
Well, it is basically to know what your mind can allow you to have and being okay with it. For some it is deceiving themselves that is the main problem – your mind holds a very significant role in anything you are going to become in life – ANYTHING.
Being realistic means being able to set goals that are possible in your mind to achieve.
Now it may not be possible based on your daily reality which really means your day to day experience but if your mind really can see it then it is definitely possible for you to attain it.
If you can see it you can have it and so it is okay if right now your mind cannot see you buying that range rover it is totally fine. Just work on your mind and while you are doing that don’t put range rover as the car you want to buy in your goal but the Camry your mind can accept as the goal.
3 ways to work on your Mind
- Confession – these are the confession on who you want to become, this is general in nature and can come in “I am” statements are the example I am smart, I am beautiful, I am intelligent, I am a child of God etc.
- Affirmation – affirm your goals, say it like you have achieved it example I weight 70kg, I have published 3 of my book this year etc.
- Vision boards – our minds begin to accept whatever we see regularly so get pictures of images of where you want to be and start looking at it regularly.
I hope this helps you understand what both this concept now means in goal setting.
Wishing you the very best.
Hi my name is Seun Yewande Williams and I help individuals and businesses share their knowledge, skills and experiences through books. Welcome.
