Had a total blast on Tuesday’s call. As an avid reader, I love books. As an advocate experts, I want authors to get the value of all their hard work. But it’s just plain crazy in the publishing world. And let’s face it: publishers and agents want to sell books. They don’t care one bit about your platform or if you leverage all your time and money. To their defense, they aren’t suppososed to care. Let’s get real: that’s your job.

One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen authors make: they forget who is in charge of their platform. They are so thrilled that a publisher wants their book, they throw strategy out of the window. They’ll do anything the publisher wants; won’t even try to suggest a better idea. The result: a book that sounds great, even gets some sales, but doesn’t translate into better opportunities for any other revenue stream. Like speaking or consulting. I call this having fame without fortune. Nothing good comes from this.

Here’s the secret: publishers want to sell books. Platforms sell books. Keeping the publisher happy and supporting your platform are not mutually exclusive. You have a voice here. Use it. If you want to hear about the other mistakes authors make, reality checks on what books can really do for your business and other good stuff, the mp3 of Tuesday’s call is now available. Click here to purchase.