In this film I interview Debbie Jenkins, who is an accomplished author and runs her own publishing business. She shares her approach to getting a book written, published, and positioned as an important part of an executive’s future portfolio:
- Assessing Book Potential: Debbie outlines her approach to working with executives, which involves first identifying whether the individual has a distinctive point of view or intellectual property that warrants a book, rather than simply compiling existing knowledge.
- Trophy Versus Tool Concept: Debbie distinguishes between books written as trophies (personal achievements) and those created as tools (business assets), emphasising that a book should have a clear job for both the author and the reader, such as supporting marketing or client education.
- Types of Executive Books: Debbie classifies executive books into 'map', 'landmark', and 'directions' types, explaining that while many start with a 'map' (personal experiences), the most valuable books provide actionable frameworks or explanations ('directions' or 'landmark') for readers.
- Sharpening Core Ideas: Debbie stresses the importance of distilling and sharpening the core idea of a book, often through iterative feedback and focusing on what is truly unique or valuable in the executive's experience or methodology.
- Practical First Steps: Debbie goes on to discuss her structured approach for executives contemplating writing a book, and how executives can reach out via her website or LinkedIn for an initial conversation.
