Have you ever wanted to write a book but had no idea where to start?  Well, join the club.

I had an idea for a book rattling around in my head for over five years that really needed to come out.  I had talked about it, even flirted with trying to write a few words but I just could not seem to go further than that.  One day someone who knew that I was struggling with it asked me point blank, “well, what are you waiting for?”.

That question finally made me realize that what I was really waiting for was the courage to put myself out there.  It is one thing to talk about writing a book because it stays inside of you, but actually writing a book is a very different exercise.  When you write it, it is no longer safe inside your head but out there for the whole world to see and judge.  The thought of actually writing and publishing the book brought a myriad of thoughts to my head and mixed emotions to my stomach.

• What if people hate it?
• What if people think I can’t write?
• What if people think I am trying to garner sympathy?
• What if the dream I have had all along actually turns out to be a nightmare?

Wow!  Do you think the noise in my head was getting in the way of me writing the book or what? I knew I needed to write this book and I had read a lot about how to go about writing one and I knew the checklist included putting a plan in place, setting a schedule to write and being diligent, but I don’t think getting a puppy is on there, but that’s what I did!

For those of you who are dog owners you know that they need love, attention, to be walked and played with but they also need a routine and discipline to grow up as a welcome member of the family and not a nuisance. Therefore, I liken writing my book and business in general to the routine and discipline part of training a puppy. Here are five tips that helped me to realize my ultimate dream of becoming a published author and that have since helped me to become a successful business owner.

1. Exercise is critical to one’s physical and mental well-being – there is a new term we are hearing a lot about lately: The Sitting Disease. Sitting all day at work is common for many business owners and it turns out women may be more sedentary than men, since they tend to play fewer sports and hold less active jobs. According to a poll of nearly 6,300 people by the Institute for Medicine and Public Health, it’s likely that one can spend a stunning 56 hours a week planted like a geranium. Puppies need exercise, so Tucker and I would have a good walk and I would use that time to think, get inspiration and be creative and then while he was napping at my feet, I would write. I personally found it impossible to sit in front of the computer and have inspiration strike me, so walking became my inspiration time and it is still the same to this day.

2. Hire a coach – successful business owners work with coaches who have proven records of accomplishment and who come highly recommended. In 2011, I decided it was the year to write my book and since I had no idea how to begin writing one I went in search of someone who did, a writing coach. I solicited referrals, interviewed potential coaches, did my due diligence and finally settled on one to help me write the book.

3. Planning is critical – how many times have you heard people tell you as a business owner that you need a plan? Well there is nothing different when you are writing a book. How do you know where you are going if you do not have a road map? I started working with my coach in June and had decided I wanted my book in my hands for a book launch party that December 8^th. It was only after the party my coach confided to me that I had set a very aggressive timeline to start writing and self-publish in six months, but I did it!

4. Get your marketing plan in place – as a business owner it is great to develop products and services to offer to the world at large but a marketing strategy in tandem with the development is critical to successfully launching and generating sales. Many authors forget this piece because that is not the reason they are writing the book. The story itself is the all out driving passion for them to want to write a book but without a marketing plan in place many authors end up storing their unsold books in their basements and garages because they have no marketing plan in place to generate sales.

5. You represent the brand – you have heard it said many times that a business owner or sales professional is the face of a company or product when it comes to sales and marketing. No one else can tell the story better than you can therefore you need to know your why, get your story down pat, know the facts, get out there, and network. It is the same when you are an author. People love to meet the face behind the story so this means setting up a strategy to get out there and be visible in the public eye.

Today my business revolves around my best-selling book and everything that I learned as I was writing my book I have been able to apply in my day-to-day business dealings. Planning and marketing are keys to my success and being the face of my brand has been critical to my successes to date. I now work with a business coach instead of a writing coach and I am also sharing my knowledge and successes to coach other first time authors to write and launch their books. I love every moment I spend helping them to realize their dream of becoming a published author knowing that I’m able to help someone to not feel stuck anymore!

Tucker is now four years old and the light of my life and the lessons I learned along the way while working to integrate a puppy into my life will stand me in good stead as a business owner for years and years to come.

To your success!