SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to the Book Business Boss Show with your host, Dr. Julia Royston, helping you get your message to the masses, turn your words into wealth, and be a book business boss.

SPEAKER_02 0:27

Turn your words into wealth and be a book business boss. Or in your case, it may be you're moving your book into a business. People are asking and they want more from you. Now, as I've stated before, um, for this episode and right through here, I'll switch um to maybe some other um industries or some other um positions. But right now I'm gonna focus on coaches, therapists, and speakers, because speakers could be across the board. That can be any genre, uh any book that you've written. But coaches and therapists and speakers um really kind of go together. And that's something that you know that people often start asking you about, especially as I say it before, if you've written a memoir, if you've written um uh something on that wise, or uh you've written a self-help, inspirational, devotional, any of those types of things, people will be asking you uh, do you speak? Do you coach? Can you help other people? Okay, you um survived and thrived in a traumatic situation, can you help me? So that's first that that's something that you still have to decide. Um, this season is all about turning your book into a business, but that's a decision that you have to make. That's something that you still have to decide. But know that if you've written something that is extremely helpful step by step, people enjoy it, they're gonna ask you. And you know, you can't if you're selling the book and you're in people's faces and you're in places to promote your book, they're gonna ask you what it's about, what you do, and then connect and nonprofit or connect. So so that's one of the things that you know what type of business we talked about previously, and we've talked about the initial concepts with this, but then this is the this is the next steps that you have to decide. Once you say yes, um, then you get to start asking some questions, not just of yourself, but for the other person. So once you decide to say yes, we're not even gonna get down into the no, um, because I know for a fact I left money on the table, not just a profitable uh uh way, but then the ability to help others, I left it on the table now. Most of uh authors I meet, oh, I'm not really in it for the money. I'm not, but let me tell you something. It changes your perspective on everything if you are in a career that is not the highest paid. So when you realize you can make additional money, extra money, and some doing something legal and moral and ethical. So that's first off, and then because you can make money doing a lot of things, they don't necessarily have to be legal, moral, and ethical. But then after that, you realize you can do it on your own time, you don't have to punch another clock, it turns into something totally different. You determine the schedule, you determine that takes on a whole whole nother life of its own. So even before you um meet with them, even before when people start saying, Do you well, I'm working on that, or working on, you know, you know how you as the old folks say you hem-haw around for a while. But one of the first things I say is that you need to go back to not just your calendar, not your life. You've already said that part, you've already determined that part. But you need to go back to what your book said you do. Meaning, what are the what's the uh either approach to a topic, approach to an industry, your ex experience with it, um, and then maybe your strategies, your tools and resources? Yeah, as they say, you know, if you um, you know, back in the day when we got ready to uh cut the turkey for Thanksgiving, my mother was adamant about making sure the dark knife is sharp. So the same thing uh with analyzing your book again, is your knife sharp? Are you able to uh with precision um be able to help somebody rather than hurt someone? So go back to your approaches. What are the 10 things? What are the five things? What are the five pillars to this? What are the ten pillars to move this forward? And then um kind of start making you some notes. And in your book, were you um talking to what I call an introductory audience? Step one, you do this, step two, you do this, or kind of an intermediate audience, people who've had some experience. Because now I can talk to the person who just had an idea for something in their head and journal pages that they've been writing, or I can talk to the person who's published five to ten books, and I can talk to the person who's, you know, well just writing coaching or in literary services. So you gotta decide, okay, wait a minute, wait a minute. When I did my first book, I knew it was only going to be, as I stated before, it's only gonna be poetry because that's what I have an expertise in. That's that's where my background is. I've done poetry, that's only one thing I can be secure and safe in. But over time, I've I've been able to do more because I have more experience. And then you need to decide. Okay, once you decide, okay, I can meet 10 to 12 on Saturdays, or one to three on Saturday afternoon, or I can meet when I get off work from 5:30 to 7:30. Then ask the uh the client. You can say, well, I'm okay, I'm offering right now is free consultations. Let's have a conversation first. Because when I first started, I was dealing with people that were locally in my area. I didn't have an online calendar, I didn't have all those things. So I could actually meet you at Starbucks. So all my clients were local. But then I realized, okay, that's not gonna work for me for people that are out of town. So technology advanced, I advanced with the technology. Of course, it didn't hurt that I was married to a person that I see. And then we're able to move forward. But in the meantime, my first client, I met him at Starbucks. And we talked and we had a conversation, whatever. What's the problem? Are you sure you don't want me to teach you? Are you sure you don't want to learn on your own and self-publish like I did at first? Or what is it? So determining what the client needs. And over time, that will eventually develop into a checklist. Now, most of the time, I'm running that checklist in my head. Now I am. But as I'm getting older, I realize I really need, you know, once people get on my calendar, I need to kind of advance that process. Working on that too now, not only just in my head, but sorting out how that's gonna actually work. So in that conversation, you got to determine what the problem actually is. What does the client actually need? And what part of that do you want to offer? Do you want to offer only like I did? I only did pub poetry books. I focused on people who did poetry at first because that's what I had experience doing. I have an experience, I hadn't written one to even try my hand at it. So, what part of that do you want to offer? No, I don't do this, this, this. It is best, I'm just you do what you want. You're an adult, but it is best to focus on what you do best, what you have the most experience in, and then expand as you go. As you learn, you expand. Uh, as a rule of thumb for me and my business, I don't um, you know, I don't offer services that have not worked for me already. I don't um recommend services that I haven't tried. If it's anything, a book, literary, anything related. If it didn't work for me with my catalog, it's not gonna work. I'm not gonna offer it and recommend it to somebody else. Now you can do what you want. You can follow me, you can do whatever you want on your own dime. But to say Julia Royston told me to go here and she referred me to there, I'm not gonna, I'm not doing it. I I have, as as old folks say, I have a rep to protect, I have a reputation. And so therefore it could not work out with you, but at least I want to know I had a good experience before I recommend you. So, what part of that do you want to offer? Now, as far as paying for a calendar, paying for an assistant, all that, you might not be ready for that yet. You might not be ready for that. Now, if you already have a business and you're just putting the um the brand book along with it, that's different. But if you're first time moving your book into a business, you want to make it as simple process as possible. You don't want to inundate yourself with a lot of um expenses, business expenses, before that process. You haven't even gotten your first client. And even the secretary of state, now you have to check with your own. I'm I'm not putting myself as a financial advisor, etc. But even on the Secretary of State in the area I'm in, they allow you to um work as a hobby first before you even have to register after a certain dollar amount, whatever that is where you are, then you should, okay, wait a minute. Look like you can ready to make some money, take off from here. Then maybe you need to establish a business or LLC or a S-corp or a partner, whatever that looks like for your financial advisor. But at least at least they give you space to try your hand at the business before you official stamp, you know, register. So I I would do that. It would just be me and and just start, and that's where I started. You know, um it it took me a minute, it took me a long time. I had a one client probably for two or three years before I had anybody else. But it, you know, but you have to take one step at a time, one day at a time. And so you've got to determine what that looks like. Once you determine your calendar and all that good thing, then you need to determine after you meet with a client what that actually looks like and what that should be like in your life, in your business. Okay, so uh we're gonna take a break right here. We're gonna be back with more. Are you ready to read, learn, grow, and take your next bold step? Dr. Julia Royston has everything you need to elevate your journey, whether you're an author, entrepreneur, educator, or lifelong learner. For children's books, visit Royston Children Bookstore.com. Or Julia Royston's fiction, nonfiction, devotionals, and more. Visit Royston Royal Bookstore.com and discover stories that inspire, empower, and transform. If you're ready to build, write, publish, or grow your business, head to Royston TrainingAcademy.com. You'll find instant access courses, trainings, and resources designed to help you move forward with confidence. Books to feed your mind, courses to fuel your purpose. Three powerful platforms, one mission, helping you get your message to the masses, turn your words into wealth, and be a book business boss. Visit Royston Children Bookstore.com for children's books, Royston Royal Bookstore.com for adult books, and for all your training needs. And we're back. I'm Dr. Julia Royston and you're listening to the Book Business Boss Show. So one of the main reasons why people are asking you about working with you and moving it to um even just a conversation level is that hopefully you have been active on social media, you might have had a large book signing, or you've been out in the public spreading the message of what you've written, you've been posting, you've been doing videos, you've been doing interviews. So you've been out there, you've been out there for people to be able to see you and be able to say, oh, that's interesting. Oh, she's got a um a great perspective. Oh my gosh, we really need to hear what he has to say. And so you may have been invited to speak, even to an in-person audience, even a um a social media audience, whatever that looks like. So um in the PR world, you've gained a lot of buzz. Uh, you might not be viral yet, but you gained some buzz. People have been uh connecting with you. So therefore, even after your book is launched, 90 days, even after it's out, 60, 6, 60 days, 90 days, six months, you need to continue that social media. So even though when you decide, okay, yeah, I may have a few conversations and see where it goes, see if it's something that I might be interested in. You can't stop your social media posts. Even if it's not always about buy my book, you still you still gotta have social media going. Okay. And then um, so therefore, whether you're on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, um, TikTok, whatever you've been doing, you have to be consistent. Because that's gonna be a part of not only um gaining a first 10, 20,000 clients, it's gonna maintain them, and then they'll you'll be creating a group of content, short content, long content, to basically encourage uh massage, continue to motivate the group that you have. Okay, so if you're a speaker or you're wanting to be a speaker, then therefore you need to speak. You need to be seen in front of audiences, you need to be speaking, even if it's to your phone and you don't think anybody's gonna see it, they will, they eventually will see it. If you're a therapist and you're now being certified and you're oh quote unquote open for business, yeah, well then okay, just because you say you're a therapist, what do you believe and what's your methodology? What's your strategy? Yeah, legally people are, you know, you got supervisors, etc., but you know, what's your approach? Because every therapist is not for everybody, and every coach is not for everybody. So, what's your coaching style? What's your coaching methods? What do you stand on? What do you believe in? Okay, so that needs to be out there always in social media, no matter how old the book is and when you did it. Okay. Secondly, uh, when you meet with people, you need to be taking notes. Um, you need to, I'm always a pencil and pen person, but if you're like, I'm not gonna be able to write that down, ask permission first, and then either put your cell phone and record it so that you have notes um to be able to go back to and refer to because that always is easier. Now, Zoom is a fee-based service, and you can also use you know any of the other um um web-based um two-way telecommunication systems. But start off with what you know, and you got a good smartphone, go for it. And so taking notes is is really very key. Knowing what you're you know, um gonna be working with, knowing who you're talking to, um, is really, really key. Ask for permission, but it's really, really key. Otherwise, go back to old school, get you an information sheet that you know has their name and who they are and who you met with. If you don't use it now, try a Google Calendar so you can keep track of who you met. Even before you get there, their paid calendars out there, all of that. But remember, we're trying to keep our expenses low. So, Gmail account, you got a free calendar. Now, if you've got money like that and set aside and y'all set and you got grind, whatever, go for it, do what you do. But I'm talking about somebody who's at the beginnings. You're trying not to um go you know above and beyond right in the beginning. You don't know what it's gonna do. It could make two dollars, it could make two million. You don't know, and anywhere in there in between. Uh nothing's too hard for God, but in this economy, we have to be uh positive, but we have to be realistic. So we're staying on social media, we're gonna be taking notes. If we can do a recording and person feels comfortable for that, telling you what they need, telling you what the problem is, what they want, what they're looking for. Even if you're if you they're asking you to speak, you need to know the details, when it is, where it is, how long you're gonna speak, what are you gonna speak about? Is it related to your book? Can you sell your book? All those things. Okay. And so having an information, what I would call information or contact sheet is really, really key. It's the basic contact information: your name, mailing address, email, phone number, those types of things. When you met, um, and and then how where you met them. Um, if you're like me in your 60s and menopause is kicking in and brain fog is kicking in too, that's the reason why I meet via Zoom. So I'll know exactly what I said and know exactly who I met, and and we won't have to be going around as the old folks say Marbury's Bush trying to figure it out. Okay. And then finally, even when I was singing, you know, those of you who followed me for a while, you know I tell the story. I've sang since I was eight years old. I don't do much singing now, it's all about books, but um, one of the things that I did do was have some level of communication. It was just, okay, I'm a talker, so it wasn't wasn't very difficult for me. But when you start meeting with, say, for example, you get 10 people that you've met with, or 20 people, or five, it doesn't matter. Then you want to have some kind of follow-up system to just say hello and then keep in contact. Even if they don't, we haven't even got to pricing and sign up and all that, and what that looks like and what that price point is and all that. We haven't got to that part. But just a communication, uh, first off, a follow-up email. Thank you so much for meeting with me today. As per my notes, it looks like we're going to be ABC meeting in a month, um, that sort of thing. I'm gonna send you documentation, I'm gonna send you an agreement, what that looks like next. We haven't talked about that yet, but what that looks like next. And so, therefore, um, you know, you you need some type of some level of communication system. Now, when I first started doing a newsletter, uh, I was uh doing events, singing services every week. I was either leading worship somewhere or I was gonna be at somebody's concert, opening worship somewhere. I was always doing something somewhere. Now, if you're just getting started and you don't already have another life that keeps you busy, then you may want to start on a quarterly basis. Uh, happy new year for January through March, April, May, and June and Spring. Let's get out there. Summertime, having fun in the sun. July, August, September, and then October, it's holidays. Um, July, August, September could be let's go back to school, let's go back to learning, let's get ourselves together before fourth quarter. What do we got to do before the end of the year? All the things. Okay. So some type of I haven't talked about a quarterly newsletter, I haven't talked about any of that systems or any of that. But think about just respond with the email. Just respond. Because sometimes that response will help you know, well, okay, did they give me the right email address? If they didn't, you may have to text some high uh and then say the email I tried, it didn't work. So those all of those things that really kind of need to be ironed out up front. Now, maybe down the line you're making money and you have can afford to pay a virtual assistant, fine. But at first, it's you. It's you. It's you. It's you that is attracting the people. It's you and your book that uh have people read and even interested. It's gonna be you, your book, and your personality and your God, and your it's you. It's all about you. And if you're like me that have control issues, I want it to be me. I don't know. I, you know, I'm bu I'm birthing the baby. Um, you know, this is my baby. This is my child, this is my uh the idea God gave me, so I've got to make sure it's managed correctly. Then anybody else I want to bring on, I gotta train them, I gotta watch them, I gotta Yeah. This is your baby. So it's your book baby. But now your book baby is grown up, and some more people want to learn from the book baby. The the the coach, the mother, other they want some information, they want more from you. So I hope that that's been helpful. Um, I hope that hasn't been too primary for you. But as you know, from the start of this, four seasons ago, we're in season number five. I want to go step by step by step. Eat the meat, spit out the bones. If you're not ready for that yet, hold it in reserve. Put it on your uh computer in your brain, or your computer uh on your uh physical computer because you're gonna need it in the future. I'm Dr. Julia Royston. I trust that this has been helpful. Until next time, be blessed.

SPEAKER_01 22:55

Bye-bye. You have been listening to the Book Business Boss Show with your host, Dr. Julia Royston. For more information, visit www.bookbusinessboss.com. That's bookbusinessboss.com. So you can get your message to the masses, turn your words into wealth, and be a book businessboss.

SPEAKER_02 23:18

Being a business owner is not for the faint of art, easily discouraged or one who quits at the slightest problem or issue. On the other hand, there is not a business owner, entrepreneur, nonprofit director, ministry leader, or author that has not wanted to pause, slow down, or even quit. It is in the nature. But if you could just take one more step, if you could fix that one problem, if you could find a friend, mentor, or coach to talk to about the situation who can point you in the right direction or be the answer you need, you can keep moving. There are three things that I want this book to encourage you to do. Watch your mindset, make moves, and don't lose momentum. Mindset Moves Momentum by Julia A. Royston is now available at Royston Royal Bookstore.com. That's Royston Royal Bookstore.com.

SPEAKER_00 24:20

Grant Cameron here inviting you to join me for the Rhythm and the Praise. We play a perfect blend of today's gospel music. And we pay homage to legends and iconic performances with our gospel classic rewind. And we interview movers and shakers in gospel music. So join me for the rhythm and the praise. Wednesday at 1 p.m. right here on Envision Radio. You are listening to Envision Radio Radio, where praise meets talk talk.