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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_01 0:18

Well, hello, I'm Dr. Julia Royston. Welcome to another edition of the Book Business Boss Show, where I'm always helping you get your message to the masses, turn your words into wealth, and be a book business boss. And so we are still talking about going from book to business. And we'll be talking about a lot about your book, what it's about, reviewing all the pieces, all the parts. But now we need to switch gears just a little bit to more of the business side. We've talked about your mindset. We've talked about figuring out what type of business you want. We've talked about focusing on primarily coaches, therapists, people that speak. And that's really going to apply across the board to everybody. Like, I don't care if you're doing children's books, you're going to need to be a speaker. I don't care if you're writing poetry, you're still going to be able to perform and need to speak in front of other people. So it's kind of across the board. I'll get back to some more specific um genres of books, especially the memoirs and poetry are two areas that I'm going to get back to. But in the meantime, some of you may have already had people reach out to you to do business or have been discussing with you about um how you can help them, how they want to work with you. And you're looking at them with blank stare and blank eyes. Because that's what I did the first year. I'm like, I know what it's like to come and sing, because y'all know anybody who's been following me for a while, I would um come and sing, sell my CDs. I do know how to do a workshop, I know how to do that, but the thing about publishing or the thing about doing some other operations or consulting, it's a yes, but I gotta figure that out. And so for a long time I said no, I wouldn't publish. Yep, I kept singing, yep, I kept doing workshops, yes, I kept visiting places, churches, conferences, all those things. But then it was time when I first said my one yes, my first yes. And so I've always been a relatively organized person. It's my messy organization, so it's really not designed for other people. It's my own way of doing things. But if I were to go back again and regroup, um, I did have files on everybody that I published at the time. I copied the contracts. Now everything's in electronic format. But probably number one, um, I would seek to get organized. Um, that's that's the first thing. Uh, organization, having a way, it doesn't have to be perfect in everybody else's organizational structure, but it's it's gotta you gotta get organized. You you eventually need to figure out how you're gonna organize based on the needs of business, but also the needs of your clients. What are is all gonna be encompassing in this? So are we just doing in-person or having consultations? Do you need to make notes? If you're certified, you'll definitely need to make notes and write things down. You're gonna have to have things in print format if you have to submit it to somebody, electronic, filing. Woo! So the technology issue is a big issue. Um, having technology available, updated, and investing in technology is really key. Now, you don't have to have platinum and you know, the state of the art and pay thousands of dollars up front, but you do need to begin to have your technology in order. And the second thing is you can't have all everybody's documents just on the desktop. You need to start creating folders, you need storage, you need backups. You might even need to get either start off with create in a box. These are all the file folders. You might need to go to the discount store and get some yellow folders so that you can actually put physical papers that you're gonna need for your business in a physical format. Now, over time, that may not be necessary, but to start, um, you really need to organize yourself, organize your life, making sure you have a good working phone, making sure that it now for me, I needed a desktop and a laptop because I was mobile. But if you have a laptop that you can use or good desktop or a good mobile device that you can use as well, that makes all the difference in the world. Technology and investing in technology has to be a priority. You know, any profits that you're making, technology has to be high on your list. And as much as I, you know, y'all remember, I'm married to my IT department. My husband was in IT, and he is keeps me on guard. And of course, sometimes he says, we need this, we gotta back up this, we gotta uh redo this, we've got to re-image that, we got to get updates for that. And I look at him and I shush, and I, as they say, suck my teeth and blow really hard. But I know it's necessary. I know that it's definitely gonna be something key and crucial. So getting organized, number one, you're gonna have to figure that out. If you're not an organized person, then you may have to attach yourself to someone who is organized. Is it your sister? Is it your friend? Is it um do you need YouTube videos? What do you need to do to strive to get as organized as you can be? And that might be one of your first virtual assistant um um jobs once you get um even more profits, etc. Because being unorganized and not having a thing for a place and a place for a thing is gonna be detrimental to you moving forward. Secondly, is your technology, getting organized and then having your technology. Okay. Third thing is, and with AI, with the ad adage of AI, is the beauty of being able to write everything down. Now I am uh bad about it's all in my head. That's good enough, isn't it? No, it's not necessarily good enough. Because eventually, and I've had a friend for years who says, Oh, I have standard operating procedures. I'm like, girl, by the time you did that, I got to publish five books. But now I'm going back in the reverse and realizing, okay, if I ever got an opportunity to be doing ABC or adding something else, and I needed and I had the funds and budget to bring on somebody, I'd have to stop what I was doing, stop the opportunity to tell them what to do. But if I had a standard operating procedure, I could hand it over to somebody and say, read this, start here. You have questions, text me, email me, come back to me. So therefore, having everything written down, what did you do first? What did you now writing it down? I know some people are manual people. They need pen and paper, they need a notebook, they need a pad. But you don't have to do that today. In the year of our Lord 2026, and whenever you're hearing this, you can pick up your phone and speak it. You can uh be on your computer and dictate it. So writing everything down is not necessarily manually pen to paper writing it down. It's just recording it as you go. What did I do first? What did I do next? Or even videotaping. What did I do first? What did I do next? Open up your Zoom, share the screen and say, go. What did I do first? What did I do next? And it doesn't, you know, eventually you'll get it in order, but some things you realize I should have done that first, and then I'll do that next. And oh my goodness, I should have done that first, and then I don't worry about that part. Getting it down because this is a phase of organization that is really key and really important. Even if, you know, oh, I don't need to write that down because it didn't work right. I don't need to write that down because uh it didn't give me the result. No, no, no, no, no. We need to get it all down the good, the bad, and the ugly. That's the reason why I'm able to do the book business marshow, because I still remember. Nope, that didn't work. Yep, that did work. So I can teach others and therefore um be able to help you. We're gonna take a break right here. I'll 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 for 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 with one mission of 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, go to Royston TrainingAcademy.com today. And we're back. You're listening to the Book Business Moss Show. I'm Dr. Julia Royston, your host. So we've been talking about transitioning more from just the product, what type of business we want. Um, and I'm focusing on again the coaches, therapists, and speakers, which in one way, shape, or form, I'm sorry to say, for some people that are extroverts and I don't want to get in front of people and I don't want to talk about anything. No, boo, you're not gonna be able to do that. Um, a part of this we all have to do whether we have the book that's the poetry, memoir, it doesn't matter what genre the book, there are some of us that are going to be called upon to do just these things. So, first off, now this one may hurt. Um, before the break, I talked about getting organized and getting your technology life together, as well as getting physically organized along with your technology and writing things down, or you don't even really have to write it down physically, but you need to make notes, some kind of way to record what you did. So sometimes a part of this organization, when you're transitioning from just being an author, just selling books, to turning this into a business, you're going to have to, and I've said it before, and I'll continue to say it throughout this entire season, you're gonna have to look at your life and make adjustments. Entrepreneurship, business ownership, whatever you want to call yourself, founder, whatever you want to call yourself, CEO, etc., you're gonna have to pivot continually because there are gonna be things that are gonna happen and occur in your business that are gonna require adjustments. So if you like to sleep late, then that means you're gonna have to get up uh or stay up later so that you can get some things done because you're not an early riser. If you're like me, I go to bed early because I am an early riser. So you're gonna have to adjust to see what is gonna best fit for you. Now everybody's not a four to six a.m. riser. I get that. Um, my sister would not. She could sleep at two o'clock in the afternoon if you let her, if she had the opportunity. She doesn't do that much these days. But when we were back in the house, as they say, a teenager, she slept late. My point is everybody has to adjust their business for their personal needs. But then also you have to um admit that sometimes it's not about my personal needs, it's gonna be about the client, the business, moving the book, moving to the business that the client wants. And let me just tell you this with 11,000 books that are published every single day, traditionally, um independent, self-published, whatever you want, hybrid, whatever you want to do publishing-wise, there are a lot of other people out there in genres that do what you do, but they're not called to be you and called to the people you're called to. So you're gonna answer that call or you're gonna stay in a being. Okay, I'm gonna leave that right there and keep moving. But writing everything down, this is one of the, I don't have many regrets, but this is just one of those tidbits that I really wish I had done more of. I knew it in my head, I knew it in my heart, and I knew what had to be done, and I did it in the order that I needed to, and I adjusted, but I didn't write it down. And yes, I do have the right publish and promote book, and I have right the book that builds the brand. I have those step by step. But if uh and I've trained other people to publish, and I can always outsource to them, but I'm like, you know, I need to have my own record, so I'm doing it. I'm creating my own standard operating procedures, um, basically step-by-step instructions of what should be done at different phases of business. Yeah, it's working backwards, but it's gonna leave Alexi for my business long after I'm gone. So the step-by-step instructions of everything that you do, from onboarding people, from um when you meet them, what should happen next. And after you've done that probably 10 or 20 times, 100 times, mine nearly 500, 600, 700 times, it's gonna get a pattern, it's gonna be in a rhythm. Now, publishing for me is really customized because each book is different. So, therefore, I have multiple versions of uh standard operating procedures based on who and based on what we're producing. But generally, I have generally the same procedures for everyone that I connect with. So, this is something that you may have various uh versions of, but you've got to be ready for it. You've got to adjust, but you have to have something down. You can't you can't get a uh a revision or something that you haven't even created. So, organization, technology, writing everything down, and then you have to get basic agreements. Now, this um I have to have a disclaimer because I'm not an attorney. Um, my first agreement was very, very basic. I determined what I was gonna do, I determined what I needed the author to do, I determined, you know, how much I was gonna charge, what I was gonna produce, all those things. And that was probably a one and a half page agreement because it wasn't even really a fully contract. I didn't even have in there about, you know, something happens, where we're gonna meet in court. I wasn't doing that. There was somebody I knew. I trusted them, and they did what they said they were gonna do, and I did what I said I was gonna do. So I didn't really have to worry about that. But now, after 18 years, no, you know, it's not that kind of party. So I have Googled agreements, look for agreements. Um, AI is wonderful for that. Um, but you know, even after I've done that, I have at least an annual review of my contracts by uh Legal Shield, which is who um I get legal advice from at a very reasonable price for a business owner. I don't have now I can get access to lawyers, don't play with me, but um, I don't, you know, need on that level often because I do have legal shield. And for every business owner, I just highly suggest it. I wish I had an affiliate link, but I don't, but I just highly suggest that you have something in agreement, that you have some liability insurance just in case you need to. And some events require it. Um, some um industries require it. If your food and you know, passing it, there's all kinds of legalities and contracts that you're definitely gonna need. You need to really look into that and determine what that is like uh before you move. You've written a cookbook, and then you should know what the the food requirements are and they change and the licensing and um the the you know all of the things that that is required to serve food, to have all the things. You know, they have a whole uh inspection team that that's all they get done is all they do and paid full-time, retirement, etc., to monitor what we take. Man, you can wipe out, you know, uh, I remember military-wise, they were like, you can wipe out a whole battalion if you serve something wrong. So I digress, but having agreements and things of that nature, I have agreements for the full promising process, but I also have agreements for each of all the card services. So even if you just want a cover, I have an agreement for that. If you just want editing, I have an agreement for that. If you want me to format what you already have had edited, yeah, I have an agreement for that. And then if you want to adjust and say, Well, I want the right, I'll give you another agreement for that. So having agreements in place will help you protect you and um help you with that number one thing to be organized. And believe you me, after 18 years, I have had to nope, that's not what I said I was gonna do. And you didn't say do what you said you would want to do. And this was the price we agreed upon, and you signed it, and here we are, and doing, and I'm the queen of screenshots. I will screenshot what you signed and what we said, and I have video, and that's the reason why we meet on Zoom. And you know, when I first started, I never would have thought I would be here and have to actually do this. But you really, you really need to have some agreements in place so you'll know exactly what you said you'll be responsible for doing and what they're gonna do. Um, my contract has grown to about seven pages. Sometimes it's even longer, depending on what's going on. Started out a page and a half. Um, but the contract grew as I grew. As the client's demands grew, my contract grew. When people, I won't say they were my client, but when people defaulted, didn't do what they said, asked new questions. Sometimes it wasn't a bad thing. Sometimes they just had new requests and new questions. I think, you know, I never thought about that before. And after 18 years and so many hundreds of people, yeah. So it was not only protection for me, but it was information I needed to have and to be informed, to be better informed. Um, you know, and then I was a fine, and people would say, No, I want the your service, or no, or yes, I do want your service. And then I had people, the COVID stopped a lot of things because I had to decide, you know, what do I do now? The unfortunate happened, the person passed away. So then I had to go back to my attorneys and say, What do I do? They didn't pay their balance. It's not because they don't want to, they're not alive, they passed on. And so those kinds of things arise that are definitely um not foreseen. And I had a conversation with the person and they're like, Yeah, I'm gonna pay, but maybe they can't pay you if they're not here. They're not paying, can't pay you if they're going to heaven. So it's those kinds of things that, you know, really I I was excited about putting the book out. But, you know, my attorney's like, you can't, well, you can do that. You don't have the client, you don't have payment. That contract is null and void. So it's those kinds of things that you only know as you grow. But you have to start off with something. Um, you know, I still have my page and a half contract, and I look at it with nostalgia and oh my gosh, I remember when, and oh my goodness. But having it now is just really critical. It's just highly important, and just I just highly recommend it for all of you that if you're considering and if you need help with that, reach out to me, talkwithworkson.com. You can always schedule a conversation. Remember, my calendar is on the eastern time zone. So if you're in the central time zone, make that time adjustment. But you really need to consider those types of things, agreements, um, and looking and having a legal now. If you have an attorney that's a family member and look it over your stuff, wonderful. That's a wonderful thing. But I have to pay um someone in legal shield is just something that I highly recommend. So having your procedures in place, even if you know, um you're just like, oh, it's just me. Why do I gotta write it down? But there might come a day when there's more than just you. Uh, there may come a day where you know you're coaching, but then you have a coaching firm or you have a public relations firm. There's more people than just you. You know what to do with your head. You're the expert, you're the person that knows exactly what needs to be done, you're the creative and all that. But how are you gonna support the next generation? How are you going to encourage the next generation? How are you gonna pour into the next generation? So if you need help, you know how to reach out to me to have a conversation, talkwithroyston.com. I'm Dr. Julia Royston. I hope this has been helpful. We've got more to cover and more to come. Be less until next time.

SPEAKER_02 21:47

Bye-bye.com. That's bookbusinessboss.com. So you can get your message to the masses, turn your words into wealth, and be a book business boss.

SPEAKER_01 23:18

Being a business owner is not for the pain of heart. Easily discouraged are one who quits at the slightest problem or issue. On the other hand, there is not a business owner, entrepreneur, non-profit director, ministry leader, or author that has not wanted to pause, slow down, or even quit. It is human nature. But if you could just take one more step, if you could fix that one problem, if you could find a friend, mentor, a coach to talk to about the situation who could point you in the right direction or be the answer you need if you 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 Voicen Royal Bookstore.com. That's Hoyston Royal Bookstore.com.

SPEAKER_00 24:20

Great everyone here inviting you to join me for the Winston.