C’mon, It’s Time To Write That HR Book You’ve Been Putting Off?
by Bryan Allan
A lot of people I talk to in Human Resources talk about writing their own book…..someday.
It doesn’t matter if they work for a large company. Do consulting. Are about to retire. Or are even just starting their HR career. They all want the prestige of being known as a published author.
This doesn’t surprise me.
My two words of advice if you’ve been thinking about this yourself: Do it!
Writing your own book allows you to capitalize on your HR experience and knowledge, expand your credibility as an HR professional and earn more money.
It also gives you exceptional visibility as an HR professional and allows you to leave a legacy to the profession. As an author of a published book, you automatically become an instant expert and even a brand. It’s a fact of life. People within the HR field will seek you out for advice.
And it’s a terrific way to spread your personal brand.
But there are lots of other reasons to consider writing your own HR book.
Book advances for well-known HR authors like David Ulrich, Libby Sartain and Dr. John Sullivan can reach five-figures. And here are their books to give you some ideas….
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Now granted, you may not have the national reputation that these individuals have. Nor may you ever write a best-seller. That’s not the point. Here’s the deal: Even if your book isn’t a best seller, it can help set you up to make money as a coach, consultant, or as a vehicle to gain a higher paying HR leadership role in a large organization.
Many HR professionals who write books use them to help open doors to get into the speaking business.
Speakers at conferences, workshops and seminars are always in demand. If you’ve been to any of the seminars put on by local or national HR organizations, you know that the organizers of these events are always looking for good, entertaining, and informative speakers. And, being a published author opens the door to these income producing opportunities for you.
However, it’s important that you assess yourself. In order to write your own book, you must be willing to become known worldwide. It requires that you not be humble. Not defer to others. Not be afraid of the limelight. Or wait for someone else to rise to the opportunity.
Being a published author enables you to stand up and communicate your HR expertise to radio and TV talk show hosts, newspaper editors and columnists, magazine publishers, and other public figures.
You may be called upon for a quote for a publication or program, which can mean big-time publicity for you and your HR career. You’ll even seem more like an expert if you can quote a few pieces of obscure trivia related to your book.
However, writing your own book is hard work and will take some time. And large, well-known publishing houses prefer to consider material thorough literary agents, and for that you’ll need to write a well-developed polished book proposal.
Despite the efforts involved, writing a book can be a tremendous experience.
It can pay off intellectually and monetarily. It clarifies your thinking. It builds your credibility. It is a living engine of marketing and idea spreading, working every day to deliver your message with authority. If you have expertise in some specialized area of HR, you should consider writing one.
Don’t put it off any longer.
© SuccessinHR.com
