The bad thing about this next question we’re going to tackle is that it’s a crippling one — until it’s answered.
In fact, this one question may keep more prospective authors — people like YOU — from writing their ebooks than almost any other question.
It probably stops more people than "how to make a pdf" or "how do I put up a website.’
And the bad part about this question is that it strikes at the heart of your business, your personality and your own identity.
So what’s this important question?
Here it is: "What gives YOU the right to write a book?"
Or,"What makes YOU an expert?"
Or, put another way: "Why should ANYone listen to YOU?"
Ouch.
Well, just as upsetting as the question is, the answers may be doubly upsetting, depending on your point of view.
The first answer is…
"Because YOU say so."
Now, I’m not about tell you that you can write an ebook on do-it-yourself heart bypass surgery — there are some things that are far too important to listen to anyone other than people with 5, 10 or 30 years of experience.
But I will tell you that doctors are often trained with the mantra of "Learn one, do one, teach one."
Doctors know that the act of teaching someone educates the teacher as much or more than the student. The only requirement is that the teacher start out by knowing just a little bit more than the student.
And that the teacher take the risk of talking about wha the knows.
If you’re thinking of writing an ebook about something — almost anything — all you need to know is a little bit more than the people you are teaching…and how to communicate what you know effectively.
You’ll be doing your reader a good deed by sharing what you know…and you’ll learn more by simply creating your product.
That’s really it.
No one has to appoint you an expert in your field — except you.
You don’t need initials after your name, and for most things, you don’t need years of experience.
But I’m guessing that you DO have years of experience in your field. Or a love for your topic. Or a passion for helping people eliminate pain, make money, save money, or just have fun.
(Those are ALL good topics for big money ebooks, by the way.)
But you just don’t think that what YOU have to say is special enough. Or maybe you just don’t think that you’re worthy.
In his book "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind", T. Harv Eker dealt with a similar question (you might not think it’s similar, but it is). The question Harv answered was "Am I worthy to be Rich?"
Harv’s response was that there was no stamping line at birth that labeled you worthy or unworthy. You ARE worthy, and you don’t have to wait for someone else to anoint you "worthy" to be rich.
(But for those who still don’t believe him, Harv asks you to get all dressed up in a Tuxedo or Evening Gown for a special "You are worthy to be Rich" anointing ceremony. It’s very funny — and it points out the absurdity of those who still can’t get it through their skulls that they ARE worthy of having whatever it is they want in life — whether it’s to become an author, or to run their own online business, or to be rich.)
Still not convinced?
Well here’s something that almost always works.
You don’t always have to have years of experience in the area of expertise you are writing about. In fact, some of the best selling books are written by contrarians and outsiders.
Which is a more compelling headline?
"Amazing Secret Discovered by Golf pro"
or
"Amazing Secret Discovered by One Legged Golfer"
We all expect golf pros to know what they are doing. The second one sets us on fire, because if a one legged golfer can hit a golf ball straighter and further, then certainly YOU can hit a golf ball further with two legs.
The first one is boring. The second one sold millions of dollars worth of products for one of John Carlton’s copywriting clients. (John wrote the original , much longer headline.)
In other words, it can be to your advantage to not be a credentialed expert.
I’ll end with just a couple other examples.
Question: When did Joel Comm become an expert on Google Adsense?
Answer: When he published his Adsense Secrets ebook. Not a moment before.
Question: When did Jack Canfield become a motivational expert?
Answer: When he published his first "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books with Mark Victor Hansen.
Question: When did Robert Kiyosaki become an expert on finance?
Answer: It wasn’t while he was in the marines, or even when he sold copiers for Xerox. It wasn’t when he sold velcro surfer wallets or t-shirts for heavy metal rock bands. Nope. It was when he published his Rich Dad, Poor Dad book. Not a moment before.
So my question to you is…
When will YOU become an expert in your field?
Answer: When you publish your own ebook!
You ARE worthy, and you ARE worth listening to. Don’t let a silly thing like your own fear stand in the way of the message you were born to share, or from helping the people who are waiting to hear from you.
They are there, and they are waiting.
It’s time.
To Your Success,
–Mark Widawer
P.S. There are a lot of people who will argue with me about this. And I’ll tell you that if you are messing with people’s livelihood, their money, or their health, that whether or not you have initials after your name, you’d better be RIGHT about what you are telling them.
I’m not at all telling you that you don’t need to be competent, or knowledgeable, or skilled. What I’m telling you is that you gain credibility by taking a risk and putting yourself OUT THERE in the public light.
And as soon as you do that, you can shine.
–M