How Entrepreneurs Can Publish Books Without It Being A Chore

Dan Sullivan used to write books the hard way: long, lonely hours at the keyboard. In this episode, he explains the small‑book production system he created in 2014—focused ideas, a repeatable structure, and an editorial team that lets him produce a new book every quarter—and shows how entrepreneurs can adopt the same approach.

Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:

• What first got Dan writing books over 30 years ago.
• The commitment he made at 70 to write a different kind of book every quarter.
• Why his new book project stalled just four weeks in.
• Who the books are for and how they’re meant to be used.
• How Dan selects each quarter’s book topic.

Show Notes:

You can choose to write only about ideas your clients have already paid you for and that are proven in the marketplace.

Long-term creative goals, like a book every quarter for 25 years, keep you active, productive, and future-focused.

Advertising taught Dan to write succinctly by getting a complete message across in just a few seconds or inches of space.

Strategic Coach® books are written specifically for Program members and for their associates who may want to join.

Every quarterly book follows the same structure, with eight chapters, an introduction, a conclusion, and a consistent layout.

Short, focused books can reveal which ideas deserve to become bigger, mass market books.

Writing a book entirely on your own is often slow, lonely work that doesn’t suit most entrepreneurs.

If you maintain your health, you can keep doing meaningful creative work for your entire lifetime.

When a company pays you to advise its people, your recommendations can be constrained by the organization’s agenda.

Most entrepreneurs get better results by collaborating with an interviewer or editor who can draw out their ideas.

When you’re stuck on a project, asking a capable team member to take over the “How” can instantly create momentum.

Resources:

The 21st Century Agent by Dan Sullivan

The Entrepreneur's Guide To Time Management

Wanting What You Want by Dan Sullivan

The Impact Filter®

Who Not How by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy