You don't need a number one hit to be a musician. You don't need a bestseller to author an idea.
Starting to write a book for your business can be daunting, especially if you see everyone talking about needing to be a bestseller.
But just as not all musicians expect a number one hit, you should write a book and author an idea without expecting it to top the charts.
As a business owner, the job of work of your book is to start a conversation with potential clients. Whether or not it's a bestseller has very little impact on this.
The Bestseller Myth Is Holding You Back
It's a mindset problem, and it works against you in a number of ways.
It stops you from getting started. If you're hoping to get leads because it's a bestseller, you're missing out on many more valuable opportunities. And people telling you that you need a bestseller often have a program to sell you.
While being a New York Times bestseller might open doors, being a bestseller in an Amazon category long enough to take a screenshot won't.
It's not to say there's no value in it if you can. Just don't let it stop you from starting.
Clients care that you have a book. They don't care how many you sell.
What Actually Matters
The real opportunity is in having a book that shares your idea, approach, strategy, checklist, experience, and advice. Whatever the thing is that lets potential clients say, "I want that."
It gets you in a conversation, and having a book reassures people they are talking to someone who knows the field.
Just as page views on a website are a vanity metric compared with shopping cart checkouts, so too is being able to write "Bestselling Author" on your profile compared with the number of people opting into your email list.
If it happens, great. But it doesn't matter and shouldn't stop you from building your business.
