All BIZ Experiencess Think About Writing a Book — Here's How to Know If You're Ready For Your Own These days, it seems like everyone has published a book. That can lead us to feel like we should publish, too. But before you rush to the presses, ask yourself these four important questions.

Nearly every BIZ Experiences I know has already published a book, is currently writing one or is considering writing one.

Before I published two books, I thought writing a book would be easy. I write fast, so I figured I'd just "bang something out" within a couple of months. Publishing two books taught me that bringing a book into the world is painstakingly difficult work and is not for everyone. Here are four questions you should ask yourself if you're wondering if it's for you.

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1. Does a book support the rest of your business?

If writing a book enhances another part of your business, that's a good reason to do it. When I left my corporate job to become a coach and consultant, I knew that (eventually) hosting workshops and teaching groups was part of my plan. When I realized my books could become the curriculum for group classes, I knew I had to do it.

Writing books felt imperative since I wanted to teach and train others on the same principles I'd write about. That decision has paid off. My books have served as marketing materials for prospective clients who want to learn more about what I believe. My books also serve as reference materials for current clients. I commonly direct them toward my books as resources for many of the things we discuss.

2. Is it part of a lifelong dream?

If you're only considering writing a book because everyone else is, and you want a side hustle, I'd pause and reevaluate. If I've learned anything from becoming a published author and meeting other authors in the writing community, it's that hardly anyone gets rich off book sales. But, if writing a book has been on your bucket list for years, you must make it happen.

If you've been dreaming about making the New York Times bestseller list since you were a kid, it's time to put pen to paper and start writing. Books have transformed my mindset and life, and writing has always come naturally to me. So, I've known for a long time that I wanted to publish a book. Bringing the lifelong vision of becoming a published author to life has been incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.

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3. Do you have something significant to share with the world?

If you've got a story to tell that could help others, it's important to commit it to paper and share it. If you've got special skills, talents or knowledge, it's important to share that as well. Reading is a great way to validate and normalize our experiences, as well as learn more about ourselves and the world. It's nearly impossible for us to read and not grow or evolve because of it. Not everyone has a powerful story or something to teach others, and that's okay. But if you do, you should share it because your wisdom or insight might be exactly the gift someone else is waiting to receive right now.

When you publish a book, you leave a mark on the world. Books can easily be assessed in various ways and are rarely thrown away. People you've never met can buy your books and your books can be bought without any involvement from you for years to come. They change the world and live on even after we die. What a great way to share your experiences and what you know with the rest of the world and a profound and transformative way.

4. Are you prepared to sacrifice time and money?

Writing a book involves a lot more than just writing. There are numerous other steps including editing, proofreading, cover design, formatting and registration. Many authors also ask colleagues to write a foreword or book reviews. For many, publishing a book is a multi-year process.

If you hire others to help you do things like edit, proofread and format, you can save yourself some time (but that costs money). Publishing my first book took two years and I spent $17,500 doing it. Publishing my second book took one year and I spent $4,500 doing it. I was able to do it more cheaply and quickly because I had learned a great deal from my first book. Even still, producing a book often takes hundreds of hours and costs thousands of dollars. If you're currently drowning in special projects, raising your kids and going back to school, you might want to table your book for a later time when you won't be so busy.

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Unless you've contracted a publisher right from the start, no one holds you accountable for writing a certain number of hours each week or finishing the book by a certain deadline. It's up to you to hold yourself accountable, stay organized and schedule time to write. That can be challenging. Bringing a book into this world is a time-consuming and expensive endeavor. You're not always going to feel like sacrificing time with family or friends to write or hard-earned money to ensure you get the right support. But producing a great book means you'll have to do it anyway.

Making the decision to publish two books is one of the best I've made. Being a published author has helped me garner additional business. I've found clients I wouldn't have met otherwise, and most are highly aligned with me (and my mindset). More importantly, I'm proud of the information I've shared with the world. It feels good to make a difference in the world and follow our hearts. Writing a book isn't easy, but if you've answered "yes" to these four questions, the journey will be well worth the struggle.