You Don’t Have to Be the Expert

100% of my clients write their books to help people (i.e. their readers). 100% of my clients write their books to share their message with the world. A fair number of my clients ALSO write their books to grow their business – including as being seen as an expert in their field.

Which is great!

Until it isn’t…

Because there’s a huge difference between being an expert and having all the answers.

Today, I had a lovely call with one of my favorite clients. And I didn’t have all the answers. Her book is “done” – as in it’s fully written. AND there’s something wrong with the structure. She can see it, I can see it.

What I can’t see is exactly WHAT needs to be done. I know what isn’t working – and why. But what I can’t offer is what I really wanted to:

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I wanted the next step to be clear and easy. I wanted to BE that expert saying, “Yep, it’s not working but just do THIS and it will.”

And with much of my coaching, I CAN do that. Give a clear path to my authors.

But not always.

Sometimes I have to be okay with saying, “I’m not sure if this is going to work. Let’s try it out.”

The best clients (and she’s one of the best) will lean into that and grow. They know I have many answers but not ALL the answers.

Here’s what this means for your book:

Instead of trying to give your reader all the answers, cover every possible base, give all the contingencies, and leave nothing to chance, it’s okay to say:

Here are the tools. You’ve got to figure it out.

Or my personal favorite:

THESE are the questions you need to ask.

But not the answers. Because the answers will vary!

Don’t let the fear of needing to know it all stop you from writing your book and sharing what you DO know. You don’t have to have all the answers. And yes, you are still an expert.

Kim Galloway
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