Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cathy Fyock, The Business Book Strategist, located in Punta Gorda, FL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am the Business Book Strategist, and I work with professionals and thought leaders who want to write a book as a business growth strategy. Since 2014 I've helped more than 200 professionals become published authors. I believe that authors change the world, one word at a time.

I'm a book coach--and I'm not a publisher or an editor--and I work with clients who know they will benefit from a book but who are unsure of their writing abilities or just don't know where to start. I provide a structured process to help them get their books written in a way that will allow them to provide more of the services they offer.

I offer one on one coaching services and group coaching options, in addition to VIP writing experiences and three-day writing retreats. I also have books that serve as the curriculum for my clients on how to write books. My books on writing include On Your Mark: From First Word to First Draft in Six Weeks, Blog2Book: Repurposing Content to Discover the Book You've Already Written, The Speaker Author: Sell More Books and Book More Speeches, and my newest (a workbook), My New Book.

Tell us about yourself

Before I was a book coach, I was a consultant, speaker, and author. Authoring books and articles was the most powerful tool I had to build my business and establish my reputation as a thought leader.

I became a book coach when I was asked to present a program for my chapter of the National Speakers Association on my process for writing. It was here that my colleagues, after hearing my presentation, asked me if I had ever considered becoming a book coach. I listened to them, and by the first of the next year--in January 2014--I launched my new business as a book coach.

I love helping other professionals fully step into their zone of genius. By helping my clients write their books, they become more confident and gain more clarity about their purpose and their life's work. Becoming an author is a transformative experience, and when authors write about their expertise, they "own" their expertise like never before. And the ways that they can use their books to grow their businesses are endless, as they can use their book as a business card, as a gift to high-value prospects and clients, as a tool to gain credibility and visibility, and as documentation of their thought leadership.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I believe that the books written by my clients are my greatest accomplishments. I love looking at my bookshelf and seeing the brilliance of my authors in the form of their books. And I really love it when my clients tell me stories about how becoming an author has changed their business, their perspective, and their life.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

As a solopreneur, I do it all: providing services to my clients, marketing my services, and handling all the administrivia. I also need to take time to step away and see the ways in which my business can grow in ways that not only serve my clients but also serve me. I think that balancing work with life is an ongoing challenge.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Fall in love with your work. Know that you are doing your life's purpose. Be aware of the ways that you are making a difference in the lives of others through your work.
  2. Fall in love with your clients. Get to know them. Ask them questions about what they need, and continue to create a suite of services that serves their needs. Never assume you know who they are or what they need.
  3. Love yourself! Practice self-care, and be sure that you are being fed in the ways that bring you renewed energy for your work.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I love my work!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.cathyfyock.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBusinessBookStrategist/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CathyFyock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-fyock-973b735/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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