Write Your Way to Premium Clients: The Minimalist Approach to Book-Based Marketing, with Anita Henderson
03/10/25 • 46 min
In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Anita Henderson, known as "The Author's Midwife," who coaches entrepreneurs and C-suite executives to write, publish, and leverage books as powerful marketing tools.
As business owners, we often hear about writing a book but struggle with actually completing one. Whether it's feeling overwhelmed by the process or battling imposter syndrome, many of us keep our book ideas tucked away for years. Anita shared how her clients typically spend 9-12 months crafting their books—far from the "write a book in a weekend" myth—and how a well-crafted book can generate leads and opportunities for years to come.
What I found most valuable was Anita's approach to entrepreneurship through her own book, "Becoming the Minimalist Entrepreneur." Her philosophy of clarifying, simplifying, and focusing your business resonated deeply with my observations from hundreds of podcast interviews—true success rarely comes from complexity.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
1 - Clarify, simplify, and focus your business approach. We often complicate our businesses unnecessarily. Instead of trying to do everything, get crystal clear on what you do, who you serve, and how you serve them. When you do something twice, it's part of a process—document it and refine it.
2 - Learn to work inside your comfort zone first. Rather than constantly pushing beyond your comfort zone, perfect your processes and systems within it. Create consistency in how you deliver your services before expanding outward. This creates a solid foundation for sustainable growth.
3 - Make yourself strategically unavailable. Block time away from client calls to think, create, and recharge. Anita blocks one day each week, one week each month, and the last two months of each year—creating both mental space and increased demand for her services.
If you're considering writing a book to enhance your leadership brand, remember that nobody else has your unique stories and perspective. Your experiences and insights matter, and the right book can open doors for years to come.
About Anita
Entrepreneurship wasn’t Anita’s goals list early in her career. She wanted the professional title, the corner office with the window, the assistant right outside her door, the fat paycheck, the expense account, and all the other benefits of corporate success. She got all that, then got burned out. When an unexpected opportunity landed in her lap, she jumped at it.
Entrepreneurship called out to her loud and clear. That was more than twenty-five years ago. Since then, she has started two companies (one a partnership), written nine books, and dipped her toe back into corporate a few times before finally retiring from the 9-to-5 more than a decade ago. Anita has also hosted a radio show, an internet TV program, and a podcast. Known as The Author’s Midwife, she now enjoys guiding C-suite execs and seasoned entrepreneurs to write, publish, and leverage their books to position themselves as authorities.
As an author coach and book publishing strategist, she shares the secrets to writing and publishing a bestselling and award-worthy book through her Write Your Life Author Coaching Program.
She is the author of Becoming the Minimalist Entrepreneur: Lessons Learned From My Journey to Work Less, Earn More, and Play More. Her greatest joy as a business owner is learning from her mistakes and failures. There have been many, which means she’s learned a lot. But the growth and rewards have been instrumental in making her the leader and the minimalist entrepreneur she is today.
Anita's Website : https://writeyourlife.net/
Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint
It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.
----
Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentle
Join the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insiders
Please take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.
In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Anita Henderson, known as "The Author's Midwife," who coaches entrepreneurs and C-suite executives to write, publish, and leverage books as powerful marketing tools.
As business owners, we often hear about writing a book but struggle with actually completing one. Whether it's feeling overwhelmed by the process or battling imposter syndrome, many of us keep our book ideas tucked away for years. Anita shared how her clients typically spend 9-12 months crafting their books—far from the "write a book in a weekend" myth—and how a well-crafted book can generate leads and opportunities for years to come.
What I found most valuable was Anita's approach to entrepreneurship through her own book, "Becoming the Minimalist Entrepreneur." Her philosophy of clarifying, simplifying, and focusing your business resonated deeply with my observations from hundreds of podcast interviews—true success rarely comes from complexity.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
1 - Clarify, simplify, and focus your business approach. We often complicate our businesses unnecessarily. Instead of trying to do everything, get crystal clear on what you do, who you serve, and how you serve them. When you do something twice, it's part of a process—document it and refine it.
2 - Learn to work inside your comfort zone first. Rather than constantly pushing beyond your comfort zone, perfect your processes and systems within it. Create consistency in how you deliver your services before expanding outward. This creates a solid foundation for sustainable growth.
3 - Make yourself strategically unavailable. Block time away from client calls to think, create, and recharge. Anita blocks one day each week, one week each month, and the last two months of each year—creating both mental space and increased demand for her services.
If you're considering writing a book to enhance your leadership brand, remember that nobody else has your unique stories and perspective. Your experiences and insights matter, and the right book can open doors for years to come.
About Anita
Entrepreneurship wasn’t Anita’s goals list early in her career. She wanted the professional title, the corner office with the window, the assistant right outside her door, the fat paycheck, the expense account, and all the other benefits of corporate success. She got all that, then got burned out. When an unexpected opportunity landed in her lap, she jumped at it.
Entrepreneurship called out to her loud and clear. That was more than twenty-five years ago. Since then, she has started two companies (one a partnership), written nine books, and dipped her toe back into corporate a few times before finally retiring from the 9-to-5 more than a decade ago. Anita has also hosted a radio show, an internet TV program, and a podcast. Known as The Author’s Midwife, she now enjoys guiding C-suite execs and seasoned entrepreneurs to write, publish, and leverage their books to position themselves as authorities.
As an author coach and book publishing strategist, she shares the secrets to writing and publishing a bestselling and award-worthy book through her Write Your Life Author Coaching Program.
She is the author of Becoming the Minimalist Entrepreneur: Lessons Learned From My Journey to Work Less, Earn More, and Play More. Her greatest joy as a business owner is learning from her mistakes and failures. There have been many, which means she’s learned a lot. But the growth and rewards have been instrumental in making her the leader and the minimalist entrepreneur she is today.
Anita's Website : https://writeyourlife.net/
Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint
It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.
----
Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentle
Join the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insiders
Please take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.
Previous Episode
How to be the Signal in the Noise, with Mark Schaefer
As leaders and creators in today's digital landscape, we're all facing the same challenging question: How do we stand out when AI can create endless streams of content? In this episode, I speak with marketing legend Mark Schaefer about his groundbreaking new book "Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World."
If you've ever felt the pressure to be visible online but worried about "adding to the noise," this conversation is essential listening. Mark reveals why being merely competent isn't enough anymore and shares a practical framework for becoming the signal that rises above the noise.
Mark brings 40+ years of marketing wisdom to this discussion, having written 11 books including the one that transformed my own business journey. We explore how personal branding serves as career insurance in an AI world and why making genuine human connections will be your ultimate competitive advantage.
🔑 Key Takeaways
Competency doesn't create conversations - In an AI world where perfect intelligence is becoming abundant and nearly free, being merely competent puts you at risk. To thrive, you must find ways to ignite uniquely human "fireworks" that create emotional connections your audience wants to talk about.
Break the "pandemic of dull" - Every industry has institutionalized boringness through fear, tradition, or perceived risk. Identify where you can thoughtfully break taboos or challenge norms "for good reason" to create content that matters. Remember: audacity doesn't have to be loud or expensive - it just has to make a difference.
Build a fear-free environment - Whether leading a team or running your own business, systematically dismantle the fear that prevents bold ideas. Start with small experiments that build credibility, then leverage those wins to create more audacious work. Today's digital tools make testing bold ideas cheaper and less risky than ever before.
I'm recommending Mark's book "Audacious" as essential reading for anyone building a personal brand or expert business. It's filled with examples from creative geniuses who've found ways to rise above the noise while staying true to their authentic selves.
Remember: "The most human company wins." In every touchpoint with your audience, look for opportunities to show your face, heart, smile, passion, and compassion.
🚀 Three Action Steps from Mark
Invest in your personal brand - Working on your personal brand is like investing in an insurance policy for your career. It's your only sustainable competitive advantage. When you're known and your competitors aren't, more doors open, more calls get returned, and more opportunities come your way.
Remember: "The most human company wins" - In every customer touchpoint, look for ways to make it more human. Show your face, heart, smile, passion, and compassion in every interaction - from text messages to complaints, from sales meetings to your website. This is especially crucial in the age of AI.
Explore "Audacious" - As Mark shared, this book provides a framework to help you transcend the noise. It collects wisdom from some of the world's greatest creative minds on how humans can thrive in an AI marketing world. The book even features an interactive QR code cover that changes each time you scan it!
Find Mark at BusinessesGrow.com where you can explore his blog, podcast, and his new book
----
Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint
It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.
----
Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentle
Join the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insiders
Please take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.
Next Episode
How to amplify your personal brand business with AI, with Alex Curtis & Pete Everitt
In this episode, I sit down with my good friends Alex Curtis and Pete Everitt to explore how we're each using AI tools in our businesses. While many people are still figuring out what to do with these powerful new tools, we share practical examples that you can implement right away.
AI isn't about replacing people but empowering good people to work more efficiently. For entrepreneurs, consultants, and service providers, these tools can dramatically improve how you serve clients and grow your business.
🔧 Key AI Applications We Discussed
Email Management: Using ChatGPT to rewrite emotional responses into professional, direct messages that get results
Content Creation & Repurposing: Leveraging tools like Claude AI, CapCut, and Descript to create and repurpose content efficiently
Client Service Enhancement: Setting up automations with Fathom for meeting recordings, transcriptions, and AI summaries to provide elevated service
Lead Generation: Creating smart workflows with Zapier that process podcast guests through AI to build targeted networks
Data Analysis: Using AI to process large datasets for SEO planning, client onboarding, and marketing decisions
💡 Actionable Takeaways
Set up an AI workflow to process your emotional communications - When you receive frustrating emails or messages, use ChatGPT or Claude to transform your initial heated response into something professional and effective. Try the "Word Jenga" technique to make your messages clear and concise.
Create a system for meeting follow-up - Use tools like Fathom to record and transcribe client meetings, then connect it with Zapier and Notion to organize your commitments and follow-ups. This dramatically improves client service and helps you stay on top of promises.
Automate your content repurposing - Instead of manually editing content for different platforms, use AI tools like CapCut or Descript to automatically extract clips from longer videos or podcasts. Turn one piece of content into many with minimal additional effort to maximize your visibility.
Remember - the goal isn't to use AI to avoid building your personal brand or being visible. The real power comes from using these tools to amplify your expertise, reach more people, and deliver better results for your clients by working smarter, not har
----
Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint
It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.
----
Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentle
Join the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insiders
Please take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.
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