Are You Myopically Focused? Get 9 Author Tips from the Shark Tank

Become Myopically Focused …
with 9 Author Tips from the Shark Tank

I confess, I still check out ABC’s Shark Tank. It gives a variety—and I mean HUGE variety—of entrepreneurs at every stage the opportunity to pitch their company and product to entrepreneurs with deep pockets—the Sharks—who have been enormously successful in their individual endeavors—oh, you can rest assured that they have had some detours and potholes along the way.

Whoever the pitcher is, being myopically focused on the WHY he or she is there and the WHAT is wanted from the Sharks is critical. Of course, money is one answer. So is guidance and help. And then another WHY bubbles up—why should they open up their pockets? It’s all in the pitch.

If the pitch “hooks” them, the lucky, and very nervous budding entrepreneur gets a partner that has social connects, financial support, and a commitment to the product and creator of it. The cost—part of his or her company in exchange for money. As I’ve watched over many years, there have been many of the pitches that I thought the Sharks were fools to bypass. And, because millions are watching, other angels are out there who track down the entrepreneurs post the show turndown and take them to the next step.

So … my question is: Who are your angels? Who will support YOU and your BOOK? Whoever your angels are, there are core ingredients Sharks are looking for. They include:

1. Knowing your pitch and how to pitch it—get it smoothly and quick. OK, you probably aren’t going to be on the TV show Shark Tank, but you are out in the waters all the time. At a neighbor’s BBQ, a wedding, the airport, a conference … ANYWHERE … you have the opportunity to talk about your book. That’s a myriad of opportunities. Time after time, I cringe when I simply ask, “Tell me about your book …” and the other can’t. “Tell me who your book is for,” and they either say “Oh, everybody.”

Stop it. Get your author act together. Books are not for everybody. If your book solves a problem, say so. Who does it solve a problem for? Get clear and concise in a response that will leave me with “Tell me more.” It’s the #1 thing that authors repeatedly screw up.

2. Getting off your tush and demonstrate what you and your book are made of. The phone isn’t going to ring or email isn’t coming in unless you make the first move. Get over it. Show that you are the expert and that you have the solutions. Throw out freebees that you are a hoot (or a spook or a …) of a story teller. Be absolutely clear what the value you bring to your reader … and for that matter, who exactly your reader is.

3. Being passionate. Whether you are pitching to your readers, the passion for your book, your characters, your all, should be evident. If you want to be a successful author, you better love what you’re doing—no exceptions. Otherwise, it won’t keep you going when you hit the hiccups of the authoring and publishing life. It’s the core of what drives you and your book.

4. Is your book, your idea, a must-have for a niche audience? If you write nonfiction, you are solving problems of some sort—you are relieving pain. Oh, what a happy dance to be at. If you are a fiction author, your books create some type of entertainment. Again, it’s a happy dance for the reader who finds you. You, dear author, need to know WHO that reader is—imagine they are directly in front of you every time you look up—write to them … speak to them with the words that they want to hear.

5. Creating your Game Plan. Your Author and Book Game Plan doesn’t have to go on in perpetuity. Keep it simple. Who is the audience; what is the value you bring to the reader; who do you need on your team to create and produce the book; who will be fans to shout out to others about your masterpiece; what are your financial costs in creation; where will revenues come from; what formats will you create your book product in; what about your personal time to create and support the book; what will you do to market the book? Start with just key ideas, then filter—delete and add. The savvy author gets prepared gets the book worm!

6. Creating a strong team—an inner circle—for advice and resources. There’s a lot of predators out in the publishing waters in both the creation and the production of a book. With the inclusion of AI now, it is overwhelming that amount of emails and texts you will get … or are getting. Start looking and gathering those who can guide you, and forewarn. Have you created a special circle of who become an advisory board—ready to give you push back comments and reality checks?

7. Being enthusiastic … mini thoughts will sink you. The Vision is the book one; it usually starts with a series of mini ideas that come together, creating a wonder combustion. Certainly, start small, just don’t wallow in it. Start stretching yourself into our areas so that your concepts are compatible. Once the author bug bites, more books breed. Some bigger; some smaller. Some connected to the topic you first start with; some delve into new fields. I started with an idea 34 years ago. It was to be just one book—only one. Book #31 went to layout this summer. Books breed more books.

8. Getting the Town Hall behind you—the Internet. The single best thing that has helped today’s author in getting his or her word out is the Internet. Your Town Hall. Social media platforms that become portals for influence and marketing. BUILD YOUR EMAIL LIST!
Too many authors will say, “Leave me alone, I just want to write.” Will, if you have a trust fund that will support you or deep pockets, that’s not going to work. You are the single best person to chat up your book. YOU. Even for you introverts, the Internet is your ally. All you need is a computer and a keyboard—click and type away … and, and you need time. Time to find your audience, time to create content, time to follow up, time to market you and your book.

9. Focusing. If there is one thing that every successful author does with the tank is practice focus. Know what you want and develop a plan to go get it. Guaranteed questions we Author Sharks ask are: What are you doing to market your product now? What are your results? What do you need help with?

The Internet Town Hall that will propel you forward, creating and feeding the buzz you and your book needs. It’s got tools, windows and portals to go through. It’s the perfect shark frenzy.

For you … take the 9 tips above—which one shouted out at you? Step up and forward and conquer it.

PS … Becoming myopically focused is your tipping point.

Dr. Judith Briles is the award-winning and bestselling author of 48 books and calls Colorado home. When she’s not in the kitchen or in the garden, she’s working with clients as The Book Shepherd, a book and publishing consulting and project management firm that works with authors at all stages of their book to create and publish a book they never regret! She’s the founder of the first Authors’ Hall of Fame exclusively dedicated to ensuring the legacy of authors connected in some way with Colorado.

Judith’s books have been translated into 17 countries with over 1,000,000 copies sold! They have been featured in over 2,000 radio and TV shows including repeat appearances on CNN, CNBC, and Oprah. She has worked with over 1,500 authors and created 500 plus bestsellers. Print publications include Newsweek, People, Time, The Wall Street Journal and … The National Enquirer! Her popular podcast, AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing is dedicated to authors and writers and their success and is ranked in the top ten in four categories on GoodPods.