A lot of experts write a book and then watch it sit on a shelf or in the Zoom background. In this episode, publishing strategist Ally Machate shares how to change that story. After landing her dream job as an editor at Simon & Schuster, Ally saw up close what makes a book take off and what leaves it stalled. When corporate shifts limited her growth, she stepped out on her own to work directly with authors and never looked back.

Ally’s message is simple. A book is not just a calling card. It can fuel visibility, attract ideal clients, and open doors to partnerships when you design it with strategy. That starts with writing the right book for the right stage of your business and continues with a clear plan to promote and leverage it.

You will hear:

• Why a high quality book still fails without strategy and alignment

• How to avoid writing the “wrong” book by testing ideas against business goals

• Practical tools for staying organized, including Ally’s favorite system, Asana, as a second brain

• A realistic take on co-author compilations and when they do or do not support authority

• Why celebrating wins matters for entrepreneurs who tend to sprint past milestones

Ally is also launching a small-group Author Advantage Mastermind for experts with a recent nonfiction book who want to fully leverage it. For a quick start, check out her recorded training, “Don’t Write the Wrong Book,” which walks through a simple five-step process to validate your idea and align it with outcomes.

Takeaway: Pair creativity with strategy. When your book and your business goals match, the book becomes an engine for credibility, leads, and growth.