How Does an Author Define Success?

Define An Author’s Success

Well, my first book Manifesting Me has officially been out for one season. Being a new author, I had no idea what good book sales were. When is the book a success? What exactly is the criteria that needs to be met in order claim best seller? Maybe the real question is, how does each author define success?

Success comes in many forms, as we all know.   I believe success is defined individually. Is about how many awards you receive?  Or is it total book sales? Does have to be book sold by a certain deadline?  I read somewhere if you sold at least a 1000 copies of your first book, you should consider that a success.  It has also has been said a book’s average lifespan is short; usually three months after the publicity campaign. Who wants to be average?

I mentioned in my last blog I read Think and Grow Rich for a second time.  That book was first published in 1937.  It has gone through many cycles of being trendy. It sold more than 20 million copies by 1970, and by 2015 sold more than 100 million copies.  I’d say that would define success.  I’m not sure when Napoleon Hill sold his first 1000 books, but what if took him 2 years? Maybe, a first time author will get to one thousand books after five years.  With that in mind, should you put a time on when to declare success?

Success Comes in Different Forms

Book sales define only part of the success of a author.   What about speaking engagements?  Inspiring others?  Or what about making your book current over again? If I am being honest, I am trying to figure this out for myself. And there seems to lots of ways to go about this.

Self-promoting is a very large part of how well your book will do. Have you entered contests? Awards give you confidence and bragging rights. Plus, gives you credibility.  Credibility give you authority on a subject leading to speaking engagements via podcasts, interviews in magazines, etc.  Exposure, exposure, exposure. The more people that get to know you, the more the know about your book and the more people will want it.  What sets you apart from every other author? Do you have hidden talents you’d like to explore?

In case you haven’t noticed, I love talking about the law of attraction.  Manifesting Me gives many example of where attitude was; whether through love or fear, and how the material manifested in my life.  As I’ve grasped how energy works, I’ve been able to read angel cards. Hence, adding to my income.

Updated Website

Keeping a website updated through blogs or events aids in an author’s success.  Lots of people have made plenty of money blogging in the past.  I’m not sure how much money is made through blogging lately, but it all adds up.  Plus, it drives people to your website.  Having hits on your website gives you the opportunity for sales of your book or perhaps you have PDF files of workbooks for sale and not to mention affiliate/associate programs.

What’s handy about a website is having plugins. They track how well your site is doing.  I try to set realistic goals and once they have been met, I set new goals. All of these things add to your success.

Easy But Consistent

The things mentioned above are not difficult.  Creating the content takes the most amount of time.  It’s the little tasks and being consistent that will get you the success you desire.  Today I listened to one of Jim Rohn’s videos. He said something that resonated with me and it was something to the the effect: When you plant a garden in the spring, you must tend to it all the time even up to the summer, or the weeds and bugs will tend to it for you. 

Basically, you don’t just publish a book and that’s the end of it.  Go above and beyond.  Be excited about what you’ve created and nurture it so it can keep growing.  Although, typically a book’s life isn’t long, doesn’t mean you have to follow those rules.  It’s just an average.

Balance Is the True Success For Me

Of course, money is always associated with success, but I feel balance is the most important and the hardest.  Are you only successful in business? Or are you better at having successful relationships?  Are you a successful a having fun?

Feeling proud, happy, content, satisfied, safe, loved, etc. Is really what people are striving for.  Most feel it’s money.  Because in the having the money, one feels less stressed over bills, leading to a sense of peace and security. It’s the peace and security we’re after.

As long as your’e feeling inspired and creative while producing content and making a profit, I believe you’ve found your success. Every successful author was new at some point.  There aren’t any real get rich schemes in any industry. So take each little triumph and build on them.  You are on your way to success.  It isn’t over until you deem it so.

Not Just For Authors

Even though this blog is about the success of an author, this applies to pretty much anything. Listen to successful people through videos, NPR, podcasts, books, etc. they all say the same thing.  I am only regurgitating information I have heard and applied to my life to find that it works.  Good luck and much success to all of those who want it and are going for it.

I had to share one of my favorite authors J. K. Rowling’s interview with Oprah. The first author to become a billionaire.  Truly inspiring. Click the link below.

https://youtu.be/gTotbiUjLxw

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“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”~ Napoleon Hill