How One Educator Turned Her Passion for Trees 🌿 Into a Self-Published Children’s Book

Most Authors Have This Completely Backwards (but you won't be one of them)

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2059931/fan_mail/new] Most authors believe the opportunity comes after the book is published. More sales. More clients. More speaking engagements. More visibility. But what if that's the wrong way to think about it? In this episode, Rodney Washington sits down with Paige Stapleton and Brian Stark, co-founders of Authentic Marketing, for a powerful conversation about why your book should never be viewed as the finish line. Together, they explore why so many authors, coaches, consultants, speakers, and creators are sitting on valuable intellectual property they're not fully leveraging—and how a book can become the entry point into a much larger ecosystem of opportunities. You'll discover: • Why your marketing isn't about convincing people—it's about listening • How conversations become your most valuable source of content and messaging • Why the real money often comes from the relationships a book creates, not the book itself • How to stop hiding behind your book and start building visibility around your message • The difference between building a product and building an ecosystem • Practical ways to turn one book into content, community, speaking opportunities, consulting engagements, and additional revenue streams If you're writing a book, thinking about writing a book, or wondering how to create more opportunities from the one you've already published, this conversation will challenge the way you think about authorship, marketing, and monetization. Because your book isn't the business. It's the doorway. Connect with other Published Creators on my Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about [https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about] Apply for a Complimentary Authorpreneur Readiness Assessment: https://author-ecosystem-builder.lovable.app/ [https://author-ecosystem-builder.lovable.app/] Access a preview from my forthcoming book, The Authorpreneur Decision [http://authordecision.com/] Paige and Brian create a gift for listeners of the podcast called: The Authentic Content Multiplier™ https://authenticmarketing.ai/rodney [https://authenticmarketing.ai/rodney] How to Turn One Core Idea Into Weeks of Content, Conversations, and Client Opportunities, Without Constantly Starting From Scratch. Subscribe to The Published Creator Podcast for more conversations on publishing, authority building, podcast guesting, and creating profitable opportunities around your expertise.

She Skipped Writing a Book… and Built THIS Instead (Genius Move)

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2059931/fan_mail/new] 🚀 Want help mapping YOUR idea into income? Book a Monetize Your Book Before You Publish Mapping Session, and let’s break it down together To get started, join me inside the Published Creator community where we do this live:  👉 https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767 [https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767] Episode Description: Most creators think the next step is writing a book. But what if that’s the slowest—and least profitable—way to monetize your ideas? In this episode of the Published Creator Podcast, I sit down with Raissa Silva, founder of Outsmart Your Toxic Boss [https://www.outsmartyourtoxicboss.com/see-the-game], who chose a completely different path… Instead of writing a book, she turned her expertise into a card game, and built an experience people can play, share, and talk about. Inside this conversation, we break down: *  Why books aren’t always the best starting point *  How to turn your ideas into experiential products *  The real reason most creators struggle to monetize  *  How to validate your idea before you create it *  Why feedback > perfection when building anything  *  The concept of “shapeshifting authorship” (this will change how you think about content)  If you’ve been sitting on a book idea… this might completely shift your strategy. 🎯 Connect with Raissa: 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raissa-silva/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/raissa-silva/] Kickstarter Waitlist: https://www.outsmartyourtoxicboss.com/see-the-game [https://www.outsmartyourtoxicboss.com/see-the-game] 🔁 Subscribe for more: If you’re a coach, creator, or expert who wants to turn your content into real revenue—not just content for content’s sake— this show is for you. 📅 NEW VIDEO EVERY WEEK ON YOUTUBE 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications. [https://www.youtube.com/@thepublishedcreator] 👥 FOLLOW RODNEY on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepublishedcreator/ [https://www.instagram.com/thepublishedcreator/] 👥 FOLLOW RODNEY on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneylwashington/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneylwashington/]

Stop Writing Books That Don’t Sell (Do This Instead)

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2059931/fan_mail/new] If you’re writing a book right now… you might want to pause. Because the reason most books don’t sell has nothing to do with the writing—and everything to do with what you’re building around it. In this episode, Rodney Washington breaks down why your book isn’t the business… and what you need to build before you publish if you actually want influence, income, and opportunities. 🎯 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Why publishing your book is NOT the finish line The biggest mistake most self-published authors make Why Amazon is a fulfillment platform—not your marketing strategy How to stop writing in isolation and start building demand The Published Creator Flywheel (visibility → audience → offers → book → opportunities) How to validate your ideas before your book is finished Why authority, not your manuscript, is what drives sales ⚙️ THE CORE SHIFT Most people follow this path: Write the book → Publish → Hope people buy Authorpreneurs do this instead: Build visibility → Attract audience → Create offers → Then publish 👉 The book becomes a result—not the starting point 🔥 READY TO APPLY THIS? If this episode clicked for you, don’t stop at understanding it. *Join my next Authorpreneur Decision Live Masterclass* I’ll help you map your idea into an authority platform and show you how to turn your content into a book and a business. 👉 Register here: https://publishedandthriving.com/authorpreneurmasterclass [https://publishedandthriving.com/authorpreneurmasterclass] 👥 CONNECT & GO DEEPER 👉 Join the Published Creator Skool Community 🔗 https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about [https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about] 👉 Subscribe on YouTube for more episodes 🔗  @thepublishedcreator [https://www.youtube.com/@thepublishedcreator]  🔥 KEY TAKEAWAY If you don’t have authority… You don’t have a book problem. You have a visibility, audience, and positioning problem. 📌 FINAL INVITATION Don’t just write a book. Build something that makes the book inevitable… valuable… and profitable.

Online Courses Are Failing… Here’s What Smart Experts Are Building Instead

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2059931/fan_mail/new] If you’re an author, coach, speaker, or expert, you’ve probably been told your next step is to “build an online course.” We're often told: 👉 “Build an online course.” 👉 “Create passive income.” 👉 “Record modules and scale.” But what happens when people buy… and never finish? In this conversation, I sit down with Executive Learning Producer Parchelle Osumaré to unpack why traditional online courses are struggling — and what smart experts are building instead. This isn’t about information anymore. It’s about transformation. Parchelle has helped hundreds of authors, coaches, and organizations turn their intellectual property into immersive learning experiences that actually move people — and generate real impact and income. If you have expertise, a book, or a message you want to monetize, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about packaging what you know. 🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Discover: ✔ Why course completion rates are collapsing ✔ The real reason people buy educational products ✔ Why more content does NOT equal more results ✔ How to design learning experiences people actually finish ✔ The role of community, cohorts, and facilitation ✔ How to build an ecosystem around your expertise ✔ What to create instead of another self-paced course 👤 About Parchelle Osumaré Parchelle is an Executive Learning Producer and Founder of The Author’s Leverage. They specialize in helping experts transform their knowledge into premium learning assets, including private podcasts, interactive frameworks, facilitated cohorts, and strategic educational experiences. Connect with Parchelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parchelle/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/parchelle/] 🚀 Ready to Turn Your Expertise Into Real Income & Impact? Take the FREE Authorpreneur Readiness Assessment 👉 https://forms.gle/aPVR5cV7RzG4KNnAA [https://forms.gle/aPVR5cV7RzG4KNnAA] Discover your next best step to build a book, offer, or experience that actually sells. 🔔 Subscribe for More If you’re an author, coach, speaker, or content creator who wants to build a business around your ideas — not just sell information — subscribe for weekly insights on publishing, positioning, and monetization. 🎧 Listen on Podcast Platforms (Search “Published Creator Podcast” on your favorite platform)

Why Most Authors Never Make Real Money From Their Book

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2059931/fan_mail/new] Uncover where you are and what your next step should be as an Authorpreneur by taking the 👉 Authorpreneur Readiness Assessment [https://forms.gle/aPVR5cV7RzG4KNnAA] Most authors believe the path to making money from their book is selling more copies. It’s not. The authors who build thriving businesses from their books focus on something deeper. They get clear on their WHY. Your WHY determines who buys from you, what opportunities find you, and whether your book becomes a one-time project… or a lifelong asset that fuels your brand, income, and impact. In this video, I break down why clarity on your WHY is the real foundation of building a book that attracts clients, collaborators, and opportunities beyond book sales. If you're writing a book, or thinking about writing one, this may be the most important decision you make. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why selling more book copies is not the real goal • The hidden reason most authors never monetize their book • How your WHY determines your income potential as an author • Why clarity attracts clients, collaborators, and opportunities • How to position your book as the foundation of a thriving ecosystem This is for you if: • You’re writing your first book • You’ve published a book but aren’t seeing meaningful income • You’re a coach, creator, or expert with a message • You want to build a business around your book • You want to become an Authorpreneur, not just an author Learn how to turn your book into clients, income, and opportunities. New videos weekly: Subscribe to my YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@thepublishedcreator] for more videos on building a thriving book-based business: Connect with Rodney Washington 👉 On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thepublishedcreator] 👉Join my free Published Creators Skool Community https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about [https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about] Authorpreneur Strategist | Founder of Published & Thriving Helping creators turn books into thriving brands and ecosystems