Startup Founder. Leadership Coach. Mesut Celebi Spent Three Years Learning to Be Seen.

Startup Founder. Leadership Coach. Mesut Celebi Spent Three Years Learning to Be Seen.

Over 10 years ago I sat across from my very first author and asked her questions about her personal life. She was reluctant to give me anything to work with. I knew her personally, so I knew she had a lot of great stories to share. Anytime I poked her further to get her to talk about herself, she deflected and wanted to talk about her credentials. This went on for weeks. She wasn’t being difficult, but she was terrified of being seen for who she actually was, and not the version of herself she’d spent a career building. Getting one true sentence about her personal life onto the page was like pulling teeth. All I wanted her to do was open up about herself on social media in preparation for her book. I didn’t understand it then the way I understand it now. 10+ years and a long list of authors later, I’ve learned the resistance is never about the writing, it’s about the visibility. Mesut Celebi knows that resistance from both sides. He’s spent most of his career building things: co-founding Startup Bootcamp, a startup accelerator, then leading InnoLeaps, helping big enterprises innovate the way startups do. Along the way he worked with thousands of founders and, during the pandemic, more than two thousand leaders across industries and company sizes. The same gap kept showing up. It wasn’t an issue with clarity. These were smart, capable people who’d earned their seats. The problem was pace, and a question nobody could answer: are we actually moving fast enough? That question became Reset Leader: Shift Mindsets, Activate Strategy, Deliver Results. It took him a couple of years to write. Not because the words were hard to find on a given afternoon, but because the book required him to do something he’d watched thousands of leaders avoid: trace his own authenticity and vulnerability back to where they actually started, instead of treating them as soft skills bolted onto a strategy deck. He told me growth doesn’t happen without safety. I’d add that safety doesn’t happen without someone going first. My first author eventually got there. It took her months to write one honest paragraph instead of a resume bullet. Mesut took three years to write an entire framework that argues, in print, that authenticity isn’t a step that comes after strategy. It’s the thing the strategy was missing the whole time. Ten years between then and now, and the question hasn’t changed. What does it cost you to stay unseen? And what would it actually take to stop? 📖 Get Reset Leader on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/p/books/reset-leader-shift-mindsets-activate-strategy-deliver-results-mesut-celebi/36b8c1a3950a2ff5?ean=9798887972305&next=t] | Visit resetleader.com [http://resetleader.com/] If you've got a story or body of knowledge that deserves to be in print, this is what we do at Publish Your Purpose. Get full access to Promote Your Purpose at promoteyourpurpose.substack.com/subscribe [https://promoteyourpurpose.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Book as a Vehicle

What Happens When Your Book Actually Works Most authors I talk to are worried about whether their book will sell. Daniel Horgan is thinking about something different. He’s thinking about what his book does when he’s not in the room. Daniel is the founder of CoLabL, a company that has spent ten years supporting early career talent ages 18 to 30 as they move from school into work. He has written two books. A third is in progress. And both books he has written exist for a specific reason: to scale his impact beyond the hours he can personally show up. That is a different way of thinking about a book. Not as a product you launch and hope people buy. As a tool that keeps working after you step offstage. The draft he deleted When Daniel wrote his first book, Tell Me I Can’t... and I Will, he spent a week and a half writing a draft he eventually scrapped. Not because the content was wrong. Because he realized he was performing. He was trying to write like an author instead of writing like himself. He deleted everything. Started over at a coffee shop. Wrote it like a journal. That decision changed what the book became. His second book, We Got This, came out of a five-day solo writing retreat in Halifax, Nova Scotia. No distractions, phone on Do Not Disturb. Same principle: write what you actually say to people in coaching sessions and training rooms. Don’t dress it up. Just translate it. The result is a book his community actually uses. That’s the difference between a book that sits on a shelf and one that travels. The giver mindset in practice One of the things Daniel said that stayed with me: he does not chase the sale. He focuses on being useful. He puts the right resources in people’s hands, builds genuine community, and the business grows from that. It sounds simple. It’s not easy to actually operate that way, especially when you’re also trying to build a company. But his books are proof of the concept. They exist because his audience needed them. The business case followed. Why I wanted to have this conversation I talk a lot about the ASPEN Method and the mechanics of book marketing. Daniel is a reminder that the foundation under all of that is clarity about what your book is actually for. Not what you hope it does. What you built it to do. If you’ve been thinking about your book as a product to sell rather than a tool to deploy, this conversation will reframe that for you. Connect with Daniel:Website: https://www.nell3d.com/colabl.com [http://colabl.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nell3d/https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielghorgan/ About Daniel At 18, Daniel pioneered the first youth-led America’s Promise effort in Pittsburgh, PA under Retired General Colin Powell, landing him a seat on the national board of directors and recognition from President George W. Bush. Daniel has 25+ years of experience working in the business and nonprofit sectors, fueled by his commitment to increasing others’ access to relationships and growth opportunities. At CoLabL, Daniel is working at the intersection of talent development and community building, cultivating relationship-centered spaces. His team at CoLabL is focused on partnering with early career talent and people managers to expand their networks, skills, and experiences to achieve their definition of success. Daniel has worked with some of the world’s largest brands including LinkedIn, Pfizer, Apple, Starbucks, Deloitte, Cisco, Taco Bell, and Gap Inc. He has also partnered with schools, nonprofits, foundations, professional associations, and government agencies. Daniel currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Taco Bell Foundation and has served on boards for City Year DC, the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, Team Kids, the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership, and America’s Promise. Named one of Pittsburgh’s 40 Under 40 Honorees, Daniel has facilitated hundreds of training experiences, keynoted conferences, published articles on Forbes.com, and authored Tell Me I Can’t…and I Will [https://www.amazon.com/Tell-Cant-Will-Daniel-Horgan-ebook/dp/B08PDP5XRD?ref_=ast_author_dp]. His second book, We Got This: A Pocket Guide to Thriving in Our Careers and Life [https://www.amazon.com/We-Got-This-Thriving-Careers/dp/B0DSC672W9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2XORKA7GJB3NE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Y0nSXnLQPbpk69dt4cbJm5S8YWi9VpFIHiGFagTAXZEPKrWrGya6hIwnp-5uSPNSbivVcix1jC9T37Xllnbw5TX47WeLQSNDPUQUWbAZtw7kXASAV2py7D3ej5Df5ycDwdI89UbMjfT1Dh7lBMBV60fG7g8O2rNNjgkd3c6WB_jjucGkWPruYpkaNcyrDN9sIiAjfvQct0FAkRnLnwkeqPI0wiF9cn-qPNkdVCszgIM.UiDK_BwUjP991ONy7BYaO6DCBVHXn-ZSsaI9ZeJR4d8&dib_tag=se&keywords=daniel+horgan&qid=1739419944&sprefix=daniel+horgan%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1], was released in January 2025. Daniel currently resides in Southern CA. About Purpose Beyond The Page Purpose Beyond The Page is a conversation series for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who want to grow their impact, influence, and income through their books. Hosted by Jenn T. Grace, founder of Publish Your Purpose, the series goes beyond writing and publishing to explore the real strategies, stories, and tools that help authors connect with readers and build lasting platforms. Each episode features honest discussions, expert insights, and actionable takeaways on everything from marketing and visibility to business models and community-building. Whether you’re preparing to launch your first book or looking to amplify the reach of your next one, Purpose Beyond The Page will help you turn your big idea into a powerful tool for change. If you are working on a book that matters, you do not have to navigate the path alone. My book Promote Your Purpose will help you build meaningful connections with readers and make the impact you envision. Check it out at PromoteYourPurposeBook.com [http://promoteyourpurposebook.com]. About Jenn Jenn T. Grace is an author, publisher, and strategist who has hundreds of nonfiction and memoir authors bring their books into the world with clarity and intention. She is the founder of Publish Your Purpose, a purpose driven company that supports authors who want to transform their ideas, expertise, and lived experiences into books that make a meaningful difference. Jenn is the author of Publish Your Purpose and Promote Your Purpose, and she teaches the ASPEN MethodTM, a strategic framework that helps authors grow visibility and impact in sustainable ways. Her work focuses on aligning purpose with action so every book becomes a catalyst for change. Get full access to Promote Your Purpose at promoteyourpurpose.substack.com/subscribe [https://promoteyourpurpose.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

From Terror to Transformation: Navigating PTSD and the Path to Healing [Podcast]

What does it take to navigate a world that has been fundamentally altered by a single, devastating moment?In this episode, I sit down with Christiane Scarpino to explore the profound impact of trauma and the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. Christiane, a survivor of the 1977 terrorist bombing of the Mobil Oil Building, shares her journey of living with PTSD long before it was a recognized diagnosis and how she turned her survival into a mission for advocacy.We talk about the "missing pieces" of a life impacted by trauma and what it means to advocate for your own healing when the resources you need don't yet exist. Christiane reflects on the daily battles of navigating PTSD and how her lived experience evolved into a framework for educating others and fostering mental health awareness.Our conversation moves beyond the details of the attack and into the real work of recovery and resilience. We examine how storytelling can be a catalyst for healing, how memoir can serve as an educational tool, and why this moment calls for a deeper understanding of the long-term effects of trauma on every facet of life.At its core, this episode is about hope. The courage to share a painful truth. The strength to seek healing. And the power of turning a personal tragedy into a meaningful tool for change.Connect with Christi: Website: https://lnkd.in/egVxzA48 [https://lnkd.in/egVxzA48] LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/eG_riMTU [https://lnkd.in/eG_riMTU]About Christi Christiane Scarpino is an author, speaker, and licensed Speech Language Pathologist who is dedicated to trauma healing and awareness. A survivor of a 1977 terrorist bombing in New York City, Christiane spent decades navigating the challenges of PTSD and advocating for her own recovery. Today, she uses her memoir, Missing Pieces, to educate others about the profound effects of trauma and to offer a message of resilience and hope to survivors everywhere.About Purpose Beyond The Page Purpose Beyond The Page is a conversation series for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who want to grow their impact, influence, and income through their books. Hosted by Jenn T. Grace, founder of Publish Your Purpose, the series goes beyond writing and publishing to explore the real strategies, stories, and tools that help authors connect with readers and build lasting platforms. Each episode features honest discussions, expert insights, and actionable takeaways on everything from marketing and visibility to business models and community-building. Whether you’re preparing to launch your first book or looking to amplify the reach of your next one, Purpose Beyond The Page will help you turn your big idea into a powerful tool for change. If you are working on a book that matters, you do not have to navigate the path alone. My book Promote Your Purpose will help you build meaningful connections with readers and make the impact you envision. Check it out at PromoteYourPurposeBook.com [http://promoteyourpurposebook.com].About Jenn Jenn T. Grace is an author, publisher, and strategist who has hundreds of nonfiction and memoir authors bring their books into the world with clarity and intention. She is the founder of Publish Your Purpose, a purpose driven company that supports authors who want to transform their ideas, expertise, and lived experiences into books that make a meaningful difference. Jenn is the author of Publish Your Purpose and Promote Your Purpose, and she teaches the ASPEN MethodTM, a strategic framework that helps authors grow visibility and impact in sustainable ways. Her work focuses on aligning purpose with action so every book becomes a catalyst for change. Get full access to Promote Your Purpose at promoteyourpurpose.substack.com/subscribe [https://promoteyourpurpose.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Leadership, Identity, and the Courage to Be Known [Podcast]

What does it take to share your story when that story challenges the norms of the rooms you are in? In this episode, I sit down with Rhodes Perry to explore the connection between personal narrative and cultural change. Rhodes shares why he chose to write a memoir that also functions as a practical guide, and how lived experience can evolve into a framework for building stronger, more inclusive organizations. We talk about the tension between visibility and vulnerability, and what it means to lead in a way that allows people to show up without shrinking parts of themselves. Rhodes reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy and how those experiences informed a methodology grounded in dignity, accountability, and belonging. Our conversation moves beyond abstract ideas about inclusion and into the real work of designing workplaces where people feel seen and valued. We examine how storytelling can create clarity, how memoir can serve as strategy, and why this moment calls for leaders who are willing to be known rather than simply admired. At its core, this episode is about courage. The courage to write honestly. The courage to lead visibly. And the courage to turn personal truth into meaningful, lasting change. Connect with Rhodes: Website: http://rhodesperry.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhodesperry/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhodesperry/] Check out Promote Your Purpose: A Strategic Guide to Book Marketing for Nonfiction Authors Who Want to Grow Their Impact, Influence, and Incom [http://promoteyourpurposebook.com]e today! About Rhodes Rhodes Perry is a workplace belonging strategist, author, and leadership coach who helps organizations build cultures rooted in safety, trust, and accountability. A decade ago, he founded Rhodes Perry Consulting with a bold mission to address what he calls the epidemic of loneliness by reimagining how belonging is designed at work. Since then, Rhodes has supported more than 1,000 clients and delivered leadership development programs to over 50,000 managers and people leaders. He is the author of two bestselling books, Belonging at Work and Imagine Belonging, which combine personal narrative with practical frameworks to help leaders move from intention to action. About Purpose Beyond The Page Purpose Beyond The Page is a conversation series for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who want to grow their impact, influence, and income through their books. Hosted by Jenn T. Grace, founder of Publish Your Purpose, the series goes beyond writing and publishing to explore the real strategies, stories, and tools that help authors connect with readers and build lasting platforms. Each episode features honest discussions, expert insights, and actionable takeaways on everything from marketing and visibility to business models and community-building. Whether you’re preparing to launch your first book or looking to amplify the reach of your next one, Purpose Beyond The Page will help you turn your big idea into a powerful tool for change. If you are working on a book that matters, you do not have to navigate the path alone. My book Promote Your Purpose will help you build meaningful connections with readers and make the impact you envision. Check it out at PromoteYourPurposeBook.com [http://promoteyourpurposebook.com]. About Jenn Jenn T. Grace is an author, publisher, and strategist who has hundreds of nonfiction and memoir authors bring their books into the world with clarity and intention. She is the founder of Publish Your Purpose, a purpose driven company that supports authors who want to transform their ideas, expertise, and lived experiences into books that make a meaningful difference. Jenn is the author of Publish Your Purpose and Promote Your Purpose, and she teaches the ASPEN MethodTM, a strategic framework that helps authors grow visibility and impact in sustainable ways. Her work focuses on aligning purpose with action so every book becomes a catalyst for change. Get full access to Promote Your Purpose at promoteyourpurpose.substack.com/subscribe [https://promoteyourpurpose.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Influence With a Heart: The Courage to Write and Lead Intentionally [Podcast]

In this episode of Purpose Beyond the Page, Jenn T. Grace is joined by Ben Joya for a reflective conversation about writing, leadership, and the courage it takes to create work with intention. Together, they explore what it means to write from a place of care rather than urgency, and how unfinished ideas, productivity pressure, and performative thought leadership can quietly drain both energy and impact. The conversation moves beyond tactics and outcomes to focus on authorship as an act of responsibility and leadership. Jenn and Ben discuss why books are not endpoints, but starting points for deeper influence, meaningful dialogue, and long-term change. At its core, this episode invites listeners to slow down, trust the process, and lead with heart both on the page and beyond it. Get full access to Promote Your Purpose at promoteyourpurpose.substack.com/subscribe [https://promoteyourpurpose.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]