Advisors: Is writing a book on your bucket list?

Earlier this year, my first book was published. Aside from being a bucket list item, it was one of the most satisfying experiences of my career. Not only has the book become a catalyst for meeting new clients, and a galvanizer of current client relationships, it has also served as a commitment to my approach to retirement planning. In short, it was transformational. But rather than focus on my book, let's talk about yours.

If you committed to writing a book before the end of the year, could you? I don't mean whether you could line up a publisher and choose a slick cover design. I mean, could you clearly articulate what you do, how you do it, and most importantly, why you do it well enough for someone to take the time to actually read it? This is the biggest obstacle to getting your ideas out into the world: knowing what your unique ideas are that are worthy of sharing.

Too often, I fear that we as advisors subscribe to someone else's methods and process for helping our clients achieve their goals. Sure, the achievement of their goals is the ultimate objective, but owning the deep truth of your own process cannot be faked. Using someone else's voice to communicate their beliefs will simply sound like someone else. How could it not? The main objective of writing your book then, should be discovering your own voice as a financial advisor.