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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, best selling author and entrepreneur Gary C. Laney shares how his new book, Become A Super Leader, educates readers in how to use their influence to become a successful leader and help make the world a better place.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed Gary C. Laney about his life and career, what inspired him to write his new book, Become A Super Leader, and how it helps others achieve more by identifying and using their authentic leadership characteristics.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
I’m a 2 time bestselling author, a serial entrepreneur, a former high-tech software executive, and CEO at Success Masters LLC, a holding company that has invested in business networking, online media, e-commerce, and intellectual property. More specifically, I’m the co-founder and former CEO of Trustegrity, a national business networking organization, a keynote speaker, startup advisor, and sales strategy consultant. I also have a triple major MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. My professional background covers domain expertise in business networking, e-commerce, sales process, CRM, business process management, content/document management, and search technology. Career and reputation wise, I’m known for my ability to turn around businesses and create dramatic revenue growth. My passion for life and business is to make a positive impact at events I speak at, and with organizations, executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs I advise, train, and consult with.
Ultimately, I’m a guy with a passion, positivity, and zeal for life, a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, and a believer of helping others in need whenever possible.
When did you first WANT to write a book?
I’ve known for 15 years that I needed to write a book and share what I know to be true about great business and leadership principles I’ve learned and taught about over the years. It took a COVID to give me a break for the first time in my career to write a book. The hardest part is getting started, and producing something that others may consider to be worthwhile. I knew my ideas had merit since I taught them in business settings over for many years.
When did you take a step to start writing?
In the Fall of 2019, just prior to COVID, I had just sold a business and had a break. My wife, daughter, and granddaughter were writing and invited me to join them. That was the beginning of developing the concept and writing my first book, The Power of Strategic Influence. 10 Success Factors of Highly Influential Leaders.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
Approximately six months. At the time I calculated that I had six months available before my next business venture would begin, about the amount of time we were being told that COVID would end.
COVID gave me the time I needed without much interruption to focus, develop, and complete my first book named, The Power of Strategic Influence.
How long did it take you to complete your latest book from the first idea to release?
My newest book, Become a Super Leader, took approximately one year as I conducted an extensive global survey to 1000+ business leaders to develop more understanding about top leadership competencies, something I covered lightly in my first book, but after publishing the book I became aware that leadership competency was a critical topic and needed to become a book by itself. My speaking opportunities validated this as the subject became my most requested topic entitled “Mastering the Top Competencies of Influential Leadership.”
Focusing on your latest release. What made you want to write Become A Super Leader?
For starters, I had been a student of the Stephen R. Covey, author of, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I was a student both in college and in a business where Stephen was an advisor and trainer, an enormous opportunity to learn from him over a 10-year period of time. Over the past 40 years I have taught his principles to thousands of sales professionals, business professionals, entrepreneurs, and college students. Over that long period of time, I extended the principles to allow me to add practicality for real business application. I knew that someday I would write a book about my learnings and teachings and that finally came to fruition in 2020 from time off during COVID. My book is a compilation of those principles I further developed and used to help business people become successful.
Influential Leadership is the central theme for all of my books as well as for business social media posts, my newsletter, and speeches.
What were your biggest challenges with writing Become A Super Leader?
For me it was finding the time and then creating the right outline. COVID provided the time and a night long brainstorm provided the content roadmap made the writing process possible and a successful experience.
What was your research process for Become A Super Leader?
For my new book, “Become a Super Leader,” it involved an expanded, global survey to more than 1,000 business leaders gathered from my own network, recommended leaders, and via social media especially LinkedIn. The survey covered several topics regarding influence and leadership. Specifically, I was looking for the best of the best traits and competencies business people believed make up an influential leader. The survey resulted in dozens of leadership competencies, which I firstly ranked as the top 40 based upon popularity. I further ranked them as the top 13 to fit into a leadership self-mastery program I developed and included in my new book, a perpetual learning system that provides a weekly self-mastery experience to acquire and develop expertise in leadership skillsets that are needed to become a successful and influential leader.
How did you plan the structure of Become A Super Leader?
I’m all about process and proven techniques so my books include a sequential, natural process that allows the reader to begin with the basics, and advances as they read and put the proven principles into practice. The chapters evolve naturally through the step-by-step program of learning and developing levels of influence and leadership mastery.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Become A Super Leader need?
Yes, of course. I hired good editors including one to check it developmentally. Writing for me has become a skill but creating a good manuscript means putting together the right team including writing, editing, design, publishing and a great launch campaign. For my part, I’m an expert in business process and execution and over my career I have written hundreds of business articles, policy manuals, procedural manuals, as well as newsletter editions and social media posts, but I leave the editing to the professionals.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a book?
Focus on the WHY you are writing, and about the WHAT or topics you know intimately. In other words, write about topics you are passionate about and for which you have experience and expertise in. Next, a good outline that has natural flow was important for my writing so I didn’t have to wonder what was coming next.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
Many ideas under consideration but leadership habits are definitely on my mind.
And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
Yes, very happy with the outcome, recognition, and support I’m getting from my readers/followers. Definitely worth the time and effort.
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Become A Super Leader
UK
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3XFOLBm
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3L3jFw7
USA
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXXXKCQS
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXY4B4VY
The Power Of Strategic Influence
Kindle: https://amzn.to/46MWkZy
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3X3lDmK
Audible: https://amzn.to/3YJsF1d
www.BecomingASuperLeader.com (Website Coming)
www.ThePowerOfStrategicInfluence.com (Website)
Influential Leadership Books (LinkedIn Page)
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