Publishing a Book Won’t Make You an Authority
Thu Jan 29 2026
Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text
Rodney and Chela are hosting a live virtual experience called The Authorpreneur Decision, designed to help you clarify your authority, map your monetization ecosystem, and turn your book into a credibility engine.
💸 Join Us For The Live Cohort 💸
https://publishedandthriving.com/decision
Publishing a book doesn’t make you an authority.
In this conversation, Rodney Washington is joined by publishing project manager and author support specialist Chela Hardy to break down a truth most professionals discover too late: the book is not the business, it’s the engine.
They unpack why so many smart, experienced creators publish a book, put it on Amazon, and then wonder why nothing changes… and what actually needs to be in place before and during the publishing process for a book to create credibility, clients, and momentum.
This episode reframes the entire idea of “writing a book” into something far more powerful: building an ecosystem.
You’ll hear:
Why Amazon is a fulfillment tool, not an authority strategy
How existing content (podcasts, blogs, talks, YouTube) is already your book
The mindset shift from “writing” to building a book
Why most authors get stuck after publishing — and how to avoid it
What it really means to make the Authorpreneur Decision
How books become entry points into communities, programs, and experiences
Why authority is built through intention, mapping, and experience — not sales alone
This isn’t about writing faster, selling more copies, or chasing bestseller lists.
It’s about deciding how you want to show up in the world — and designing your book to support that decision.
If you’re a coach, consultant, speaker, content creator, or professional with a message — and you want your book to do more than sit on a shelf, this conversation will change how you think about publishing.
✅ Follow Rodney:
https://instagram.com/thepublishedcreator
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneylwashington/
🚀 Join The Published Creator Skool Community 🚀
https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about
✅ Follow Chela:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelahardy/
https://www.reggiebrownreads.com/
https://www.askchela.com/
More
Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text Rodney and Chela are hosting a live virtual experience called The Authorpreneur Decision, designed to help you clarify your authority, map your monetization ecosystem, and turn your book into a credibility engine. 💸 Join Us For The Live Cohort 💸 https://publishedandthriving.com/decision Publishing a book doesn’t make you an authority. In this conversation, Rodney Washington is joined by publishing project manager and author support specialist Chela Hardy to break down a truth most professionals discover too late: the book is not the business, it’s the engine. They unpack why so many smart, experienced creators publish a book, put it on Amazon, and then wonder why nothing changes… and what actually needs to be in place before and during the publishing process for a book to create credibility, clients, and momentum. This episode reframes the entire idea of “writing a book” into something far more powerful: building an ecosystem. You’ll hear: Why Amazon is a fulfillment tool, not an authority strategy How existing content (podcasts, blogs, talks, YouTube) is already your book The mindset shift from “writing” to building a book Why most authors get stuck after publishing — and how to avoid it What it really means to make the Authorpreneur Decision How books become entry points into communities, programs, and experiences Why authority is built through intention, mapping, and experience — not sales alone This isn’t about writing faster, selling more copies, or chasing bestseller lists. It’s about deciding how you want to show up in the world — and designing your book to support that decision. If you’re a coach, consultant, speaker, content creator, or professional with a message — and you want your book to do more than sit on a shelf, this conversation will change how you think about publishing. ✅ Follow Rodney: https://instagram.com/thepublishedcreator https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneylwashington/ 🚀 Join The Published Creator Skool Community 🚀 https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about ✅ Follow Chela: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelahardy/ https://www.reggiebrownreads.com/ https://www.askchela.com/