Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with Ally Machate, publishing strategist, bestselling author, and founder of The Writer’s Ally, to unpack one of the biggest myths in entrepreneurship: that every business owner should write a book.
With over 25 years in the publishing industry, including experience at Simon & Schuster, Ally brings a grounded, strategic perspective to what it really takes for a book to support business growth. This conversation goes far beyond writing advice. It’s about clarity, intention, and using a book as a leveraged business asset rather than a vanity project.
If you’ve ever thought, “I should write a book,” but weren’t sure why, when, or how it fits into your business strategy, this episode will give you the framework to decide before you invest years of time and energy.
[00:00] The Big Question - Should every entrepreneur write a book, or is that advice outdated?
[02:22] Ally’s Publishing Journey - From traditional publishing to building a trusted author services company.
[03:00] The Myth Explained - Why a book can be powerful but only if it’s the right tool at the right time.
[03:40] Timing Matters - Why writing a book too early can actually stall your growth.
[04:09] The Real Cost of a Book - Time, energy, and resources most founders underestimate.
[05:32] Right Book vs. Wrong Book - Why good writing isn’t enough without a clear business goal.
[07:36] Start With the End in Mind - How to reverse-engineer your book from the outcome you want.
[07:53] Strategy Examples - Speaker books, lead-generation books, credibility books, and where people go wrong.
[08:37] Case Study: The Wrong Format - Why a workbook failed to land keynote speaking opportunities.
[10:39] Memoir vs. Business Book - How personal stories should support the reader’s transformation, not overshadow it.
[13:02] Storytelling That Serves Strategy - Why every book uses story, but the reader’s problem must stay front and center.
[15:41] AI and the Writing Process - The difference between AI-assistive tools and AI-generated books and why it matters.
[18:51] What Readers Really Want - Why the market is rejecting AI-generated creative work.
[25:17] Traditional vs. Self-Publishing - How publishing has come full circle and what entrepreneurs should choose today.
[28:15] Books as Business Tools - Why entrepreneurs shouldn’t aim to sell books but to sell what comes next.
[31:00] The Real Leverage - Why giving away books can be more profitable than selling them.
[32:25] How Ally Helps Authors - From idea clarity to publication and marketing, without writing the wrong book.
📌 Why This Matters
A book is not a rite of passage. It’s a strategic decision.
When aligned correctly, a book can:
This episode helps you decide when and what to write, and whether to write at all, so your book supports your business instead of draining it.
✅ Action Steps for Listeners:
🔗 Resources & Links:
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👉 If this episode resonated, share it with a fellow founder who’s been thinking about writing a book but wants to do it the smart way.
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