This is the final episode in the series we’ve been doing called “The Medium is the Message”. In this series, we’ve covered the mediums of podcasting, public speaking, video, TV, email, and social media - what makes each one unique and how to make the most of them. This episode is all about the medium of the book and my guest is author and book coach Tiffany Hawk. Writing a book allows you to develop your thought leadership in a deeper way and gives your ideas longevity. A book can also be an important asset for you to have as a speaker, especially if you want to be a keynote speaker. Tiffany and I talk about: How getting published is the ultimate vetting process and credibility marker What makes a book “a book” (the medium) The pros and cons of traditional vs. self publishing The timeline for writing and publishing a prescriptive nonfiction book The book proposal I’m working on right now with Tiffany as my book coach About My Guest: Tiffany Hawk is an author and book coach who helps leaders write agent-ready books and book proposals. Her clients have landed literary agents, traditionally published with big New York Presses and small literary presses, self published, won awards, and seen their stories in places like Harper’s, the Los Angeles Times, Narratively, McSweeney’s, and The Atlantic. About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com. Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/257 Join our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ Tiffany’s website: https://www.tiffanyhawk.com/ Get Tiffany’s “How good is your book idea?” free assessment: https://www.tiffanyhawk.com/idea Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Tiffany Hawk (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyhawk/ Good models for prescriptive nonfiction books recommended by Tiffany: Practical How-To: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Mindset How-To: Rich As F*ck by Amanda Frances (also a great example of self-publishing the right way) Personal Self-Help: Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck Scholarly Thought Leadership: Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 186: From Hashtag to Podcast to Book: Developing Your Thought Leadership Platform with Elayne Fluker [Thought Leadership Series] Episode 250: Lessons Learned from 250 Podcast Episodes with Carol Cox [The Medium is the Message Series] Episode 256: Making the Most of LinkedIn as a Thought Leader with Tyrona Heath [The Medium is the Message Series] JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.