226: How to Write a Business Book That Gets Read with Holly Ostrout

Only 18% of purchased books are ever read all the way through. So if you've been thinking about writing a book for your business, the goal isn't just to write one; it's to write one that people actually finish, and that gets you (and the reader!) the desired result.

In this episode of Business Your Way, Caryn sits down with book coach and publisher, Holly Ostrout, to talk about what it actually takes to write a nonfiction book that changes your business and your readers' lives.

Holly introduces the concept of the Heroine's Journey as a framework for structuring a nonfiction book, and why it works so much better than just stringing your best blog posts together and calling it a day.

She breaks down how to start with your book's promise (not your topic or concept), how to reverse engineer the book from the business result you want, and the five "strategy stacks" that determine what your book should actually do for you (whether that's attracting high-ticket clients, landing paid speaking gigs, building thought leadership, or growing passive income).

This conversation is packed with practical insight for any coach, entrepreneur, or expert who has "write a book" on their someday list, and is ready to do it strategically.

Topics covered:

• Why 82% of purchased books never get finished, and how to make sure yours isn't one of them
• The Heroine's Journey framework for nonfiction books
• How to define your book's promise before you write a single word
• The 5 strategy stacks: high-ticket clients, speaking gigs, passive income, partnerships, and thought leadership
• Why you can't write a great business book in your first year, and how to know when you're ready
• Real client results: TED Talks, $10–20K keynotes, and filled group programs from book launches
• How writing the book itself can transform your business clarity (even before it's published)

🎯 Take Holly's quiz to find your most profitable book strategy at hollyostrout.com/quiz

Want to work on your overall business strategy or have someone walk this season of life/business with you?

Book a consult with Caryn at caryngillen.com/links

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Holly Ostrout is your nonfiction book bestie, helping you write + publish a damn good book™ that transforms your business.

Her unique framework combines transformational storytelling techniques with strategic purpose points that create books with genuine impact—and that can generate an extra $50k-$100k annually.

She uses her signature Book Mapping process to make your writing process quick and humane. You build your book over her proven Heroine’s Journey framework, which moves readers from curious to reaching out—so your book becomes your best lead generator for years to come.

Learn more or connect with her at hollyostrout.kit.com.

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To learn more about and connect with host Caryn Gillen, visit: caryngillen.com

Caryn is a Master Leadership and Business Coach who asks really great questions to help people clarify their next move, holding space for them as they do it.

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Tags: write a book for your business, heroine's journey, life coach business tips, small business podcast