Weaving Influence

Episode 4: Understand Your Past and Step into Your Future with Confidence

wiadmin — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 03:00:00 +0000

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Welcome to Indie Author Chat, the podcast designed to help you explore the ideas and insights behind today’s most thoughtful nonfiction books. Join host Laura Finch for engaging conversations with independent authors as they share the wisdom and inspiration behind their books—each title carefully curated by Weaving Influence Press.

In this episode, Laura talks with Jobert E. Abueva about the concepts behind his new book, The Janus Plan: A No-Resolutions Path to Begin Your Year with Intention. Inspired by the Roman god Janus, who represents dual perspectives and transitions, his book guides individuals, families, and teams in reaching sustainable goals by reflecting on past experiences and setting realistic, SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives. Abueva highlights how understanding our limitations and learning from the past can empower us to plan better for the future.

Key Points From This Episode:

[01:48] Jobert discusses why it’s so difficult to keep New Year’s resolutions and how The Janus Plan changes your approach to goal-setting.

[04:28] Jobert explains how reflecting on your past allows you to set more intentional goals for the future.

[10:11] Jobert describes how he discovered the Roman god Janus and why the dual perspective symbolism has helped him throughout his life.

[13:26] Jobert explains why it’s important to set goals throughout the year, not just make New Year resolutions, and not be afraid to pivot those plans if your circumstances change.

[19:01] Jobert discusses why you should take a step back from your responsibilities at times to broaden your perspective.

[22:11] Jobert describes New Year’s celebrations from around the world and the importance of goal-setting in all cultures.

[25:19] Jobert explains why you have to see your life like a tapestry, taking the good and the bad together.

[28:32] Jobert lists the many ways readers can interact with The Janus Plan and get the most out of the exercises in the book.

Resources:

Learn more about The Janus Plan and pre-order your copy.
Follow Jobert’s author journeys on LinkedIn.

Key Quotes:

When it comes to setting goals, you want them to be SMART; it’s an acronym that many may be familiar with. You want your goals to be sustainable, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. The more your goals adhere to this model, the more likely you are to meet them, if not succeed in them. — Jobert E. Abueva

Look to the past. Understand what the lessons are before you look to the future. — Jobert E. Abueva

Many countries and cultures share the same mindset or anticipation of the new year, but before you enter the new year, there is a lot to be said for reflection and understanding what the past has taught us. That’s really what Janus, the Roman god, is all about: beginnings and endings, past and future, looking to the past for those lessons and looking to the future with energy, enthusiasm, and goals that will last. — Jobert E. Abueva

It’s really critical that once we set goals at the beginning of the year, the month, the week, the day, that we have checkpoints along the way to just see if we’re still on track. If we’re not, why might that be? Take a reset, a step back, and don’t be afraid to pivot to adjust your direction to reach your final goal, because conditions change. — Jobert E. Abueva

It’s really critical to have that broader perspective and to get out of your head. That’s what The Janus Plan has offered me: the perspective that there is more to life, my day, and my week than what I got myself so caught up in. — Jobert E. Abueva

I use the imagery of weaving and tapestries. Each year is a tapestry. Once it’s done, hang it up and admire it, all its imperfections, all the beautiful threads in it, because that’s life. Life has the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let’s really appreciate and understand it before we move into the next year with whatever goals, themes, and milestones we want to accomplish. So, if anything, live in understanding your past before you step into the future. — Jobert E. Abueva

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The post Episode 4: Understand Your Past and Step into Your Future with Confidence appeared first on Weaving Influence.

Episode 3: The Ultimate Guide to Making HR Matter

wiadmin — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 19:46:31 +0000

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In this episode, Laura talks with David Alsop about the concepts behind his new book, Making HR Matter: What CEOs Want and How to Deliver It, coauthored with Ted Forbes. As the very first title from Weaving Influence Press, Making HR Matter is an excellent example of how indie authors and hybrid publishers can collaborate to create something special. David shares concepts directly from the book about how to make HR matter, while also reflecting on the experience of writing with a coauthor and what he hopes readers will gain from reading it.

Key Points From This Episode:

[01:33] David shares the primary audience for Making HR Matter and who he and Ted wrote it for.

[02:58] Why is there a negative perception around HR? David explains the history.

[06:08] David reveals how HR can be a value creator for a company.

[11:15] David outlines the four essentials of RelevantHR, which are a key component of the book.

[19:51] David expands on the concept of being “mentored by your enemy.”

[21:55] David reflects on the possibilities that unfold when executives, managers, and HR professionals unite around a shared path forward.

[29:34] Discover what it was like for David to write Making HR Matter with a coauthor and how they tackled the author experience together.

[32:18] David shares the number one thing he wants listeners and readers to know about Making HR Matter.

Resources:

Learn more about Making HR Matter and order your copy.
Follow David and Ted’s author journeys on LinkedIn.

Key Quotes:

Where HR people get held back is they get into benchmarks of what everyone else is doing to retain people—they start paying attention to every other company instead of their own unique needs. —David Alsop

As HR people, we are the stewards—the facilitators of systems and tools that maximize the partnership with employees. —David Alsop

You can create a system where you bring people in and you increase the number from 20 to 30 to 40 people who are rock stars. You’re never going to have perfection, but you have to shepherd that culture where everybody is willing to step up and give their best to the organization. —David Alsop

We’re meant to get out of our comfort zones to grow our mentality and our perspective. When we grow our perspective, we empathize with more people to navigate the chaos and difference of our country and our society and our business. —David Alsop

People who acknowledge their weaknesses with confidence are able to identify the opportunities to fill those gaps. —David Alsop

There are jobs for everybody that will work for everybody, and if we’re not honest with one another, we will put people in jobs where they’re not engaged. —David Alsop

The post Episode 3: The Ultimate Guide to Making HR Matter appeared first on Weaving Influence.

Episode 2: How a “Crazy Idea” Turned Into Two Psychological Safety Playbooks

wiadmin — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:54:46 +0000

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In this episode, Laura talks with Dr. Karolin Helbig and Minette Norman about the concepts behind their new book, The Psychological Safety Playbook for Changemakers. Together, Karolin and Minette discuss the surprising story behind their collaboration, which began with a “crazy idea,” what psychological safety really looks like in practice, and how their playbooks help cultivate workplace environments where people are inspired to do their best, most creative work.

Key Points From This Episode:

[02:18] Minette begins by sharing how she and Karolin met and what sparked their collaboration as coauthors.

[04:04] Karolin expands on that story by reflecting on how they wrote their first book without ever meeting face-to-face.

[05:52] Karolin talks about who both playbooks are for and how The Psychological Safety Playbook for Changemakers builds on the first one.

[09:20] Minette tells the story of a time she knew her workplace was not a space that promoted psychological safety.

[12:17] Karolin explains where readers should begin with both psychological safety playbooks and whether they should be read in a certain order.

[14:21] Minette shares some tips to help with everyday behavior in the workplace and increase psychological safety.

[17:46] Karolin reflects on why managing our reactions is one of the most powerful and most difficult disciplines of leadership.

[20:13] Minette explains what it takes to deliberately restore psychological safety after it has been damaged.

[23:06] Minette builds on her previous answer by revealing why apologizing in the workplace can actually strengthen a leader’s credibility and influence.

[26:15] Karolin shares an example of a team that has been particularly skilled at developing psychological safety and the impact it created.

[29:42] Karolin discusses the process of creating the artwork for the playbooks.

Who These Playbooks Are For:

Whether or not you’re even familiar with the term “psychological safety,” both of Karolin and Minette’s playbooks are for you. Every single one of us—whether in our personal lives or our professional lives—works in groups. We all interact with others, and we all want those group interactions to be more enjoyable, more productive, and more creative. You have the opportunity to start a positive, contagious ripple effect.
If you care about psychological safety but feel like you have too much on your plate to focus on it, these playbooks are for you. The Psychological Safety Playbook for Changemakers won’t cost you any time—you can flip it open and immediately put it into practice. Even with an overwhelming schedule, you can pick up Karolin and Minette’s books and find something practical immediately.

Resources:

Explore The Psychological Safety Playbook website, as well as Karolin and Minette’s individual websites.
Sign up for The Psychological Safety Playbook newsletter, learn about the certification program for facilitators, and download the free resources.
Follow Karolin and Minette on LinkedIn.

Key Quotes:

What came out of our “crazy idea” is two books, a program for facilitators, workshops, and keynotes. —Dr. Karolin Helbig

We wrote our first book without ever having met, without even sharing the continent or an office. —Dr. Karolin Helbig

The first book lays the foundation of psychological safety. The second book builds on that same structure and looks deeper into the real work of establishing psychological safety as a culture in real life. —Dr. Karolin Helbig

This kind of stuff happens all the time, where someone says something, they get interrupted, they get eye-rolled, they get ignored, they get a big sigh—and all of those things let us know that it is not a safe work environment. —Minette Norman

Both books are standalone books, so you can start anywhere. —Dr. Karolin Helbig

People want their leaders, their changemakers, and anyone they work with to be a human being, just as we all are. They do not expect absolute perfection. In fact, I think people are suspicious of seemingly perfect people who never make mistakes. —Minette Norman

The post Episode 2: How a “Crazy Idea” Turned Into Two Psychological Safety Playbooks appeared first on Weaving Influence.

Episode 1: Introducing Indie Author Chat

wiadmin — Tue, 12 May 2026 12:31:32 +0000

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In this introductory episode, Laura sits down with Becky Robinson—host of The Book Marketing Action Podcast—to unveil the vision behind this new podcast dedicated to thoughtful nonfiction books and the independent authors who write them. Together, they explore the evolving world of publishing and how Weaving Influence Press is taking a marketing-first approach to helping authors connect with readers. Tune in as Becky and Laura share a preview of the inspiring lineup of upcoming guests and books featured this season!

Key Points From This Episode:

[00:08] Becky Robinson announces that Season 7 of The Book Marketing Action Podcast has wrapped and introduces a new podcast, Indie Author Chat, alongside host Laura Finch.

[01:08] Becky and Laura talk about some of the biggest challenges for authors and readers at this time in the publishing industry.

[2:25] Becky shares her thoughts about what it means to launch a book and why it takes so much effort.

[03:18] Becky and Laura reflect on the longevity of the books that Weaving Influence Press authors are writing.

[05:00] Becky talks about her time hosting The Book Marketing Action Podcast and the amazing listeners it continues to attract.

[06:21] Learn about Weaving Influence Press and how it inspired the creation of Indie Author Chat.

[07:08] What is the impact of working with a marketing-first hybrid press? Becky explains.

[08:27] Becky and Laura discuss who should listen to Indie Author Chat and why.

[10:00] Becky and Laura provide a sneak preview of the season ahead and the incredible first guests.

Resources:

Subscribe to Indie Author Chat.
Learn more about Weaving Influence Press and our authors.
Follow Weaving Influence Press on LinkedIn.

Key Quotes:

We’re hoping that through this new podcast, we’ll connect our authors with a new set of readers who we may not have reached with some of our outreach in the past. —Becky Robinson

Book marketing really is a long-term initiative, so most of the books our authors are writing will add value to people in the marketplace for years. —Becky Robinson

What’s unique is that Weaving Influence Press is a marketing-first hybrid publisher. —Becky Robinson

We have a decade and a half of experience supporting authors and marketing their books, and we’re bringing that wealth of resources to the authors we’re partnering with at Weaving Influence Press. —Becky Robinson

Anyone who loves to read nonfiction books should listen to Indie Author Chat. We will connect you with the best guests who have exciting books and a deep passion for their work. —Becky Robinson

The post Episode 1: Introducing Indie Author Chat appeared first on Weaving Influence.

Episode 168: The Courage to Tell the Truth Through a Memoir

Becky Robinson — Tue, 05 May 2026 20:57:21 +0000

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Welcome to Season 7 of The Book Marketing Action Podcast with Becky Robinson, where we give you information you can immediately implement to increase your influence and market your books more successfully.

In this final episode of Season 7, Becky sits down with Lara Love Hardin—president and founder of True Literary and bestselling author—to explore the powerful story behind her memoir The Many Lives of Mama Love. Lara shares her journey from addiction and incarceration to rebuilding her life as a ghostwriter, literary agent, and bestselling author. Together, Becky and Lara discuss the courage it takes to tell the truth through writing, the realities of publishing a memoir, and the transformative power of sharing your story. Lara also offers insights into what makes a memoir stand out and what it really takes to bring a book into the world.

Key Points From This Episode:

[02:16] Lara shares her life journey as she wrote about it in her memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love.

[04:40] Lara goes deeper into one of the stories from her memoir, recalling the time her employer found out about her past.

[12:42] Lara explains the experience of stepping out of the shadows and finding the courage to share her story with the world.

[18:01] From the perspective of having contributed to multiple bestselling memoirs—in addition to writing her own—Lara reveals what it takes to write the kind of memoir that acquires representation and a publisher.

[24:14] (AD) Learn about Weaving Influence Press—Weaving Influence’s marketing-first approach to hybrid publishing.

[25:12] Lara talks about the biggest factors that contribute to selling non-celebrity memoirs.

[26:31] Lara reflects on her decision to form her own literary agency and the vision she has for being a different kind of literary agent.

[28:40] Discover the types of authors and stories Lara is most drawn to representing.

[33:23] Lara reveals when an author should decide which publishing path to go down.

[36:00] Lara shares the original title of her memoir and who she would pick to play her in the TV adaptation.

[38:00] Lara reflects on which parts of her journey have felt the most surreal.

Action Steps:

Find a collaborative group of writers and take classes to improve your craft. It’s important as a writer to seek out others who can help you edit and improve your work.
What’s something you hoped was possible for your book that you haven’t been able to achieve yet? Own that goal and think about what you can do right now to move toward it—don’t give up on your dream.

Resources:

Follow Lara on Instagram.
Get a copy of Lara’s memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love.
Learn more about Lara’s literary agency, True Literary (currently closed for submissions).

Key Quotes:

People always rise to the level that you believe in them. —Lara Love Hardin

I realized I could do some good with my story, and I wanted more of that feeling. —Lara Love Hardin

I think ordinary people have extraordinary stories, and everybody’s extraordinary story is a guide for someone else who is going through something. —Lara Love Hardin

Genius is always a collaborative effort. —Lara Love Hardin

The hardest thing in the world to sell as an agent is a non-celebrity memoir. —Lara Love Hardin

I’m a big fan of the underdog. I’m a big fan of people who have been underestimated or dismissed or shoved to the margins of the world. —Lara Love Hardin

People think they just need an agent, but they don’t—they need the right agent. —Lara Love Hardin

I have so much empathy because everything my authors have done, I had to do. —Lara Love Hardin

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

The post Episode 168: The Courage to Tell the Truth Through a Memoir appeared first on Weaving Influence.

Episode 167: Why It’s Never Too Late for Your Book to Take Off

Becky Robinson — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:10:00 +0000

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In this episode, Becky sits down with Jim Murphy—performance coach and author—to explore the extraordinary journey behind his book Inner Excellence. What started as a self-published book that sold 8,000 copies over 16 years transformed into a #1 New York Times bestseller after A.J. Brown was seen reading it on the sidelines of an NFL playoff game. Jim shares the behind-the-scenes story of how his book found its way into the hands of professional athletes, the years he spent refining his message, and why he never gave up on the work.

Key Points From This Episode:

[02:05] Jim shares some background about his journey as an author.

[07:41] Jim talks about the various contributing factors that led to his book, Inner Excellence, becoming a New York Times bestseller for several weeks in a row.

[12:27] Jim reflects on the 16 years between the original publication of Inner Excellence and when it really took off in January of 2025.

[16:13] (AD) Learn about Weaving Influence Press—Weaving Influence’s marketing-first approach to hybrid publishing.

[17:50] Discover what Jim did to keep Inner Excellence in the conversation throughout the years after publication.

[20:45] Jim shares the story of a life-changing moment for him.

[27:22] Jim talks about what’s different when it comes to marketing his new book, The Best Possible Life, and what his greatest hopes are for it.

[29:44] Jim elaborates on his marketing plan for The Best Possible Life.

Action Steps:

If your book has been out for a while, continue to think about ways you can share it with others who might benefit from it. You never know when the right person will pick it up, and your whole life might change.
Reflect on this question: What is most important to you about your message, and how can you stay connected to that? Remember that book marketing is not self-promotion; it’s message promotion.

Resources:

Explore Jim’s website and learn more about the Inner Excellence retreats.
Subscribe to Jim’s Substack newsletter.
Follow Jim on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X.
Get a copy of Inner Excellence and Jim’s latest book, The Best Possible Life.

Key Quotes:

I decided that for my master’s paper, I would interview Major League Baseball managers and coaches on how to build a championship team. —Jim Murphy

I had an affirmation in my phone that said: “I’m a New York Times bestselling author.” It was 16 years before it happened. —Jim Murphy

Now the book is going to be in 29 languages, so it’s been really incredible how it’s taken off. —Jim Murphy

The best possible life is where you feel fully alive, and you have amazing experiences and deep, enriching relationships, where you’re learning and growing and making a difference in the world, and you have a purpose beyond yourself. —Jim Murphy

One of the things I teach authors about book marketing is that longevity is incredibly important, and that when we write a book, the book has value long beyond launch. The book can be a value for years to come. —Becky Robinson

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

The post Episode 167: Why It’s Never Too Late for Your Book to Take Off appeared first on Weaving Influence.

Episode 166: A Fun Approach to Book Marketing

Becky Robinson — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0000

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In this episode, Becky is joined by Bree Groff—workplace culture expert and author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously)—to explore what it looks like to market a book in a way that feels joyful, authentic, and aligned. From designing a standout book cover and interactive website to creating influencer kits and experimenting with guerrilla marketing tactics, Bree walks through the creative strategies she used to bring her book to life and have fun along the way.

Key Points From This Episode:

[01:46] Bree shares a little bit about herself and what inspired her to write her book, Today Was Fun.

[04:27] Bree reveals how she landed on the title of her book and what she hoped readers would take away from it.

[06:44] Bree explains why she did not conduct a title survey and instead went with the title she felt most connected to.

[08:10] Learn about the craft behind Bree’s book and how its uniqueness has tied into her marketing and promotional strategies.

[11:34] Bree talks about what she did to prepare for the launch of her book and how she made her approach fun.

[15:04] Bree elaborates on her experience creating influencer boxes/book kits, revealing what the contents were and the investment they required.

[17:41] (AD) Learn about Weaving Influence Press—Weaving Influence’s marketing-first approach to hybrid publishing.

[19:15] Bree shares more of the ways she incorporated fun into her book marketing and launch campaign.

[23:33] Discover how Bree’s book marketing tactics have evolved in the first year since launch.

[25:50] Bree concludes by talking about her plans for the one-year anniversary of her book and how she wants to re-energize the message.

Action Steps:

Try out guerrilla-style marketing tactics to create buzz for your book. Leave copies of your book in airports, Little Free Libraries, and other public spaces—or follow Bree’s approach and pay for copies in a bookstore so the people who find them get your book for free.
Capture any nice notes you get throughout the author journey. Keep a log of any notes or messages you receive as a reminder that your work has made a difference for others, and revisit it whenever you need reassurance.

Resources:

Take a deep dive into Bree’s website—check out the shop for photos of her book kit.
Order a copy of Bree’s book, Today Was Fun.
Subscribe to Bree’s Substack, “What Work Should Be.”
Follow Bree on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Key Quotes:

When we don’t love our time at work, that means we’re really not loving five-sevenths of our lives each week. —Bree Groff

This book felt more like my own work of art than it did like a commercial product, so I was happy to just go with what felt true and compelling to me along the way. —Bree Groff

Part of what I think is compelling, captivating, and brilliant is when people dare to deviate from the norm. —Bree Groff

Creating brilliant work is joyful in and of itself, and it doesn’t have to look like everything else. In fact, it’s really powerful to look different and to convey the bravery of showing up differently. —Bree Groff

I asked myself what the most joyful version of marketing this book would be, ideally at the intersection of where I have some sort of special expertise, and I find it fun. —Bree Groff

Part of the joy of getting to write a book is the very romantic idea that it’s like putting a note in a bottle, sending it out to sea, and hoping it finds somebody else out there. —Bree Groff

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

The post Episode 166: A Fun Approach to Book Marketing appeared first on Weaving Influence.

Episode 165: Building a Book Launch Around Alignment and Community

Becky Robinson — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

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In this episode, Becky is joined by Jenna Nicholas—investor, entrepreneur, advisor, coach, speaker, and bestselling author of Enlightened Bottom Line—to explore how alignment and community drive powerful book marketing results. From hosting meaningful virtual and in-person launch events to building momentum through Substack, podcasting, and aligned partnerships, Jenna offers a fresh perspective on what it looks like to market a book in a way that feels both strategic and deeply authentic.

Key Points From This Episode:

[01:39] Jenna shares about herself and her work in the world.

[02:23] Jenna discusses some of the core ideas and inspiration behind her new book, Enlightened Bottom Line.

[04:14] Spirituality and business aren’t topics that often intersect. Jenna explains some of the resistance she encountered in bringing those worlds together and how she navigated it.

[06:21] Jenna talks about the strategy behind her book launch and how it has fueled her momentum and success.

[07:30] Jenna reflects on what was meaningful to her about the virtual and in-person launch celebrations she had for her book.

[09:49] Substack has been a useful platform for Jenna to share the messages from Enlightened Bottom Line. She reveals how.

[11:15] (AD) Learn about Weaving Influence Press—Weaving Influence’s marketing-first approach to hybrid publishing.

[12:22] Jenna talks about how her podcast has helped to fuel momentum for her book.

[13:43] Jenna discusses the importance of alignment when it comes to forming connections in the industry and what that says about the power of staying rooted in your core message when building a platform.

[14:54] Jenna shares what has brought her the most joy throughout her author journey.

[16:05] Discover the steps Jenna has taken to ensure she’s making space for the parts of the author journey that feel the most meaningful to her.

[17:32] Jenna reflects on the legacy she hopes to create.

[18:35] Jenna concludes by sharing her plans for continuing to fuel her message over time.

Action Steps:

Spend some time thinking about your legacy. What is the legacy you want to have as an author? What are the most important messages you want to share through your work?
Make specific plans for what you’ll do on the day your book comes out. Consider what you might implement as a launch event, either virtual or in person, to fuel some meaning on the day your book is released into the world.

Resources:

Subscribe to Jenna’s Substack newsletter.
Explore Jenna’s website to learn more about her book, her work in the world, and upcoming events.
Get a copy of Jenna’s book, Enlightened Bottom Line.
Connect with Jenna on LinkedIn and follow her on Instagram.

Key Quotes:

The core idea behind Enlightened Bottom Line is bridging these fields that we often think about as being quite different—spirituality, purpose, business, and investing—and looking at the threads that run throughout. —Jenna Nicholas

To really drive energy and traffic on the week of my book launch, I did a virtual launch with a community on the day of, and I did an in-person launch a couple of days later. —Jenna Nicholas

Creating the space for community has been a big part of the goal for me with the book and with both of those launch celebrations. —Jenna Nicholas

Something that’s been really exciting to see with Substack is being able to use some of the themes, stories, anecdotes, and examples that come from my book, but repurpose them on Substack and other platforms, too. —Jenna Nicholas

I’ve been trying to practice, as we go along, all that I share within the book. —Jenna Nicholas

I think one of the things that’s been bringing me the greatest joy is creating spaces for people to share stories and connect with others around what really motivates them, and that they feel less alone in the process of engaging in these conversations. —Jenna Nicholas

My goal really is sparking a greater discourse around these principles of spirituality and purpose within businesses and investments so that it’s not something that is put to the side, but there are open spaces within organizations to engage deeply around these topics. —Jenna Nicholas

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

The post Episode 165: Building a Book Launch Around Alignment and Community appeared first on Weaving Influence.

Episode 164: Why Bestseller Lists Don’t Tell the Whole Story

Becky Robinson — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

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In this episode, Becky sits down with Kathleen Schmidt—founder of Kathleen Schmidt Public Relations and author of Publishing Confidential on Substack—to pull back the curtain on the New York Times bestseller list. Kathleen explains why bestseller lists are more curated than many authors realize and why hitting the list is far less predictable than most people think. This candid conversation will help authors reset expectations about bestseller lists and focus on more impactful strategies that support long-term success.

Key Points From This Episode:

[01:19] Kathleen shares about herself, her career, and her company, Kathleen Schmidt Public Relations.

[03:50] Kathleen reveals the gap she saw in publishing, which inspired her to create her Substack newsletter.

[06:28] Discover the details of Kathleen’s Substack article that uncovers the truth about various bestseller lists—particularly the New York Times.

[09:56] Kathleen explains how the New York Times bestseller list is selected.

[13:15] (AD) Learn about Weaving Influence Press—Weaving Influence’s marketing-first approach to hybrid publishing.

[14:18] Kathleen reveals what surprises her the most about the issues relating to various bestseller lists.

[15:33] Kathleen talks about who benefits from the current bestseller system and who is disadvantaged by it.

[18:06] If any authors feel defeated or discouraged by the challenge of getting on a bestseller list, Kathleen shares advice and more worthwhile goals that authors can set.

[19:26] Kathleen shares what she would most like to change about the bestseller ecosystem.

[20:18] Kathleen highlights strategies she’s seen used by some of the most successful authors to sustain consistent book sales over time.

[22:50] Kathleen explains what has worked for her in terms of building her online brand and presence.

Action Steps:

Set right-sized goals for yourself and your book. Think about and evaluate the goals that you have for your book launch, then consider how you can show up consistently and engage with your community so your book can sell over time.
Decide whether there are other areas of your life that you’re comfortable sharing to create a more authentic online presence. If so, take the risk to share something new with your online connections today!

Resources:

Subscribe to Publishing Confidential on Substack and read the article that inspired this episode.
Consider joining Kathleen’s Publishing Confidential Cohort. Details can be found in her recent Substack articles.
Explore Kathleen’s website to learn more about her work and services.
Follow Kathleen on Instagram and Threads.
Email Kathleen directly at kathleen@kmspr.com.

Key Quotes:

What surprises me is how obvious it is sometimes that a book doesn’t belong in a particular slot on a bestseller list. —Kathleen Schmidt

The people who benefit from the current system are authors whom publishers invest a lot in. —Kathleen Schmidt

Ultimately, it’s outside the control of the author. They can do everything correctly or optimally and sell the right number of books, but still be excluded somehow. —Kathleen Schmidt

Consistency over time is really what the goal should be. —Kathleen Schmidt

It is important to have some kind of platform where you can connect directly with readers, because publishers are going to look less at your follower count and more at engagement. —Kathleen Schmidt

The biggest problem I see with authors is that some of them just hand the keys over to the publisher for promotion, and they don’t do anything on their own. You have to be a participant. That is non-negotiable these days. —Kathleen Schmidt

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The post Episode 164: Why Bestseller Lists Don’t Tell the Whole Story appeared first on Weaving Influence.

Episode 163: The Power of Purpose for Long-Term Book Promotion

Becky Robinson — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:12:18 +0000

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In today’s episode, Becky is joined by Yosi Amram—psychologist, executive coach, and Spiritual Intelligence expert and author—to explore how long-term commitment fuels meaningful book marketing success. Yosi shares how he has sustained momentum for his book, Spiritually Intelligent Leadership, more than 2 years after launch—through purpose-driven PR, thought-leadership columns, community gatherings, and even a TEDx talk. If you’re playing the long game with your book, this episode will inspire you to build credibility step by step and stay aligned with your deeper purpose.

Key Points From This Episode:

[01:38] Yosi shares about himself and his work in the world.

[06:45] Yosi reveals what he hopes people will learn about Spiritual Intelligence after listening to this episode.

[09:52] Discover how Yosi identified where to spend time, energy, and money as it relates to marketing and promoting his book and its messages.

[11:25] Yosi explains which initiatives have been the most impactful for getting people to engage with his message.

[13:13] (AD) Learn about Weaving Influence Press—Weaving Influence’s marketing-first approach to hybrid publishing.

[14:19] Yosi reflects on how his approach to marketing Spiritually Intelligent Leadership has evolved as he’s moved further away from launch.

[17:17] Yosi reveals how all of the work he did over the years of marketing his book contributed to landing a TEDx opportunity, as well as other major media opportunities.

[19:58] Which book marketing initiatives have not been as impactful as Yosi anticipated, and which ones have helped him stay focused on the long game? He reflects.

[22:18] Yosi explains how he has sustained the energy and consistency to market his book for more than two years.

[25:41] Yosi shares one piece of advice to first-time authors who are preparing to launch and market their books.

Action Steps:

Spend some time reflecting on the unique gifts you have to share with the world. How might you open them up and share them more widely, and in what way might the concept of Spiritual Intelligence support your journey?
Think about the way your credibility has been building as you’ve been marketing your book. Consider how you might take steps now that will help you land bigger opportunities in the future.

Resources:

Explore Yosi’s website to access a free sample of Spiritually Intelligent Leadership, join his mailing list, connect with him on social media, and more.
Consider attending one of Yosi’s upcoming Awakening SI Community Gatherings.
Get your copy of Yosi’s award-winning book, Spiritually Intelligent Leadership.
Stay tuned for Yosi’s upcoming TEDx Talk—Beyond IQ & EQ: The Rise of Spiritual Intelligence.

Key Quotes:

What I see as my purpose, calling, and mission is to help awaken greater Spiritual Intelligence in myself and the world. —Yosi Amram

I’ve experimented with going after different podcasts and niche sources and seeing what works. —Yosi Amram

I have taken a long-term view about book marketing. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. —Yosi Amram

You do different things, and they build more credibility, and then you can do bigger things, and then it just keeps building on itself until, hopefully, you get this snowball momentum effect. —Yosi Amram

I’m looking at [marketing my book] as being a long-term game for multiple years, and I’m excited to be working on something that I’m passionate about, and that is fulfilling for me. It energizes me and keeps me going. —Yosi Amram

Ask yourself why you’re doing this and connect with your true, authentic purpose. —Yosi Amram

Life gives each of us unique skills and talents, and it’s asking us to do the same thing—unpack our gifts and put them to good use. —Yosi Amram

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The post Episode 163: The Power of Purpose for Long-Term Book Promotion appeared first on Weaving Influence.