014: Tucker Max on The Story of Book In A Box, Marketing to a Niche, & Firing Himself as CEO

Tucker Max (@TuckerMax) is here to share some serious entrepreneurial wisdom (much of it geared toward you financial advisors out there). But Tucker's knowledge, stemming from his work both as an independent writer and at Book In A Box, is applicable to anybody planning to write a book or start a business in our ever-changing world.  Tucker is a super-successful writer and one of only three people to have three nonfiction books on the New York Times Bestseller List simultaneously. One of his greatest challenges, however, was co-founding and running his game-changing company Book In A Box. Book In A Box helps busy entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and professionals get a book out of their head and into the world where it can have a real impact. Tucker will be the first to tell you that starting a company (and then deciding to fire himself from being its CEO) has changed his perspective on business for the better. Tucker's straight-up storytelling and advice cuts through all the noise out there about what it means to be successful, to market, or to write. Don't miss this opportunity to learn some critical lessons from somebody who constantly challenges himself to be better at it all.  SHOW NOTES: How Tucker deliberately changed his social circles, activities, and self to meet a woman he'd like to marry. [0:20] How Book In A Box helped a financial advisor exponentially increase his business in a very specific niche. [5:45] Whether or not you should directly pitch to your reader when you write a book. [11:24] The money and time you can save when debating hiring a writer or using Book In A Box. [15:00] How Tucker chose his financial advisor, and the role his friends played in convincing him he needed one. [16:00] The encounter with a fellow successful entrepreneur that left Tucker embarrassed, yet yielded the idea of Book In A Box. [20:45] Traditional publishing versus self-publishing, and how to choose which avenue is best for you. [26:25] The route Tucker took to publish his own books, which became NYT Nonfiction Bestsellers. [28:30] Advice about how to market a new book. [29:55] A simple explanation of Step Two in marketing your book: content marketing. [35:15] Why having a niche isn't just recommended in business today, but absolutely critical. [36:44] Why and how Tucker and Zach fired themselves as CEO and COO of Book In A Box. [41:56] How Tucker overcame his ego to make the right choice about his leadership for his business and employees. [45:45] Tucker's morning routine and how he structures his day. [47:55] Thoughts on meditation, mindfulness apps, and learning how to meditate. [50:00] How Tucker still finds time to read and why you should quit bad books. [54:00] What "being successful" looks like to Tucker now. [55:00] Whether Tucker has had mentors during his journey. [55:50] Tucker's all-time favorite novel. [57:15] The best business advice Tucker's ever received. [58:18] How the current corporate structure of businesses is going to change. [1:00:00] The one piece of advice Tucker credits for his continuing growth and success. [1:01:20] SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Tucker: Website | Twitter | Book In A Box The Book In A Box Method: The Groundbreaking New Way to Write and Publish Your Book by Tucker Max and Zach Obront #35: Book In A Box with Tucker Max on Jon Vroman's Front Row Factor Podcast The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy Cameron Herold on Making an Impact On Your Industry, Finding Great People, and Why Meetings Don’t Actually Suck on The Elite Advisor Blueprint The Pop Up Paradigm: How Brands Build Human Connections in a Digital Age by Melissa Gonzalez WeWork Muse Meditation  Buddha In Blue Jeans: An Extremely Short Zen Guide to Sitting Quietly and Being Buddha by Tai Sheridan The Trauma of Everyday Life by Mark Epstein 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works by Dan Harris A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole The War of Art by Steven Pressfield PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE Hal Elrod - Author of The Miracle Morning Robert Kiyosaki - Author of Rich Dad Poor Dad Jon Vroman - Founder of the Front Row Factor Cameron Herold - Founder of COO Alliance and Author of Meetings Suck John Ruhlin - Founder of The Ruhlin Group and Author of Giftology Malcolm Gladwell - Author of The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, and more Michael Lewis - Author of The Big Short, Boomerang, Moneyball, and more Russell Brand - Actor