Mastering the Game

Some of you may not know this, but I have a deep love for chess.

My dad taught me how to play when I was around 7 years old.

At that age, sitting still and focusing for long periods was a challenge.

My dad always wanted the best for me and pushed me to develop in every aspect—intellectually, physically, and emotionally. He was always encouraging me to try new things and learn.

At the time, I didn’t understand his intentions and thought he was just being bossy.

Chess was one of his ways to sharpen my mind.

I remember him saying, “Come on Ben, focus!” which was tough for a restless kid like me.

---

No More Chess

Sadly, my dad passed away when I was 9, and I stopped playing chess for a long time.

Seeing a chessboard in the years that followed brought a pang of heartache, much like a song that reminds you of a lost loved one.

In my late 20s, out of sheer boredom at work, I stumbled upon a chess app on my phone.

I thought, why not give it a try after all these years? I’m glad I did.

---

As an adult, I now understand why my father wanted me to play chess.

Chess demands:

• Strategy.
• Focus.
• Planning.
• And caution.

It sharpens your mind and teaches you to anticipate not just one move ahead, but several.

You learn the value of careful, calculated decisions and attention to detail.

Recently, while playing chess at work, I realized how much the game resembles self-publishing. The same mindset is required for both.

In self-publishing, you need to focus, plan, pay attention to detail, make adjustments, and have a general strategy. You must know when to push forward, hold back, or wait for the right moment.

---

Compounded Outcomes

Did you know that after each player’s first four moves in chess, there can be more than 318 billion different outcomes? 😲

This complexity mirrors the self-publishing world.

Every decision you make, from choosing a niche to designing a cover, writing the description, setting the price, and marketing, compounds with the next.

In my course, “The Self-Publishing Success Strategy,” I illustrate how these steps create vastly different outcomes. Each move in self-publishing is like a move in chess; it’s crucial to think ahead and make informed decisions.

For instance, I analyzed book descriptions on Amazon for my course and found numerous subtle mistakes that impacted overall sales.

One coloring book had a captivating cover and well-designed interior pages, but the description was terrible. They just copied the title and subtitle, and pasted it as their description.

No persuasive language or emotional connection.

Imagine spending countless hours designing a beautiful book only to have it fail due to a lackluster description. It’s like having a great chess opening and then sacrificing your queen— it’s pretty much game over.

---

Bad x Bad = Bad

Mistakes in any part of the self-publishing process can compound and harm your results. Conversely, being just 1% or 5% better than your competition across various areas can lead to significant advantages.

This mindset has been key to my success in publishing over 150,000 books across different niches and styles. (Selling that many books isn’t a fluke!)

It takes discipline, focus, attention to detail, strategy, and organization. You need to know when to double down (like during Q4), retreat (when an ad campaign flops), and adapt (when you get a bad review or sales decline).

These traits, combined with the effort you put into each area of self-publishing, determine your success.

---

Results = Happiness

The results I’ve seen have changed my family’s lives. We’re financially free. My partner works just two days a week ( to escape from me, I expect ), and I can quit my job anytime.

Because of this, I am passionate about helping others have a taste of the same. Unfortunately many of you are not seeing the results you want, even though you are putting in the effort.

Unless you outperform your competition in every area, you will struggle.

That’s why I created the “Self-Publishing Success Strategy.” It’s a step-by-step guide to my approach, showing the effort and standard required. From organizing your files to managing your time, how to think, I lay it all out.

By sharing the blueprint of my success, I hope you’ll see the results you deserve, transform your life for the better, and give your family a brighter future.

I can’t wait to share this blueprint with you on the 26th of July 2024. I’ve applied the same high standards to this course as I have with self-publishing.

You’re going to love it!

Here’s to your success.

Ben