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The industry expert as an author

In the world of industry expertise, publishing your insights, knowledge, and experience in a book can be a valuable asset for others. Take Joe, for example. He may be a retired banker who drives an old Volvo sedan and lives in the suburbs, but his life story is an undocumented treasure trove. At 64 years old, Joe has lived a rich and diverse life, starting from the dusty plains of Ilmuriat, where he grazed his father’s cattle and attended the local missionary school. He later continued his education at Alliance High School and the University of Nairobi, where he graduated with a degree in finance.

With a successful marriage of 34 years and three children who have all completed university, Joe is well-positioned to author a self-help book on marriage and family life. In addition, as a former banker, he has accumulated much information related to finances that could be useful to others. In fact, with some prodding, Joe could even create a booklet on owning and maintaining a house. The possibilities are endless regarding the knowledge and experiences that industry experts like Joe can offer through the power of publishing.

The article discusses the challenge of finding the right person to write an autobiography for Joe, whose strengths lie in number crunching and speech-giving rather than writing lengthy texts. However, introducing a diligent publisher may be the answer to this problem. Given his extensive network of acquaintances across various regional sectors, the publisher has recognised the potential market for Joe’s autobiography. In addition, Joe’s scholarship initiative alone could easily cover three chapters of his book.

During their initial meeting, Joe’s son mentions his father’s desire to pen his life story, leading to a coffee meeting between Joe and the publisher. After discussing various topics, including stories from Joe’s past, they agree to commence with two publications: a memoir of Joe’s banking career and a self-help finance book. In addition, they plan to conduct weekly interviews with Joe, which will be recorded and transcribed. Joe will add material from these transcripts, and the publisher is already envisioning a suitable book cover design. With the right resources and collaboration, the publisher will preserve Joe’s life story for generations.