By Marc C. Shaffer
In 2024, I had given a few presentations about networking and paying it forward when one of my mentors asked me what I thought was a joke:
“Why haven’t you written a book yet?”
I laughed. I could barely finish a 1,000-word blog post for my company website without struggling to find the right words. How could I ever write a full book?
When I asked my wife what she thought about the idea, she asked the practical question: “When would you find the time to do that?”
When I asked my life coach, she gave me her signature advice: “Try it on and wear it around a while.”
If you have worked with a coach, you know that means putting it out into the world to see how the world responds. Or as Paulo Coelho would say, seeing how the world conspires.
And conspire it did.
Within a month, my network introduced me to several local Kansas City authors and people who supported them. One of those contacts, a marketing professional, suggested I reach out to Will Severns with Streamline Books.
From “I Don’t Know Anything” to Finding the Right Guide in ShareYourStory.com
As you can imagine, I did not know much about writing a book.
- How do you organize ideas?
- Find your voice?
- Design a cover?
- Bring a book to market?
- Promote it once it is done?
Luckily, I found an answer! ShareYourStory.com helps authors and speakers share their stories with the world. My journey with them started with their publishing brand, Streamline Books, who had an answer for all of those questions and more!
They work with writers at all levels. Some people come in with a manuscript already finished, needing only editing and publishing help. Others start with nothing but an idea and need support with everything.
I fell into the second category. I chose their higher-level service because I wanted to take what had been a 10-year dream and make it a one-year reality. Their process worked like an RFP (Request for Proposal), matching my book idea with various writing coaches. That is how I met Jessica Burdg.
Finding the Right Coach
Jessica was the perfect fit. Unlike some of the other coaches I spoke with, she immediately understood that my book was not about finance or my profession. It was about relationships.
She has a gift for helping clients uncover the heart of their message. Over the next six months, Jessica and I met every other week to shape my manuscript.
Our first step was to define my audience. Who was I writing this book for? After some back-and-forth, I realized the ideal reader was a younger version of myself, someone like a young planner on my team. I wanted to give him the lessons and ideas I wish I had known earlier in my career.
For me, success in financial planning, and in business overall, was built not on technical knowledge but on the ability to develop strong, genuine relationships. That became the heartbeat of the book.
Writing With a Purpose
During that six-month period, I alternated meetings: one week with Jessica to refine the manuscript and the next with my teammate Tanner, mentoring him on business development.
His questions, comments, and real-time challenges created fresh material for the book.
Through this rhythm, I discovered that I already had a process for networking, following up, and building trust…it just wasn’t written down.
As I formalized it, I improved what I was doing in real life. The result was a framework that helped me “systemize kindness, grow my network, and support others like it is my job.”
None of the steps are revolutionary, but they are the small, consistent actions most people overlook because they do not make them a priority. My hope is that the book makes it easier for others to take action, know what to do next, and move their relationships forward.
What surprised me most was how much I looked forward to my meetings with Jessica. Instead of dreading deadlines or revisions, I enjoyed our conversations. She asked thoughtful questions, sparked new ideas, and helped me translate my stories into writing that flowed.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped believing the old story that I “wasn’t a writer.” I realized the only thing holding me back was my mindset.
From Book to Blogs
That mindset shift changed everything.
What used to feel like pulling teeth, writing one blog post every six months, has turned into a weekly writing rhythm. I now look for opportunities to write, and I enjoy it. Writing is no longer a burden, it is a creative outlet.
The Moment It Got Real
After finishing the manuscript, Streamline walked me through the cover design process.
If you have ever written something, you know the moment you see a real book cover with your name on it. Everything changes. It feels official. It feels real. And it adds a whole new level of excitement and momentum.
From there, their team supported me with launch strategies, Amazon setup, and resources for questions that popped up along the way. I also really enjoyed the regular check-ins from the Streamline co-founders Will Severns and Alex Demczak. Their positive comments and excitement about bringing everything to the finish line were energizing.
You can tell they genuinely love celebrating the wins with their clients, not because of best-seller lists, but because someone has created something meaningful to share with others. I have also appreciated how their services have grown to include marketing and speaking opportunities for authors who want to take that path.
My Book Website – One for All: How to Systemize Kindness, Grow Your Network, and Support Others Like It’s Your Job
My Book on Amazon – One for All: How to Systemize Kindness, Grow Your Network, and Support Others Like It’s Your Job
A Community of Authors
Another part of Streamline’s process that I have loved is the author community. Each month, they pair you with another writer.
I have met people from across the country, athletes, faith-driven leaders, and creative entrepreneurs, and many have become friends, referral partners, or sources of inspiration. It is a reminder that books are more than words on a page. They are bridges to new relationships.
Grateful for the Process
The Streamline team turned what felt impossible into a reality. Their encouragement, structure, and community gave me confidence to bring my book into the world and the motivation to keep writing.
While I do not expect my book to be a bestseller, I do hope it reaches the people who need it most, those who want to grow, connect, and live with intention.
If you have ever thought about writing a book, even if it feels like a distant dream, I encourage you to explore it. You might surprise yourself, just like I did.
And if you would like to connect with the Streamline Books team, I would be more than happy to make that introduction.