I podcast and write about niche topics which I unpack into essential elements to more easily understand them. Sometimes, my books are about what I do professionally as a consultant to solve problems. Occasionally, a book topic reveals an upcoming market before it becomes popular, like Gen AI (in 2022) or Blockchain (in 2017). Sometimes, a book topic reveals M&A activity (in 2017).

I was going to publish my next book by Spring of 2024. And then I stopped.

Why did I stop? The short answer is the topic was not niche enough.

The topic was meaningful and valuable, but better already existed on the topic.

The topic has to be poorly understood by most people so I can provide clear insights and understanding in the form of a book.

The general topic already had 50,000 published books and counting. That is way too popular.

Even though there were plenty of original thoughts on this topic, I don’t do “me too” books.

The topic in question was getting more people to mentor. It will likely be separate blog posts instead of a book.

A popular topic is not good enough for me or my audience.

Process for selecting book topics (corrected)

First, I find a topic that piques my curiosity. These are all non-fiction.

Then, I collect resources: audio, video, text, graphics, and photos. Scholarly, opinionated, or not. I also find both clear and obscure data.

Then I research it. Thoroughly. Sometimes for months.

Then, I talk to the best people in the world about the topic I can find who are willing to speak openly. At the same time, I validate there is an audience for this podcast and book. I often record podcast interviews with those people.

Then, I transcribe those interviews. And some don’t get released.

Did all that. Learned a lot. Repeatedly.

Once I find too little out there about a topic and a group of people in the world are quietly working on that topic, only then do I start writing.

My mistake was I thought I had spotted a niche topic because getting people to mentor is more challenging to see happening today, but it still exists and is not new. Nor is mentoring virtually.

So, I am starting over. Researching my next book topic.

It will take more time. Precisely 10% of my time per week is dedicated to researching everything that piques my curiosity as part of life and learning. Eventually, a niche topic will be worth creating a book.

So, I am just getting started. Again.