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Podcast · Folge 89
Warum ihr Buch in Europa nicht im Laden stand
Jessica Williamson über eine Buchtour mit über 400 Gästen, Verlagsrechte, die an Ländergrenzen enden – und die Frage, die sie sich statt „ich kann nicht“ stellt
Diese Folge ist auf Englisch. Jessica Williamson lebt in Perth, deshalb wechselt Helen nach der Anmoderation ins Englische – nach eigenen Worten eine Auswahl ihrer Komfortzone, weil sie keine Muttersprachlerin ist. Der Einstieg ist wie immer eine gedankliche Reise: Wo sitzen wir gerade, und welches Getränk hast du uns mitgebracht? Griechenland, sagt Jessica Williamson, und dazu ein Matcha – ihr Standardgetränk, manchmal ein Kakao.
Jessica Williamson
Unternehmerin und Mentorin, Perth, Australien
Jessica Williamson lebt in Perth und arbeitet als Business- und Mindset-Mentorin. Sie hat mit 22 eine Bädermoden-Marke gegründet, die eine Woche nach dem Online-Start bei der New York Fashion Week gezeigt wurde, und bis Mitte zwanzig fünf Unternehmen aufgebaut; drei davon hat sie nach einer Erschöpfungsphase verkauft. Seit 2020 führt sie einen eigenen Podcast, im Dezember 2023 kam ein TEDx-Auftritt dazu. 2024 erschien ihr Buch »Unstoppable Success« bei Big Sky Publishing in Australien.
Ein Buch, das in Deutschland niemand kaufen konnte
Helen folgt Jessica Williamson seit Jahren, und als die ankündigte, dass ein Buch kommt, wollte sie es haben. Bestellt hat sie es schließlich in Neuseeland – das war der einzige Shop, der international verschickte. Sie selbst nennt das im Gespräch beiläufig, aber es ist der rote Faden dieser Folge.
Denn Verlagsrechte enden an Ländergrenzen. Wer bei einem australischen Verlag unterschreibt, gibt ihm die Rechte für Australien. Damit ein Buch in Europa erscheint, muss ein Verlag hier es kaufen und selbst herausbringen – und das passiert nur, wenn jemand zusagt. „It makes no sense in this global world why the industry is so old school“, sagt Williamson: gebaut für eine Zeit, in der es kein Internet gab. Ihre eigenen Kundinnen in den USA kamen an das Buch genauso wenig heran wie Helen in Deutschland.
Inzwischen hat sich das ein Stück weit gelöst: Bei Thalia gibt es »Unstoppable Success« als E-Book. Die gedruckte Ausgabe ist im deutschen Buchhandel weiterhin nicht regulär gelistet.
Warum sie trotzdem unbedingt einen Verlag wollte
Selbst veröffentlichen wäre einfacher gewesen: eine Druckerei suchen oder Amazons Print-on-Demand nutzen. Nur hätte das Buch dann nirgends im Laden gestanden. „Die Buchhandlungen nehmen es nicht ins Sortiment, wenn es nicht über einen Verlag und einen Vertrieb gelaufen ist“, sagt sie – und weil genau das ihr Ziel war, hat sie gezielt bei den Verlagen gepitcht, die diese Art Buch machen.
Was ein Verlag dagegen nicht mitbringt: Marketingbudget. Das räumt sie nüchtern ein – ein Verlag druckt und vertreibt, aber die Vermarktung zahlt man in der Regel selbst, es sei denn, man heißt Kim Kardashian. Also hat sie die Tour selbst finanziert und selbst gebaut.
Eine Buchtour, die aussah wie eine Party
Der übliche Ablauf, sagt sie, sei: eine Buchhandlung, fünf bis zehn Leute, ein bisschen aus dem Buch vorlesen, fertig. Sie wollte etwas anderes. Über 400 Menschen kamen quer durch Australien zu ihren Terminen, es gab Goodie-Bags „so schwer, dass es verrückt war“, Sponsoren und ein Programm mit Fragerunde. Und bei den ersten beiden Terminen ausdrücklich keine Lesung: „This is not story time.“
Beim dritten Termin in Brisbane bat jemand aus dem Publikum, sie möge doch ihren Lieblingsabschnitt lesen. Sie nahm das Buch, suchte Kapitel fünf heraus – und in dem Moment, in dem sie zu lesen begann, zogen alle im Saal ihr Handy heraus und filmten mit. Danach sagten Leute ihr, sie hätten das Buch jetzt gekauft. Ihre eigene Erklärung: Inhaltlich hatte sie in der Fragerunde dasselbe gesagt. Aber erst als sie den Text sichtbar aus dem Buch vorlas, konnten die Leute den Wert mit dem Gegenstand verbinden.
Dass jede Station anders aussah, war ihr vorher nicht klar – jede Stadt in Australien habe eine eigene Kultur, wie Menschen zu Veranstaltungen kommen und sich dort bewegen. Ihr Rat davor steht allerdings: Erst das Ziel klären, sonst baut man Dinge, die nur das Ego füttern.
Die Frage, die sie statt „ich kann nicht“ stellt
Der Kern ihrer Arbeit ist eine einzige Umformulierung. Statt „ich kann das nicht“ fragt sie „wie schaffe ich das?“ – und direkt danach: bin ich bereit zu tun, was dafür nötig ist. Ihre Begründung: Wer „nicht möglich“ denkt, sortiert passende Gelegenheiten unbewusst aus, weil sie nicht mehr relevant erscheinen. Wer die Frage offen stellt, sucht weiter, bis eine Antwort da ist.
Sie führt das im Gespräch auf das retikuläre Aktivierungssystem zurück – ein Netzwerk im Hirnstamm, das Aufmerksamkeit und Wachheit mitreguliert. Dass es Reize nach unseren Überzeugungen vorfiltert, ist eine populäre Zuspitzung, die die Forschung so nicht hergibt; der beobachtete Effekt selbst – wir nehmen wahr, worauf wir gerichtet sind – ist unstrittig.
Ihr Beispiel dazu ist ihr nächstes großes Ziel: Paris Hilton in ihren Podcast zu holen. Sie hat keine Nummer, also arbeitet sie sich vor – wer ist die Assistentin, wer die Agentur, wer kennt jemanden. Und die zweite Frage: Wie falle ich auf, wenn diese Person täglich angefragt wird? Mehr als diese zwei Schritte, sagt sie, sei es nicht. Leicht sei es damit nicht, aber machbar.
Dass sie so denkt, hat einen Ursprung, der auf einer Podcastseite über Bücher gut aufgehoben ist: Ihre größte Angst war einmal, gesehen zu werden. Sie wollte nicht, dass irgendjemand ihren Namen kennt, und hat ihn nicht einmal auf die „Über mich“-Seite geschrieben.
Die Frau, die ein Buch schrieb und nicht gerne schreibt
Ihr erstes Buch hat sie mit etwa zwanzig gelesen – davor hat sie keines zu Ende gebracht. Einen Roman hat sie bis heute nicht gelesen; der erste Versuch war Harry Potter, und sie fand ihn zäh. Ihre Begründung ist entwaffnend ehrlich: Sie mag es schnell, und Lesen ist ihr langsam. Hörbücher hört sie in vierfacher Geschwindigkeit.
Das Buch, das sie damals doch gepackt hat, war eines der australischen Autorin Lisa Messenger – weil es klang wie ein Gespräch und nicht wie ein Lehrbuch. Genau so wollte sie ihr eigenes haben: viele Zwischenüberschriften, viele Aufzählungen, der Ton einer Freundin, die einem freundlich die Meinung sagt.
I am an author, but I wouldn’t say I’m a writer. I’m an entrepreneur who had a message to get out into the world – and so I wrote a book.Jessica Williamson
Ob noch ein Buch kommt? Niemals nie, sagt sie, aber vorerst nicht. Schon in der Schule mochte sie Mathe und Physik lieber als Englisch. Helen schlägt ihr daraufhin vor, es wie Brené Brown zu machen und das nächste Buch einfach jemandem zu erzählen, der mitschreibt. Williamson findet das gut.
Und was liest sie?
Geschäftsbücher, aber nicht abends – danach hat sie zu viele Ideen im Kopf, um einzuschlafen. Sonst Reality-TV. Helen empfiehlt ihr an dieser Stelle »Morgen, morgen und wieder morgen« von Gabrielle Zevin: ein Roman über zwei Menschen, die Computerspiele entwickeln und darin Welten bauen. Denselben Titel hat sie später auch Ramona Nemec in Folge 118 ans Herz gelegt.
Wenn du selbst ein Buch im Kopf hast oder wissen willst, warum manche Bücher es nie über eine Landesgrenze schaffen, hör dir diese Folge an – sie ist auf Englisch, aber Jessica Williamson spricht ruhig und klar.
Die Bücher aus dieser Folge
Zwei Titel kommen im Gespräch vor – ihr eigenes Buch und Helens Empfehlung an sie.
Unstoppable Success
Jessica Williamson
Ihr Buch, 2024 bei Big Sky Publishing in Australien erschienen: Mindset und Geschäftspraxis, mit Aufgaben am Ende jedes Kapitels. Bei Thalia gibt es davon aktuell nur die E-Book-Fassung – die gedruckte Ausgabe ist im deutschen Handel weiterhin nicht regulär gelistet, genau wie sie es in der Folge beschreibt.
Morgen, morgen und wieder morgen
Gabrielle Zevin
Helens Empfehlung im Gespräch: der Roman über zwei Menschen, die gemeinsam Computerspiele entwickeln. Aus dem Englischen von Sonia Bonné, im Original »Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow«.
*Mit Sternchen markierte Links sind Affiliate-Links: Kaufst du darüber, erhalten wir eine kleine Provision. Für dich ändert sich am Preis nichts.
Häufige Fragen
Ist diese Folge auf Deutsch?
Nein. Helen führt das Gespräch auf Englisch, weil Jessica Williamson in Australien lebt. Nur die An- und Abmoderation sind deutsch. Das Transkript unter dem Player gibt das Gespräch deshalb im englischen Original wieder.
Warum ist ein Buch aus Australien in Europa nicht im Laden zu bekommen?
Weil Verlagsrechte an Ländergrenzen enden. Wer in Australien veröffentlicht, gibt dem Verlag die Rechte für Australien – für andere Märkte braucht es jeweils einen eigenen Partnerverlag, der zusagt. Jessica Williamson nennt das im Gespräch „old school“: gebaut für eine Zeit ohne Internet.
Was bringt ein Verlag, wenn man auch selbst veröffentlichen kann?
Die Distribution. Ein selbst verlegtes Buch nehmen Buchhandlungen in der Regel nicht ins Sortiment, weil Verlag und Barsortiment fehlen. Genau deshalb wollte sie einen Verlag – ihr Ziel war, dass das Buch in den Läden steht, nicht nur online.
Wie lief die Buchtour ab?
Über 400 Menschen kamen quer durch Australien zu den Terminen. Es gab Goodie-Bags, Sponsoren und ein Bühnenprogramm mit Fragerunde – und bei den ersten beiden Terminen ausdrücklich keine Lesung.
Was ist die Frage, die sie statt „ich kann nicht“ stellt?
„How can I make it?“ – wie schaffe ich das? Und direkt danach: bin ich bereit, das dafür Nötige zu tun? Ihre Begründung: Wer „ich kann nicht“ denkt, sortiert passende Gelegenheiten unbewusst aus.
Kann ich die Folge noch hören?
Ja, sie ist am 3. Dezember 2024 erschienen und weiter überall verfügbar, wo es Podcasts gibt – und hier auf dieser Seite direkt im Player.
Mehr von Jessica Williamson
Transkript der Folge
Das Gespräch wurde auf Englisch geführt, das Transkript gibt es im Original wieder. Automatisch erstellt und nur grob korrigiert – es kann Fehler enthalten, auch bei der Zuordnung, wer gerade spricht. Maßgeblich ist die Aufnahme.
Helen
I have been following you for quite a while. I'm actually not sure. A couple of years, I think. And I did see everything you do, I think, because I'm watching your stories every day. It feels a bit like being a stalker sometimes if you know so much about another person and the person doesn't know you. But I've been following along and as you shared that you're publishing a book I pre-ordered the book I think in New Zealand you live in Australia.
Jess
Yes because New Zealand was the only one that would ship internationally. It was crazy.
Helen
Yeah, and I live in Germany, so it's still kind of difficult to get here, but I would like to change that today. because I really enjoyed your book Unstoppable Success. And maybe you can share who it is for, why did you want to write it? And yeah, share with us what you, what was behind the book for you.
Jess
Yeah. So back in 2020, I had an idea to write a book, mainly because I wanted to connect with other female leaders and interview them about their journey. And then I thought, let me just do a podcast instead, because that's gonna be better. So I did my podcast, started that instead in 2020 instead of a book. And actually, it was probably the best thing because then I went through a lot of growth, a lot of evolution, you know, growing my business in different ways. And obviously, I'd built other businesses in the past, but this was more personal growth and a different journey building a personal brand. So when I had sort of built out a lot of lessons and things that I was teaching online, I thought, I really want these to be accessible to so many people because my clients were having life changing realizations, life changing results in their business. And I really wanted to get it out there in a bigger and easier way. Now, obviously, we live in an era where the internet is makes it super easy. I was like, but I wanted to reach people beyond my community, beyond my networks. I wanted to write a book that could be in all the bookstores across Australia and just be really accessible. You know, books are like $20. So it makes it really accessible for those people who maybe aren't ready to invest in working with me yet. And I put everything in there. So I took all of my knowledge from building my five businesses. I took all of my workshops, lessons, speeches that I've done and I put it all together. And I really wanted it to be a super practical book as well. So I've got obviously the action steps, the activities at the end of each chapter as well.
Helen
Yeah, I really enjoyed those. Like the workbook you have accompanying the book and the questions you ask, because it is a book where you really have to think and do the work. You can't just read it and forget it. You have to do something with it. You said you wanted to have it available throughout the country. And I think you mentioned you wanted to have it available at the airports, which is something you achieved. I think you found it in every major airport by now, didn't you?
Jess
Yes. So when I went on my book tour, that was super fun because I went all around Australia and it meant that I went to pretty much every airport. So that was really surreal seeing it in the airports.
Helen
Yeah. I can't really imagine that. And sometimes you say that you sign the books. Is that something you… I was wondering, do you have to ask permission to sign your own book?
Jess
Apparently you are just allowed to walk into the shop and start signing books. But then I'm like maybe they will think I'm just scribbling on the books. So I always ask permission and actually when I went to Brisbane Airport – that's a city in Australia, one of the girls just was really not sure because she was like oh I need to ask my boss but my boss – and they were just like: no, you're not allowed to sign it. I think just because they didn't really know. So last time when I went back to Brisbane, actually Brisbane Airport was really big and they had three different bookstores. Actually, I think maybe four. And I found my book in every single one and I signed every single one. Like I was like, go to Brisbane Airport. You'll have to go have a holiday there so you can get a signed one.
Helen
That is so cool. It's quite handy that your picture is on the book so you can just hold it next to you.
Jess
Except when I'm travelling, I definitely don't look that glamorous. I'm like in my tracky pants. And so they're like, oh wait, I think one person even said, oh really? Are you sure that's you?
Helen
Oh no. What I found really interesting in the beginning, you say you actually didn't pick up a book until you were like 20. But I wondered, that book changed a lot for you. You told, like you told a story about that book in the beginning. Have your reading habits changed since then or are you still? I'm sometimes wondering if you rather draw inspiration from your own ideas or if you also draw inspiration from something you read or watch because you like to watch reality TV.
Jess
Yeah, love reality TV, some real housewives, some Vanderpump rules, love it. But when it comes to consuming, Yes, I read my first book when I was about 20 years old. And by that, I mean, I read stuff before. I just never finished a book in my whole life because I used to just get bored. Or I didn't like fiction books. I still have never read a fiction book in my life. So maybe that's the next thing. Next challenge. It's something that convinced me. I am just someone I love fast. I don't like things that are slow and reading for me is somewhat slow. and it takes me a long time to get through a book. And also when it comes to fiction, now I'm just being very candid here, so you can tell me if otherwise, but with fiction, I mean, the first fiction book I tried to read was Harry Potter and I just found it tedious. I'm like, then her golden locks blew in the wind and I'm like, I don't care, just get to the point. So if I wrote a fiction book, it would be like two pages long because I would just get straight to the point. There'd be no atmosphere and it would not be good. So I'll stick to the business books. But anyway, I read my first book. It was by Lisa Messenger. She's an incredible Australian author and it was really around business and it was a really conversational tone of voice, which I loved because when business books or like educational books are very textbook or lots of jargon or words that are just boring, I'm like, I got no attention span for this. So I loved it because it just felt like a lady talking to me, you know, in a casual conversation. So when I was writing my book, I wanted it to feel easy to read. I put in lots of headings, lots of dot points, and made it as if it was me talking. And I wanted it to feel like a friend giving you some tough love, rather than a textbook that I think some business books can feel. But back to your question about reading now, I don't read much as much as I probably would like, but I do like to read more so business books. But the problem with that is I always think, oh, I'll read something before bed to kind of relax. But if I'm reading business things, then I get too many good ideas and then I'm too wired to sleep. So I've kind of paused on that for now. I read a little bit more on weekends and things like that so that I'm not making myself too hyped up for bedtime. But I do like good audio books and things like that. Again, I'm very much and as you'll get from the book, I like to do things fast. Yeah. So with audio books, I can put things on like four times speed and I'm like, just let me get all the information in my ears and then I'll move on.
Helen
That is so funny. That's quite different to what I enjoy. I would say I quite like to read fiction, especially in the evenings to wind down maybe.
Jess
Fiction is really making a big comeback, isn't it?
Helen
Yeah, I think so.
Jess
It's getting a lot of hype.
Helen
Yeah, yeah, that's true. But I quite like to have it to relax me. So maybe that would be something for your evenings as well. I like to listen to.
Jess
Do you have any recommendations?
Helen
If I love reality TV, I love rom-coms – because I'm not really into fantasy, or like there's a lot of fantasy style books, but.
Jess
Oh, I have to think about that. I always send my right hand book recommendations, because she is the same: she knows business books but wants to read fiction as well. So I have to think. I think the last one was Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. I think the last one I recommended to her was that one.
Helen
Maybe, I wouldn't say it goes into the direction of reality TV, but it is a book about game designers and how they create worlds. It is also a romance story, but I found it really interesting – I felt like it is similar to what I do online So maybe that would be something for you.
Jess
Yeah, have to think about it. Maybe I can come up with a book.
Helen
earn more money and create the success you always desired. Now I feel like that's catered to someone like me because I probably tend to think I can't achieve big goals. But I think for you, nothing is really unthinkable. That's at least the impression I get from you online: you share that you have an idea for something you would like to achieve. Then you just make it happen.
Jess
Do you want to hear my next crazy thing that I'm trying to do?
Helen
Oh yeah!
Jess
Will it be out in December?
Helen
Probably. Let's try. Oh wow!
Jess
No, so I am building out a new podcast series on my podcast and I was like, let me write a list – because when I get specific about my goals, they just happen. So I wrote a list and like Kris Jenner and people are on there, but I'm like, let Let me just choose one to go hard on. So Paris Hilton is on my list. We're going to get her on my podcast. I don't know how, I don't know when, but that is my focus. And it's like, I've already stalked every employee at her company on LinkedIn. So let's make it happen.
Helen
That is so inspiring because I think the most difficult thing sometimes is that you have an idea, but immediately you think, but that was not possible. I can't do that. It's not possible for me at least. Maybe Jess can do something like that, but I can't. So, yeah, did you, did you have that in the beginning as well? Or maybe even today?
Jess
I've always been a bit delusional. So even when I started my first business, I was like, I'm starting a global fashion brand. Like what else would I be doing? Obviously, but I had zero experience, zero clue what I was doing. And so it's kind of my superpower, but now I get to teach others how to unlock that. And so one of the easiest shifts you can make is going from I can't, because it actually shuts off your whole subconscious mind to any opportunities. So let's go into a quick neuroscience lesson, but we have our reticular activating system that actually takes in every piece of information throughout the day, but we, our brain would explode if we actually consciously processed everything. So it just deletes anything that's not necessary. So if we hold the belief that it is not possible for me, it's like, huh, here's an opportunity, not relevant, because it's not possible. Let me delete that. Oh, there's another opportunity. Let me just delete that piece too, because it's not relevant. We don't believe it. So if we actually ask the question on how can I, you're gonna start filtering in all the information because your mind cannot stop until it closes the loop, until it has the answer to the question that you've planted. So it will actually start seeking more opportunities and more opportunities for it to be possible. And so that's really it. It's like, how can I make it? And am I willing to do it? So for me to get Paris Hilton on my podcast, let's just think about it logically. Well, I would need to contact her. Okay, I don't have her phone number. So how can I contact her? Okay, let me look up who is her assistant? Who is her agent? Who can I contact that can put me in touch with her? Who can I connect with that can get me there. Then the next thing is, okay, she probably gets contacted by a lot of people. How can I stand out? Literally those two things, that is it. It might not always be easy. I might get a lot of nos, but am I willing to contact every single person I can find to get there? Hell yes. So let's stay tuned for that. But that's kind of the process as we go. But it's so easy to look at someone who has success, who who has created it and say, oh, that's okay for them. But it's realizing that everyone is human. Everyone starts somewhere. Even for me, like my biggest fear was ever being seen. I didn't want anyone to know my name. I didn't put my name on the About Me page. And I was so afraid of being seen in any way. And now here I am like, hello, let me just speak on a massive stage to a massive audience. So it's just getting out of your comfort zone time and time again and letting yourself just ask the right questions and you'll be surprised at what your brain actually just automatically creates for you.
Helen
Yeah, I think that's something I learned from you just to ask the question, how could it be possible? I really enjoy that because it makes it so much easier to at least get a plan together, I guess. I think when you decided you wanted to publish a book and you decided you don't even just want to self publish, you want to go with a publisher. I think in the same kind of realm you decided you wanted to do a TED talk and you wanted to do a book tour. So there was like massive all together and you did all of them. I think it's still now possible to watch the TED talk online. Is it? I have no. I'm I am. Yeah.
Jess
It's going way too slow for your liking, isn't it? Yes.
Helen
So you found a publisher. You published your book in May. Yes. And you did a book tour all around Australia, which I watched from like afar would have been so cool to be there. But you shared a lot online. So I felt a little bit like I was there. And it looked very different to what I know from like book launches, book tours here, but probably, I don't know, maybe I don't follow enough book launches and book tours for business books, I'm not sure. But still I think it looked more like, well I don't want to say parties, but it was a very… It felt just like a party, yeah. Yeah, you had like, I saw biscuits in the, like with the color of the book. I saw you dressed up and you spoke to an audience. You had MCs there who asked you questions. So it was different, I think. Yeah. Did you, you probably didn't look around what other people do on their book launches. You probably made up your own. Yes. How you would like it to look. Yeah.
Jess
Most people when they launch a book because usually publishers don't put any budget behind launching a book, right? They'll, they'll publish the book and things like that, but they don't normally put money behind the marketing of it. Unless you're like Kim Kardashian, for example, they might give you a little bit of a budget. But so I decided to do that myself. So I didn't have to do that at all. But I was like, if I'm launching a book, one, I'm going to celebrate it, but two, it's a branding tool. So a lot of people when they launch a book, they will go and visit one bookstore. There might be five to 10 people there and they read a little bit from the book. And that's kind of it. But I was like, how do I make this so valuable? So, I think we had over 400 people across Australia come to my book events, and I wanted to make them super fun, super valuable. Actually at the first two, I said, I'm not reading the book. This is not story time. They can, you know, get a book and then read it yourself. But then actually what I realized is people wanted to see that. So I was sharing Q and A, sharing a lot of tips, a lot of value. And then at my Brisbane, my third event for it, someone had asked a question from the audience and they said, can you please read us your favorite section? And what happened next was super interesting. So I got the book and started looking at which section I wanted to read. Chapter five I chose because it's got a lot of really powerful short sections. And so once I got the book, every single person in the audience got their phone out. I did not ask them to, but everyone wanted to film it and everyone loved it. And then they said, oh my gosh, I love what you said in that last bit in the book. I have now gone and purchased one. So that was super interesting to me because I was like, I'm saying the exact same thing in the Q&A basically. I'm giving so much value, but it was when they could physically see and link the book to the value that I was saying that they were like, oh, okay, that's what's in the book. So I So I thought that was really interesting. But yes, I just wanted it to be super fun. There was goodie bags. We had sponsors on board. The goodie bags were like insane. They were so heavy. So that was so much fun.
Helen
That is so cool. And I just like that you… I'm wondering, I imagine you sitting there and thinking, I want to do like a book tour and you just think of all the things you would like. it to look like or like it to be like. And maybe you draw inspiration, I don't know, from Pinterest or anything, but I feel like you just don't really compare to what other people are doing. You're making up your fantasy land as you call it.
Jess
Yeah, I think it's…
Helen
So how's that process like?
Jess
Yeah, I think you can definitely take inspiration from other events, other styles, whether it's you're writing a book, whether you're doing an event, whatever it is, you can definitely take inspiration from things. But I think you need to really know who you are and what your goal is. Like what is the goal of doing this book tour? Because otherwise you can do all these things in business that just are vanity metrics. They boost our ego a little bit, but it's like, there's no purpose behind it. So getting really clear on those things first is the key. and then being able to pull it together. But you might have even noticed each event I did looked quite different – and what I had never noticed before is each city in Australia kind of has a very different culture of how the people navigate things, go to events, etc. So it was really interesting doing them all at once. So yeah, it depends on the venue, it depends on the people that are there changes the whole vibe.
Helen
Did you feel like you achieved the goal you had in mind for publishing a book?
Jess
Yeah. Yeah. So obviously when it comes to books, you can self publish these days so you can either go and find a printer and then just print your book yourself. You could do it through Amazon on demand printing, but then it's only available on Amazon. But with self publishing, you cannot get distribution. Like the bookstores will not stock it if it hasn't gone through a publisher and a distributor. So I decided because my goal for the book was the distribution, I was like, I need to get a publisher. Now, again, there's different versions of publishers and it's kind of a rising trend where there's these publishers that you can pay. Like you pay the publisher and they will print your book. But I was like, I don't want to do that. I want to do. I was like, that's what I want. So let me go for that. So it when you get really clear on what you want, because there's so many different ways to get a book out in the world. Now, if I did not get a publishing deal, I would have gone and self published. But the whole purpose was I want a distribution. So yeah, getting clear on your goal, but even more clear on how we can get a book out in the world. I would have gone and self published. But the whole purpose was I wanted distribution. So, yeah, getting clear on your goal, but even more clear on how exactly do you want it to look so that you can focus all of your energy on. Then I pitched to all of the book publishers that specifically did that kind of book. Yeah.
Helen
And it gave you more recognition throughout Australia – you were on morning TV?
Jess
Yeah, so I was on the Today show. The USA has their own version of the Today show. It's the biggest morning show. The biggest show in Australia for like the Morning Chat TV where they show a little bit in news, a bit of news, a bit of updates, all of that kind of stuff. Yeah. Yeah.
Helen
So has something changed for you, internally or externally, through publishing your book?
Jess
Not specifically through publishing the book because I think having an external thing is only really as useful as you make it. So having a book obviously adds a certain level of credibility, but then it's it was me and my team who pitched to the TV channels. We pitched to the speaking events, we do some outreach and obviously adds a little bit of credibility, but it's not going to change your life per se. And I think sometimes people set goals because they think an external thing is gonna make them happy or that it will finally give them the success they need. Whereas it's how you navigate things. So when I set those goals to do my TEDx, to get a book deal, all of that, I also decided who do I need to be on my next level. And so when we can shift on an identity level first, things start to happen. So I actually said, this is my public figure era. And then I started showing up on social media differently. I started shifting my branding strategically. Things can align when you understand who am I, particularly if you're a personal brand, this is even more important. And then it's no wonder that getting on TV, having a book deal, speaking on big stages, all of this kind of thing has really come about. And actually what blows my mind still is, because I'm still the same person, like internal, it's just things have shifted. But recently I've been seeing a lot of people writing posts and I actually saw a girl write a post about me the other day, she was like, Jess reached out to me to hang out on the Gold Coast and I was star struck and I was like, I had imposter syndrome that Jess wanted to talk to me. And to me, I was like, that is so crazy. Cause I feel like the same person, like it feels wild because it's shifted the public perception of me with all the things I've done, but it's not by accident at the same time. But I don't also want people feeling imposter syndrome cause I'm just a human at the end of the day. But it's just super interesting to see what shifts when you shift yourself first.
Helen
I really find that very interesting. I feel that very much. It felt like I made myself a Christmas present because this episode will be published in December by having you on the podcast because I felt like, no way – she actually said yes.
Jess
Oh, it's such an honour to chat with you.
Helen
It's such an honour to chat with you, too. Yeah, but I think because I really enjoyed the book, I want to read it again and do the complete workbook. But I think it's also very valuable if you have a read first, get an overview of what it feels like. Is there a key takeaway you would like someone to take away from it? Yeah.
Jess
And most of the feedback is like people now believing in themselves wholeheartedly or having like this fire lit within them. They're like, ready, set, go. They tell me: I'm leaving fired up. I'm like unstoppable. And that's really crazy because I was so stuck on the title of this book. I didn't know what to call it because I was like, how do I encapsulate everything? But it really is making you unstoppable. If you read it and you do the activities, but I myself do these kind of activities every six months or every 12 months because we level up and then we have a whole new level and then we have new fears and we have new things that come up. So if you want to achieve any kind of crazy success, then do it. Yeah. Read the book and you'll become unstoppable. And I take no liability for all the crazy goals you're going to hit. Yeah.
Helen
I checked beforehand: you can get it as an e-book here now. That's, I think, the easiest.
Jess
Amazing.
Helen
But I think you can order it through Amazon here now. I think at least the ebook is available. Will there be an audio version as well? not sure. So it's really interesting.
Jess
It is a whole process with an audiobook. I didn't even know. So I'm not sure, I need to check on that. But yeah, it's it's interesting because if you get published in let's say Australia, they have the rights to it in Australia. That's why it's only available in Australia right now. And to get it into the other countries, Or let's say for example, if you have a USA publisher, some of the really big ones have different divisions in different countries, but usually they only publish it within USA, for example. And then they have to partner with a different publisher who has to say, yes, I want to publish this for the UK and Europe. And then it's all separate. It makes no sense in this global world why the industry is so old school. It is built for 20 years ago, when there was no internet. But now it doesn't make sense because so many of my clients in America can't get the book and, you know, yourself in Europe. But now the e-book, that's awesome that you can get it on Amazon on that way.
Helen
Yeah, I checked beforehand because I wanted to make sure that you can get it here now too. I think it's quite nice to have the actual book. But if that's not possible at the moment, at least you can get the e-book. Did you think about calling it Fantasy Land Goals or something like that? Or did it not feel suitable?
Jess
So I was thinking of calling it fantasy land. But the problem with that is when you title a book, you have to think about Does it make someone want to buy it? But secondly, do people understand what it is? And thirdly, from an online perspective for Amazon, for things like that, are people going to be typing in fantasy when they're trying to find a business book? Not really. So it was going to come up for all the wrong reasons. It was going to come up in fantasy sections. It was not going to be good. And so we did some research about it and got some feedback. And for some reason somebody thought that fantasy had something to do with OnlyFans. And I was like, I don't know how that makes any sense. Role playing, I don't know. But I was like, let's just make it a very simple with unstoppable success.
Helen
It works really well. And your pose on the cover looks very powerful. So I think it's suitable, but I also like the term fantasy land because I quite relate to that. I feel like: okay, I am playing a game. I'm playing in Fantasyland today. So I'm thinking about what's possible. Yeah, I quite like that.
Jess
Love that.
Helen
Last question. Is there another book in you? Do you think you would like to write more or not for now?
Jess
I never say never, but definitely not for now. It's a massive process and I don't really love writing. Even in school I loved maths and physics more than English. Now I can write, but it's not my favourite pastime. But I was like, this is the vehicle to get this out. I am an author, but I wouldn't say I'm a writer. I'm an entrepreneur who had a message to get out into the world. And so I wrote a book. That's where I'm at. I don't know. I never say never, but I'm sure I probably will bring out another book in future. But for now, I'm I'm enjoying sharing this book with the world. Yeah, great.
Helen
Well, there's a big audience, I guess, in Europe who still have to read it because it wasn't available until now. Just as a side note: I read somewhere that Brené Brown, she wanted to write another book and couldn't make herself writing it. And I think she went away for a weekend with friends and told them the book, and someone wrote it down. Maybe that's something you could do as well.
Jess
Yeah. Just outsource it to somebody else. You just talk about it and someone else writes it. Yeah, love it.
Helen
Thank you very, very much for all these insights. I hope we have inspired many people to read your book and achieve unstoppable success and fantasy land goals. I would say we finish drinking our matcha in Greece. Yes. And speaking of our listeners – maybe at the end you can tell us where we can find you online where we can, I already said where to find the book, but maybe where to find everything else.
Jess
Yeah, I'm sure you can put the link to the book in the show notes as well but you can find me on Instagram at jess.williamson8 and my DMs are always open. You can message me anytime. I would love to hear if you've listened to the episode and I share a bunch of positive inspirational strategy all of the above there and also on my podcast which is just my name, Jess Williamson, the podcast which I also really enjoy listening I can very much recommend that one
Helen
Thank you so much.
