10 things I’ve learned after 10 years of writing books

Some of the best ideas begin scribbled on the backs of napkins … or on the backs of business cards.

Ten years ago, I was flying on an old Russian helicopter in Afghanistan while grappling with the Church’s approach to poverty alleviation. I had just visited aid projects that seemed to cripple the local community rather than empower it. And I’d seen where good intentions did not produce good results.

So, I scribbled my thoughts on faith, entrepreneurship, and poverty alleviation. Normally, my handwriting is messy, but these notes were practically illegible.

Arriving back in Lancaster, PA several days later, I proudly put the notes on the desk of Chris Horst—our executive coordinator at the time—and pronounced, “This is a book!”

And through a partnership with Phil Smith and many others, those scribbles did eventually turn into a book. Not only that, but they started a writing journey that continues to this day.

It’s been ten years since we released that first book, The Poor Will Be Glad. And this seemed like an opportune time to look back at ten things I’ve learned through ten years of writing books:

1. Co-authoring produces a better book every time. Since co-authoring The Poor Will Be Glad, I’ve decided to never write a book on my own. I’ve worked with eight co-authors over the years—Phil Smith, Chris Horst, Greg Lafferty, Anna Haggard, David Weekley, Christina Kyllonen, Jill Heisey, and my son, Keith—and they’ve sharpened my writing and my perspective. Simply put, writing is much more fun with others.
2. It takes an army. When I start a book, I first flip to the acknowledgements page. Writing has given me a greater appreciation for the dozens (and seemingly hundreds!) of people involved in the book-writing process. I’m grateful for the numerous co-authors, editors, designers, publishers, literary agents, endorsers, and more who have played a role in the books I’ve helped to write.
3. Writing books expands reach. Writing has allowed ideas, passions, and learnings to travel far beyond what I could share in a 30-minute spiel from a stage. It’s been an absolute joy to hear from people I never would have met had it not been for one of our books.
4. Reading gives way to stronger writing. Reading makes me an infinitely better writer. (And writing has made me a more engaged reader!) Authors like Andy Crouch, Kim King, Daniel Goleman, Bryan Stevenson, Jena Lee Nardella, Jim Collins, Bryan Loritts, and Chip and Dan Heath have helped to expand my worldview and hone my own writing.
5. Writing is one of the best ways to learn. The challenge in leadership is to be shallow—to know a little about a lot of subjects. Writing helps counteract that tendency and focuses thoughts on a deep dive into one particular topic. As someone who has served as both a CEO and a board member, I wanted to learn more about what a fruitful, productive relationship looks like between the two, so David Weekley and I wrote The Board and the CEO. As HOPE realized that we were coming face-to-face with drift, we wanted to learn how we could actively safeguard against it, so Chris Horst and I wrote Mission Drift. And as we sought to become more collaborative and generous as an organization, Chris and I wrote Rooting for Rivals. Books have always been my favorite way to learn and to grow professionally.
6. Stories make or break a book. Used in everything from fundraising galas to the evening news, stories capture our attention and invite us to empathize. Even scientific research backs up a good story! When I think back to the books I’ve read, the most memorable are those driven by stories. And for future books, we want to keep storytelling at the forefront, too.
7. Sales volume doesn’t equal personal impact. Over the years, books like The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good and 40/40 Vision haven’t racked up sales, but they’ve had the most profound impact on my personal life—changing the way I’ve seen and interacted with my family, work, and community. Sales numbers aren’t always the best way to gauge impact.
8. There is power in free. If the purpose of writing is truly to get the word out, what better way to spread the message than by giving the book away? Since the release of Created to Flourish (the update to The Poor Will Be Glad), we’ve decided to give the e-books away for free. It has allowed us to multiply the reach and engage more people in HOPE’s mission.
9. Writing time doesn’t just happen. Emails, travel, meetings—there will always be other things demanding attention. I’ve learned to be proactive in carving out time to write. (Early mornings and plane rides are my favorite writing times!) Ask any author their secret, and you’ll likely get a similar answer: Keep writing. For the last ten years, I’ve tried to write every week. Author Jack Cheng shares, “When mastery is the goal, spending an exorbitant number of hours in one sitting will likely lead to burnout. We don’t go to the gym expecting to put on 20 pounds of muscle in a single, day-long workout. Instead, we do several short workouts a week, spread out over months.” I’ve found the same to be true for writing.
10. Feedback is tremendously helpful. If you’re impacted by a book, consider letting the author know or posting a review. Stories of impact add fuel to future writing. Feedback helps us know where we delivered, where we missed it, and how readers are applying the information. Just this week, I saw how the Karis Group and C12 teamed up to make a video about Mission Drift. It’s encouraging to know that these ideas are helpful, and we continue to praise God for the positive impact created through these books!

I’m enormously grateful to the friends and colleagues who have supported me in each of the book projects over the past ten years. And, there just might be a few more books on the horizon. Thanks for being so supportive. Here’s to 10 more!