Member of the Week for August 8, 2022
Arlene Gale

About Arlene Gale 

I have 35+ years of business marketing, business development, branding, and professional writing experience. As The Book Writing Business Coach, I’ve helped people write their professional and personal stories to start or expand powerful and profitable businesses, as well as create additional income streams. I’ve worked with hundreds of clients around the world, in a variety of industries, to earn millions of dollars in new business and earn professional award recognition. My business is built on duplicating these results for your business.

As a keynote speaker, workshop leader, or breakout session presenter I’ve conducted writing and marketing workshops internationally and on several business cruises. I’ve had a syndicated radio program and during my career have interviewed many personalities for television, radio, magazines, and books. I was a trend setter during my college days as the first female voice on a country music radio station. I’m a multiple international and national award-winning author and #1 best-selling author for multiple books, but I’m most proud of my story told in Face Forward Move Forward.  To date I’ve written and published a dozen books of my own and co-authored several other books.

What audiences you speak for?

My speaking includes keynotes and workshops for entrepreneurs who are either starting a new businesses or rebranding, repositioning, and growing an existing business by writing and telling their story in a way that builds powerful and profitable businesses. I’ve spoken at for-profit, nonprofit, and franchise events about telling their stories in a way that fine-tunes market position and target market, which positions them uniquely compared with the competition.

What led you to this career?

I’ve always enjoyed speaking and teaching. I started practicing when I was about 8 years old to a room full of stuffed animals. I learned about business strategy at a young age and spent 25 years in the corporate world guiding businesses to success by developing specific marketing materials to meet their unique needs. I wrote dozens and dozens of books for corporations of all sizes and CEO’s to tell their distinct stories. More than six years ago I wrote my own story, which won multiple awards. Others started asking me to help them write their book and that’s how I became the Book Writing Business coach. I’ve written and/or co-authored almost a dozen books and served as ghost writer for close to one hundred more books. As my own first book won national and international awards, I was hired to speak and lead workshops. I’ve watched the publishing world change tremendously in the past few years, which allows more opportunities for successfully writing and publishing more powerful, strategically planned books.

What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on?

Updating a variety of technical skills to further automate some business procedures. For example, learning how to combine multiple tasks into one online platform.

 What’s your go-to productivity trick?

Using a scheduling tool for organizing and planning my work with current clients, potential new clients, and marketing my business. I’ve set aside certain days of the week for each activity. When someone schedules a meeting, my calendar automatically updates and integrates it into my personal calendar with different color codes so I always know when and where I’m supposed to be or who I’m supposed to talk to or work with that day. It also helps prevent double booking.

 Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?

I spent my life being intentional in finding mentors to teach me. I was blessed to have everyone I asked accepted the challenge in the corporate world, among entrepreneurs, and personally. Some people got to know me and volunteered to mentor me in different ways. I attribute my success to many people through the years who stepped up for me. I’m very appreciative.

 What’s a mistake you made early on in your career, and what did you learn from it?

When I started my own business more than 30 years ago, after decades of being the marketing manager at several corporations, I tried to be all things to all people. I had great book learning and hands-on experience so I knew not to do this. However, when I started my own business I made this common mistake. I learned firsthand the problems in trying to be all things to all people means not attracting the attention of anyone because they’re confused about services are offered. It’s an easy trap to fall into because, as I learned, people want to build their business quickly and don’t want to miss out on any potential clients. They want or need to start making money fast, so not focusing or prioritizing services offered and not narrowing a specific target market is done often. I feel the frustration of my clients because they may or may not know better, but I can direct them toward success. I am a better professional for having made (and corrected) this error.

 What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?

I earned a national “Small Business Champions Award” from the Small Business Administration and “Rising Star Award” for my book writing business expertise. I won a regional award in college for writing and performing a creative and engaging advertising campaign at the radio station I worked for. I wrote it and did character voices. During my career earned several speaking and other awards. I was featured on numerous radio programs and podcasts and multiple PBS programs.

What does being a member of NSA-NT mean to you?

I am very grateful to Nancy Bartlett for asking me to serve as Chapter Secretary during her term as president. And I thank Tim Marvel, Stu Schalckman, and Elizabeth McCormick for your continued faith in me in this role. Serving on the Board and being more involved in the Chapter than just monthly meetings has added great value to my membership. I’ve met many interesting and talented people in the Chapter and have learned a lot, for example: using humor, engaging an audience, developing content calendar, selling, presenting virtually, and more. The Chapter offers so many programs with a variety of experts.

Something personal you want us to know about you?

I earned my private pilot’s license decades ago and love to fly old open cockpit biplanes (think Snoopy and the Red Barron). I grew up horseback riding in cattle roundups. I’m the first woman in my extended family to earn a college degree, a BS and MS in marketing, radio/TV/film, and business communication. I live west of Fort Worth on 10 acres of land with donkeys, sheep, chickens, a dog, and sometimes uninvited skunks and snakes.

Contact info and Social Media info:

https://bookwritingbusiness.com

https://www.facebook.com/BookWritingBusiness

https://www.linkedin.com/in/arlenegale