Fifteen Minutes of Fame

One of my clients recently told me that everyone wants to be "slightly famous". I agreed that 15 minutes of fame would be nice. Until I did the first event for my book, "A Manager's Guide to Coaching". The idea of a book signing is exciting...glamorous...even fun. However, as the day drew close, I grew neurotic about the event.

First of all, what do you actually say at a book signing? I have no problem meeting people at networking events. After all, I am an executive coach. It's my job to engage people by asking thought-provoking questions. But that's when I have time to talk to someone. Book signing is like speed dating. "Hi. What interests you about coaching?" could bring on ten minutes of conversation, while other people wait in line. I had no idea what to say.

Then there's the inscription. What exactly do you write? "To Joe, From Anne" sounds too much like a holiday card to a neighbor. "Happy Coaching, Joe!" sounds too cheery. "May all your dreams come true" sounds like the good witch in The Wizard of Oz. I had no clue what to write.

I next panicked about my signature. My hand writing is tiny chicken scratch. My signature is literally a cursive "A" with a line. No one ever believes it's my real signature. Even the banks question my signature on a check. So should I fake my signature and legibly write out my name? I like to give my clients value, so will my book be more valuable on EBay in 10 years with my real signature, or a fake one? I was now frozen with fear.

And finally, there's the wardrobe. The book is written in a fairly hip and trendy style. But the book event audience is a conservative, business group. So what do I wear? I start to wonder why I didn't hire that fashion consultant last month and what ever inspired me to grow out my hair, resulting in the flying nun look? I eventually manage to pull together an outfit and tame my hair, but at this point I am nauseous as I enter the room. Maybe being slightly famous is not what I want after all.

I settle myself behind the table and start to greet people as they approach. The first person says says that he's looking forward to learning how to improve company morale with coaching. A mother wants to use the book's coaching model to improve her relationship with her teenage daughter. A school principle wants to incorporate some of the coaching questions into new curriculum. A CEO wants to create a coaching program for her organization.

I relax. I see that it doesn't matter what I wear or write in the book; it's not about me. I start to smile as I remember that this is why I wrote the book. To make a difference in people's lives. To give them tools that will help them deepen conversations, whether at home or at work. To help companies operate more effectively. If this is what book signings are about, then I'm happy to be slightly famous for tonight, so that my book can change a few people's lives tomorrow.