Is ‘working-class child to entrepreneur’ a good red thread for a book?
Reflections on a book I might write
For about a year now, I’ve had this plan in mind: I’d like to write a book!
The idea isn’t entirely new to me. And I know it’s a dream many people share. But perhaps it makes a certain kind of sense: I studied German literature and journalism, so of course writing a book has always been one of my life goals.
My idea is to write an autobiography combined with business advice—probably aimed at other working-class children, and people from non-entrepreneurial and non-academic backgrounds who’d like to go their own way.
To be honest, I have no desire to write a LinkedIn or storytelling book. And I think there are already plenty of those. The last time I looked at the literature in that field, I thought: I know all this already. It felt too technical, too little about human beings.
What I want instead is to share my unique story. And that’s how the idea was born!”
Is my Story worth telling?
At first there was just this spark: Great idea—let’s do it! But the idea also brought with it a few self-doubts, unfortunately triggered from outside.
Don’t get me wrong: the overwhelming majority of people encouraged me to start this book project with genuine excitement! But then there were also others who said things like:
You won’t find a proper publisher.
Autobiographies only work if you’re a celebrity.
Wouldn’t it be better to write a business book instead?
Aren’t there already enough motivational books out there?
Your story just isn’t unique enough.
My initial excitement faded somewhat. Like so many others, I tend to hear the few negatives louder than the many positive and encouraging voices.
Even so, I still believe in my idea. This is simply a book I want to write. With my very own truth that is bursting to come into the world.
Even if people believe there are already too many “inspirational books“. I would still write mine.
What is the guiding thread of this book?
But for a long time—over a year, in fact—I didn’t know where to start. And to be concrete: I still don’t know yet, to be honest!
It feels as if I want to pack too much into this book. Which means it risks being overloaded with too many topics, such as:
my social heritage
my working-class background
my family ancestors, including both the Nazi side and the victim side, and how that shaped me
being the first in my family to take the Abitur (like A-levels, the German qualification that allows you to enter university)
being the first in my family to go to university
how I created my own business
the limiting beliefs I faced along the way
the tools that helped me
how my social background is a superpower
how I’d like to encourage others to go their own way
As you might have guessed, that’s a bit too much.
But wait!
Maybe there is a red thread:
from working-class child to entrepreneur.
That is my true story. And isn’t that, in a way, exactly what I already do with my clients?
How my own Story connects to my Business and my Clients
In fact, it’s not so different from the work I do with my clients. In deep 1:1 sessions, we uncover their authentic narrative: the story that feels most aligned with their deepest truth. LinkedIn then becomes the stage for that story.
The response can be overwhelming, often leading to high-value requests, new offers, or even shaping a whole venture. Because growing as a person and telling your story authentically can be the beginning of something big.
Thinking about it this way helped me understand the role my book could play. Because what I’m doing with this book is exactly what I do with my clients: unleashing my own truth, sharing my story with the world, and seeing what resonates.
This is how I’ve built my business on LinkedIn.
This is how I help my clients build theirs.
And perhaps this book is simply the next step—like the longest LinkedIn post I’ve ever written. 🙃
Is this a book you’d like to read?
I mean it, seriously. If you’ve read this article that far, I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment or send me a message: Would you like to read this book? Do you think it could be entertaining? Inspiring? Something else?
Please let me know!
Are you a coach, consultant, investor or serial entrepreneur who would like to tell your own story on LinkedIn?
I can help you uncover and share it. I’ll guide you through the process of becoming visible on LinkedIn. Send me a message, and together we’ll find the right way to tell your very own truth authentically. Click here to book a call with me or check out my service: