Most authors I talk to are worried about whether their book will sell.

Daniel Horgan is thinking about something different. He’s thinking about what his book does when he’s not in the room.

Daniel is the founder of CoLabL, a company that has spent ten years supporting early career talent ages 18 to 30 as they move from school into work. He has written two books. A third is in progress. And both books he has written exist for a specific reason: to scale his impact beyond the hours he can personally show up.

That is a different way of thinking about a book. Not as a product you launch and hope people buy. As a tool that keeps working after you step offstage.

The draft he deleted

When Daniel wrote his first book, Tell Me I Can’t... and I Will, he spent a week and a half writing a draft he eventually scrapped. Not because the content was wrong. Because he realized he was performing. He was trying to write like an author instead of writing like himself.

He deleted everything. Started over at a coffee shop. Wrote it like a journal.

That decision changed what the book became.

His second book, We Got This, came out of a five-day solo writing retreat in Halifax, Nova Scotia. No distractions, phone on Do Not Disturb. Same principle: write what you actually say to people in coaching sessions and training rooms. Don’t dress it up. Just translate it.

The result is a book his community actually uses. That’s the difference between a book that sits on a shelf and one that travels.

The giver mindset in practice

One of the things Daniel said that stayed with me: he does not chase the sale. He focuses on being useful. He puts the right resources in people’s hands, builds genuine community, and the business grows from that.

It sounds simple. It’s not easy to actually operate that way, especially when you’re also trying to build a company. But his books are proof of the concept. They exist because his audience needed them. The business case followed.

Why I wanted to have this conversation

I talk a lot about the ASPEN Method and the mechanics of book marketing. Daniel is a reminder that the foundation under all of that is clarity about what your book is actually for. Not what you hope it does. What you built it to do.

If you’ve been thinking about your book as a product to sell rather than a tool to deploy, this conversation will reframe that for you.

Connect with Daniel:Website: colabl.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielghorgan/

About Daniel

At 18, Daniel pioneered the first youth-led America’s Promise effort in Pittsburgh, PA under Retired General Colin Powell, landing him a seat on the national board of directors and recognition from President George W. Bush. Daniel has 25+ years of experience working in the business and nonprofit sectors, fueled by his commitment to increasing others’ access to relationships and growth opportunities.

At CoLabL, Daniel is working at the intersection of talent development and community building, cultivating relationship-centered spaces. His team at CoLabL is focused on partnering with early career talent and people managers to expand their networks, skills, and experiences to achieve their definition of success.

Daniel has worked with some of the world’s largest brands including LinkedIn, Pfizer, Apple, Starbucks, Deloitte, Cisco, Taco Bell, and Gap Inc. He has also partnered with schools, nonprofits, foundations, professional associations, and government agencies.

Daniel currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Taco Bell Foundation and has served on boards for City Year DC, the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, Team Kids, the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership, and America’s Promise.

Named one of Pittsburgh’s 40 Under 40 Honorees, Daniel has facilitated hundreds of training experiences, keynoted conferences, published articles on Forbes.com, and authored Tell Me I Can’t…and I Will. His second book, We Got This: A Pocket Guide to Thriving in Our Careers and Life, was released in January 2025.

Daniel currently resides in Southern CA.

About Purpose Beyond The Page

Purpose Beyond The Page is a conversation series for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who want to grow their impact, influence, and income through their books. Hosted by Jenn T. Grace, founder of Publish Your Purpose, the series goes beyond writing and publishing to explore the real strategies, stories, and tools that help authors connect with readers and build lasting platforms.

Each episode features honest discussions, expert insights, and actionable takeaways on everything from marketing and visibility to business models and community-building. Whether you’re preparing to launch your first book or looking to amplify the reach of your next one, Purpose Beyond The Page will help you turn your big idea into a powerful tool for change.

If you are working on a book that matters, you do not have to navigate the path alone. My book Promote Your Purpose will help you build meaningful connections with readers and make the impact you envision. Check it out at PromoteYourPurposeBook.com.

About Jenn

Jenn T. Grace is an author, publisher, and strategist who has hundreds of nonfiction and memoir authors bring their books into the world with clarity and intention. She is the founder of Publish Your Purpose, a purpose driven company that supports authors who want to transform their ideas, expertise, and lived experiences into books that make a meaningful difference. Jenn is the author of Publish Your Purpose and Promote Your Purpose, and she teaches the ASPEN MethodTM, a strategic framework that helps authors grow visibility and impact in sustainable ways. Her work focuses on aligning purpose with action so every book becomes a catalyst for change.

Website: https://lnkd.in/egVxzA48 LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/eG_riMTUAbout Christi

Christiane Scarpino is an author, speaker, and licensed Speech Language Pathologist who is dedicated to trauma healing and awareness. A survivor of a 1977 terrorist bombing in New York City, Christiane spent decades navigating the challenges of PTSD and advocating for her own recovery. Today, she uses her memoir, Missing Pieces, to educate others about the profound effects of trauma and to offer a message of resilience and hope to survivors everywhere.About Purpose Beyond The Page

Purpose Beyond The Page is a conversation series for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who want to grow their impact, influence, and income through their books. Hosted by Jenn T. Grace, founder of Publish Your Purpose, the series goes beyond writing and publishing to explore the real strategies, stories, and tools that help authors connect with readers and build lasting platforms.

Each episode features honest discussions, expert insights, and actionable takeaways on everything from marketing and visibility to business models and community-building. Whether you’re preparing to launch your first book or looking to amplify the reach of your next one, Purpose Beyond The Page will help you turn your big idea into a powerful tool for change.

If you are working on a book that matters, you do not have to navigate the path alone. My book Promote Your Purpose will help you build meaningful connections with readers and make the impact you envision. Check it out at PromoteYourPurposeBook.com.About Jenn

Jenn T. Grace is an author, publisher, and strategist who has hundreds of nonfiction and memoir authors bring their books into the world with clarity and intention. She is the founder of Publish Your Purpose, a purpose driven company that supports authors who want to transform their ideas, expertise, and lived experiences into books that make a meaningful difference. Jenn is the author of Publish Your Purpose and Promote Your Purpose, and she teaches the ASPEN MethodTM, a strategic framework that helps authors grow visibility and impact in sustainable ways. Her work focuses on aligning purpose with action so every book becomes a catalyst for change.

In this episode, I sit down with Rhodes Perry to explore the connection between personal narrative and cultural change. Rhodes shares why he chose to write a memoir that also functions as a practical guide, and how lived experience can evolve into a framework for building stronger, more inclusive organizations.

We talk about the tension between visibility and vulnerability, and what it means to lead in a way that allows people to show up without shrinking parts of themselves. Rhodes reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy and how those experiences informed a methodology grounded in dignity, accountability, and belonging.

Our conversation moves beyond abstract ideas about inclusion and into the real work of designing workplaces where people feel seen and valued. We examine how storytelling can create clarity, how memoir can serve as strategy, and why this moment calls for leaders who are willing to be known rather than simply admired.

At its core, this episode is about courage. The courage to write honestly. The courage to lead visibly. And the courage to turn personal truth into meaningful, lasting change.

Connect with Rhodes:

Website: http://rhodesperry.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhodesperry/

Check out Promote Your Purpose: A Strategic Guide to Book Marketing for Nonfiction Authors Who Want to Grow Their Impact, Influence, and Income today!

About Rhodes

Rhodes Perry is a workplace belonging strategist, author, and leadership coach who helps organizations build cultures rooted in safety, trust, and accountability. A decade ago, he founded Rhodes Perry Consulting with a bold mission to address what he calls the epidemic of loneliness by reimagining how belonging is designed at work.

Since then, Rhodes has supported more than 1,000 clients and delivered leadership development programs to over 50,000 managers and people leaders. He is the author of two bestselling books, Belonging at Work and Imagine Belonging, which combine personal narrative with practical frameworks to help leaders move from intention to action.

About Purpose Beyond The Page

Purpose Beyond The Page is a conversation series for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who want to grow their impact, influence, and income through their books. Hosted by Jenn T. Grace, founder of Publish Your Purpose, the series goes beyond writing and publishing to explore the real strategies, stories, and tools that help authors connect with readers and build lasting platforms.

Each episode features honest discussions, expert insights, and actionable takeaways on everything from marketing and visibility to business models and community-building. Whether you’re preparing to launch your first book or looking to amplify the reach of your next one, Purpose Beyond The Page will help you turn your big idea into a powerful tool for change.

If you are working on a book that matters, you do not have to navigate the path alone. My book Promote Your Purpose will help you build meaningful connections with readers and make the impact you envision. Check it out at PromoteYourPurposeBook.com.

About Jenn

Jenn T. Grace is an author, publisher, and strategist who has hundreds of nonfiction and memoir authors bring their books into the world with clarity and intention. She is the founder of Publish Your Purpose, a purpose driven company that supports authors who want to transform their ideas, expertise, and lived experiences into books that make a meaningful difference. Jenn is the author of Publish Your Purpose and Promote Your Purpose, and she teaches the ASPEN MethodTM, a strategic framework that helps authors grow visibility and impact in sustainable ways. Her work focuses on aligning purpose with action so every book becomes a catalyst for change.

The conversation moves beyond tactics and outcomes to focus on authorship as an act of responsibility and leadership. Jenn and Ben discuss why books are not endpoints, but starting points for deeper influence, meaningful dialogue, and long-term change. At its core, this episode invites listeners to slow down, trust the process, and lead with heart both on the page and beyond it.

Nell guides us through her signature three step process:

* stop to gather real data about what is working and what is not

* drop the outdated habits, inherited shoulds, and unhelpful assumptions that keep us misaligned

* roll by connecting the dots across everything we already do so that each action moves more than one part of our life forward

We explore her Lead in 3D framework which supports success across three interconnected dimensions: ME for wellbeing, WE for performance and connection, and WORLD for positive impact. Nell shows how true fulfillment comes from aligning all three areas rather than pushing harder in only one.

Throughout the episode, Nell reminds us that humans are systems within systems. Thriving in a time defined by polycrisis, and the emerging polytunity it contains, requires a shift away from linear thinking toward a more connected, systemic approach. When we understand how our choices ripple across our own lives and the lives of others, a more sustainable path to purpose becomes possible.

Nell’s blend of executive expertise, global humanitarian experience, equine wisdom, and sparkle filled storytelling makes this a conversation worth returning to whenever life feels too full, too loud, or too linear.

Connect with Nell:Website: https://www.nell3d.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nell3d/

If this perspective is helpful, subscribe to this Substack for weekly insights on book marketing, visibility, and thought leadership.

About Nell

Nell 3D (Derick Debevoise Dewey) is a high voltage leadership whisperer with a Harvard brain, a horse guided heart, and unapologetic sparkle that energizes even the highest achieving leaders, especially those still hungry for more impact, purpose, and possibility. Nell is the keynote speaker executives call when they want to do more good without doing more. Her Lead in 3D framework helps leaders close the final gap between success and true fulfillment by aligning how they invest their resources across three dimensions: ME, WE, and WORLD.

Nell brings a uniquely powerful lens. She did not leave corporate to chase purpose. She chased purpose first, working on the front lines of global development, leading humanitarian initiatives in war zones, and giving everything to soul fueled missions. And still it was not enough. That lived insight became the spark for her life’s work. Through decades of leadership across sectors, equine wisdom, nature based transformation, and cutting edge tools like the GC Index, Nell has distilled what actually keeps leaders lit up rather than burnt out. She illuminates what others miss and leaves people forever changed.

About Purpose Beyond The Page

Purpose Beyond The Page is a conversation series for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who want to grow their impact, influence, and income through their books. Hosted by Jenn T. Grace, founder of Publish Your Purpose, the series goes beyond writing and publishing to explore the real strategies, stories, and tools that help authors connect with readers and build lasting platforms.

Each episode features honest discussions, expert insights, and actionable takeaways on everything from marketing and visibility to business models and community-building. Whether you’re preparing to launch your first book or looking to amplify the reach of your next one, Purpose Beyond The Page will help you turn your big idea into a powerful tool for change.

If you are working on a book that matters, you do not have to navigate the path alone. My book Promote Your Purpose will help you build meaningful connections with readers and make the impact you envision. Check it out at PromoteYourPurposeBook.com.

About Jenn

Jenn T. Grace is an author, publisher, and strategist who has hundreds of nonfiction and memoir authors bring their books into the world with clarity and intention. She is the founder of Publish Your Purpose, a purpose driven company that supports authors who want to transform their ideas, expertise, and lived experiences into books that make a meaningful difference. Jenn is the author of Publish Your Purpose and Promote Your Purpose, and she teaches the ASPEN MethodTM, a strategic framework that helps authors grow visibility and impact in sustainable ways. Her work focuses on aligning purpose with action so every book becomes a catalyst for change.

Promote Your Purpose is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

About Jennifer

Jennifer Brown (she/her) is a globally recognized DEI thought leader, highly sought after speaker, award-winning entrepreneur, and best-selling author.Jennifer envisions inclusive organizations where all of us can thrive. As someone who has experienced both the advantages of privilege and the sting of stigma, Jennifer is boldly redefining what it means to truly belong—in the workplace, in our families, and in our communities. She openly shares her powerful and unforgettable true story with audiences to help us challenge our assumptions—about ourselves, about leaders, and others—and take meaningful action today for a more inclusive tomorrow.

About Purpose Beyond The Page

Purpose Beyond The Page is a conversation series for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who want to grow their impact, influence, and income through their books. Hosted by Jenn T. Grace, founder of Publish Your Purpose, the series goes beyond writing and publishing to explore the real strategies, stories, and tools that help authors connect with readers and build lasting platforms.

Each episode features honest discussions, expert insights, and actionable takeaways on everything from marketing and visibility to business models and community-building. Whether you’re preparing to launch your first book or looking to amplify the reach of your next one, Purpose Beyond The Page will help you turn your big idea into a powerful tool for change.If you are working on a book that matters, you do not have to navigate the path alone. My book Promote Your Purpose will help you build meaningful connections with readers and make the impact you envision. Check it out at PromoteYourPurposeBook.com.

* How to embed purpose and social impact into your brand or business

* Why genuine human connection remains the foundation of influence

* Practical ways to use technology and AI to amplify, not replace, empathy and authenticity

Whether you’re an author, entrepreneur, or changemaker, this conversation will inspire you to lead with purpose, connect with intention, and embrace the future of influence with heart.

Episode Highlights

In this conversation with Toby Usnik, we explore some of the ways caring, connection, and technology intersect to shape purpose-driven leadership in the age of AI.

* Caring and Connection Are Infinite LoopsToby frames purpose and connection as a Möbius strip—an unbroken, intertwined flow of caring and connection that defines meaningful leadership. True influence begins when your mission is so clear that people either want to join you or get out of your way.

* AI as a Neutral Force for Human GoodAI isn’t inherently good or bad—it’s a neutral technology like the printing press or the internet. The opportunity lies in shaping it to amplify empathy, ethics, and purpose.

* Overcoming Fear with Literacy and JoyToby calls AI literacy the new civic skill set. He helps people move from fear to empowerment by showing how AI can be used to reclaim time, spark creativity, and bring more joy to work and life.

* The Human Side of AI: Connection Over AutomationAI can make our communication more human, not less. By handling repetitive tasks, it frees us to focus on creativity, strategy, and authentic connection.

About Toby

Toby Usnik is a global business development and communications expert who excels at deal-making, public relations, and social impact with multinational organizations. He is currently co-head of the ArtsCom cultural communications network in New York City and an advisor on artificial intelligence for social impact. Prior to this role, Toby served as Head of Communications for the British Consulate General New York, principal of Philanthropic Impact advisory in New York and Beijing, and the chief corporate social responsibility officer at Christie’s, where he rallied colleagues, clients, vendors, and other stakeholders to launch global CSR initiatives under its “Art+Soul” umbrella. He also held leadership positions as the executive director of public relations for The New York Times Company and the director of international public affairs at American Express. Toby is not only an accomplished business development and communications expert, but he is also the co-author of “Connecting the Dots: Building Your Network and Legacy” and author of “The Caring Economy: How to Win with Corporate Social Responsibility” and host of the popular podcast by the same name, where each week he and his guest discuss ways to seek guidance on building a purpose-driven career or business.

About Purpose Beyond The Page

Purpose Beyond The Page is a conversation series for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who want to grow their impact, influence, and income through their books. Hosted by Jenn T. Grace, founder of Publish Your Purpose, the series goes beyond writing and publishing to explore the real strategies, stories, and tools that help authors connect with readers and build lasting platforms.

Each episode features honest discussions, expert insights, and actionable takeaways on everything from marketing and visibility to business models and community-building. Whether you’re preparing to launch your first book or looking to amplify the reach of your next one, Purpose Beyond The Page will help you turn your big idea into a powerful tool for change.If you are working on a book that matters, you do not have to navigate the path alone. My book Promote Your Purpose will help you build meaningful connections with readers and make the impact you envision. Check it out at PromoteYourPurposeBook.com.

Episode Highlights

In this conversation with Tony J. Selimi, we explore some of the most pressing and personal questions shaping how we live, lead, and grow.

* In The Future of AI: Predictions and Ethical Concerns, we examine the rapid pace of artificial intelligence, its potential to transform business and society, and the ethical challenges leaders must be prepared to face.

* In The Human Element: Why AI Needs Our Touch, we turn to the role of empathy, creativity, and responsibility, reminding us that technology alone cannot replace what makes us human.

* Timeless Wisdom: Evolving Your Purpose Over Time offers perspective on how our sense of purpose shifts through different stages of life and leadership, highlighting the value of reflection and adaptation.

* Finally, in Turning Pain into Purpose: The Power of Resilience, we explore how challenges and setbacks can become catalysts for meaning, growth, and authentic leadership.

Together, this episode shines a light on the intersection of innovation, humanity, and purpose, offering listeners insight and inspiration to apply in their own journeys.

About Purpose Beyond The Page

Purpose Beyond The Page is a conversation series for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who want to grow their impact, influence, and income through their books. Hosted by Jenn T. Grace, founder of Publish Your Purpose, the series goes beyond writing and publishing to explore the real strategies, stories, and tools that help authors connect with readers and build lasting platforms.

Each episode features honest discussions, expert insights, and actionable takeaways on everything from marketing and visibility to business models and community-building. Whether you’re preparing to launch your first book or looking to amplify the reach of your next one, Purpose Beyond The Page will help you turn your big idea into a powerful tool for change.