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Erik, Author, Business Owner at Innovative Educational Services; Thin Leaf Press; Self-Publishing Center: Advize Career Interview
From backpacking through Europe and a detour into Muay Thai to becoming a self-publishing guru, Erik's journey is anything but conventional.
Now at the helm of Innovative Educational Services and Self-Publishing Center, the career professional spends their days empowering aspiring authors to share their stories and change the world, one letter at a time.
The business owner guides clients through the entire publishing process, finding immense satisfaction in helping others achieve their dreams and positively impact readers.
Challenges exist, particularly in effective delegation, but are outweighed by the flexibility, the constant stream of interesting people, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.
The keys to success include strong management skills, the ability to read people, unwavering focus, and prioritizing value over financial gain.
For students eager to break into the industry, Erik recommends roles in production, formatting, proofreading, and event planning, emphasizing the importance of mastering essential industry knowledge and embracing challenges as a sign of growth.
Most importantly, prioritize providing value to others and the success will follow.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Erik Seversen
Author, Business Owner
Innovative Educational Services; Thin Leaf Press; Self-Publishing Center
UCLA
Anthropology, University of Virginia, MA
Anthropology, Sociology
Professional Services
Consulting
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient
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Career Path of a Business Owner at Self Publishing Center
Erik's career path began unconventionally, starting with a post-high school backpacking trip through Europe, and community college, with a stint in Japan working for a Green River campus, ultimately transferring to UCLA and then earning a master's in anthropology. This winding path led to diverse experiences, including teaching ESL, a brief Muay Thai boxing career in Thailand, and a significant role at Eagle Rider Motorcycle Rentals where they "opened doors that were in front of me," which eventually culminated in becoming a full-time author, speaker, and business owner at Innovative Educational Services and Self-Publishing Center, helping over 450 people become bestselling authors.
Main responsibilities of a Self Published Author at Self Publishing Center
Erik's primary responsibility is guiding aspiring authors through the publishing process, particularly self-publishing, after realizing the therapeutic and transformative power of writing firsthand, stating that "I get to do that over and over with people." Beyond the self-satisfaction of assisting others, Erik finds reward in the positive impact on readers, highlighting the opportunity to "change the world a little bit, one letter at a time."
A Day In The Life Of A Business Owner At Self Publishing Center
Erik spends a significant portion of time "meeting with authors" to assess potential collaborations for book writing and publishing, and also guides current clients through the production, publishing, and launch phases. Speaking engagements, though not actively pursued, are also part of the routine, with requests to speak to communities about business or publishing being fulfilled "from time to time as well."
Most Important Skills for a Self-Employed Business Owner
For Erik, crucial skills include management, particularly utilizing assistants effectively, even though Erik admits to not being "as great of a manager as [they] could be" because of a lack of dedicated time. The ability to "read people," identifying potential clients and collaborators, alongside maintaining unwavering focus through self-accountability measures like time tracking, also proves integral to Erik's success as a self-employed author and business owner.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Self-Employed Author And Business Owner
Erik enjoys the flexibility of being self-employed, but the highlight is "getting to meet so many interesting people" through book projects, including entrepreneurs, billionaires, and innovators. Working with these individuals has significantly elevated Erik's own performance, inspiring the adoption of habits like meditation, goal setting, and exercise.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Business Owner at Thin Leaf Press
Erik's biggest challenge is effectively delegating tasks to assistants, even though "they are totally capable," because it often seems faster to do things independently. The current goal is to transition from a state where the business runs smoothly in their absence to one where assistants are empowered to "put the foot on the gas pedal," requiring more management time upfront to improve delegation.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Self Publishing Industry As A Business Owner
Erik enjoys empowering aspiring authors to overcome the hurdles in the publishing process, as evidenced by the statistic that "between 80 and 90%" of people want to publish a book, but only 1% actually do, and getting people to an "end result and their book published" is most rewarding. By guiding clients through common pitfalls like editing while writing or feeling overwhelmed, Erik enables more individuals to achieve their dream of becoming published authors.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Publishing Industry, According To An Author And Business Owner At Self-Publishing Center
Erik believes that individuals who thrive in the self-publishing industry typically possess "a lot of energy" due to the numerous responsibilities involved, and while many are extroverts, even "fake extroverts" like himself who are ultimately introverted can succeed by navigating client interactions effectively and finding fulfillment in assisting authors.
What an Author at Self Publishing wishes they had known before entering the publishing industry
Erik wishes someone had emphasized the "things that you either know or you don't" aspect of self-publishing, like understanding KDP Select or expanded distribution options. Having a clear checklist of these crucial "know or don't know" elements would have saved a lot of unnecessary struggle in navigating the industry.
Entry-level positions for aspiring Authors and Entrepreneurs
For undergraduates and graduates seeking entry-level positions, Erik suggests opportunities like learning "the production steps" to answer basic client questions, formatting manuscripts for interior formatting, and proofreading for grammar and punctuation. Erik also recommends event planning roles and outreach positions that involve sending speaker reels and testimonials to secure public speaking engagements, making the most of detail-oriented skills.
Significant Career Lesson From A Business Owner At Self-Publishing Center
Erik's most significant career lesson is that "money cannot be the main motivator," as focusing solely on finances hinders success in their self-employed ventures, Innovative Educational Services; Thin Leaf Press; Self-Publishing Center. Erik finds that by prioritizing providing value to readers and authors, the money naturally flows, but when money becomes the primary focus, it paradoxically diminishes.
College Experiences That Helped a Self-Published Author Succeed
Erik's success in college stemmed from working diligently, forming connections with professors, and embracing challenges. Most notably, the career professional overcame "imposter syndrome" with the help of a professor, realizing that feeling challenged meant being in the right place, which later empowered them to take on significant opportunities like speaking to "700,000 people live in India".
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