Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I didn’t start writing my first book until after I was diagnosed with a malignant glioblastoma (brain tumor). I was given 60-90 days to live, with “zero chance of survival.” That was over ten years ago.
Now, I make it a point to live a life that brings inspiration & joy to others. I love interviewing successful leaders & sharing their insights with my audience!
At this point, I’ve published four books, but I’m blessed to be doing this full-time now! It’s incredible to live life on my own terms & work around my own schedule, doing podcast interviews & videos that stream to my channel on Amazon Fire TV! If you have a new smart TV, search “M. Curtis McCoy”, or “Success, Motivation & Inspiration” on Amazon Fire TV & let me know what you think of my show!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“How To Be Successful: Think Like A Leader” is the title of my most recent book.
I’ve always enjoyed motivational talks, pumped-up workout music, & inspirational books. Each day, I commit to doing something to improve. In 2015 I launched “Success, Motivation & Inspiration” as a blog to motivate & inspire others to achieve more in their lives.
Around the same time, I began connecting with aspiring entrepreneurs & seasoned experts. I was looking for others who wanted to increase their business & expand their market presence. I used the blog to jot down thoughts when I discovered something that inspired me.
As my social media groups gained thousands of members globally, I started receiving calls & messages from people whose lives had improved because of the principles I shared. Others reached out for guidance or advice on how to become successful.
I started spending time with successful people who were achieving improvement in their own lives. Many of these new friends had created lifestyles that allowed them to do things that others could only imagine.
The more time I spent around successful friends, the more ideas & opportunities started falling into my lap. Even though I wasn’t concentrating on writing or social media, interest from readers continued to grow.
Why Did I Start Writing This Book?
One night I received a call from someone who was contemplating suicide. Desperate for hope, this individual told me they didn’t know why, but they joined the Success, Motivation & Inspiration Facebook group while trying to decide if they should end their life or not. Thankfully, I got a chance to talk with them before they made a terrible decision. We talked about how they felt as if they had no chance of being anything but a failure. That’s when I began to realize this project deserved additional attention. When I launched the website a couple of years earlier, it was just a hobby. I just wanted to help prospective entrepreneurs in my free time.
After this call, I decided to include real-life stories & interviews with people who chose to improve their lives. I’ve interviewed professional athletes, preachers, wealthy investors, inventors, expert negotiators, & even ex-convicts turned entrepreneurs.
In “How To Be Successful: Think Like A Leader”, I mix these interviews with life lessons that apply to business, relationships, & all aspects of being truly successful. I hope this book will help you achieve your ambitions, motivate you never to give up, & inspire you to pursue greatness.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write books & create content as a way to influence the world positively. Because money is not my primary reason for writing, I write each chapter of my books as a blog post that is free for the world to read. I was advised against putting every chapter out for free.
It’s actually been a great (accidental) marketing strategy because many book sales come from people reading a blog post & deciding to buy my books.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I typically read ~6 books per month as part of my daily routine.
I love the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. I often re-read “How To Win Friends & Influence People” by Dale Carnegie.
“Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill is another favorite!
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey is a favorite of mine.
My memory is absolutely terrible after surviving brain cancer, so reading & re-reading books often help me keep sharp.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m doing a lot of research on growing my M. Curtis McCoy personal brand via social networks, guest blogging, podcast interviews, radio interviews, etc.
I’ve read a dozen books on personal branding, & I’m taking some online classes as well. I currently only have ~600,000 followers across all platforms, but I think my next book will be on personal branding: what works & what doesn’t.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome Gang is… AWESOME!
I’ve also been getting a lot of sales from https://instagram.com/MCurtisMcCoy/ & from my author page on https://facebook.com.com/MCurtisMcCoy/
I’ve been invited to speak at Caesar’s Palace & other venues that helped create brand recognition for me as an author.
I wasn’t a celebrity. In fact, I don’t think anyone knew who I was when I started writing my first book. I think creating a personal brand is necessary for every author who plans on doing this full-time.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
You can do this! Just start writing & get your thoughts on paper (or your blog). There’s always time to edit & edit again, but you won’t get them back if you don’t put the words on paper (or blog, etc.)
A quick suggestion for new authors: Buy your name as a domain name! If someone searches for your name, and there’s no website, or worse: if it takes them to a site you don’t own, that’s not good!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’m interviewing successful leaders every week on my Amazon TV show & on the “Success, Motivation & Inspiration” podcast, so I receive an incredible amount of great advice.
The advice I’m about to share was actually given to me when I was young. My mom says, “no one has time to worry about what you’re doing because they’re too worried about how they look to other people.”
We often feel shy to talk in front of a crowd or be the first couple on the dance floor, but everyone else is self-conscious too. Stop worrying & enjoy yourself!
What are you reading now?
Author Laura Bull surprised me with a copy of her newest book, “From Individual to Empire: A Guide to Building an Authentic and Powerful Brand”. I’m reading it for a second time this week, and I’m really enjoying the lessons she shares!
My friend, H.J. Chammas, is an award-winning best-selling author and self-made “Employee Millionaire” who has achieved financial freedom by investing in rental properties throughout Asia, Dubai, and Europe. I’m listening to “The 4 Stages of Building Wealth: How to Achieve Financial Freedom Before Leaving Your Day Job” again on Audible & always learn something new from his books as well!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now, I’m working to build the M. Curtis McCoy brand & my goal is to get the blue (verified) checkmark on the social platforms I’m active on. That seems to provide credibility when potential readers search for an author.
I’m also planning to spend some time traveling the world & writing in foreign countries soon.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1.) The Bible. That may be cheating because there are so many great books crammed into one.
2.) A book on wilderness survival.
3.) A book about how to build boats.
Since this is a theoretical question, I’d also bring my phone (with a ton of audiobooks downloaded) & a solar charger.
I may not ever use the book on wilderness survival or boat building until I memorized each book I had downloaded.
Author Websites and Profiles
M. Curtis McCoy Website
M. Curtis McCoy Amazon Profile
M. Curtis McCoy Author Profile on Smashwords
M. Curtis McCoy’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account