“Now that you’ve written your first book, how are you going to market it?” asked the publisher, as we discussed quantities and prices of my brand new book.

I told her that I was going to record 15, 3-minute YouTube videos (one for each chapter of the book), and put them up on a website and offer them as free downloads. I also told her I’d like my share of the proceeds to go to charity.

The silence was deafening.

As our conversation continued I had to admit to her that this was not a thought-through marketing strategy, and that protecting the copyright and maximizing sales and profits was not at the forefront of my mind.

What I really wanted was for people to read the book and be transformed.

As it turned out, this was actually a rather savvy marketing strategy, as the book has gone on to sell tens of thousands of copies and be among one of the top sellers in its niche.

It has also made me very happy and fulfilled as an author who wrote a book to help others.

That book project taught me a lesson that the self-promotion, circle-the-wagons protectionism approach to life is surpassed by one of generosity, humility, and concern for others.

Give it away. Make someone else’s day.

Don’t worry about yourself, worry about the work.