You’ve told the story a hundred times. At conferences. In interviews. Over dinner with curious friends.
How you started.
The risks you took.
The near-failures.
The unexpected wins.
Each time, someone leans in and says, “You should write a book.”
You nod, smile, maybe even joke about it. But deep down, the idea lingers.
Most founders want to write one. But between running a business and staying sane, the idea never moves past a passing thought.
This guide will show you exactly how to write a business memoir in a year—even if you don’t have time.
Why Founders Should Write a Business Memoir
Most founders underestimate the power of their own story. They assume that because they haven’t built a billion-dollar company or had a Hollywood-worthy rise to success, their experiences aren’t worth documenting.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
A business memoir isn’t about vanity—it’s about value. Your journey is packed with lessons that others can learn from. The struggles, the wins, the pivots—those are gold for aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, and even your future self.
✅ Personal Brand Growth
A memoir positions you as a thought leader, giving people insight into how you think, make decisions, and solve problems. It’s a credibility booster that outlasts any LinkedIn post or podcast interview.
✅ Business Legacy
Your company may evolve, pivot, or even be acquired—but your experiences, strategies, and philosophies deserve to be documented. A good memoir cements your place in the industry and leaves behind something tangible.
For example, Shoe Dog by Phil Knight became a sensation in the United States and beyond. Today, it’s inextricably linked with Nike’s brand story.
✅ Networking & PR
Books open doors. A well-crafted personal story can lead to speaking engagements, investor interest, and media coverage. It’s a conversation starter that carries weight.
✅ Sales & Lead Generation
Potential clients and partners are more likely to trust someone they feel they “know.” A memoir builds familiarity, making the sales process easier.
✅ Therapeutic Value
Beyond business, writing forces reflection on personal growth. You gain clarity on past decisions, refine your thinking, and extract valuable lessons that can shape your next venture.
Your personal story matters—whether you realize it yet or not.
The Biggest Challenges With Business Memoir Writing (and How to Overcome Them)
Most founders love the idea of writing a business memoir—until they sit down to start. Then the doubts creep in.
❌ “I don’t have time.”
→ You don’t need to write daily. Block just one hour per week to dictate your thoughts, outline ideas, or draft key moments. Small, consistent effort compounds over time.
❌ “I’m not a writer.”
→ You don’t have to be. Great memoirs aren’t about perfect prose—they’re about authenticity. If writing feels overwhelming, hire an editor or a memoir ghostwriter to help shape your story.
❌ “I don’t know where to start.”
→ Begin with defining your core theme. Is your story about resilience? Leadership? Disruption? Then list 5-10 key moments that shaped your journey. These become your anchor points.
❌ “Who would even read it?”
→ More people than you think. A memoir isn’t just for mass-market appeal—it’s for future business partners, investors, employees, and those who can learn from your insights.
The hardest part? Starting. The second hardest? Finishing. But with the right structure and support, you can turn your journey into a book that impacts others—and builds your legacy.
The 12-Month Business Memoir Writing Plan
Completing a memoir project in a year isn’t about speed—it’s about structure. The key is consistency, not perfection. You don’t need to write every day or lock yourself away for months. You just need a clear roadmap that breaks the writing process into manageable steps.
Here’s how to get it done in 12 months.
📌 Month 1-2: Find Your Story & Define the Angle
Before you write a single word, you need clarity on what you’re writing and why.
1. Define Your Purpose
A business memoir can serve different goals:
✅ To inspire others with your journey.
✅ To document your legacy and lessons.
✅ To establish thought leadership in your industry.
✅ To strengthen your personal brand and open new opportunities.
Your purpose will determine how you structure your book and what details you include.
2. Identify Your Audience
Your memoir isn’t for everyone. Who will benefit most from your story?
🤔 Aspiring entrepreneurs? Focus on your early struggles and breakthroughs.
🤔 Investors and executives? Highlight strategic decisions and leadership insights.
🤔 Your industry peers? Share niche-specific lessons they won’t find elsewhere.
Knowing your audience helps shape the tone and style of your book.
3. Find Your Central Theme
A great business memoir isn’t just a collection of stories—it has a throughline. What’s the big idea that ties your journey together?
Common themes:
→ Resilience – Overcoming failures and setbacks.
→ Innovation – Disrupting an industry or reinventing yourself.
→ Leadership – Lessons in scaling, hiring, and decision-making.
→ Reinvention – How you pivoted and adapted to change.
Choose a theme that aligns with your experiences and resonates with your audience.
4. Choose Your Structure
Not all memoirs follow a start-to-finish timeline. Pick a format that best serves your story:
→ Chronological: A linear journey from your beginnings to where you are now.
→ Thematic: Organized around key lessons rather than time.
→ Hybrid: Weaves storytelling with insights, jumping between past and present.
Once you have these elements in place, start drafting a rough outline.
📌 Month 3-4: Outline Your Memoir
With your story framework in mind, it’s time to structure the book. Think of this as laying down the blueprint before construction begins.
1. Create a Chapter-by-Chapter Breakdown
Treat this like a roadmap, not a rigid script. Each chapter should have a clear purpose.
Example structure:
1️⃣ The Early Struggles – How it all started, major setbacks.
2️⃣ The Turning Point – The pivotal moment things changed.
3️⃣ The Big Risk – A bold move that defined your journey.
4️⃣ Lessons in Leadership – What you wish you knew earlier.
5️⃣ Scaling & Success – How you built momentum.
6️⃣ The Hardest Decisions – The choices that shaped your business.
7️⃣ Legacy & What’s Next – Reflections and future vision.
This structure keeps your book focused and engaging.
2. Write a Hook-Driven Introduction
Your first few pages should grab the reader immediately. Start with:
🔥 A major failure or setback.
🔥 A surprising, counterintuitive lesson.
🔥 A defining moment that changed your career.
🔥 A personal experience that changed your thinking.
Avoid lengthy background info—get straight to the action.
3. Identify Recurring Lessons & Themes
What are the 3-5 biggest takeaways readers should get from your book? How can you subtly reinforce them throughout the chapters?
Having these in mind will keep your writing intentional and cohesive.
📌 Month 5-8: Write the First Draft (Without Overthinking)
This is where most people get stuck. The key? Momentum over perfection.
1. Commit to a Writing Schedule
You don’t need to write daily, but you do need consistency. Options:
✅ 500 words per day (first draft in ~4 months).
✅ 1-2 chapters per month (~5,000 words per chapter).
✅ Weekend deep work – Block 3-4 hours every weekend.
Choose what fits your schedule and stick to it.
2. Use Voice Notes & Dictation
If typing feels slow, speak your story instead. Use tools like:
👉 Otter.ai – Transcribes your voice notes.
👉 Rev.com – Professional transcription.
👉 Evernote/Google Docs – Quick voice-to-text.
Many founders find dictation faster and more natural for creative writing.
3. Write Messy—Edit Later
Your first draft will be bad. That’s normal. Focus on getting words down, not polishing.
✅ Skip sections if you’re stuck—come back later.
✅ Don’t stress over perfect sentences—that’s what editing is for.
✅ Momentum > perfection.
4. Interview Key People for Insights
Your memoir isn’t just about you. Interview:
- Co-founders or early employees for different perspectives.
- Mentors or investors who influenced your journey.
- Clients or customers who were part of key moments.
These external voices add depth and credibility.
By the end of month 8, you should have a complete draft—rough, but done.
📌 Month 9-10: Edit, Revise & Strengthen Your Story
Now, it’s time to turn that rough draft into something publishable.
1. Self-Edit First
Book editing starts with a big-picture review:
✅ Does the story flow naturally?
✅ Are there any repetitive sections?
✅ Do the lessons and takeaways feel clear?
Then, do a line edit:
✅ Cut fluff and tighten up sentences.
✅ Add storytelling details where needed.
✅ Clarify any vague ideas.
Read one of our recent posts on self-editing for aspiring authors.
2. Get External Feedback
Hire an editor or find beta readers—people who will give honest, constructive feedback.
They’ll help catch weak spots and refine your narrative.
3. Ensure Flow & Consistency
✅ Does each chapter transition smoothly?
✅ Are your key messages reinforced?
✅ Is your voice consistent throughout?
This phase transforms your draft into a polished manuscript.
📌 Month 11-12: Publish & Promote Your Memoir
1. Choose a Publishing Path
📖 Traditional Publishing – Requires pitching to agents/publishers (longer timeline, but broader reach).
📖 Self-Publishing – Faster, more control, and higher profit margins. You remain in charge of book marketing.
Popular self-publishing platforms:
✅ Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
✅ IngramSpark
✅ Barnes & Noble Press
2. Create a Pre-Launch Book Marketing Plan
Start building buzz months on social media and other channels before release:
✅ LinkedIn content: Share behind-the-scenes writing insights.
✅ Podcast interviews: Talk about your journey.
✅ Email/newsletter teasers: Build anticipation.
✅ Blog: Write a blog post on the process and launch.
✅ Free ebook: Use a personal essay from the book as a lead magnet.
3. Leverage Your Book for Business Growth
Your memoir isn’t just a book—it’s an asset. Use your life story to:
✅ Get featured in industry publications.
✅ Book speaking engagements.
✅ Strengthen your authority for high-value deals.
By the end of 12 months, you’ll have a published memoir—one that cements your legacy and opens new doors.
See my post on how to write an autobiography for more context.
How to Stay Consistent & Avoid Burnout
Writing a business memoir is a marathon, not a sprint. Many founders start with enthusiasm, only to hit a wall after a few months. The key to finishing? Consistency without burnout.
✅ Write in Batches, Not Daily
You don’t need to write every day. Instead, set aside 2-3 focused writing sessions per week or one deep-work weekend per month. This prevents writing from feeling like a chore.
✅ Set Milestones Like a Business Project
Break the book into quarterly goals:
📌 First 3 months → Outline & research.
📌 Months 4-8 → First draft (one chapter at a time).
📌 Months 9-10 → Editing & feedback.
📌 Last 2 months → Final edits, publishing, and marketing.
✅ Use Support Systems
Hire an editor to keep you accountable, join a writing group, or work with a memoir ghostwriter if time is tight. Delegation isn’t cheating—it’s strategic.
✅ Embrace Imperfection
A first draft is meant to be bad—its only job is to exist. Over-editing while writing slows progress. Keep moving forward—polishing comes later.
Most importantly, remember why you started. Your personal stories matter, and the only way to share them is to keep going.
Don’t Have Time to Write? We’ll Do It for You.
Most founders want to write a book. But between scaling a company, managing teams, and closing deals, writing a memoir becomes another task that keeps getting pushed down the priority list.
That’s where we come in.
At Column, we specialize in turning founders’ insights into high-quality, ghostwritten books that sound like you. You get a compelling, well-crafted business memoir that builds your authority and scales your impact—without requiring hours of your time.
We also work with independent authors who’ve written a draft and need helping getting it over the finishing line.
How Our Memoir Writing Process Works
📌 Step 1: Deep-Dive Interviews
We extract your best stories, insights, and lessons through structured conversations. No need to stare at a blank page—we guide you through the storytelling process and pull out the details that matter.
📌 Step 2: Structured Storytelling
We organize your ideas into a clear, engaging book structure. Whether you prefer a chronological memoir or a lessons-driven format, we shape your story into something readers want to finish.
📌 Step 3: Done-For-You Writing
We draft your book in your authentic voice. Our writers capture your tone, personality, and leadership philosophy—so when people read your memoir, it feels like you wrote it.
📌 Step 4: Editing & Refinement
Once the draft is ready, we refine and polish. We work with top-tier editors to ensure clarity, flow, and a compelling narrative arc.
📌 Step 5: Publishing & Launch Support
We guide you through traditional or self-publishing, helping you launch your book in a way that drives business growth, PR opportunities, and personal brand recognition. This includes writing a book proposal if needed.
Why Hire Our Memoir Writing Services?
✅ We save you time. You’ll spend just 2-3 hours per month sharing insights with your assigned memoir writer—while we handle the heavy lifting.
✅ We make your book work for you. It’s not just a story—it’s a business asset that helps you land speaking engagements, attract investors, and build credibility.
✅ Your voice, amplified. No cookie-cutter ghostwriting. Your book will sound like you, not a corporate press release.
Your business journey is already inspiring. Let’s turn it into a book that works for you.
Ready to get started? Learn more here.
Your Business Memoir is Your Ultimate Legacy
Your business journey is more than just a series of milestones—it’s a life experience filled with lessons, struggles, and breakthroughs that others can learn from.
A business memoir isn’t just a book; it’s an asset that cements your authority, builds your brand, and creates lasting impact.
One year from now, you could be holding a book that:
✅ Positions you as a thought leader in your industry.
✅ Opens doors to new business opportunities, speaking engagements, and media coverage. (Imagine your memoir making it to the New York Times or Wall Street Journal.)
✅ Captures your insights and leadership philosophy for future generations.
✅ Helps others navigate the challenges you’ve already overcome.
Your story deserves to be told. Not someday. Not when you’re “less busy.” But now. Because the sooner you share it, the sooner it can inspire, teach, and open new doors.
Mo is the founder and CEO of Column Content, a thought leadership content agency that helps leaders get seen. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
