I met Warren Whitlock online, first after he posted a comment on my blog, and later on Facebook, where I learned that, among his many talents, he’s also a book marketing strategist. Fascinating stuff, if you ask me.

1. What is your business?

I’m involved with a variety of businesses, often taking an equity position in compainies I help. I’m best known for BestSellerAuthors where we use online marketing to help authors get new readers, sell books and make the best seller lists.

2. What made you decide to go into this business?

I’ve been an entrepreneur for most of my life, and strated using online media in the early 1980′s. I was asked to co-author a book in 2003 and found that I enjoyed working with other entrepreneurial authors on that project.

What I’ve learned is that the vast majority of authors fail because they don’t look at their book as a business. The most successful authors have a business and marketing plan.

Now I help my clients with online marketing and social media, and train authors who are just getting started with my free course at http://BookMarketingStrategy.com

3. What types of challenges have you had along the way?

I have several new idea for my clients and partners every day. There just isn’t enough time to focus on each one.

I’ve had to learn to give away most of my ideas. That has helped in two ways.

1) Giving is now my passion. I love helping others and see them succeed

2) By focusing my attention on projects, I get more results.

It’s not that one project is better than others. The books and businesses that succeed have the best plans, resources and attention.

4. Have the positives outweighed the negatives, and if so, how?

Once you unlearn the training that you’ve had that you need to work for a big company or do things like the crowd, you can start living life on your own terms.

I can’t imagine ever working on a job now. I find that I love working with people, but on my terms.. when and where I want.

5. What would you recommend for anyone looking to go into business for themselves?

Get started right now. You only have one life to live. Don’t waste another minute living someone else’s version of your life.