We were lucky to catch up with Nailah Harvey recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nailah, thanks for joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
Hi, there! First, let me say thank you for the opportunity to share the evolution of my business. My journey to authorship was long and short at the same time. As a child, I took pride in writing school essays, poems, and letters to my parents. It wasn’t until I moved to South Korea (from California) that I sharpened my writer’s voice. I built an audience on social media by sharing my experiences inside and outside of the classroom, which later turned into my first published book, “SoKoDiaries: An American Teacher Living in South Korea” in March 2013. My audience inspired me to write. The motivation to continue writing books after I returned to America, however, changed as I grew in my career and became more closely connected with my purpose.
The next genre I focused on was teaching and language books with a goal to create informal textbooks for middle school, high school, and college students. This demographic became my new audience as I taught in different classrooms across Los Angeles county. I pursued my master’s degree in 2015, years after undergrad, and realized the benefit of a crash course in grammar to help write my papers; ergo the release of my sixth book, “Look Better In Writing: A Quick & Easy Guide to Punctuation” in January 2017. This book and brand opened the door to many opportunities, including a mention in the New York Times. While “Look Better In Writing” highlighted my authority on English language competency and supported my book-editing business, my niche evolved as I transitioned out of the traditional classroom. Therefore, I needed a book, brand, and business model to complement the evolution of my brand. My audience shifted to teachers and industry leaders, which led to my current signature book, “Book-fluence: How to Write a Book to Position Yourself as a Leader in Your Industry.” These days, I am focused on my “Book-fluence” brand as my goal is to help educators and thought leaders expand their influence by way of their non-fiction (informational) book.
Nailah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Sure. My name is Nailah, pronounced Ny-ee-luh, and I help educators and thought leaders organize their expertise into non-fiction (informational) books. My journey to book editing and book coaching began with blogging and teaching, then it evolved into authorship and consulting. I was born in Los Angeles and raised in Compton, California. I’ve earned multiple college degrees, and I’m currently pursuing my doctoral degree in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at Howard University. I’ve written and published 10 books, but I get more joy in helping others write their book(s). No matter the platform or audience, I believe in sharing the power of written words and storytelling.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
My teacher paychecks supported my business in the beginning. Now, my book-editing (and coaching) clients keep my business afloat.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
I am aware that my answer to this question will scream ‘millennial,’ but the best source of new clients for me has been social media. Word of mouth is a strong second.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nharv.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nharvdotcom/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nharvdotcom/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nailahharvey/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/nharvdotcom/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd754_dVJxrU3SHeNL-Wg4A
- Book-writing workbook: https://www.nharv.com/bookfluence