A Founder, A Doctor, And The Unexpected Power Of A Good Book

Forbes

2 days ago

If you've built something meaningful in your life, there's a good chance people will want to read ... More what you have to say.
One built a multibillion-dollar restaurant empire. The other is a physician on a mission to transform how we talk about mental health.
On the surface, the late Kent Taylor, founder of Texas Roadhouse, and Dr. Shahana Alibhai could not be more different. But they each made a bold decision: They put their ideas down on paper and wrote a book. And in doing so, they changed more than their careers. Taylor captured the legacy of a company. Alibhai sparked a movement and expanded her influence far beyond the clinic.
'Kent wrote the world a book,' said Texas Roadhouse CEO Jerry Morgan, 'but he left our company a blueprint for our future. We encourage our Partners to read Made From Scratch (Simon & Schuster, 2021) to better understand our history, values, and principles.'
That's the power of storytelling. It's more than a marketing tool, it's how leaders distill their values and vision and their lived experience into something that is lasting; something others can pick up and carry forward.
And while we do live in a world of TikTok, YouTube, and podcasts, books are far from irrelevant. They are where we go to explore deep ideas, not just quick concepts. They signal credibility and depth of thought in a way few other formats can. My colleague Tasha Eurich recently sold more than 15,000 copies of her latest book, Shatterproof, in its first week of launch, a strong sign that people are absolutely still buying books … good ones, that is.
Dr. Alibhai, a family doctor and mental health expert from British Columbia, calls her first book, 'a game changer.' It is titled Feel Better: How Understanding Your Emotional Palette Can Keep You From Getting Swept Away (Throne Publishing, 2024).
'The way I think about it,' she said, 'it is the world's best business card. It allows you to gift something meaningful to someone and share a small glimpse into your inner world, even with a complete stranger.'
Since publishing last September, Dr. Alibhai's book has received praise from luminaries such as Mel Robbins and Marshall Goldsmith, and also led her to be invited to speak on stages around the world, including the Million Dollar Round Table in Macau. It's not just about the spotlight for the physician, but about starting a better conversation. 'When people read the book,' she says, 'they don't just hear my story. They start to reflect on their own.'
And, she says, it's become a vehicle for giving back, enabling her to raise funds for mental health causes that matter deeply to her.
In short, Taylor's book became part of his legacy, Alibhai's became a launchpad. Both created ripple effects.
That's the real power of authorship. For business leaders and other experts, publishing shouldn't be about chasing bestseller lists but about clarifying what you stand for: your beliefs, your approach, your unique way of solving problems.
Of course, that doesn't stop people from asking me, 'So, how do I hit a bestseller list?'
I usually start here: 'Write a really good book.' (I know, groundbreaking advice.) But it's true: when the book is well-crafted and genuinely useful, it can unlock doors to all the things they want, like media coverage, keynote stages, and yes, more clients. A badly written book? That's just an expensive paperweight.
Here are three things I've seen make the biggest difference when leaders set out to write their story:
1. First, Clarify Your Purpose
Before you write a word, get clear on the 'job' you want your book to do for readers. Is it meant to spark personal transformation? Help future leaders understand your company's values and culture (like Taylor did with Made From Scratch)? Or will it provide practical guidance for businesspeople facing challenges similar to yours?
When you focus on the difference the book can make for others, you clarify your message and make it far more powerful. When you write with the reader in mind, your message becomes sharper and your impact greater.
Also, once you're clear on your objective and audience, you can make smarter decisions about what the book can do for you--perhaps build your business or leave a legacy. And it will help you set tone, structure, and publishing path. A well-known business founder writing a values-based leadership memoir will take a very different approach from an executive coach aiming to share her philosophy and grow a practice. Both can be highly effective, but only when their purpose is clear from the start.
2. Think Long-Term, Not Just Launch
The most successful authors treat their books as a long-term asset. A splashy launch week is nice, but more effective is planning to use the book to support your work over the next five, 10, or 20 years.
For Texas Roadhouse, Made From Scratch has become required reading for new employees, who they call Roadies. Says CEO Morgan, 'As we think about the next 30 years, we think it's important for current and future Roadies to study the early pioneers who built the foundation of our company.' For Dr. Alibhai, Feel Better has become the bridge to connect her personal story with a broader mission to destigmatize emotional health.
3. Don't Write It Alone
Many thought leaders or entrepreneurs have an incredible story or framework to share, but they get stalled for years by the enormity of writing a full-length book. That's where a collaborative writing partner or ghostwriter can be invaluable.
Dr. Alibhai is quick to acknowledge this. 'When you are trying to achieve a wildly important or seemingly impossible goal, having a coach, connector, and mentor is important. I was fortunate to have someone who helped me write as well as coach me through the process of writing. I also found someone who could connect me to others in the world of publishing and, most importantly, I was able to find someone who could serve as a sounding board along the way.'
Sometimes, you'll find all those roles in one person. More often, it might take a small team. But trying to go it alone can lead to years of delay, or worse, a book that doesn't land.
Here's what it comes down to: You don't have to be a celebrity CEO or famous influencer to write a book that matters. What you do need is the conviction that your principles are worth sharing. Don't let perfectionism or self-doubt keep your story on the shelf.