The Memoir Question Every Business Author Asks
You sit down to write your business book, filled with insights to share, lessons to teach, perhaps even a framework that has changed lives. Yet one question lingers in your mind: Should I tell my story?
It’s a question nearly every business author faces. After all, your story is what shaped your wisdom. The triumphs and setbacks, the breakthroughs, the moments of doubt and discovery, made you the expert you are.
But does that mean your business book should also be your memoir?
As a ghostwriter, I’ve considered this question with many authors. And I can tell you this: there’s no universal rule. The right answer depends on your purpose, your reader, and your voice.
Let’s explore what memoir can add to a business book, and when it might hold you back.
The Power of Personal Story
Readers don’t just want to know what you know. They also want to know how you came to know it. That’s where memoir comes in. It draws readers closer by grounding your authority in real-life experience.
When used well, memoir makes abstract ideas tangible. The benefits are real:
– Authenticity: Your story proves your experience is life-tested, not just theory.
– Connection: Readers see themselves in your struggles and victories.
– Differentiation: No one else has walked your path, which makes your insights unique.
– Legacy: Memoir preserves your journey for those who’ll follow, both professionally and personally.
A touch of memoir can turn a purely instructional book into one that readers feel as much as they understand.
When Memoir Becomes a Weight
Beware, though. While memoir can illuminate, it can also overwhelm. That’s because the line between “personal” and “self-absorbed” is thin.
The most common missteps include:
– Overexposure: When every chapter, and sections within the chapters, begin with “I,” you risk readers feeling like your book is essentially a boast.
– Dilution: Personal anecdotes pile up, and the core lessons get buried.
– Market mismatch: Business readers expect takeaways, not a life chronicle.
– Pacing problems: Long story sections can slow momentum and cloud focus.
The art lies in moderation: letting your story serve the message, not replace it.
Three Authors, Three Balances
Here’s how three different business book authors handled the memoir portion of their book.
Memoir as Foundation — Bruce Kyrsiak’s Make Your Best Life
Bruce’s journey to multiple boardrooms wasn’t just context. Instead, it was the content. Using his career highs and lows, he guided readers toward a life of purpose and balance. His business lessons emerged naturally from lived experience.
Lesson: When your personal transformation is the framework, memoir becomes your book’s strongest structure.
Memoir as Seasoning — Denise Dudley’s Work It!
Denise wanted to teach workplace professionalism—skills like confidence and communication—especially for young professionals. She shared brief, relevant stories from her own work life, but always circled back to practical tools and techniques.
Lesson: When your mission is to teach, let memoir act like spice. A sprinkle of story deepens flavor, but too much changes the recipe.
Memoir as Transformation — Robert Herbst’s Cheating Death
Robert’s book occupies the middle ground. A top B2B salesperson, he’d faced rejection, burnout, and renewal. His experiences became the book’s case study. The memoir elements he included in the book serve as a mirror for readers navigating similar challenges.
Lesson: When your personal evolution mirrors your reader’s desired transformation, memoir isn’t just helpful: it’s essential.
How to Decide: The Memoir Framework
When clients ask whether their business book should include memoir, I invite them to consider four questions:
1 – What’s the heart of your goal?
– To inspire? Let memoir lead.
– To teach? Let memoir support.
2 – Who’s your audience?
– Entrepreneurs and dreamers? They crave the human journey.
– Executives and strategists? They want the blueprint.
3 – What makes your voice distinct?
– A singular life story? Lean into memoir.
– A proprietary method? Lead with the method.
4 – Can you stay disciplined?
– Every single story must earn its place. If it doesn’t teach, clarify, or emotionally connect, it doesn’t belong.
Making Memoir Work for You
– Use stories with intention. Every anecdote should point to a principle.
– Be concise. Tell only the essential details. The lesson should outshine the life.
– Blend narrative and analysis. Use story to invite the readers in, and reflection to transform them.
– Get feedback. Ask beta readers where they felt engaged and where they drifted.
Memoir’s Hidden Power: Stickiness
A story makes your ideas unforgettable.
Readers may not recall every framework or acronym, but they’ll remember the moment you failed and got back up. They’ll retell that story in meetings, they’ll quote it on stage.
That’s how memoir builds connection and reputation. A memorable story turns your book into a calling card that opens doors long after publication.
But remember: too much memoir can make a business book feel like it’s wandering. The art lies in precision. In knowing when to show your story and when to step aside.
The Final Balance
So, should your business book be a memoir?
The answer lies in your purpose.
– If your life is the lesson, tell it boldly.
– If your goal is to teach, let story illuminate the path, not block it.
– If your transformation mirrors your reader’s, make memoir your guiding thread.
A business book, at its best, is both mirror and map.
The mirror reflects your journey; the map guides your reader toward theirs.
The craft lies in knowing how much of your reflection to share, and how much light to leave for them to find their own.
