My First Rodeo: Lessons from Writing My First Book
In Texas, we like to say, “Not my first rodeo.” It’s a badge of experience – a shorthand for saying: I’ve done this before, and I know what I’m doing.
But this year, I have been in situations where I lead with, This is actually my first rodeo. No, it doesn’t roll off the tongue. Yes, I feel awkward saying it. Yes, I am uncomfortable admitting that I don’t know exactly what I’m doing.
The Comfort Zone Got Bucked
I’ve built a career helping companies, executives and students find clarity in their messaging – how to communicate, lead and build trust online. I’m comfortable in front of a classroom, in a boardroom or on stage. But stepping into the world of book publishing? Whole different animal.
Writing a book is really the easy part! Publishing a book – especially self-publishing – is something else entirely.
This experience has pushed me out of every comfort zone I thought I had. There have been moments of excitement, moments of doubt, and more than a few times when I’ve caught myself saying, “Hey, this is my first rodeo” – and feeling every bit of it.
Robert Earl Keen, Jr. said it best:
“I used to be into rodeo, believe it or not. I had a rodeo career that lasted 15 seconds – that’s five bulls, three seconds a piece. It’s kind of like getting in your car, driving down the freeway at 70 miles an hour, and then just chunking the steering wheel out the window.”
That’s exactly what self-publishing feels like some days – fast, unpredictable and completely out of your control.
The Rodeo Events of Self-Publishing
Here’s what I’ve learned: writing the book is actually the easy part. Once you finish the manuscript, you realize you’ve only just started the real work ahead. Each stage feels like a new event you didn’t quite train for.
1. The Cover Design
You loop around ideas, colors and layouts, hoping something captures the soul of your message. One minute you’re convinced it needs to be bold; the next, understated. Somewhere in between, you start to wonder if orange really is your color.
2. The Editing
Nothing prepares you for the moment your editor sends back pages covered in red comments. It’s humbling. You hang on tight for eight seconds (or eight weeks), trying not to get thrown off by every critique. But deep down, you know this is where the magic happens – good editing makes great writing better. And you learn not to take it personally. Yes, you spent months writing certain passages only to have them get edited out of the final copy.
3. The Email List
Building an audience before the book even launches is its own challenge. You’re out there trying to reel in readers, trying to build connection and trust without turning into a carnival barker. It’s part science, part art – and a whole lot of persistence. (And finding new ways to add value to your audience.)
4. The Lead Magnet
Creating free resources that attract the right audience – checklists, scorecards and guides – can feel like trying to catch lightning. But when it works, it’s proof that generosity builds momentum.
5. The Pre-Launch
You gather blurbs, testimonials and early readers. You reach out to friends, mentors and colleagues, hoping they will participate in the launch. And you learn something powerful: most people want to help – they just need an invitation. (If you’re interested in helping, please reach out!)
6. The Post-Launch
Even after the book is live, the work continues – social media posts, newsletters, speaking gigs and follow-ups. You realize that visibility isn’t a one-time event. It’s a discipline. A mindset. A commitment to showing up – long after the crowd has gone home.
Growth Hurts (in the Best Way)
There’s a strange kind of humility that comes with doing something for the first time – especially at my age. When you are used to being the expert, then suddenly, you’re not. And, from time to stop, you have to stop and ask for help.
And that can be frustrating! When you are used to things happening quickly – now they take way more time than you anticipated.
So you learn to let go and breathe in new ways.
Growth doesn’t happen when things are easy. It happens when you’re willing to look a little foolish – to admit you don’t know it all, but you’re willing to learn anyway.
In many ways, this experience has mirrored what I teach in my Digital Validation™ course. The people who succeed online aren’t always the most polished. They are the ones who show up consistently, share what they’re learning and grow in public.
Writing a book has been that lesson on steroids.
The Real Win
I’m proud of finishing the manuscript. That alone feels like climbing off a bull and realizing you made it the full eight seconds.
But I also know this: the work isn’t done.
Now comes the editing, the rewriting, the rethinking. The unglamorous parts that separate the dreamers from the doers.
Still, there’s something deeply rewarding about the process itself – the discomfort, the uncertainty, the learning curve. It reminds me that even at 56, I’m still a student of life and business.
And maybe that’s the point.
Final Thoughts from the Arena
So here’s my takeaway: Do not avoid your first rodeo situations! Don’t run from the thing that scares you just because you’ve never done it before. Get in the ring. Grab the reins. Hang on tight.
Yes, you will get humbled. Yes, you will be challenged. And, yes, you will get a little dusty along the way. But that’s how growth works.
And who knows? By the time you’re done, you might just be ready for your next one.
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