Joshua’s new book is for you
July 3, 2023
Million-dollar ghostwriter Joshua Lisec has dropped a new book, but this time, he is sharing his own expertise.
“So Good They Call You a Fake” pulls from his work ghostwriting 80+ books for leaders across industries ranging from healthcare to construction to share a step-by-step process on how you can build a business off your own expertise.
You may remember Joshua from his standing room-only 2022 “How to Write Content that Sells” Startup Week session. He’s back in town later this week for a book launch and signing event at the Beavercreek Barnes and Noble, Saturday, July 8.
We caught up with him recently to learn more.
Introduce yourself — who are you and what is your company?
I am the Internet’s favorite ghostwriter. My work has gained widespread recognition, from TED to TMZ to Twitter Trends, establishing my reputation for always finding “the best way to say it.” I’ve ghostwritten more than 80 nonfiction books for celebrities, executives, entrepreneurs, and for experts asserting authority in their industries for the first time. I am the only Certified Professional Ghostwriter (California State University Long Beach) and Certified Hypnotist (National Guild of Hypnotists) in the world, and more than 3,300 people have taken my persuasive writing courses.
How did your company start?
I decided to start a ghostwriting company completely by accident. At age 20, I received a 2-book publishing deal for novels I’d written in college. While promoting them at signings, on panels, and through social media, two aspiring authors bought my books, enjoyed them, and asked me if I could help them finally finish theirs. Especially since they’d had the desire to become authors longer than I’d been alive. Given that I was nurturing a tiny freelance writing side hustle at the time, I thought, “OK . . . fine . . . sure . . . I guess I can help you write your book.” And here I am all these years later still saying that.
Why this idea?
I’m now considered the world’s best ghostwriter because people don’t get rich selling books. I’ve built an unstoppable results business for clients. These authors have made so much more money through their authority-establishing books that many feel bad about how much they paid Lisec Ghostwriting. And this despite me, Joshua, being one of the most expensive ghostwriters in America. I have a proven process for any aspiring author who has done the hard work of being the best at what they do. I take great pride in this craft, delivering experts the authority book they’ve already earned.
Did you always want to be an entrepreneur?
No. But in college, several professors praised my essays as superior in depth and readability compared to the typical “just give me my degree so I can get out of here” efforts from the typical student. One professor in particular told me, “Joshua, you can probably do this professionally.” And I thought, Why not? That same day, I listed myself as a writer-for-hire on freelance marketplaces that no longer exist. My very first writing gig paid $1.67/hour. Words fail me as I attempt to describe the joy that those few bucks brought me. For the first time in my albeit young life, I’d made my own money. Outside a job. Selling my service. No boss but me. No longer do I charge that rate (or anything near it, thankfully). But I’ve been a thrill-seeker pursuing that same rush ever since.
The Launch Dayton community values are: 1. Be Bold 2. All Are Welcome 3. People First 4. Give First 5. Remove Barriers. How do you embody one or more of these values?
My book is the very definition of value 1., “BE BOLD.” My own book, the instant #1 international Amazon bestseller SO GOOD THEY CALL YOU A FAKE teaches that cultivating haters and critics is the last rite of passage into greatness. Further, if you are *not* being “called out” for generating results in your business that appear too good to be true, then you are not even close to trying hard enough. The path of excellence is not for the faint of heart; it’s for those who are too good at what they do to keep being the best-kept secret of their niche. And my book fixes that, teaching readers how to command attention, maximally monetize their expertise, and never stop winning — no matter what the haterz say!
What identities or life experiences do you bring to entrepreneurship that helped prepare you for this lifestyle?
I was homeschooled Pre/K-12. In the 1990s, that meant reading the entire Encyclopedia America, Volumes A-Z “for fun.” Later, that translated into me already having entry-level expertise on every book I would ghostwrite, be it business, healthcare, or technical topics.
What is the biggest barrier you’ve faced on your entrepreneur journey?
Originally, my company was named Legacy Editions Publishing because my first ghostwriting wanted to complete their memoirs. My promise was, “I’ll put your legacy in print.” And that was exactly what we did. I had a vision for documenting as much of the world’s wisdom as possible in masterpieces that made their authors proud. But over time, I realized that entrepreneurs have an even greater desire to become authors. Entrepreneurs earn authority, build credibility, and showcase expertise when they author a book. My purpose realigned with theirs, and my company followed. But I pushed a rope uphill for far too long!
Why do you love what you do?
Google me and I am consistently dubbed “the #1 ghostwriter in the world” and “the world’s best ghostwriter.” It’s good to be king. (See Value 1. BE BOLD)
What advice would you offer fellow or aspiring entrepreneurs?
Learn and obey the JOBS TO BE DONE framework, used in Silicon Valley and at Harvard Business School, to design and launch successful products in brutally competitive fields. My book SO GOOD THEY CALL YOU A FAKE teaches how to do this, step by step, with no step skipped.
How can the Launch Dayton community support you?
1. Attend the book launch event for my new nonfiction book, the instant #1 international Amazon bestseller SO GOOD THEY CALL YOU A FAKE (3,000 copies sold already). It’s at the Beavercreek Barnes & Noble on Saturday, July 8th, 2-4 pm.
2. Read SO GOOD THEY CALL YOU A FAKE and write an honest review — even a 1-star review! As I say in the book, “Haters are your most valuable marketers.”
Stay in touch with Joshua on social media @joshualisec.
