The moment a book becomes real to you isn't when it's written. It’s not even when it hits Amazon’s #1 New Release list. It’s when you open the box.
After years of effort, Voices of Reason: Lessons for Liberty’s Leaders became real in my hands when I sliced open a cardboard box and saw 100 copies stacked like bricks of earned authority. As my publisher, Henry DeVries, says: “You can’t spell authority without author.”
That video moment is etched in my memory. This was unboxing and unleashing years of purpose, perseverance, and principle. I saw the faces I had studied. The lessons I had taught. The leaders I had learned from. All bound together in one cohesive mission: to help more voices rise with clarity and courage.
A Launch Worth Talking About
We celebrated this milestone with a 60-minute Zoom launch that brought together 37 enthusiastic supporters who included authors, coaches, readers, editors, friends, and professionals.
What made it unforgettable wasn’t just the turnout. It was the discussion that included questions such as:
Why these seven leaders and not others?
What inspired the book’s structure?
How did the idea for the book evolve?
What’s next?
The excitement was electric. It pained me to cut it off at the one-hour mark, but I was committed to respecting everyone’s time. That restraint? It built anticipation for what’s coming next.
How Did This Launch Reflect the Principles of Persuasion?
The moment of the book’s release and box-opening combined all three pillars of Aristotle’s principles of persuasive rhetoric:
Ethos (Character and Credibility): Years of public speaking and coaching, distilled into a philosophy-based framework, gave this book its unique, authentic voice.
Logos (Logic): The structure of the launch was logical, with a strategic newsletter buildup, discounted Kindle download, and behind-the-scenes access.
Pathos (Emotion): The box opening, the celebration, and the backstory questions were not scripted. They were goosebump moments.
This mix both connects with readers and empowers them to share the experience and ideas.
Why This Matters to You
You don’t need to be launching a book to benefit from this. Every time you:
Finish a long-term project
Achieve a milestone
Overcome a challenge
You have a special opportunity to do something with that moment. Don’t skip it. Let people in. Let them ask. Let them feel your journey as they embark on their own. And yes, record the unboxing.
What’s next? After the celebration came momentum: 5 podcasts, 2 speaking engagements, and dozens of new conversations all within the first three weeks.
But what mattered most was this: People felt invited, and when they asked questions, they became part of the story.
If you're building something worth launching, make sure your audience is invited not just to the outcome, but also to the journey.
Need help planning that kind of launch to speak about? Let’s talk. I’ll help you craft a moment worth unboxing.
