Qualified: Shari Dunn on the 80/20 Business Reality of Book Publishing

How much is your reputation actually worth? Join Alice Tang as she speaks with Shari Dunn, author of Qualified, about the "millions of dollars" sitting in your current network. Shari reveals her transition from nonprofit leadership to hitting seven-figure revenue in her second year of consulting. Learn why showing up consistently as your authentic self creates a financial backstop for your future and why Shari believes in sharing the "secrets" of success with everyone. In this episode, you'll learn: The Network Asset: Why your professional history has a specific financial value that can power a new business. The Publishing 80/20 Rule: Why 80% of a book's success depends on business strategy rather than the writing itself. Ownership Oversight: The necessity of maintaining oversight on every aspect of your business, from websites to financials. Breaking the Scarcity Mindset: Shari's move from a paycheck-to-paycheck community to understanding wealth generation. Key Moments 00:00 – Network as an Asset: Shari explains why your reputation is worth millions. 01:52 – Transition to Consulting: Starting a business after 25 years in law, policy, and journalism. 03:00 – The $1M Milestone: Reaching seven-figure revenue in the second year of business. 05:45 – The Ultimate Backstop: Why business owners must review everything themselves. 07:08 – Bite-Sized Resilience: Managing the overwhelm of business by focusing on "now, now, now". 08:42 – The Business of Books: Shari reveals the shocking investment required to promote a book. 10:01 – Traditional Publishing Hurdles: The critical role of agents and the auction process. 13:00 – Cashing in Credibility: Realizing that her New York network had a hidden financial value. 14:34 – Mentorship Renewal: Why conversations with students re-energize the mentor more than the mentee. 15:35 – Scarcity Mindset: Coming from a working-class background and finding the courage to save early. 17:15 – Broad Legacies: Using time and board service to preserve nature and support workforce access.