Memoir Vs. Business Nonfiction: Which One Should a CEO Write First?
Earlier this year, I worked with a client who was trying to decide between writing a book about his approach to leadership in tech startups and his memoir.
Every founder knows that a book can change the trajectory of their company. And every CEO I’ve worked with eventually asks me:
Should I write a memoir or a business book first?
Short answer: it depends on your goals.
One type of book builds authority through your story, the other through your unique frameworks and strategy.
I like to remind my clients that they likely have more than one book to write. But here’s how to decide which book you should write first.
What Memoir Does Best
A memoir can be one of the top assets for your business. That’s because it lets readers — investors, partners, clients — experience your story firsthand.
Your origins, the lessons you’ve learned, the moments that defined you. A memoir brings all of this to life for your readers.
Memoirs work in the entrepreneurial world because they help build trust. Plus, they preserve your legacy and company history for years to come.
Best for:
Founders with a compelling backstory.
Founders who are established enough in their field to reflect on what they’ve learned so far.
Founders whose vision has been shaped by their unique life story.
What Business Nonfiction Does Best
You’re an innovator in your field. And a business book packed with your insights and unique frameworks can become the asset that sets the standard in your industry.
Business nonfiction can come in many forms. This year, we’ve seen Mel Robbins’ self-help juggernaut The Let Them Theory dominate bestseller lists. Ezra Klein (co-founder of Vox) and Derek Thompson’s Abundance: How We Build a Better Future has found a home on several Must Read lists.
Whether you’re interested in writing self-help, a motivational treatise, or a visionary manifesto, business nonfiction positions you as a thought leader with a proven system.
In addition to media attention, a book based on your unique approach to your field can generate leads, land you speaking gigs, and sell your products to clients for you for decades.
Best for:
CEOs who want to shape their industry.
Founders who are actively scaling their business.
The Key Differences: Memoir vs. Nonfiction
| Feature | Memoir | Business Book |
|---|---|---|
| Voice | Personal, story-driven | Professional, instructional |
| Audience | Broad, human-interest | Industry peers, clients, investors |
| Shelf Life | Evergreen, legacy | Relevant while frameworks stay fresh |
| Emotional Impact | High — connects through vulnerability | Moderate — connects through clarity |
| Use Case | Brand-building, legacy, press appeal | Leads, authority, speaking platform |
So, Which One Should You Write First?
For most founders, the question isn’t which one to write? but, which one to write first?
Think about what the next 3 to 5 years look like in your business, then ask yourself:
Am I interested in telling a story or teaching my system?
What’s more important to me right now: legacy or leads?
In the next 3 to 5 years, do I need investors and partners or clients and buyers?
The Hybrid Approach
As a memoir and nonfiction ghostwriter, I’ve worked with plenty of clients that decide not to pick a lane. And honestly, some of the best, most successful books blend memoir with nonfiction in compelling ways.
Maybe one of these hybrid approaches speaks to you more:
A memoir structured through your insights on leadership and your industry. Compelling, personal storytelling shaped by lessons you’ve learned along the way.
Business nonfiction with personal storytelling at the heart. Your frameworks, your vision all illustrated through your personal journey.
Newsletter first. Begin working through your ideas on Substack or LinkedIn, then expand into book format.
(P.S. If you’re going for the last one, be sure to check out my resources about getting started on Substack, or join the beta rounds for The Serial, my new subscription service designed to deliver newsletter content + strategy to you every month.)
Lots of Ideas but Still Not Sure How to Start?
I know, at this point writing a book sounds like something you needed to do yesterday.
But you’re probably a little busy running your business. And as soon as you click away from this post, all that inspiration for your book is going to fly out the window so you can focus on your To Do list.
That’s why I created Write The Book, a ghostwriting service that allows you to outsource your book to an expert ghostwriter and see progress made on it month to month.
Write the Book is a monthly subscription service that pairs my premium ghostwriting with 1:1 sessions to produce content monthly so you make steady progress towards published.
Ready to start writing your book?
Yes! Write My Book!
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