Begin with a Number for Titling a Best-Seller

I think I'll write a book. I've been looking over the best-sellers. The big hits have one thing in common. Their titles all start with a number. The author follows that number with a few words to convey that he or she has the secret. For just $19.95 you can have the secret too! I've picked 10 of the most popular number-titles to illustrate the extent of the wisdom packed inside.

Life is never so simple that success can be described by a single-digit list

• 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, by Steven Covey
3. Put first things first
7. Sharpening the saw
• 10 Things that Keep CEOs Awake, by Elizabeth Coffey
2. Developing bifocal vision
10. Balancing your act
• 11 Keys to Leadership, by Dayle M. Smith
3. Develop a dynamic belief system
10. Nurture effective channels of information
• 12 Simple Secrets of Happiness, by Glenn Van Ekeren
7. Forgiveness: Keeping bridges in good repair
12. Gratitude: Show it!
• 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player, by John C. Maxwell
8. Enlarging: adding value to teammates in invaluable
15. Selfless: there is no "I" in team
• 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, by John C. Maxwell
2. Big Picture: The goal is more important than the role
14. Communication: Interaction fuels action
• 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, by John C. Maxwell
1. Character: Be a piece of the rock
19. Servanthood
• 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader's Day, by John C. Maxwell
4. Navigation: Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course.
18. Sacrifice: A leader must give up to go up
• 22 Immutable Laws of Branding, by Al and Laura Ries
11. Fellowship: A brand should welcome other brands
21. Mortality: No brand will live forever. Euthanasia is often the best solution.
• 50 Things that Really Matter (no author)
6. Bubble baths
42. A good cup of coffee

I want to start my book with a number others haven't taken. I'm thinking 37. There are many reasons to love 37: It's prime. It's a two-digit number; life is never so simple that success can be described by a single-digit list. The digits add to ten. Next, I'll need to pick a grabbing qualifier.

The "I"s have it in the above titles. I've selected INARGUABLE. It might help to keep the hecklers away. Now for the rest of the title. While I know something about leadership, there's just way too many leadership books available today — 93,851 titles on Amazon earlier this month. The subject I know the most about is projects. But I'm looking for a new audience. I've narrowed it down to vacations — 67,695 Amazon results, or to player pianos — just 1,523 Amazon results. I like to take vacations so I'm probably as qualified to write on that subject as any of the above authors. I don't own a player piano, but I'd like to one day. And the market for books is not crowded. I've made up my mind. My book will be titled The 37 Inarguable Uses for Player Pianos. It's got best-seller written all over it.

In case you're wondering, I don't own all the above books. I subscribe to Business Books Summaries. Each week I get a new book summary in PDF format by email. Each summary is 7 - 12 pages long — just the right length for all that numerical wisdom.

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