Who Are You And Why Should I Care?
If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. Isaiah 58:10 (NIV)
Listen to Who Are You And Why Should I Care? – He Said
Over the past few months I’ve met with a number of authors seeking to land their first book contract. All have the same question: “How do I build a platform? The editors demand I have one but I’m just a nobody.” These authors are right to be concerned. According to Publisher’s Weekly, “The power of television and celebrity status was obvious [in 2009]: of the top 15 authors, seven have prominent regular media exposure.” Without a compelling reason, few readers will buy a book from an unknown writer, so when I meet with an author I ask: “Why did you write the book? How have you been wounded? Who will be helped or touched by your writing. Figure that out and you’ll have your platform — and your ministry.”
Without doubt we live in a celebrity-driven culture, but platform and prominence is not the exclusive domain of the popular and pretty. Mother Teresa didn’t have a publicity agent and she made a name for herself. William Booth was so burdened by the poor and wretched of London’s East End that he resigned his position as church minister and founded a mission. Today we know Booth’s Salvation Army by the jingle of their bell, not their blog, web site, or social networking reach.
Years prior to Booth and Mother Teresa, a simple carpenter went around the countryside touching the untouchables, consoling the widows, drinking with drunkards, prostitutes, and the insane. He never published a word and yet the message of His “platform” changed the world.
If you’re looking to build your legacy, brand, and platform, consider the benefits of God’s marketing plan. Spend yourself in behalf of others and your light will break forth like dawn (honor and success) healing will appear quickly (sustaining stamina), your righteousness will be before you (no need for a publicity director) and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. (God has your back).
Want to make a name for yourself? Make it your business to help others with the comfort you’ve received from God. Don’t ask, “Who are you and why should I care?” Say instead, “Who are you? I care.”