Matt George on the Book That Created a TV Show, Harvard Position and 61-City Tour

Matt George isn't just a Harvard Business School executive leadership coach.

He's also one of my favorite Legacy Launch Pad clients. Yes, I say that a lot but I only have my favorites on this show.

I've had the privilege of watching Matt go from being a longtime nonprofit CEO to becoming a three-time #1 bestselling author who leveraged his book into a multimillion-dollar portfolio of speaking, consulting, media and coaching opportunities. As a result of his books, he now works at Harvard Business School, hosted his own prime-time TV show for four years and has generated over a million dollars in revenue from the ripple effects of authorship.

How did he do it? Well, he treated the book we published, Non-Profit Game Plan, like a "business card for life"—he never stopped networking with it.

First, he carried copies everywhere, giving them out on flights, at conferences and to nonprofits across the country. He even packed a full suitcase with 50-60 books for a John Maxwell conference and refused to bring a single one home. Then he embarked on an epic 61-city, 67-day book tour across America, combining media appearances with grassroots nonprofit visits where he literally saw his book help save a young girl's life. (He and I also got to meet for a cup of hot chocolate when his tour took him to LA.)

Today, his media appearances have multiplied 10-15x, his consulting fees have skyrocketed and his speaking invitations stretch from Ivy League alumni clubs to global conferences. And that's not all: thanks to his book, Matt was able to leave his 30-year nonprofit career, land a coveted position at Harvard Business School (coaching C-suite executives from around the world) and launch his own company.

Listen in to find out why Matt's "business card for life" strategy shows why a book truly is the world’s best business card.

Episode Highlights:

• How Matt turned his book into the catalyst for a career reinvention at Harvard Business School
• The intentional strategy of carrying and giving away books to build brand and revenue
• Why books outperform business cards for authority and credibility
• How Business Forward and other media opportunities emerged directly from authorship
• The 61-city book tour that combined grassroots impact with national visibility
• Why reviews and relationships matter more than bulk sales
• How Matt monetized his book into consulting, speaking and global coaching streams

Key Takeaways:

• A book is a lifelong business card when used strategically
• Reviews, not sales rankings, drive long-term credibility
• Speaking, consulting, and media come from intentional design, not accident
• Authorship creates authority, self-confidence and new revenue streams
• The impact of a book goes beyond business—it can literally change lives