A Calling to Lead For Nicole Fronek, becoming an author wasn’t a lifelong ambition, but a divine calling born from a desire to help others. With over 20 years of corporate experience, Nicole had spent her career as a leader, mentor, and coach. She realized that while she was providing valuable advice to individuals, she needed a way to consolidate that knowledge into a comprehensive, digestible guide for a broader audience. This realization led to the birth of her book, “The Corporate Coach Approach: A Systematic Guide to Career Development”.

The Strategic Path to Publishing Nicole is candid about the fact that the publishing journey is “tough” and “not for the weak”. One of her most significant “lessons learned” was discovering that authors do not necessarily need a finished manuscript to begin the process. Instead, a fleshed-out proposal—complete with an outline, marketability proof, and a showcase of one’s own credentials—is often enough to start the conversation with agents and publishers.

Nicole ultimately chose to publish with a local company in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This decision was strategic; she wanted to avoid the potential stagnation that can sometimes come with self-publishing, hoping for a “longer journey” and more significant reach for her work. She emphasizes that publishing is a business, and authors must be prepared to pitch themselves as a revenue stream and a valuable asset.

The Foundation: Personal Branding While Nicole’s book covers various aspects of career transformation, she highlights Chapter One: Personal Brand as the most critical section. She encourages readers to focus on this first, as a strong personal brand resonates through every other stage of career growth. To ensure the book is practical, every chapter ends with a list of best practices. This allows busy professionals to gain immediate value, even if they only have a few moments to read the “top ten” tips for a specific topic.

Overcoming the Hurdles of Doubt When asked about self-doubt, Nicole’s perspective is rooted in determination and curiosity. Rather than letting fear stop her, she remained curious about how the market would perceive her work. She views the writing process not as a “quick win,” but as a community event that requires patience and the support of allies and advocates.

“Curiosity often beats fear,” she notes, encouraging others to view life’s obstacles as opportunities to alter their narrative or reflect on new challenges. For Nicole, the satisfaction of seeing her book in local library windows and businesses is the ultimate reward for sticking with the process.

Growing Through Feedback Since the launch of her book, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with readers appreciating the accessible and non-academic tone. However, Nicole remains open to constructive feedback. She views critique not as a reason to stop, but as a gift that allows her to grow in her own journey. Her final advice to female authors is simple: Don’t give up. By acknowledging boundaries but continuing to move forward, anyone can reach the finish line of their goals.