Today, we’re talking with Tyler Strong about his book, Breaking Into IT: Your Roadmap to Success in the Tech Industry.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I am an athlete. I lead a flag football team in Tennessee where I play with former college and pro athletes. I was also a college and semi-pro rugby player.
Why do you write?
I write to help lead others to success. I struggled to find my way into the IT industry and was lucky to have mentors to lean on. Not everyone has that luxury so I write to give back knowledge I have learned to others looking for a rewarding career.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
From my own experiences. I spent countless hours researching, studying, and testing various tools and software to find what worked for me to achieve success. I also follow various influencers on social media who share a passion for helping others achieve their goals.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
Self-help is a genre that can literally change your life. There are so many books to help with career changes, curving mindsets, understanding others, and much more. I am a continuous learner and when I read a book, I want to learn something from it. In my opinion, self-help is the best genre for that. So many people have transformed their lives by reading self-help books.
How would you describe your writing process?
My writing process is informative. I don't sugar coat what I write. Finding a rewarding career takes work, but it is worth the time and effort. I am a firm believer that you get out of life what you put in. I try to share as much information as I can through my writing but doing it in a way that anyone can follow and learn from.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
Social media is a game changer for authors as it allows us to reach a wider audience much quicker than traditional methods. It allows us to seamlessly connect with fans and potential readers from across the globe. In my case, I wrote about Information Technology. While I am US based, there is a big number of IT professionals across the globe. Social media allows me to connect, interact, and help people on a world wide scale.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Write about something you are passionate about. Writing should be fun and inspiring. Your best work will come out when you write about topics you love or have a passion for. In my case, technology, I could write all day and throw thousands of pages of information into a book because there is so much to the subject because I am passionate about technology.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
I check similar books that have had success then I provide some beta readers with options to get input from actual readers.
What's your next step?
My next step is to begin speaking arrangements to inform others of the opportunities that exist in the field of IT. Along the way, I am writing another self-help book to help others achieve their goals in more areas than just technology.
What book do you wish you'd written?
How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie. That book is a masterpiece by a brilliant author that truly stands the test of time. I refer to it frequently to help understand the emotions of others and control my own.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
I love constructive criticism. I want to know where my book could use improvement so I can make my next book even better. What I love most is reading reviews of individuals saying that the book helped them find their way in the industry.
