Zibby Owens, a bookfluencer, podcaster, author, publisher and mother of four, joins Niiamah Ashong on the Outlier's Edge Podcast to talk about getting to her edge without being overwhelmed. She shares why she started her own publishing company, what it costs to throw herself fully into everything she does, and how she is learning to slow down. What emerged is her practice of noticing bright spots, like the moment she knows she has reached one person.
Episode at a glance
- Guest: Zibby Owens, Bookfluencer, podcaster, author and publisher
- Host: Niiamah Ashong, coach to outlier leaders
- Show: Outlier’s Edge Podcast, released March 31, 2022
- Format: conversation, 48 minutes
- Topics: Starting a publishing company, Focused intensity, The dark side of a strength, Simple is not easy, Bright spots, Leading versus managing
What Zibby brought to the conversation
Zibby Owens has talked with over 900 authors through her podcast since 2018, and that vantage point on what was and wasn't working in the publishing industry led her to start her own publishing company. Rather than launch an imprint under a larger house, she built an independent company with a partner, bringing its authors together constantly, sharing profits so that if one book is an outsized hit everyone shares in it, and working closely with independent bookstores. She sold her first essay at 14, wrote her first little stories at nine, and has a memoir coming out after about 20 years of trying to publish one. She describes herself as open, honest and authentic, someone who never claims to have it all figured out.
What emerged
Niiamah Ashong named what he sees as the dark side of a strength: Zibby Owens throws herself into everything with intense focus, one thing at a time, but she says she doesn't know when to stop. After a year of 450 podcast episodes alongside everything else, she is now working on slowing down, with support from her husband and her online community. Niiamah Ashong introduced the idea of bright spots, looking at what went right and doing it again intentionally, and her answer was a late-night video that a single person said made their day. For him, her ease with living out loud is a muscle she has been building for decades.
Questions this episode answers
Why would a leader start their own company instead of working under a larger one?
Zibby Owens considered starting an imprint, a division under a larger publishing house, but realized she couldn't make the changes she wanted that way. She saw that smaller players can react quickly without bureaucracy, so she built an independent company with a community-first, profit-sharing model.
How can a high-output leader avoid getting overwhelmed?
Zibby Owens says she does one thing at a time with intense focus, but she isn't good at stopping herself. She is now working on slowing down, with a year-long goal, regular check-ins, and accountability from her husband and her online community.
What are bright spots and how can leaders use them?
Niiamah Ashong describes bright spots as looking at what went right, the things that were easier or gave better results than expected, and asking how to do them again intentionally. For Zibby Owens, a bright spot is hearing that something she shared helped someone, even if only one person.
What separates people who eventually get published from those who don't?
Zibby Owens says the difference is that you just can't give up. She had proposals rejected over many years and kept going until her memoir sold.
Is leading the same skill as managing?
Zibby Owens says she isn't the best manager and is working on delegating and trusting her team. Niiamah Ashong, who describes himself as a visionary leader, said the same holds for him: managing is a different skill set, and he is thinking about having someone else do the managing so he can keep leading.
In their words
When I'm doing things I'm doing one thing at a time intentionally.
Zibby Owens
You just can't give up.
Zibby Owens
I reached one person, it was worth it.
Zibby Owens
Key moments
02:38 – How she describes herself
03:38 – Starting a publishing company
07:12 – Community among authors
17:32 – One thing at a time
18:03 – Learning when to stop
27:42 – Looking for bright spots
31:15 – Why she never gave up
32:48 – Reaching one person
43:05 – Her edge for the year ahead
44:38 – Leading versus managing
About Niiamah Ashong
Niiamah Ashong is a coach to outlier leaders, host of the Outlier’s Edge Podcast, and founder of the Trailblazer Collective. He coaches leaders who are creating something only they can make: a company, a body of work or a movement. Make a difference with your difference.
Work with Niiamah: 1:1 with Niiamah | World of Difference
Continue into Outlier’s Edge World:
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Youtube | Website | Guild Community
Reader Interactions