One of the unexpected joys of my Beyond the Book research project has been reconnecting with authors I interviewed several years ago and asking a simple question:
“What happened next?”
Back in 2022, I had the pleasure of interviewing Todd Cherches as part of the 99 Authors Project. At the time, we discussed his book VisuaLeadership and his journey as an author, speaker, and leadership expert.
You can listen to our interview above.
Recently, I reached back out to Todd to see where life had taken him since our original conversation.
The answer? Quite a lot.
Today, Todd has just completed his 15th year teaching leadership at NYU and his 12th year teaching at Columbia University. In addition to his academic work, he continues to lead a thriving executive coaching, leadership training, and consulting practice through his company, BigBlueGumball.
Perhaps most exciting for authors, VisuaLeadership continues to have a life of its own. The book is currently being translated into Mandarin for publication in China.
That detail caught my attention.
Many aspiring authors imagine that publishing a book is the finish line. Yet conversations like this remind me that publishing is often just the beginning. A well-positioned book can continue opening doors, creating opportunities, building credibility, and reaching new audiences years after publication.
One of the themes I continue to hear from successful authors is that the book becomes part of a larger ecosystem.
For Todd, the book supports:
• Executive coaching
• Leadership development
• Corporate training
• University teaching
• Speaking engagements
• International opportunities
The book is not the entire business.
The book strengthens the business.
That distinction matters.
As our conversation continued, Todd generously shared some of the leadership frameworks he teaches today and reflected on how visual thinking remains a powerful tool for leaders, communicators, and educators.
I left the conversation reminded of something important:
Books have long tails.
The launch may last a few weeks.
The impact may last decades.
Thank you, Todd, for taking the time to reconnect and for continuing to share your expertise with leaders around the world.
If you’d like to learn more about Todd’s work, leadership training, executive coaching, or his book VisuaLeadership, you can connect with him through his websites and LinkedIn profile.
About Todd Cherches
Todd Cherches is an executive coach, leadership consultant, trainer, speaker, and educator based in New York City. He is the CEO and Co-Founder of BigBlueGumball and teaches leadership at both NYU and Columbia University. He is the author of VisuaLeadership: Leveraging the Power of Visual Thinking in Leadership and in Life.
Published Your Book?
Wondering What Comes Next?
I’ve spent the past year reconnecting with authors and asking a simple question:
“What happened after the book was published?”
The answers have been fascinating.
Join me as I explore what successful authors actually do after launch and the challenges they face along the way.