The Authority Company How to Build Authority | Adam Witty (Forbes Books Founder)
Apr 10, 2026
38:31
Most leaders think they need more marketing. Adam Witty says you need more authority.In this episode, Adam Witty, founder of Advantage Media Group and Forbes Books, breaks down how entrepreneurs and CEOs build credibility, stand out online, and turn their expertise into real business growth.
He shares how he started his company from a spare bedroom, why most people never write a book, and the exact systems his team built to remove friction and help leaders become trusted voices in their industry.
You will learn:
• Why authority matters more than ever in an AI-driven world
• The real reason people want to write a book
• How “Talk Your Book” changed publishing forever
• The strategy behind the Forbes Books partnership
• Why books still outperform podcasts, TikTok, and video for credibility
• How to become the person people trust before they buy
If people Google your name today, what shows up? That answer is your authority.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Why nobody grows up wanting to be a publisher
02:30 The internship that changed everything
05:00 The mentor who sparked the idea
08:00 The biggest problem with writing a book
10:30 “Talk Your Book” and solving friction
12:30 Authority vs authorship
14:30 The Forbes Books partnership story
18:30 Why brand association matters
20:30 What authority really means today
23:00 Why Google is your first impression
26:30 Why books still matter in a digital world
30:30 The real ROI of writing a book
36:00 Why your goal should be to “die empty”
He shares how he started his company from a spare bedroom, why most people never write a book, and the exact systems his team built to remove friction and help leaders become trusted voices in their industry.
You will learn:
• Why authority matters more than ever in an AI-driven world
• The real reason people want to write a book
• How “Talk Your Book” changed publishing forever
• The strategy behind the Forbes Books partnership
• Why books still outperform podcasts, TikTok, and video for credibility
• How to become the person people trust before they buy
If people Google your name today, what shows up? That answer is your authority.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Why nobody grows up wanting to be a publisher
02:30 The internship that changed everything
05:00 The mentor who sparked the idea
08:00 The biggest problem with writing a book
10:30 “Talk Your Book” and solving friction
12:30 Authority vs authorship
14:30 The Forbes Books partnership story
18:30 Why brand association matters
20:30 What authority really means today
23:00 Why Google is your first impression
26:30 Why books still matter in a digital world
30:30 The real ROI of writing a book
36:00 Why your goal should be to “die empty”