Why Some Authors Don’t Get Approved for a Free Strategy Call (And How to Improve Your Chances)
Every week, we receive far more strategy call applications than we can accept. We love supporting authors, and we offer as much free education as possible, but our 1:1 time is limited. Because of that, we review each application carefully to ensure we’re spending that time with authors we know we can help create true transformation.
If you’ve applied for a free strategy call and didn’t get approved, please know this:
It’s not a judgment of your talent, your worth, or your potential.
It simply means that based on your answers, mindset indicators, or current circumstances, it wasn’t yet the right time for the type of work we do inside Seven Figure Author Career.
This blog is here to explain why, and how to improve your chances next time.
Reason #1: Mindset Misalignment (The Biggest Factor)
Success in publishing has far less to do with luck and far more to do with how you think about your author career. When we read applications, we look for signs that an author is ready to:
treat their writing like a real business
follow data over emotion
learn new strategies even if they contradict what they’ve heard before
take responsibility for their success
Not every author is in that place yet, and that’s okay! But when mindset is still rooted in fear, overwhelm, or “I already know what’s wrong,” the mentorship can’t work as intended.
Reason #2: Not Being Ready to Invest in Your Career
The strategy call is completely free, but any strategy we give you requires execution. And execution often requires investment. That may include:
professional editing
market-appropriate covers
ads
launch systems
continued skill improvement
You don't need tens of thousands of dollars, but you do need to be able to invest something over time, whether that's money, time, or energy.
We often say:
“You can’t expect readers to believe in your books enough to invest in them if you haven’t invested in them yourself.”
This isn’t about gatekeeping, it’s about setting you up for success, not frustration!
If you’re not at a stage where investment is possible, we have plenty of free resources to support you until you are.
Free Resources for Authors Not Ready Yet
We never want an author to feel left behind. If now isn’t your time for a strategy call, start from joining our Free Author Facebook Community (where Rebecca Hamilton, author coach and bestselling author, shares weekly insights).
We also recommend starting with foundational resources such as:
Our business-focused posts like:
Why Most Authors Think Their FB Ads Are Broken in 2025 (When They’re Not)
If you're not ready for mentorship yet, these resources will support your growth until you are.
P.S. We also have an entire library of educational blog posts on the Six Figure Author Coach website, along with many free insights for authors who want to keep learning and improving.
Reason #3: Not Being Ready to Follow Data (Instead of Preference)
Every successful author we work with has one thing in common: They make decisions based on data, not on what feels comfortable.
Inside Seven Figure Author Career, everything we teach is based on:
purchasing behavior
market positioning
profitability patterns
long-term scaling systems
Which is why we often tell authors: What you think is the problem isn’t always what the data shows.
When an author applies but is only willing to fix the parts they think are the issue, and not what the data objectively identifies, the mentorship cannot deliver guaranteed results.
We don’t ask anyone to:
write to trends
switch genres
rewrite their entire catalog
spend recklessly on ads
But we do ask every author to stay open to whatever the data reveals. That’s how results happen.
Why We Guarantee Result, And Why Mindset Matters So Much
We are able to guarantee results because:
Our systems are tested across hundreds of authors and genres.
The 3xP Method works every time it’s followed correctly.
We tailor your plan based on your unique data, not generic advice.
The guarantee is not “join us and money magically appears.” It is: If you apply the method fully as instructed, your results are guaranteed.
Because of that, we must ensure the authors we accept are willing to learn, implement, take data seriously and follow the full system. This protects your results, and our integrity.
If you’d like to see what this looks like in action, visit our Testimonials and Case Studies
Reason #4: Not Seeing Writing as a Career (Yet)
Many authors apply for a strategy call while still viewing their writing as a hobby or passion project, something they hope might become a business someday, but haven’t yet committed to building intentionally. Again, there is nothing wrong with this stage. Every successful author starts there.
However, the work we do inside Seven Figure Author Career is designed for authors who are ready to build long-term, profitable systems. That requires a different mindset: one where writing is treated like a real business with goals, strategy, and measurable progress.
If you’re still exploring, experimenting, or unsure whether you want to treat your career with that level of dedication, that’s okay, but a strategy call won’t serve you yet. The insights we give assume the author is ready to take action, implement strategy, and make decisions based on data rather than emotion.
This phase of your journey is about developing clarity. What do you truly want from your writing? What kind of author business do you want to build? Once you can answer those questions confidently, you’ll be in a much stronger position to take full advantage of the call and everything that follows.
Reason #5: Not Being Ready to Work on the Areas You Didn’t Expect
One of the biggest surprises for authors is discovering that the part of their business they thought needed fixing is rarely the core issue. Many apply assuming the problem is ads, only to later discover the real breakthroughs come from refining their blurb, adjusting their positioning, improving pacing, restructuring their series, or realigning their brand with reader psychology.
This isn’t about being “wrong.” It’s about perspective.
As authors, it’s natural to focus on the areas we understand best and overlook the areas we’re too close to see clearly. That’s why data plays such a critical role in our process: it reveals what emotion, preference, and guesswork often conceal. What matters most is openness!
When authors are willing to follow the data, even when it leads them in a direction they didn’t expect, results come quickly and consistently. But when someone is attached to fixing only what they believe is the issue, while resisting the areas that would truly move the needle, progress becomes impossible. And without progress, we cannot guarantee results.
Our most successful authors share one trait: they trust the process enough to let the data guide them. They don’t see a new direction as a setback, but as a shortcut and a way to avoid wasting months or years on the wrong problem.
If you’re able to embrace that kind of flexibility, you are exactly the type of author who excels inside our programs.
Not being approved for a strategy call isn’t a setback, or something that says you are not capable. Instead, look at it as a information. It tells you exactly what needs to be strengthened before you can step into the kind of transformation our programs deliver.
Mindset, investment readiness, clarity, and data-driven openness are not “requirements” meant to exclude authors. They are the foundations that guarantee your success once you start the journey.
When you feel ready to treat your writing like a business, follow data without hesitation, and build your career intentionally, you’ll be in the perfect position to benefit from everything we teach.
And when you’re ready, we’ll be here.
