The Extraordinary Business Book Club - Episode 204 - The One About Fear

Episode 204 - The One About Fear

02/10/20 • 18 min

Writing a book, like doing pretty much anything that matters, involves a quantity of fear. Many people let it stop them, and instead spend their time and attention on the stuff that keeps them feeling safe.

But not you, my friend.

In this very personal episode I talk about what I've learned about fear when it comes to writing a book (or indeed, as noted, pretty much anything that matters). I also share some of the insights from others I've found most helpful.

Warning: may cause discomfort, curiosity, and action.

But not you, my friend.

Warning: may cause discomfort, curiosity, and action.

Previous Episode

Episode 203 - Personalization with Rob Baker

'If we feel there's some of us, our fingerprints in the work that we do, and we're able to make a difference in the work that we do, and it's aligned to what's important to us, we're more likely to be engaged.'

Rob Baker helps companies and individuals with 'job crafting', finding ways of personalizing their work so it 'fits' the individual's strengths and interests more closely. And of course when it came to writing the book about it, he took a route that suited his OWN way of working perfectly: using a Trello board to build a table of contents, share it with others, and gradually refine both his own thinking and the structure of the book as he wrote. He also got clear up front on his 'writing budget' and used his experience as a runner to help manage the days when sitting down and writing was the last thing he wanted to do.

It's a simple but quite brilliant approach, and it might just be one you can personalize for yourself.

(Oh, and how do you feel about that 'z' in 'Personalization'? We talk about that too....)

Next Episode

Episode 205 - Loonshots with Safi Bahcall

What does it take to write the most-recommended business book of the year? Safi Bahcall, author of Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries, talks about learning to write (and rewrite) a business book that matters, and it's pure gold for anyone who has the same ambition.

This is straight talking and ruthlessly practical: people don't care about ideas, and people don't care about you, so how do you find a way of communicating your ideas in ways that DO engage them?

And just as importantly, how can you have fun while you do it?

Brilliant advice from one of the world's most brilliant brains.