It doesn't matter whether you're driving an innovation through a multinational company, or just trying to lose ten pounds. I learned them well, after many missteps. Rules are rules. Here they are:
- It doesn't have to all be done at once. There is a writing standard I followed a long time ago (when almost all I did was write books) of doing five new pages a day. What I learned was that doesn't add up to 35 pages a week or even 25 so you may as well be realistic and double your overly optimistic time schedule. (This particularly applies to losing weight.) There are good reasons for not rushing things.
- It will go better if you don't try to control it. A book, like many other projects, needs to develop a personality of its own. It has your voice, but it's an individual. Actually, this need it will have to 'breathe' is responsible for some of that extra time you'll need (from the first rule.) If the change also involves other people, especially employees, your kids, your spouse or friends, this goes double. And what makes you think it would be better if you did control everything?
- It will end better if everyone involved is invested in the outcome. While most people don't think of book writing as a team project, it often is. While with my earlier books, I sometimes had a co-author, and there were always photographers and editors and publicity people (and others who did things I didn't even appreciate at the time) there have always been the influencers in my life. They are there, ready to listen, read, and let me bounce ideas off them. They're invested in my change, my growth, my work. (Sometimes in those weight loss initiatives too, but that's another story.) Investment takes time – and trust, respect and faith. If you have that from the people around you, whatever change you are trying to make will be more likely to succeed!
