3 Steps To Move Your Projects Forward
Writing a book isn’t easy. I’m finding that out – Every. Single. Day.
I’m PUMPED that the Front Row Factor book is coming out around thanksgiving, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about the project but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s been super challenging.
After having a call this morning with a few of our team members about moving the book project forward, I experienced a breakthrough and moment of clarity.
It happened the moment I was told by a close advisor, “Jon – you just need to sit with this for a few days.” What they meant was that I just needed to take the book and without anyone’s influence, just write, edit and create. I needed to be with the book and give myself some time with it.
I’m a HUGE fan of working with others. I love involving people in projects to collaborate. I feel like when more voices come to the table, blind spots are revealed, brilliant ideas are shared, and synergy is created.
As much as I love group effort and the seduction of having ideas validated…. it’s key that we take time to be with our project and TRUST OURSELVES.
I realized when putting this book together (and almost any project I’ve worked on in the past) that there are 3 things that must happen at different stages of the game:
1.) I need to SIT WITH IT. To me, this means I needed to get into the writing myself. The creation. No researchers. No editors. Just me trusting my heart and what direction to take things. Yes I need help, AND yes, I need time alone with the project.
2.) I need to SIT WITHOUT IT. After writing. After talking out ideas. After working for hours on end, it’s key to walk away and get some distance from your project. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve written a letter and thought “that’s great.” Then, I read it again the next day and said “What the hell was I thinking, that doesn’t make any sense.”
3.) I needed to SIT WITH OTHERS. Yes I trust myself. Yes I need silence & distance. And… YES, I need to talk this out with others. I LOVE getting on the phone, having coffee and skyping with awesome people who care about OUR success. I am truly grateful for the “Front Row Friends” in life and their positive influence. COUNTLESS ideas that have moved my life forward I cannot take credit for – they were gifts from others. Yes I want editors and our book reviews team to read it and tell me what they think. I want to know what’s missing? What they love? How can we make it better? I love to build with friends.
At the end of the day, YOU MUST MOVE YOUR PROJECT FORWARD! The world needs you to create — so go for it. Sit with your project and get down & dirty. Sit without it and get space. Then sit with others and collaborate.
Have fun and keep building!
JV
