Everybody Writes

I'm reading a terrific book right now called, Everybody Writes. The book is by content marketer, keynote speaker, and best-selling author Ann Hanley.

For anyone looking to write and potentially make a living out of it I can't recommend this book enough. 

Here are just a few quick tips on punching out what she calls, "The Ugly First Draft."

1. BARF IT UP

Jot down your key ideas as they come to you. No need to curate them or put them in any particular way when starting out. 

If you get stuck simply take some quick personal inventory. Do you need more examples, research, or is there another point that needs to be made?

Most importantly, keep the self-talk positive. Don't beat yourself up telling yourself you don't have the goods as a writer. 

Every writer struggles. As Hemingway once said, "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and bleed."

2. WALK AWAY

It's likely you'll first ugly draft won't exactly be Shakespearean. This may take a little bounce from your step, forcing you to already forget the remarkable accomplishment you've just made!

Take a breather. Walk away and focus on something else for a while. You'll be amazed by the clarity and perspective you come back with.

3. REWRITE

Nabokov once said, “I have rewritten — often several times — every word I have ever published. My pencils outlast their erasers.” 


Take the best parts of your first ugly draft and use them in your final product. Remember, writing is about the reader not indulging the writer.

Ultimately, our job is to be of service. We do that by having the courage to cut whatever isn't in harmony with that mission. 

The Truth About Human Potential

There's an awesome episode of Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu available online. I try and catch an episode each week and highly recommend it for anyone trying to grow in every arena of their life. 

The co-founder of Quest Nutrition has remarkable guests ranging from Tim Grover (former trainer to Michael Jordan) to Lewis Howes.

On a recent episode he interviewed Jim Kwik, the popular keynote speaker, learning expert, and trainer. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjdDnCN9yyE

During the episode Kwik shared his belief that we're "living a lie" when it comes to the limits of human potential. He used the story of Roger Bannister, who in 1954 became the first man to break the 4-minute mile to illustrate a point.

"How he was able to do it was he would visualize himself crossing the finish line and looking at the clock and it says, 3:59. He knew that success is an inside out process. Dr. Wayne Dyer has a famous phrase: It's not I'll believe it when I see it. It's I'll see it when I believe it."

Nobody before Bannister had run a 4-minute mile but shortly after his remarkable achievement everybody started doing it. Why? Was it because of drastic change in training methodology or diet? 

No. It was a shift in belief.

Before Bannister's run the widely held theory was a 4-minute mile would literally kill you. Not only that, your heart would explode in your chest. A proclamation that would keep most people from running in general.

The point is, when you accomplish something you didn't think you could do it opens the flood gates to other possibilities. 

We have more power to influence our thoughts and beliefs than we realize.