DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT - CHANCES OF SUCCESS
(Fair warning: This is by far my longest post yet. Enjoy.)
There is a mountain that we all climb when we are working towards a goal. Especially if it is one that we want to see a measure of "success" from.
But what do we determine is a favorable outcome?
Well, that depends. Mainly on what you see and believe is "successful".
For some that can mean a financial windfall. While others it might mean the love of a family.
However, let me ask this - What do YOU decide when it comes to what matters to you about the meaning of the word "success"?
THAT is, at the end of the day, what you should really be focused on after all. :)
Here is a list (which is well known) of the eleven steps:
1. "I Won't"
2. "I Can't"
3. "I Don't Know How"
4. "I Wish I Could"
5. "I Want To"
6. "I Think I Might"
7. "I Might"
8. "I Think I Can"
9. "I Can"
10. "I Am" and finally:
11. "I Did"
At this point I would like to take you through those 11 steps that you will climb, should you decide to take on the "mountain". In this example I write from an author's perspective with a later post summing it up by tying in how it can work for you:
1. "I Won't"
So the flash of brilliance is thought of and written down. The first thing that I thought of was “Wow, this would make a great book!”
The second thing I remember thinking (just moments after the excitement settled down) was “Yeah, right! Like THAT’S going to happen!”
There in lies the truth of the first step.
It’s almost like buying a new car: “This car is AWESOME!” Followed shortly by: “I have to pay HOW much each month?!”
Writing a novel is a lengthy process. There was a sense of reality that quickly set in when I realized that I would be creating a story that was massively longer than I’ve ever written before. Of course my immediate view is that there is no way I can write something that large. What would I write about?
My reaction leads me to: “There’s just no way I’ll be able to do this.”
I give up before I even begin. It’s admittedly the easy way out. To be honest I wasn’t really committed to the story back then. I knew I could walk away from it and “walk away” I did. For a while.
However, This still didn’t stop me from occasionally thinking about it. My next step kind of happened shortly after the first. Actually I would say they worked together for a while before I returned to “I won’t”.
At that moment I had shut myself down and felt I was done. Even though it was an easy way out. Quitting always is though.
2. “I Can’t”
This is the next step in the process. This is still the early “resistance” phase. However, it’s a good place to be because now you’re thinking in the back of your mind “maybe I can”. This is quickly followed by “no I can’t”.
I remember this. As I stated above, The first moment of resistance and this one almost happen at the same time. However, once you are in the “I can’t” stage, you have to ask yourself “do I really want to do this?”
In my case I eventually answered “yes” to that question.
Essentially, if you want to do the same, then you’ll find, as I did, that you move to the next step in the process.
3. “I Don’t Know How”
I love this moment because now it’s actually asking a very important inquiry. You are moving to acceptance, you’re not quite there but at least you’re asking the question.
This was a tough moment for me because I literally did not know how to create enough “story”. It took a long time before the “pieces started to fall in place”.
These included, but not limited to: character development, plot, background, etc. Essentially the “entire pie”.
This was a tough time for me because I really struggled. At least I was moving forward, even if I didn’t think I was. (Actually there were years where nothing happened. Writer’s block had set in for a while.)
This eventually led to the next moment in this “climb up the mountain”.
4. “I Wish I Could”
So now you are one moment away from “acceptance”. Once you reach that precious thought, there is almost no turning back.
The mountain beckons your name. It calls you from the top. You can barely hear it but it’s there.
This was where I found myself dreaming of that story. Wanting to produce a mystery that even my wife couldn’t resolve.
How important was that to me?
In a word: “very”. She is incredible at figuring out “who did it” in the first five or ten minutes of a movie. Much to my chagrin.
The question I kept asking myself was “how could I even fool her for THAT long?”
It plays to the heart of the book. The very reason for being.
This is where you realize what goals you want to achieve and create the vision that will carry you through the rest of the process.
5. “I Want To”
Now is the “acceptance” phase. You are saying “I would love to see this story published” and “how awesome would that be”.
You are, actually almost halfway up the mountain. In each step that you move to, you can hear the “voice” at the top which keeps saying: “you can do it!” get louder and louder.
At this point I remember that I really wanted to see this book become a reality. I was imagining my wife coming back to me saying how much she loved it and that she couldn’t figure it out. I knew that if I could achieve that I might have something.
This is where you will define your dream. This is what the novel looks like to you. It could be a reaction or an acceptance of you as a writer. Whatever it is, this is the point you believe that you can.
You have begun the road of “creation”. “Belief” is that first step. “faith” is the next followed by “knowing” which is the last.
6. “I Think I Might”
Planning has restarted. The pieces are starting to expand. You can see your characters, the plot is now beginning to make sense. Depth is starting to show itself.
Wow, what a moment! You can now start looking back and go: “I’m actually seeing a possibility.
You are now halfway up the mountain.
I didn’t start writing here but you might be at the point of having a crack at it.
It won’t last long because you are still not quite ready to put “pen to paper” fully yet.
From now on, there is no going back. You have passed the point of no return. You are developing and creating what will become your book. From a Writer’s perspective, the urge of storytelling is taking over.
7. “I Might”
You haven’t quite reached “faith” yet but you are now firmly in “belief”. This is a good thing.
Has writing begun yet? No.
However, you are moving much closer. It isn’t going to be long.
For me I had a good outline and the plot was pretty well developed. I still was missing that critical piece which would make me believe that telling this story was even possible.
This is where you will find yourself.
You are so close you can taste it! However, the beginning may still allude you. This is okay. There maybe one or two pieces of your novel that hasn’t quite made it into play yet. You now know that you are moving forward even if you haven’t quite started writing it yet.
8. “I Think I Can”
This is where “faith” begins. You are now believing in yourself and are actually about ready to begin the “writing” phase of your work. You have crossed that bridge from “belief” and moved into this all important critical point.
From here on out, the likelihood of you actually taking on this massive project has now increased five-fold.
At this point you may have written your first chapter. This was where I in fact did.
I stopped after that first one because I didn’t quite have the last pieces needed but what I did discover was the possibility in completing it.
Still it took another two years before I was really ready.
9. “I Can”
This is where the last section of the story concept will be formed. You now have everything you need to begin this incredible journey.
“Faith” is growing. You in fact will be moving to “knowing” soon. This is a critical step and one that can’t be understated.
Your excitement is building and you can’t help but talk about your project. People may actually become tired of hearing it. Don’t be deterred, the more you put it out there, the more committed you become. You are now wanting to write this, not just for yourself or the one that you are hoping will enjoy it but for others too. The path is becoming clear.
10. “I Am”
Finally, you have reached “knowing”. This is where the writing begins and you can start to see the “light at the end of the tunnel”.
At this point it becomes important to finish your first draft, because there is no greater feeling (in the beginning) to know that you can write 50,000+ words.
Now you’re seeing this through to the end. The first draft may not be what you were hoping for but through the editing process you’ll create your masterpiece!
11. “I Did”
For a self-published author, like myself, you don’t have to go through an agent or traditional publisher.
If you do, continue with step 10 until you have your contracts signed by the agent and/or publisher and they’ve taken you the rest of the way.
If you’re an “Indie Author” then congratulation, you did it! The book is now out there for the world to see!
At the end of the day, in my opinion, YOU have a direct impact on whether you are able to feel the accomplishment of what you are attempting. YOU get to decide. No one else. Sure, others will judge you but THEY don't walk in your shoes. Do they?
For me that's what matters. The view that I think works best is:
"I am the one on this path. No one else. I get to decide when I have reached the top. No one else. I am in control of my feelings and how I choose to respond to my challenges. No one else can do that for me."
The next post will focus on the four levels of "manifesting" that goal. Where does it start from and how do you finally get to see it in the physical world?
The point of the next entry is for you to see where it comes from and how important that process is as you move up the "Mountain of Success".
Have an amazing day!
Mark
