Life doesn't come with a syllabus...
/The book is done. The Kindle version uploaded and "published" last night. Now that it is done, I think, "Oh, that wasn't so difficult."
But then as I am looking back over my 2015 planner and journal, I am reminded of the struggles.
- Not knowing anything about publishing vs. self-publishing. Not knowing where to even start researching it.
- How to find an editor (An editor was the only role I knew I needed. But, who?)
- Not knowing what steps needed to happen. And the more I read on the internet, the more I realized how much I did not know.
I won't tire you with the details (as interesting as they are to me). I will use the experience to encourage you.
When you are faced with a situation about which you have zero or near-zero knowledge...nor do you know anyone who has dealt with it...here are the questions that helped me:
- Who do I know who might know someone with experience or answers? (For me, I remembered someone who might know an editor. Eventually, that editor introduced me to a formatter, a role I didn't know I needed.)
- What have I done in the past when I was clueless and had no direction? (Recently for me was starting a garden.) Mimic those ideas.
- What are the commonalities I read on the internet? (There are always "themes" that surface in an area. Pursue those first.)
- Trust. Faith. That one is difficult for those of us who need a plan. I don't have to know all of the steps upfront. (Though I really really want to know.) Life doesn't come with a syllabus. Once I have a few answers and a few people-connections, just start. Those actions will then lead me to the next "right questions and people." Be all right that I will take actions that turn out "not perfect." If I can't change them this time, I will next time. Even with those less-than-perfect outcomes, I at least have an outcome. In this case, a book that will help so many folks in their health journey.
Next for me is a DVD and audio and YouTube. I'll ask myself those questions again. What is next for you?
