Centralize the Peripheral
Hey Friend,
This week, I finally put together all the financial numbers on my book. Oh dang. The book itself was the least expensive aspect. The Vandal-Proof boxes, the launch party, the PR company, and purchasing a few hundred books up front was 85% of the tens of thousands spent, which means the book was 15%. I'm letting that sink in.
Also, I sent out 17 Vandal-Proof boxes this week. As you recall, along with the book, the box has a few "ownership treats" like a magnet, book mark, the five unlocks canvas door, plus cork welcome mat. All of those still make me smile when I'm getting the box ready to ship. And the box itself is a work of art. (Shout out to Monica who designed it!)
I have friends who partner with hybrid book writing/publishing companies. They write the book, then the company does everything else. I didn't want to do that because I wanted to learn what the "everything else" was. Now I know. It's an education I'm grateful to have gone through. Of course, now I'm learning how to sell it. Wanna buy a book? 😜
Isn't that life? The periphery is where the real costs lie. Whether work, family, relationships, adventures, tasks or opportunities the thing itself is obvious. But what's surrounding it, is invisible, unknown or hidden. Until it's not. Then it's a part of the thing. Then it overshadows the thing.
Have you or someone you know ever found the perfect job? Took it. Then realized the co-workers were nutty. Or the company had financial strains, undisclosed? Or were implementing drastic changes that you were part of, but didn't realize. All of a sudden the "job" is secondary.
ADJACENT
Our success in life is directly related to how we manage the adjacent elements. How we define and describe them to ourselves is the leading indicator. Sure it's about expectations and the surprise of them being drastically altered, or not met, or sideswiped, but the narrative we provide in real time, or in reflection, gives it weight or breeziness.
As you know, I found a "third voice" when I narrated my book. I have my normal voice, my keynote speaker voice and now my narrator voice. I've started using it in my head, when contemplating these magnified peripheral revelations. I recommend it.
MINDSHIFT
What if when the unexepcted sideshow took center stage you said to yourself, or out loud, "that's about right. I'll gladly adjust accordingly."
ADAPT
Our resistance to the realities of the recessed revealed revokes the rigor required to readjust rightly. When our energies and focus remains on why these unforeseen are now appearing, instead of adapting proportionately and swiftly, we diminish our own ability to embrace them truthfully. Truth itself is not heavy. Accepting it tends to weigh our hearts down however.
How do we integrate our expected reality with the unexpected? Could it be as simple as the narrator's voice showing up and saying "And that's included too..." like we got a new car along with our dining room set? (Price is Right, reference.) Is the difficulty and frustration because we lack integrity in our assessment? What we're calling the periphery or unexpected was always a part of the expected - and we just didn't grasp it?
MINDSHIFT
What if you inverted all the things that disappoint you about people, work, and life into an education expanding your limited perspective?
ADMIT
I'll admit that I was surprised by the numbers as I calculated everything I've spent on the non-book part of the book. Admission is typically an expression from humility. We acknowledge, then we admit. That might actually be the definition of humility. Both parts are necessary. One without the other is lacking.
Reality is humbling.
For me, shifting from thinking there are book and non-book expenses is necessary. They are all one. I wonder if the things, people, experiences you've segmented and compartmentalized also would benefit from being consolidated? As this letter ends, the narrator's voice fades back up "Maybe you would be less discouraged if you stopped separating and started accepting..."
SHIFTING
I hope this week you hear your narrator's voice leading you into truth, with a humility that let's you embrace all the adjacent factors in your primary story. #ShiftAway
