Fragile Plan vs Robust Plan
When I first had the idea for Wood Egg — publishing 16 books about 16 countries every year — I thought I would write them all myself. Visit 16 countries for 3 weeks each, doing intensive research the whole time. That’s 48 weeks, so I could do it again each year.
… But I had a baby on the way, so that idea lasted about a minute.
Then I thought of a journalist I know who would love that kind of life. I asked, she said yes, she flew to Singapore, and started working.
… But it was a really bad fit, so after five weeks, we called it quits.
Then I decided to hire one writer per-country. 16 authors to write 16 books. This went OK at first. Mohit Pawar did a great job with India, and Cameron Keng did a great job with Taiwan.
… But the people I hired for the other countries flaked out, so I realized this plan was still too fragile.
Making a Robust Plan
I really wanted this to work. I had to be smart. I had to make a better plan.
I re-read my notes on E-Myth, The Wisdom of Crowds, Crowdsourcing, and Here Comes Everybody. (In fact, I re-read my notes on 130 books. It was an enlightening week.)
I learned a few things:
- If you want help, it helps to get specific.
- A plan that’s too dependent on any one person is too fragile.
Getting Specific:
Before, I had a very vague outline of what I wanted the book to cover. I asked the authors to include sections on culture, government, business setup, hiring, banking, and marketing. That was it. The details were up to them. Go!
In hindsight, I can see how daunting it was. Too wide open. I’ve written about the need to get specific before — (see “Get specific” and “Restrictions will set you free”) — but I had forgotten to apply it to this.
So I spent a couple weeks and came up with 200 specific questions. Now, to write the book, we just had to answer those 200 questions.
It’s infinitely easier to find someone to answer a specific question than to find someone to impart wisdom on a vague topic. It puts the burden on the asker, to come up with a good question, and lifts the burden from the answerer.
Multiple People:
So that the book was not dependent on any one person, and the book was not one person’s opinion, I made a system where each of those 200 questions had to be answered by three different people. Ideally, one local, one foreigner, and one other.
16 countries × 3 researchers = 48 people. I used Upwork.com to find people in each country.
Of course, some disappeared, some never finished, and a few gave bad answers, but that was OK. Life happens. People’s circumstances change. I understand. But it won’t hurt my plan. If any one person is gone, I can still carry on.
When all 200 questions had 3 answers each, (16 × 200 × 3 = 9600 answers), I hired a few writer/editors to combine the answers into one essay per question. Again, one person disappeared, but it was easy for another to step in.
And that was the robust plan that got it done.
(Note: I was also visiting every country myself, and contributing my own research to the books. But it was important that the plan didn’t require me, either.)
Lessons learned?
If you’re starting a project or company:
- Don’t expect anyone to care as much as you.
- Don’t require them to think as hard about this as you have.
- Do expect them to change their mind and disappear.
- Make a robust plan that includes #1-3.
As the founder, the burden is on you to come up with a great plan, to lift the burden from the people helping you.
Then, when you find some brilliant people, it’s a great bonus, instead of an absolute necessity.
Good post. I like the point about de-risking things (another way of saying what you say in the post, partly). Learnt that myself, some, from earlier work.
"Don’t expect anyone to care as much as you."
This is also true for friends, advisors and mentors. They may really want you to succeed, but often they may not see what you see or believe you have a good plan. It's your job to convince them or just make it happen.
Just win baby! - http://bhorowitz.com/2011/10/08/nobody-cares/
Perfect timing for me!
You rediscovered the universal truth that the world is coin operated. If a person has sufficient funding they have to make mistakes to not succeed at most tasks, rethinking usually points to efficient funding as the solution to the problem.
A very interesting question would be, could the problem be solved if a person had only 3000 dollars? Can a person think big with small money?
Good luck!
☺ “coin operated”. I like that. — Derek
Great post as usual :)
"Don’t expect anyone to care as much as you", is a great and hard lesson to learn... So, we need a plan! This post resonated with me in a deep level. Kudos for the books notes, I will read all of them! Great post!
This was a great post! I've always loved your ability to share what you do, how you do it as well as the lessons learned. Beautiful teacher/learner/giver.
Here's what I learned: I am teaching an anthropology course this summer and wanted my students to join me in some digital ethnography on YouTube thinking they care about YouTube. But I realize I must create a robust plan with questions for them to answer that suit my research needs (since they will be helping me start a project and they also need to learn how to conduct good online ethnography). Too often in the past I leave things up to them (fragile). I used to think they learn a lot from failure but it's become more and more labor intensive to pick up the pieces.
I read Willpower by Baumeister and Tierney and am now reading David Rock's Your Brain at Work. This blog post is so in line with things I am finally getting about having things run smoothly in my classes and in my own plans.
Thanks, Derek!
Thank you Derek! As always a perspective I can learn from and take along with me for future use :)
Thank you Derek, I have been reading your helpful and informative blog for a few years, and this is my favorite of your essays so far. I am going to share it with my daughter, an attorney who helps small businesses with their start up legal obligations.
Congratulations... to you and your wife and your new baby. Best Wishes.
Great insight on what it takes to accomplish a major project, Derek. Lots of parallels from smaller projects to the daily ins and outs of running a business.
You're so right about no one caring as much as you will. I'm trying to build a team? system? that will help me scale my blogging and music teaching studio efforts. Thanks for the great ideas!
Derek, what a great article and just when I needed to hear it as I embark on rebuilding a business I successfully built in the past (but this time with new partners who I enjoy working with more). Thanks for sharing the great lessons you learned. I'd rather not have to learn them myself the hard way. :)
What do you use to keep track of all your notes, Derek? And do you have any other organizing types or links you have to refer me to?
Just plain old text files, kept in a folder. — Derek
Awesome insights as always! thanks so much for writing about them. These things are so true.
Derek,
Another great post, thank you for this! The one thing I appreciate most about your posts, and in fact most of your writings, videos and presentations, is the level of absolute honesty that you bring to the table. Nothing is above or beyond examination, not even the person in control of it all. I particularly liked how you pointed out that even though you yourself have talked about the need to be specific, you didn't apply it to this project the first time around. That speaks volumes for you being human, but more, it speaks to the outstanding and awe-inspiring ability that you have to reflect upon everything objectively, all for the better of self and world, as a result. Thank you for being one of those few people who is able to take the scalpel of close examination to the self without hesitation, so that the others of us may learn by example, the lessons on so many levels.
Have a great day!
-Rohin
I like how YOU were actually the very first person to flake out on your ideal plan. Thanks for this... exactly the right timing for me to read this.
☺ Hahaha! I hadn't thought of it like that. You're right! Thanks for pointing this out. — Derek
Hi Derek,
I love this project and I would like to suggest that we work together to adapt the list of questions to suit musicians, bands and artists and release them as second set of books as Guides to Touring in the a specific country.
Thoughts interested contact me paul@paulksaunders.com
Maybe. Until then, the best book on the subject is How To Be Your Own Booking Agent - by Jeri Goldstein. — Derek
Hello Derek
Having been a follower of CDBaby from day one, I have followed
your progression and enjoy your articles.
You are so correct..... Nobody, nobody cares as much about your
project as you do. And reflecting upon that, that is of course how
it should be. Your projects hopefully inspire others to undertake
projects of their own. So you are stimulating other people to step
forth and take charge in their own locale, circumstances, and
place in life.
Books that have inspired me this year has been
"A Stroke of Insight" and also the Dec. 2012 book by Jack
Hoban "The Ethical Warrior". You might enjoy both of these
books. Jack is a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, martial arts instructor, and so much more.
Keep writing and thank you.
Aase B. Otto
Portland OR
Before I completed my teaching credential, an older professor gave me a word of advice I cherish so much. He said, "make it easy for people to help you." By providing specific questions for the interviewers, you did just that.
Thanks for sharing!
Tammy :)
P.S. What's the deal with the table? Lol.
Ok sounds cool would you allow me to take the idea and run with it - cause I think there is a market for Touring Guides and I would like to have your blessing, encouragement and perhaps endorsement to enable to me to take the idea and start to set up the concept.
Interested?
I think the heart of the matter lies in thinking that everyone has the same stake in the value of one person's idea. Expecting everyone to get your ideas first, and then commit to bringing it to life hinges so much on what they get out of it. Your solution to simplify the equation makes it easier for everyone to see they are a part of something grand (short of increasing their compensation). Apple retail has capitalized on this one!
Well done. Best of luck with the new venture Derek!
Thank you Derek for your insite into the process of success. Always great to read your efforts. The 200 questions idea... brilliant. Love it!
Best to you and your family :)
Ain't it the truth. I started a business ignoring rules 1-3. Especially thinking that I could do everything myself. That has left a very bad aftertaste.
Lessons learned. Wise words
I can't agree more. Congratulations-you now have a system that can be plugged into by anyone. I think this will also be more beneficial to the end user because there will be cohesiveness across the whole project. You also have something that you can tweak over time to make it better and better (and stay current).
Thank you Derek for your insight into the process of success. Always great to read your efforts. The 200 questions idea... brilliant. Love it!
Best to you and your family :)
Thank you Derek. As always, you inspire. My biz and I have been feeling "fragile" lately. In fact, we're at a standstill. Time to create a robust plan to move us forward!
Those lessons are a great summary of what we see in everyday's life in a business. For me is still a bit hard to accept that they won't think on it as much as we will.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Sometimes it seems that only we have problems and everyone else have their ideas working perfectly...
Big hugs from Brazil.
Very good information, Derek. It reminds me of how recently, when my daughter and I were watching this amazing show on NatGeo channel called 'Brain Games', it was mentioned how when there are tons of choices, it gets daunting, but with fewer choices, people stay focused and more happy. My comparison is that with no specifics, that would be like unlimited or too many choices, vs. with the 200 questions you presented, it was like confining the project to one choice which was to simply answer the 200 specific questions.
Lessons learned- I agree! Cantilena Records is my special project that I began in 1993 with the goal of recording as much flute music in my lifetime as could.
To date I have 50 recordings of flute music.
My new goals with Cantilena Records include to record as much of my own compositions on CDS.
Every year I make new goals for myself.
This Fall 2013:
I. I will release two recordings with chamber music I composed for flute, CoffeeLand and the Brazilian Butterfly Circle. CoffeeLand is inspired by my adventures in the state of Washington. Brazilian Butterfly cirecle is partially inspired by my travels in the Amazon Rain forests.
II. Also late fall 2013 I will release Kuhlau Flute Duos , Opus 87
III. I will record in three sessions a complete CD of African-American flute music to be released in 2014. this recording is inspired by a concert I am performing in August 18, 2013 at Zipper Hall in Los Angeles in honor of Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream Speech.
I applied for a Provost Grant (which I did not get) in order to do this project. However my recording projects are never solely based on getting or not getting grants. and in fact this project has taken on a life of its own - filled with performances in various areas of the U.S.A. 2013-14 season.
I am traveling in 2 weeks to Galapagos Islands for the month of July, where I will be inspired to compose another group of CDS.
As always these goals are simply the tip of the iceberg of other adventures and projects that will be organized. I always leave my mind open to new projects to come along. So my time frame is adjusted as I go along.
Cantilena Records for me is an amazing place where I get to play with my music, other people's music, great players of all instruments, recording engineers, concert halls, artists, painters, photographers, travels to other countries, history, geography, weather and so many other exciting topics to learn about.
I have never let anything or anyone stand in my way of creating in my Cantilena Records World. I have found many people who are very happy to be involved in Cantilena Records. A few times other larger record labels have wanted to buy out my record company, however that would be as if I was selling my heart and soul and is not anything I would consider doing. Some of my other work includes being a full-time Professor of Music (Flute) at California State University in Sacramento. My work there is in complete alignment with my Cantilena Records work.
I have always made sure that my family is supportive of what I do and I of them. Life is Good.
Funny...i was just thinking about this the other day. Realizing that one cares about your business as much as you is a painful but priceless lesson. It forces you to figure things out faster!
All plans are fragile and robust . Look at George Washington out of 20 actual battles he lost 12. Not good. Felix Dennis covers some of the execution of a plan in his book "How to Get Rich". If you haven't read it ,it is entertaining. Lot's of good ideas out there but the execution is the key.
Burdenlifter is the name of your new band.
I admire the amount of thought and respect that you are putting into this project Derek.
Do you really aim to republish new versions of these 16 books every year? Just an idea, but I would go triennially, I'd make gathering contents continuous through the first two years and then editing and producing through the third year, just an idea, you know.
Japan, where I live is a varied country, as are most countries, the four major cities, Fukuoka, Osaka, Tokyo and Sapporo are quite different, perhaps you might consider having three authors in each area.
Derek
I like your journey in business. Grass roots for sure. Your idea for Wood Egg is basically a business feasibility or limited business plan for these sixteen countries. Sort of the "bones" for an entrepreneur to start with and then take the momentum and expand and revise according to the business idea. For example I'm sure there will be government licenses at some level. Your book may point out the basics which gets the idea off the couch and then the person can refine based on their plan or idea. A license for a guitar maker versus a baker may be completely different. Again you help people with your knowledge so they can help themselves. Altruistic quality. This I why I enjoy hearing from you and stay engaged. Peace to you.
I have often had the thought occur: We Should write a new Bible.
I have also thought: The old Bible may have been the World's First Reader's Digest, or Pulp Fiction.
and so what...
We could write a new Bible, like a Bill of Rights, like a Constitution, like a "Rules of the Game"/ "Hints"/ "HitchHiker's Guide to What's Happening"
(gimme some love here)
Look into George Carlin's streamlined Commandments.
http://youtu.be/CE8ooMBIyC8
I would be interested to read a new Bible, if it made any sense.
Excellent article. I appreciate that you share your hard won wisdom with others to spread the wealth. It's a hand up. I will encourage others to read it.
Great. All the best
Awesome advice, and perfect timing. I'm going to use this tomorrow.
Love everything you share. Thank You.
#Respect
Hello Derek,
thanks for sharing this. I've recommended the books on my language learning sites. If you have a spare review copy of Taiwan or Thailand let me know. :)
Sounds like a lesson learned. Thank you for sharing.
I'm starting a Mastermind group of people in their own businesses. They all have their unique plan of how they will make money, solve problems and do what they do.
Having 200 questions answered is a good approach. I think I'll use it to help people get more focused on say sales and income plans.
Hi Derek,
Like everything else, it's a process :) . The planning stages are a process, and the project itself is a process. I only wish I would have learned this stuff sooner O_O .
I can certainly answer a couple of questions on Kazakhstan.
Hi Derek,
Sometimes I wonder if the collective consciousness is working through those of us willing to put pen to paper. I have no doubt that countless people will declare that this post is"perfect timing" as the information you share often feels to me. This piece is no exception.
I'm understanding the insight from the contractor side of the coin. When there are wobbly parameters it can feel either empowering or overwhelming.
Recently I put my heart fully into a project that gave me lots of freedom and flexibility with limited feedback. I've discovered, for me, it ixhausying to sustain momentum without a clear strategy and benchmarks to navigate.
Although there ate many ways to deligate I really appreciate that you share your process of discovery with the nuts and bolts of how keeping an open mind to the elusive "better way".
As usual you rock!
Thanks for your work in the world :-)
Oh, oh...also I haves question about the why of the books.
Why do think business investment throughout Asia is important? And do you have any ethical concerns about cultural exploitation that business expansion can sometimes bring to a place?
Aloha!!!
Isn't writing a book a year for 16 countries a rather ambitious project? If you are going to ask a bunch of specific questions wouldn't a questionnaire to many targeted people be just as good? They may be paid or may do it just to be credited in the book. Could be done by email.
Wouldn't the answers pretty much be the same each year?
Perhaps a book like that only needs to come out every 5 years.
I realize this is probably not the kind of feedback you wanted, just what comes to mind.
I love your posts and look forward to hearing everything you have to say. I like your style. Your advice not so much teaches me (although it does) but confirms what I know, and that feels good. Emphasize customer service! That's what I get from you. And do things out of love with efficiency. Enjoy your work or find other work. I get that too. I wish you well.
Some good thoughts Derek. Just going through a strategic planning process with a local sports club so a timely reminder for me.
My plan is both robust and fragile. I don't need any one person to "pick me," say a respected industry critic, for example. So in that sense it's robust. But I must do the work it takes of making stuff, connecting with people, and helping others. So in that sense it's fragile, since I have to do the work!
Great article! Thanks!
Thinking up a great idea? $0
Telling a great story that moves people? $100
Enabling a crew to realize a dream? Priceless.
Congrats, Derek.
☺ You know I love to multiply.">sive.rs/multiply">multiply. — Derek
Best wishes for great success with Wood Egg. And thank you for sharing your learning experience in getting it off the ground. I find it very encouraging , really, to know that you are still figuring things out like the rest of us. What I'm getting from this is that the more you know about what you want from a partner or collaborator, and the more clearly you communicate it, the more likely you are to end up receiving a good result. (This is a lot more work for the boss/creative director, but that should not surprise anyone who has read anything by you or by others-- Malcolm Gladwell comes to mind, with his discussion of the 10,000 hours rule. "Overnight success" is the misnomer of the millenium, I think! ) It is one thing to hand off, say, Project 4 to someone with whom you have worked on (very similar) Projects 1 through 3, and provide just a very general guideline and say "Dazzle me!" and another to give a brand new somewhat open-ended idea to someone with whom you have not worked before.
I think perhaps you were hoping that your collaborators might even think of very helpful/important additional items to include, that you had not thought of. It is a delicate balance, to provide focus and details and limits to your researchers, while leaving room for them to bring their unique insights and suggestions to the projects. I think asking for 3 answers to each question is a really great idea! In that way, I should think that any inside information or additional concerns will be addressed. And I have a feeling that anyone working for you will know that if, as they do their research, it becomes clear that another question might be needed (hard to believe if you already have 200 questions, but it might be possible!) you will welcome the information and add it to the list.
I wish I knew someone who could be part of this project!
My book "Political Theory and Societal Ethics" published by Prometheus 1992 has some theoretical relevance. The political theory is basically the same as one by Michael Oakeshott 1975 and Jane Jacobs 1992, but each of us reflects a different point of view and I, of course think mine is better. Watching world events since 1992 the theory has provided an interpretation that seems better than and different from most writers.
DUDE...thanks!!! Im having the EXACT type of project challenges right now and you've just breathed new life into it. Especially citing these resources. Thanks Derek - as always - crystallized and brilliant. - R
See, this is an excellent take on dealing with the facts on the ground, vs. what you want to be true. The same holds with the ADD or ADHD world: don't expect a person with ADD to flourish by arbitrary rules - create an environment where he or she can work their special magic.
The fickle workforce comprised of anyone under 50 is here to stay whether anyone likes it or not. Any one of us is ready to bolt when a better plan comes along. Derek's built-in redundancy can make that a concern of the past (as long as those who stick around are also commensurately rewarded).
Always enjoy reading your articles, Derek. Congratulations on the baby on the way. So exciting! Wishing you all the best! :)
Hi Derek,
The 'lessons learned' bullet points are excellent; they apply to work I'm engaged with now on a much smaller scale.
However, I'm trying to translate the steps you took after early setbacks into a smaller, less well-funded project. Hiring 17 people initially and 48 subsequently (plus editorial staff) clearly shows the benefits of spreading the load and reducing dependence on individuals, but both approaches are quite resource-intensive.
I'm interested in how this second approach could have worked as well as it has done without access to sufficient funds to enable you to more than double the workforce. Is there a way to illustrate this model without highlighting the necessity for deep pockets in order to get the job done properly?
Best wishes to you & your family.
Great point. That brilliant journalist that agreed to take on the responsibility of writing 16 books in a year needed $90k salary. Finding people to answer some specific questions about their existing field of expertise was cheaper and easier. 48 researchers cost less than $60k. — Derek
To me, the point is that you want to do something, or make something, then you take a step toward it. In other words you start the project, not knowing what exactly is coming next or which people will lend support or when they will go. Then, if there is the commitment to seeing it through, you have also created your incubator for it. You learn, you refine the plan, and you go again. You do this until the project is to your satisfaction. You learn from it and then go for the next one. Getting started requires no particular discussion and no perfect plan. (But if there is a robust plan that's possibly better.) It does require being ok with making adjustments and learning.
Another lesson: without a fragile plan before there is no robust plan later ..
Luisa
KNOW what you want! Great advice.
Thanks for telling us the background story behind Wood Egg as well as sharing your lessons with us. I enjoyed reading the post.
One thing that came to my mind:
Isn't it even better if you understand what your employers care and why they care what they care?
They may not care the same thing as you, and care it as much as you, but they must care something for their own reason.
Of course, they may not tell the whole truth or may not be completely sure about it themselves, but understanding why they care what they care would help you find better people to work with.
Having said that... I've just realized you do mention having self-interested reasons as an ideal criterion of potential participants for this Wood Egg project.
I find your articles very interesting and read them when I can.I understand a lot of what your experience has shown you,and I know that no matter what you do,you can't always count on people to act as you would hope for.I also believe that this fact shouldn't change your own plan but when others are within that plan,what can you do?
I love how you tightened your plans as you gained more info and saw the loose spots. And, as a writer, I felt relieved when you specifically wrote down the questions you needed answered in each country. Whew! Burden is off me. Plus, what pertinent questions! ... Thanks Derek. Carry on inspiring!
I wrote to you earlier, I'm on tour sitting in a van in Germany. I realize I didn't get the whole picture of what you're doing here. Just ignore my e-mail, were just trying to lend a hand. I realize that it's not what you're looking for.
Take care!
One question. Otherwise, I agree.
Do you really need to re-do it each year? It seems like a lot of extra work and I can't see the need for it. Instead add new countries each year. Revise every 3-5 years.
NEED to? No. WANT to? Yes. ☺ Things are growing and changing so fast in Asia, that any info more than a year old is probably out of date. I want to keep my finger on the pulse of what's changing each year. — Derek
That was very helpful. I need a robust plan for all projects. That helps.
Dear Derek
It is very interesting that I am currently reading "Antifragile" by Nassim Taleb. Taleb argues that the opposite of fragile (suffers when exposed to stresses and shocks) is not robust (not affected by stresses and shocks) but rather antifragile (benefits from stresses and shocks). I think you are building an antifragile system and this is great.
Great book. I love it. I don't think this is truly anti-fragile. Researchers disappearing doesn't make it better, but it does keep it the same. — Derek
Well all of this even fits relationships. No one will ever care about anything as much as your own passion. Also like everything I have found money is always involved so the question is would more $$$$$ make any difference? It seems also the other person or persons usually come up with, "what is in it for me in the end?"
Thanks for sharing this with those who have not experience this and for us who need a refresher once in a while of how it is. There is only one of thy self and we look for help thinking they are responsible and too often in the past I have left things up to them (fragile). Things don't get one the way you want them or don't get done at all. Then there is family you hope for support and you find out here is none. So depend on oneself in all things and hope you live long enough to get those goals done. Thank you so much for sharing to help s all. TerryLee
Derek,
I'm thinking, thanks!
Ernie
Restrictions will set you free!! TOTALLY :-) I love how this all came together!
PS: If you're baby is still en route--congrats! (Well, congrats if he/she is "out" too, of course! Mine just hit 16 months!) Happy Father's Day :-)
Wow... As the great pioneer rapper MC Hammer once said, "Can't touch this..." sorry about that Derek, but you've just kind of blown me away with this concept! Anyway..., there's this very dear life long friend of mine, Stormy Lee Monday, who you can find on Facebook under that name, or just do a Google search for stormyleemonday/artist, and you can get huge amounts of insight into who he is... Anyway; Stormy is a multi-award winning poet, best selling author, and internationally known and loved modern abstract artist, who just six months ago had a G.I. specialist from Chicago tell him that he was on two lists... a liver transplant list and a death list. If he was fortunate enough to stay alive long enough to get that liver transplant, then he might be blessed with a few more years on his life. If he wasn't able to survive long enough to get that transplant, well... OMG!!!
What can I tell you about this man and his scenario Derek?!. Stormy has been my best friend and brother from another mother, for well over four decades now, and all of last winter I feared and thought that I was going to have to bury him. By the grace of God, this woman came into his life, who is a grand master martial artist, and a healer with a spiritually divine connection between her & God. She came into his life & miraculously healed him, or rather God healed him through her. I know when you hear stuff like this most people are very skeptical about faith-based healers, but I've been the one by his side, even when his wife of almost 19 years of marriage abandoned him, to take him to doctor appointments and hospital admissions and discharges numerous time from last fall throughout the winter of 2012.
So when this woman shows up at his door and tells him, that she has been sent by God specifically for the purpose of healing, because God told her to tell him, that he has alot of things to accomplish yet in this world, therefore it's not his time to go yet! So she had spent two separate visits at his home, laying hands on him and praying and meditating over him, along with the help of one of her master level students. The first time, she is working on Stormy for about 3 to 4 hours, and upon completion of her healing session, she told him that he's going to be amazed at what the results were going to be from the abdominal ultrasound & ct scan that his g.i. doctor had scheduled for him the next day. When he asked her what she meant, she told him that he was healed, from what was a diagnosis of stage IV cirrhosis of the liver & acute pancreatitis, which he had been in & out of the hospital for about 3 or 4 times last winter.
I took him to the hospital the next day so he could get those abdominal tests run, and I also took him back the next day to get the test results, which by the way, the hospital's clinic where the tests were run didn't want to give him the results the next day. They'll do everything they can to milk the insurance industry over here in the land of the free and the home of the brave... by that I mean, according to them, he should have gotten an appointment scheduled with the g.i. specialist, so he could officially go over the test results with him. Well, neither of us are doctors, but I've got a few years experience in the medical field, and Stormy's got a 150+ certified I.Q. tested level of comprehension, so we decided that we'd just go over to the administrative medical records office at the hospital and get a copy of those test results...
Long story short Derek, his g.i. specialist, as well as that specialist's charge nurse at his office, both called Stormy up at different times that day, and were speechless as to the results from those tests... You're on the phone with the most pretigious G.I. specialist within the Heart of Illinois area (Peoria), and he's asking Stormy, "Mr. Monday, I am looking at a copy of your test results, and I just don't know what to say to you... well it was just yesterday, that you recently were discharged from the hospital for third time this year with chronic pancreatitis, which almost killed you, and you were in stage IV liver disease, recently added to a liver transplant list in Chicago with maybe six more months to live, and now according to these recent tests, they show that you've got the internal organs of a 30 year old man, who has never smoked, drank alcohol, or taken any drugs. Can you explain to me how this happened Mr. Monday?"
Later on that afternoon, his charge nurse called & asked him the very same things and then she proceeded to tell Stormy that he was that clinic's poster child. They'd never in their lives, or professional careers over decades of working in their fields, seen anyone, who had basically gone from being one foot in the grave and one foot out, trying to stay above ground, to seeing somebody completely healed like that... Then Stormy proceeds to tell them, they can claim the credit if they want to, but that it was truly God who had healed him, through that woman, an angel on earth, sent to save his life so that he is in the position to accomplish the things that God has him here to achieve.
We're in the process of establishing a corporation to promote his God-given, as well as, like-minded and specially gifted multi-talented independent artists like him who need direction and guidance in getting their highly creative talents out their to the world. It really is important to pass on those skills to the next generation, so Stormy also wants to mentor and teach the next generation how to tap into their God-given talents, and fine-tune and harness them to be used as a career for a successful life. Therefore we'd like to create a non-profit organization to accomplish those goals with as well, and open Stormy Monday Galleries throughout the world to showcase these upcoming artists!
So as you can see, I've got my work cut out for me Derek, which probably isn't going to even leave any room for me to get involved with Muckwork after all, in the future! I am so grateful for your insight, inspiration, and perspective Derek, but as you can see, God has put me on a path with my best friend, and brother from over 4 decades now, which pretty much has my future mapped out for me. Best wishes to you in all of your future endeavors brother, and as they say in those old Motel 6 commercials, "Thanks for keeping the light on for me"... the entrepreneurial light inside my brain that is...
Sincerely,
Grateful Ed Moore aka MrNDVERSE
Stormy Monday Art Personal Asst...
Question for you Derek regarding point #1... Did you find any people who cared at least as much as you do about this project?
Yes. I have, now. ☺ — Derek
Love the article but I have to use an old saying that I think hits it right on the head. If you want something done right, do it yourself!
#1 - 4. Why I now fly solo.
Wow. This was actually kind of mindblowing yet simple. I thought I had a hard time with starting up my business, but that's nothing compared to what you went through.
Thanks Derek. Your an inspiration and I hope I will be one day too.
I think this is your most helpful article yet. Very specific advice that is broadly applicable. Thanks!
Derek, I always appreciate your posts on goal setting.
You must have ESP because you just addressed the vague guilt for the ones that get left behind.
When you're chasing a dream you can't wait for anybody. It's during the chase that the dream becomes less vague, you start to recognise shapes and patterns of what you're searching for. It's the all-encompassing action that forces you to think fast and hard. You're in a state of almost constant scrutiny for that one dream which is fast crystalising into a goal that you can see quite clearly as you work out a specific path to conquer it at last.
Don't ask, beg or wait... for anybody to 'get it'. They either do or they don't, it's not personal.
And somewhere in there is the perfect plan, Derek. Or something like that. Wish we were on the same page. Alas. You are doing great, and you continue to learn about it... and life. Bravo. Hani
Very timely and broadly applicable advice, Derek. I'm glad I logged on and read it. Thanks.
After posting my initial comment, I noticed that another person had also used the term "broadly applicable". I think we may be on to something here. :)
Great points Derek!
I like how you went about this project and rings true with what I'm trying to do with my own businesses.
My thoughts immediately go to my daughter[ my mom too]. What is it they have that I recognize as valuable that I also see is not natural for me? That quality is a talent for their profession. The ability to connect to others. In my daughter's last job she was cited as an asset to her company by an accrediting team. Long story short she has moved on. She was a bonus and perhaps a necessity but that remains for history to tell.
rada
As usual I loved it! That's why you are my Guru! You have a brilliant way of making things crystal clear and applicable in ways that bring grace to issues that I am needing clarity and instruction to move forward in my own life. Once again you hit the nail on the head for me!
Peace& Blessings,
Dorie Pride
Derek, that piece of writing is as clear and articulate as it could be. When I write anything to be read by others, I attempt to make it flow like water, one sentence into the next, so that at no point does the reader have to go back and say, "now what?" It flows like breath.
Your concept of having three people answer each question is brilliant. That is useful to me. And your lesson on making a robust plan is extremely insightful to me as I am working up a well thought out plan for a Kickstarter campaign.
I look forward to reading about these countries. Thank you.
So very true Derek !! Great post, I will share it !!
God Bless,
Arthur
btw....Happy Father's Day!
rada
Thanks a lot for sharing that Derek. I have definitely been feeling a lot of what you are saying. Frustrations, frastrations, frastrations.
I am still strangling hard in making a robust plan and understand what is it that I actually want to offer. I like the idea of the questions. I'll try that and hopefully it would bring some clarity. Thanks again and congrats for the baby.
Multiple redundancy has always been part of my best projects.
Projects that don't go so well have not followed your plan here, and often not just because others don't care as musch as me. Often I don't care/follow through as much as me :)
Made me smile. Very appt in a week where I started a remodel job with one brilliant guy and day laborers only to have the brilliant guy flip out and had to fire him. Now lift with no great design person or the terrific carpenter, etc. Too much on one person and not enough clarity and agreement on what his tool actually was. Good thoughts here.
I'll try again, now that there's a huge hole in the ground!
Bullseye...
Totally agree...wow! And my statement is from experience, too. Your 16 books are fab. Thanks for explaining how you accomplished that feat! I lived and worked in Australia for four years. For the past 5 years I've been musically interested in Asia...still working on deciding upon a specific destination. Your method is well-timed for me.
Thank u Derek.
It always refreshing when someone share their specific way of doing the business.
Wow! U read a lot of book. Talk about sharpen the saw.
Marvelous! As expected. Best, Barry
The interesting thing is that it's when the fragile plan actually succeeds that can see the extremes of success.
U2 is a fragile plan - 4 guys that need to stick together over 30 years to create the biggest band in the world.
Guns N Roses has become a robust plan - one guy a bunch of hired help - people come and go and it doesn't matter. Guns N Roses can be somewhat successful with this model, but will never match what the unique (and fragile) chemistry of U2 has achieved.
This was a great post. I am currently in the planning stages of my own project. This really gave me some clarity on some things I have been thinking about concerning the matter.
Thank you! To own it we must first create it;)
I have a music project with all my songs and basically my idea but the problem I'm having is someone works on it and starts saying that they created it. I really try to draw the picture and I try to give the other musicians some room to create but they sort of get carried away. If I just lay down the law I feel I'm not being true to the art. Its a difficult position. In theory your method works but I think it changes depending on what the situation and project is about. For me it still comes down to surfing my way through whatever it is, always adapting.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom Derek, I always enjoy reading your posts, even if the website in which I read them on is a bit bland :-/ No offence intended of course and my offer remains if you ever wanted me to jazz the site up just a wee bit..
Back to your books, have you come across Mind Valley? If not you might want to connect with Vishen Lakhiani as I think he could really help you spread the message :-)
Man, you make it look so easy though
Thanks Derek for new article
best regards
Audio-Rarities
Jan
Great article Derek. Very inspiring. Thank you so much!
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Derek,
Thank you for sharing your recent experience with your new start-up venture.
I fully agree with your lessons. A good plan needs to be specific enough to be executed well, as well as to identify potential obstacles and risks early on.
Also, a start-up (or any company) should not be too dependent on 3rd parties for the most critical elements of its strategy (plan). It's fine to leverage partners to complete your offering or accelerate your execution (outsourcing for example). However, you should always maintain control over your destiny. Other companies have other priorities and agendas, that may not be aligned with yours.
Lastly, no plan or organization should have a single point of failure (internal or external). That's a very high risk. As you pointed out well, people change their minds, quit, or simply get sick. Your company and plan should be able to move forward even if that happens.
Good luck with your new start-up.
Best Regards,
Ziv.
I enjoyed that, great insight we all could use...
peace, Tony
Hi Derek,
I would like to suggest that only you know exactly what it is you want in your book's so, why don't you just do the first book yourself, and if you get it right then copyright the idea and franchise the rest. Provided the writers follow your golden rule and you screening before publication?
Exactly what I needed! I have been 'stuck' with a great idea, which WILL change the world (5thvillage.org), but it needs a massive team with massive commitment. I just got it: it only needs MY massive commitment, and then multiple redundant contributors to carry out clear directives. Thank you!
I really enjoyed this article. I think asking the 200 questions was a brilliant way to get the writers to focus in on what you needed. I appreciated knowing that no one will care as much as you do. I learned that when I started a greeting card company once a long time ago... It's cool you share what you've learned. All the best to you! Jan Buckingham :)
1, 2, and 3, every time.
hence 4.
Hi Derek,
Very interesting lessons. A couple of thoughts.
1) I think your point of setting up a "redundant" system, having (aspects of) a backup chute is good in terms of mitigating risk of failure. With any entrepreneurial activity, risk is inherent by definition, so risk mitigation efforts will be key to preventing your project from being sidelined by one thing.
2) Relatedly, developing a successful enterprise/project/organization is not only about the idea, and not even just about the execution of the idea. For ideas to be replicated and scaled, there needs to be systems and processes set up so it can run like a "coin-operated machine" as another commenter noted. Moreover, in the case of your guide books, it's a product that people would probably want to have standardized in a certain format, style, content. Therefore, it was even more important to establish specific directives on how you wanted things done so that you can achieve that set format.
3) All this being said, I do think that there is value to empowering others to take ownership and do care about it as much as you do. More and more, I think organizations are starting to see the value in allowing/fostering/nurturing a culture of collaborative buy-in from the employees. This buy-in is most strongly inspired by a sense of dedication to the cause and commitment to sacrifice short-term short-cuts to achieve the goal. This then becomes a leadership question of how do you get people to feel genuinely want to commit.
4) Ultimately, there needs to be a balance between setting up systems/processes and having specific objectives and also having room for individuals to design according to the free space. Where you net on the spectrum probably should be informed by the type of project you're producing and the projected value of fostering commitment and developing people's capacity to deliver. For a project that deals with a standardized product series with a tight timeline, it might make more sense to have specific directives and redundancies set up.
Thanks for starting the conversation on these issues. Looking forward to more.
As Michael Gerber (and AT&T) would say..."The system IS the solution!"... sounds like you found the right system :)
Wishing you much abundance with the Wood Egg!
Brilliantly simple... A blinding flash of the obvious!
Going to revamp my plan using this as a template.
The key point here is not be dependent on any one person.
The many legged table definitely says it best.
We all always have higher expectations of others than they are realistically likely to meet.
Most will disappoint, since nobody cares about your passion like yourself. People are too busy and absorbed in their own lives/passions to care enough about yours, and that is at it should be.
Derek, you bring a refreshing point of view to things and always give me a motivational lift.
Good post Derek!
I got to similar conclusions as plant manager in the Czech Republic. I thought i could have one sales rep that could visit several countries and make some contacts that would become our customers. But no one was staying in this position long enough. In the end I needed to build a sales network that was non dependent on one person. I partnered with some sales agents and I hired some sales people and finally the sales could grow. Different situation but same principle.
Derek,
Completely agree that to succeed the plan needs to work regardless of circumstance and people.
We take for granted that things will be better than we think they will, and that stuff will fail less than we think they will.
Great post!
Brief, succinct, beautiful. You're concentrating on Asia though. Why not expand it to every country? You could be writing the next Wealth of Nations.
Beautifully articulated! It's not easy to simplify such complex matters -- I'm re-thinking my own Big Fat Ideas as a result. Thanks so much.
Wait .... You had a baby ?! That's awesome ! Congratulations ! I love the
Article and I'm excited to see where your
New business venture leads you.
All the best
Steve Karos
Thank you for sharing struggles as well as successes! That really helps.
There's also the process of diving deep into the detail and then bringing yourself back up to the top when working a piece. You see things differently from both views and it lets you eliminate excess, connect things for insights, and then the common threads across pieces become manifest.
I think get specific is so impt. The internet has help. many of us learn to 'skim' much data quickly. Having the specific purpose of a project immediately would be great, at least to me.. I was enjoying your TED TALKS, especially the one about not talking about our dreams, but instead 'do em'..yup..that talk spoke to me for sure!!! Someone once told a painter I know..'Toni you sure can 'talk' a great painting'..
Beyond War, One friend at a time!
Joy
LOVE the table. I think that says it all. The more legs, the more stable and the more support. One leg breaks, plenty of others to support. Brilliant!
It's important to be really honest with yourself and others, and that's a huge strength here.
Hi Derek. I would have loved to help with this travel book idea. I am glad you shared this. It makes me realize my disappointment with people flaking out is just a natural probability that needs to be factored into the equation. Always a great read. Thanks for sharing.
Joe
Funny how that works...I've been a stay at home mom for about two years now and trying to launch a business....having a lot of open time at specific times nothing got done...but actually getting specific about what will be done at those times made the world of difference vs sitting down then finding something to work on
Derek, this is an elegant description of scaling collaborative work. In particular, I find that your outline offers fresh light for any monthly publication to follow with less stress and more success. Thanks for your generosity and human goodness.
Derek,
This is very helpful. I passed this to my wife. I have been trying to convince her to share her knowledge and experience with others by blogging. I also passed this to my older children, like I have done with much of your writing. Thank you very much for sharing!
Tim
Hi, Derek. I've found that much time can be saved if we simply pray about a situation and ask GOD what He wants in a situation. He always provides the right person/people at the right time. It takes humility - acknowledging that He knows better than we. Since He's Omniscient, it's not a stretch to believe this! I've learned that I can "spin my wheels" endlessly planning, thinking, organizing, etc. OR find the clarity I want by simply praying. Then wait for His answer. It takes patience, too. :) We want to feel in control. But when we "let go and let God," it's always for the best - however it turns out. We can make robust or fragile plan - "the best laid plans of mice and men." Either way, neither plan beats God's. :) "I know the plans I have for you..." Jeremiah 29:11
Peace to you!
Derek, what a great post and thanks for sharing with everyone! The process you have described sounds very similar to what all band members usually will go through as they mature in age. The goals for a songwriter are constantly changing and if they enjoy performing their songs live, the actual musicians for the live band usually never stay in one project for long periods of time, unless playing with Sting or other well known artists who pay everyone very well. It's very helpful to keep an open mind and realize they(the live musicians) are donating their time to the current project, but may not be permanent, so no feelings are hurt if they need to bail or flake out on the live project. Being specific and making a plan that is not too dependent on others is a very smart route to take in music and when starting a new business or project. Thanks again for this cool blog Derek, each person that reads your blog becomes more intelligent. I think your brain makes more brain cells than most humans though, that must feel terrific!
Its a great table but you can't get your feet underneath, and you want to be able to sit at your own table.
I love a robust plan that is extremely specific. For one thing, coming up with the plan, the business or the project, really means that you need to get clear in your own mind and heart about what you would like to achieve-what's the end game look like. I always visualize the final result and use that vision to impact how I will get to that end result. By coming up with your 200 questions, you made it possible to determine the end result in a very functional way. In an effort to help more of us get clarity about all of our projects and even our purpose, this is a great exercise and model. Thanks for the reminder and for the great project.
Cheers,
Jeri
Good to hear that you make mistakes too ::)) Makes you human my idol ::)) Thank you !!
There is a time and a season for everything. A good Idea will still be a good Idea even if you have to wait. Sometimes you can't force (Or control) circumstances.
Hey derek,
When i first learned about the idea of woodegg and how to go about executing it, my first thought is crowdsourcing. There's no other way.
I sent you a powerpoint of "startups in Malaysia" the other day. Now here's another example of how me as a crowd can help you now.
There's a great Case study of how a guy can use crowdsourcing to build a massive venture. There's a guy called peter diamandis who successfully used "incentivized competitions" to get all the genius in the world to build a space ship for him. You can read all about it by googling " xprize foundation". You can learn more about it in a book by peter diamandis called abundance, or youtube search for his materials.
basically the idea is you put up a money prize ( you can even get funding by incubators and etc, investors etc ). And people would compete against each other to produce the ultimate product for you.
Imagine, having a team of people motivated to build the product for you. And they do their best because they want to win. And if you prepare the right platform for them, even there are people who aren't competing, they'll refer people who do.
So, here you go. It depends on whats your real vision and mission behind woodegg.
Good luck!
(you can email me if you wan more details of Peter Diamandis's stuff)
Derek,
Good stuff man. When I started my company I put alot of weight on my partner's shoulders(he was a minority owner). I thought he was as passionate about what we were doing as I was. I was wrong, and it was a wake up call to me that I have to be the guy to get it done. So I got a few more pieces in line by hiring a few really good workers (that care but not as much as I do) and their efforts carry the extra weight.
I put all the weight on my shoulders and will continue to do so. It allows my people to work freely and they become more productive, making our business better.
Great piece, I have totally been down this road.
Take care,
Keys
Exactly what I needed to hear for several of my own projects! Thank you Derek, always inspiring cheers Rich
p.s. I appreciate your sharing your service resources, such as ELance and ODesk, a DB of such would be invaluable to fledgling entrepreneurs cheers.
Derek,
Quite interesting, to see how others dealt with the failures of others . . . I would, for instance, have expected a plan not to work, it everything depended on me, because if it all depended on me, it would take only one failure for the plan to fail. Likewise, without enough redundancy in a plan, it would fail, for a related reason - not enough getting done to finish a project. And I would expect it to operate with sufficient redundancy, because even a single failure, or even a string of failures would not be enough to bring it to a rest.
Overall, good thought went into this.
Dude! You don't mess around! Climb that mountain, rest, then climb the next one. What else is there... boredom..? / Next thing you know your on your death bed saying "Did I do all I could have done?" Hopefully "YES, Okay, maybe I'll come back for one more life."
Derek,
You had a big vision, you learned that everyone, as talented as they are, don't always see it as enthusiastically as you do; but you continued to adapt and not give up on your good idea.
Fantastic lesson for us all!
Thank You! This is what I need right now.
Great insights, I totally agree! I think a business plan needs to be as short and simple as to fit a single page but be robust enough so that you don't rely on outside factors (or people) to succeed.
Thanks, Derek
Beautiful.
Robust or anti-fragile? Taleb's new book is intriguing and fits here.
Can't remember where I read this but think "Anti-Fragile. PLEASE Shake." What Derek is designing might actually improve his results with some disorder?
Anti-fragility in human systems are enhanced by the three P's:
Perturbations - you want disordering events
Potential - you're not an optimality, there is much more out there... and the goal/process is well worth our effort
Passion - human energy is needed to keep momentum forward through the post-disordering re-equlibration [sorry, that sounded uber-pedantic]
(p.s. I would follow on to say that the lean startup approach tries to be anti-fragile...
If we assume that the REAL idea is better than my original idea & in unpredictable ways... then we need disordering events, the cognitive skills to respond and the passion to persist!)
I just love that you are sooooooo comfortable in yourself that you can talk candidly about the ideas that turn out the opposite of what was intended. Ta mate. Very encouraging. Pete - Gold Coast Australia
Very good insights. Succinct ... this would make the work more attractive to people who would like to participate but who need some structure, especially for a newbie.
on the money, as usual Derek. Wonderful insight and invaluable information. It's also humbling to remember that we can all be replaced (though perhaps not replicated), no matter how significant we think we are.
This is particularly relevant to what I am working on right now Derek, thank you again for sharing.
Derek, you are truly a godsend to humanity, dispensing your intellectual understanding about things that appear complex, so that people can grow enough to tame the beasts Fear/Ignorance. This is a special phase of life for me, and I appreciate your work. Thank you. Thank you so much.
Thanks for sharing your creative process, Derek!
"I thought I would write them all myself. Visit 16 countries for 3 weeks each, doing intensive research the whole time. That’s 48 weeks, so I could do it again each year. … But I had a baby on the way, so that idea lasted about a minute. " Congratulations, life is a sacrifice. Great photo to match the robust plan, thanks for sharing. Great until there's a fire or flood. :) Expect the best, prepare for the worst. I'm glad Wooden Egg is becoming more than just a dream you had one day to try something else to make a difference. All the very best to you and yours! 1
Thanks Derek. Again a great article at a great timing for me personally. Will persevere with this in mind and heart.
Always the exception to the rule (:. Its hard to find dedicated people but they are out there. You also have to find someone with the same passion on the subject as yourself. Most people just want the job and the $. So yes agree 1 2 3 is pretty much it. 4 well thats expected.
Exactly, especially when you have cash to burn, hehe. Let me know if you need help with the design, I can help:)
plus.google.com/photos/103143637491770978865/albums?banner=pwa
Great points. I think this relates a lot to being an entrepreneur without a co-founder. Delegating and building risk averse systems is key.
Bringing in co-founders into the equation muddies the waters a bit. Planning would be just that much more complicated, and you might even have to assess the risk potential of your co-founder failing, even though they might care as much as you do. Might be something to think about for single founders like myself.
On another note, it might be good to think about the difference between contractors and employees in general. Finding contractors and freelancers is good for the short term, but I feel like finding an untrained employee and forming a long term relationship brings more value in the future. A mix of both tactics might be the way to go here (more robust planning!).
I like the process you came up with. It's simple and makes sense, and I'm sure it's going to get you to where you want to be, and all you had to is sit down and 'get meta', but in a specific way. Sometimes taking time out to just arrive at the best steps, leaving room for contingencies can be so powerful.
I also like the way you only load comments on this page, via ajax, instead of always loading them with each page load..
In case someone navigated here, but changed their mind (they realize they want to read it later), so you save yourself a lot of bandwidth. Didn't have to mention that, I know, but I had to get it out of my system.
Thanks Derek.
Hi Derek,
This is great. Thank you.
Chris
Lots of folks are willing to contribute knowledge & information, but those of us requesting their involvement have to make it dead simple and convenient. I'll typically provide templates/forms/questionnaires that are targeted to extract information in a clear, logical fashion. The format also helps to "pre-organize" content so that it aligns to the information architecture of the publishing vehicle; e.g., website, eBook, survey, white paper, etc.
you are one of the best thinker I know
So on a scale of 1-10 how happy are you with all 16?
Which is the best?
Which needs the most work?
I'll explain that in a future article. — Derek
The point about asking the right questions is a good one. I've often felt that people underestimate the importance of being able to ask the right questions. Having spent quite a lot of time as a documentary film-maker, you can see why that might have crossed my mind.
The point is that we can't know everything. So skill with questions is like possessing a golden key which can unlock virtually any door to virtually any information. And if you ask right, people are usually delighted to tell you what you want to know.
Information (knowledge, if you will) is real power. People (and there are multitudes) who think that money is power are running in the wrong direction in my view.
It's an interesting idea and the photo of the desk illustrates clearly why having many people involved is a good idea. You have many people working on one project, and as Mark Twain said, "Put all your eggs in one basket and then watch that basket!"
That's actually a brilliant idea to piece it out like that. I know you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find the right freelancers on sites like Odesk and Freelancer but you will find them. It's taken me years to find the 10 or so that I work with that are the best of the best.
That's helpful Derek. I've always done everything myself with great intensity. Now I'm in the process of broadening and this advice may just help keep me sane and accomplish something larger without compromising quality.
As always, many thanks Derek.
Great blog Derek..esp. the notes on brilliant. Awesome! Thank you! To create, is an never ending journey...:-) ...have an awesome day!
Rachel
It's very much akin to defining a brand. The brand needs definition not only for campaigns, but also for all internal teams working on it. There should be specifics that infuse the team experience at all touch-points so that people know exactly what they're buying into and the distance between idea and right action is compressed. It also helps to reinforce the sense of accomplishment of team members when they have more specifics around which to execute. They can see that they've achieved what was required with greater facility when all has been defined- brand or book format through questions. Thanks for your transparency and insight here Derek. Once again, it's helpful to all to have learnings that we see spring from real experience.
Commenter #184....hmm...new email address got me here sooner this time. Thanks for changing it for me D, and thank you for sharing your strategy for raising children. That is what you're talking about right?
-Don’t expect your kids to care as much as you.
-Don’t require them to think as hard about this as you have.
-Do expect them to change their mind and disappear
-Make a robust plan that includes #1-3.
As the Dad, the burden is on you to come up with a great plan, to lift the burden from them helping you.
Then, when you find you raised them brilliantly it’s a great bonus when it becomes an absolute necessity.
☺ nice one! — Derek
Derek - thanks for sharing these topics with us! As someone dreaming and working towards owning my own business, your thoughts and insights are priceless! It's like sitting across from you having a cup of coffee once in a while.
The last four points to follow REALLY hit home with me! Thanks
Lewies
What a great, quick, breakdown of your process. I could SO see this being applicable to any new venture... especially the "E-Myth" type thinking of first filling in all of the roles needed (ie. in this case the Countries, the 3 people, the questions), and then simply filling in a person for each role.
thanks for sharing as usual!
Great lesson!
What a wonderful mind you have! I love the way you clarify hard to clarify things...at least for me. I have more to say but want to digest what you have shared a bit. I have something I want to do that is "common good" stuff but it's taking forever to launch because I can't explain things as simply as you. Hmmm...we both have a birthday coming up in September...you have a baby on the way! How wonderful that!!! Martha
You summed up how life really works - for years I threw my ideas out there to very smart people and I expected brilliance beyond my limited vision. Now, I try to be as specific and directive as possible while making it clear that it is a collaboration.
Thanks for the post - it's a reminder to get up and go:)
This is a great post! Right now my entire business relies on me, but slowly I am working to change that. As a service business it hasn't been easy. It has certainly been cheaper to do everything myself, but it also limits me in how much I can grow.
Thank you again for the inspiration!
It sometimes takes a lifetime to realize if you want something done...you must do it yourself...infrequently you may find someone willing to give a helping hand. Most enjoyable reading, sincerely yours, Sam Stray
Hi Derek,
It seems to me that a business person with extensive experience living and doing business in the each country is the way to go. I know that countries have certain cutural and business idiosyncrasies that one cannot learn in a few weeks. Learning the red tape is the easy part, the unwritten part, the cultural stuff can be extremely difficult.
It's easy to make simple mistakes that effect business relations in foreign countries. Some mistakes as simple as just shaking someone's hand the wrong way, not eating everything that is offered to you or inadventently responding with the incorrect tone in an email. One thing I learned from doing business with the Italians is to get as much money as possible up front from a record licensing deal as it proved impossible to collect any backend money.
I suggest an editor, who doesn't have to live in any of the countries, be the one to collect, organize and transcribe the desired information from the local business people. A person much more talented in writing.
The business people in each country should be ex patriots who have a cultural background similar to your target audience. Someone who moved to a foreign country and was able to master the locals business practices and cutural. They will better provide their country's methods by drawing comparison to your target audience's experiences. For example, "When establishing a business bank account in USA one must first file a DBA and ficticious business statement, however in China there is no need do this but instead one must....
I hope you find my ideas helpful and not redundent.
Onward,
Harlan
Thanks Harlan. I agree. I hire both locals and expats for research to give a broader perspective. Locals have insights that foreigners don't. Foreigners have insights that locals don't. Same with people in big business, small business, young people, old people, etc. The wider the range of perspectives, the better. — Derek
Surprised, I am, you had to go to these self described lengths to discover what you determined in the end of said introspection.
of course your dream can never be as good or important as anyone else, that's why its your dream
As a blind professional traveling musician with a peer mentoring outreach on behalf of the blindness community, I agree with this wholeheartedly! I've applied these practices for quite some time now, just never saw them so succinctly organized before. Very good strategies! Much success on your project.
haha this article makes me chuckle because I'm experiencing issues with all three points! This is sooo true! No one will be dedicated like you.
Derek,
Love your idea and concept. I'm sure that it'll be awesome. I wish you the best of luck for this new venture. I believe that these books will help many people.
I was originally from Yogyakarta, but currently doing a PhD in London. I'll be in Indonesia on July-September and I hope that we can meet and have a cup of coffee.
Cheers!
Yep.
I also highly recommend that you use at least 3 editors for each book, preferably editors with various talents on the ladder of abstraction: formal rules and typo-checking, logical clarity and ordering, and an empathetic feel for the purpose of the book and interests of the reader.
I also recommend that you test early and often, having editors work with writers and researchers from the beginning instead of at the end. I'd also have the editors collaborate instead of having them work individually. Geography limits the number and focus of the on-the-ground people, but there's no need to limit the number of editors per book or books per editor when working on the cloud. It also means that you don't need as many editors. I do, however, recommend that each book be assigned to an editor as the book's primary caregiver of sorts, though, so that no books slide through the cracks and so that accountability is maintained, but so is balance and stability.
That way you can also test out your editors early on, and adjust process and staffing as needed instead of relying on unvalidated people near the deadline, which could be stressful for everyone. I'd also start with a short test-contract as a functional interview.
I'm so curious about the books!
Bingo! Good stuff.
I think hiring is a process that most don't take the time to do.
I think candidates must be interviewed at least three different times at three different times of day and three different days of the week. They must have basic skills tested and go through a phychological review by written testing. Those hired should be offered a position on a temporary basis for the first three months. The pay should start at 80% of what the average household budget would be for their home address, increased with a review every 6 months reaching 100% after the first year and a half.
I think that if a candiate passes through all the hurdles I mentioned, they would stay with you forever.
My wife and I used to work together in the hair care biz she started. Now we are divorced. I wish we had read 1-4 together.
Great thought! I will use this.
So true. I like it.
Going to make a couple copies of this Newsletter and send one to Mr. Lark and put one in my soon new office to keep reminding myself of the reality of your words AGAIN! hee hee your SO ON...Derek! Keep the words coming kiddo. Blessings to you and yours, Clair
I've learned this lesson in my life,
Great post. Just a couple of questions - how did you choose writers? what was your criteria? can you share the job posting you placed on Elance and oDesk? I have a similar project but I have been having problems finding good people. I am guessing my job description outline might not be apt.
Thanks.
Ali - email me: derek@sive.rs — Derek
Interesting article. I had a similar experience approaching freelancers and hoping to get good work. It definitely helps to have a strong outline of what you want them to do to ensure the product is worthwhile to you.
Derek,
I'm a fan of your book notes, and because I was a bit perplexed with your notes on Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb I have gone to the source and am reading this book. Many thanks for that. I'm thinking of copying your notes to a file and then adding to & subtracting as I see what I need in the notes for myself.
As I am looking at life & the world a bit differently as I study his ideas I wonder if there is an Antifragile plan for Wood Egg? An answer has not arrived but by holding the question perhaps one will.
My Wood Egg “book-making factory” isn't anti-fragile. It doesn't get better if writers flake out. But it is robust: it will still work fine if people drop out or give a bad answer to a question. — Derek
Hello Love,
Are you in Singapore still? I have a dear friend who will be visiting in the fall as part of a 3 month pilgrimage of the region.
Very interesting concept.
When using Elance or oDesk what are the criteria you choose people by?
There are obvious ones like language and writing abilities but how do you check the validity of those answers to your questions? Three different people may have three different views, which are all valid.
Lots of 5-star reviews from past clients. — Derek
I especially appreciate the suggestion to ask (200) questions. I think that might approach might also help me to focus, not just someone I am thinking of hiring.
Thanks!
Exactly! It really helped me for that, too. — Derek
I echo and concur. Great post!
Good sharing.
Use a team to secure n maximize the outcome is always a smart way to run a business successfully.Thx.
Thanks, Derek. Great and inspiring post about coming up with a more robust plan B. The books are now out. That's great. Congrats! One things I'm curious about is how the books are selling. As a follower of your blog I know that much of your motivation for producing these books was to learn about entrepreneurship in Asia yourself and not necessarily to make a profit. That said, this project paying for itself and even making money is one useful metric to judge the validity of different plans. Also, I'm curious if you did any market research before starting. If so, I'd love to know how you approached it and how it shaped your plans and the project you eventually produced. Thanks for again for your blog in general, multiple inspiring posts and an example of a life well lived!
Sincerely,
Ben
Thank u sir
"Don’t expect anyone to care as much as you" is my favorite line of this whole post. I've worked with a bunch of different agents and it never fails: no one ever cares about your project as much as you do.
Great post. Thanks a lot
As always, you are on point Derek!
One of life's great truths: no-one will care as much as you. Thanks for another interesting story.
Great post, entrepreneurship as it should be: create a system that does not rely solely on you to work, using leverage to go much further than you would do on your own. Makes perfect sense. :)
Thanks! This post helped me with my project planning.
Hi Derek,
Just came across your blog while surfing. It has some very interesting stuff. The idea of 'outsourcing' book writing to 16 people is outrageous in scope, but amazing! There is a lot to learn, and so hope to come back to your blog to get familiar and UNDERSTAND so much of the valuable stuff that you have written. Thanks for that.
One question that I have is (as I am an avid reader/web surfer) Why have I not come across you before? How is it that you are not so famous/popular, considering the things you have blogged?
Cheers, and have a great day.
Funny how the table has 11 legs... Anything that works:)
Derek,
You mention E-Myth as one of the books you re-visited. You've created a business system to follow for writing the books. Now it really doesn't matter who the writers (employees) are, they just need to follow the system.
Have you taken it far enough to where you can get away from it also, if you want to?
Tim
Good question! I would have done that next, yes. But in this case, the Wood Egg books didn't sell well enough for me to continue doing this project. — Derek
Hello Mr. Derek
Honestly i admired your courage and your passion, you know what you are a great man.
Israel john
Today I went straight to lessons learned, made thoughtful noise to say "interesting, I get it."
Then, luckily for me, I went to the earlier parts of this post. The story was equally interesting, and helped me to get it.
Therefore I have just had a glimpse of what life is like for people who are impatient and skip down to the ending of a piece. Poor guys. They won't ever know how much they are missing out, not unless they can slow themselves down and read.