Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Shrinking the Camel

Home
Careers, Workplace and Religion
The Book I’m Not Writing

The Book I’m Not Writing

Last updated on: July 15, 2010 at 8:54 pm by JBW

The Book I’m Not Writing 2010-07-15T20:54:18-05:00 JBW

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Like every other Blogger within spitting distance, I have thought about writing a book.

I suppose we all fall under the same delusional spell: that our writing is so compelling and magical; the world desperately needs to hear our voice; we have a unique perspective; blah, blah, blah.

So, despite the fact that the publishing industry is presently throwing up inside its mouth, I still had this inner inkling that my particular writing angle was very special, destined one day to make its way to a full-fledged book deal with a big-time publisher. All it would take was persistance and determination.

Ha.

But, you see, there was this little problem getting in the way.

I didn’t really know what to write about. Especially something that would fill an enitre book.

I have come to realize that this niche I’ve carved out of “faith in the workplace” is, let’s be honest, colossally boring (despite my attempts to liven it up a bit), as compared to, say, Addiction Memoirs. And the search bots are not exactly burning up the internet lines with “faith in the workplace” search links to my site.

I am clearly dealing in a subject that is not destined for mainstream consumption. But, for better or worse, it is what I am living and interested in and is utlimately what I write about. But to turn it into a book concept that hasn’t already been done? Nah.

Then something happened that I thought would change everything. A couple of months ago a book idea suddenly came to me, all at once, like a dove descending from a cloud. In one split second I saw the entire layout for a book concept, from start to finish. Almost like a vision from on high.

The central idea involves the transition of one’s self-perception of their leadership role in workplace settings, moving from self-centered drudgery to a spiritually-purposed vitality. It would incorporate all of the many posts I’ve written plus the content I have been delivering in the speaking engagements with A New Equilibrium. The cornerstone of it all would be a spiritual-leadership framework that offers a diagnostic self-assessment and step-by-step path for transforming one’s spiritual leadership, chock full with real-life examples and practical tips.

There it was, completely mapped out right before me. I even came up with a snappy one-word title.

It would be called:

“Shift”

“Spiritual Strategies for Transforming Leadership”

Or, as an alternative for the more conservative Christian publishing crowd:

“Holy Shift!”

“Spiritual Strategies for Transforming Leadership”

But ever since, I just can’t get it mobilized. Every time I sit down to write a book proposal, I go blank, and turn to work on my next blog post instead. Which is much more fun.

Then I start with all the excuses. It’s going to take so much work, for one. And it will take so long. And I would have to pretty much put to kibosh on all of my blogging, in order to focus exclusively on this one thing. And then there’s the whole submission-to-publishers thing. The needle in the haystack. Blech. Not to mention that there is absolutely no reason in the world why something like this would even sell, which, as everyone knows, is the only real metric for gauging the value of the effort.

As you can see, just as quickly as the Vision came upon me, my enthusiasm for this project went right out of the room.

Perhaps I don’t care about writing a book after all.

Or maybe I am not disciplined enough. But I am so tired of discipline. And there are only so many hours in the day.

Maybe I am not ambitious enough, and I should push harder.

Maybe it’s not meant to be, and the world will be just as well off without my unwritten book.

Maybe I’m happier without it.

Aren’t I?

Photo by nAncY.

Blogging

Faith in the Workplace

Previous Post

July 13, 2010

Your Money Or Your (Spiritual) Life

Next Post

July 19, 2010 Management By Calm

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Ambition Blogging Career Culture Executive Career Development Failure Faith in the Workplace Family Feeling Stupid Leadership Managing People Purpose Reviews Spirituality Uncategorized Work-Life Balance

Select a Month November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the primary water source in Jerusalem?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Rain collection Well River Spring