When I work with visionary business leaders to distill and tell compelling stories I often get the question: “How did you do that? How did you get in my head and pull out exactly what I’ve been trying to say?” I thank them for the compliment, and think to myself “if they only knew!?”
So, throwing caution to the wind, I wanted to share exactly what goes on into the process, to demystify and hopefully encourage anyone who is struggling to get their big idea out into the world.
It all starts with an idea, a tiny, innocent spark in your brain. This is the part where you, like me at an all-you-can-eat buffet, say, “I’ll have a bit of everything.” You’re enthusiastic, optimistic, and blissfully unaware of the chaos (and intestinal issues) that’s about to unfold. This idea can strike anywhere – in the shower, in traffic, or while watching a dog riding a skateboard on YouTube. Pure genius!
Ah, the sweet honeymoon phase of story development. You’re scribbling away, thinking every word you write is pure gold. It’s like looking in the mirror and seeing Brad Pitt staring back at you – delusional but delightful. You’re convinced you’re about to revolutionize storytelling as we know it. Logical fallacies? Never heard of them. Clear direction? My direction is perfect, thank you very much.
Then comes the plunge. Suddenly, your brilliant story seems about as coherent as my understanding of quantum physics (do I look like a mathemagician?). You find yourself questioning your life choices, your talent, and why you ever thought a skateboarding dog was a good metaphor for societal collapse. Welcome to the abyss, my friend. Make yourself comfortable; it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Just when all seems lost, you grab a second (or seventh) cup of coffee and rise from the ashes. Okay, no, it’s actually much more interesting than that. This is the moment when as Stephen Pressfield writes in The War Of Art you encounter the greatest amount of resistance. That resistance is a sign that you are doing the thing that matters most. It’s also the moment when the only way through is a deliberate act of violence. You have to kill your ego! When you get out of your own way, miraculously, story lines start connecting, characters gain depth, and that skateboarding dog? Well, he’s now the heart and soul of your narrative. Who knew?
You’ve battled through the wilderness and now you face the final boss: revision. It’s like cleaning up after a wild party – daunting, a bit depressing, but necessary. You’ll cut, polish, and maybe cry a little (or a lot), but it’s all in the name of art, right?
Finally, after what feels like an eternity and a half, your story is ready to share. It’s time to send your brainchild out into the world, much like I imagine sending off a kid to college. You’re proud, you’re emotional, and you’re already missing the chaos.
But fear not! A new spark of insanity is surely just around the corner, ready to start the whole glorious process over again.
