I’m collecting the final list of tips for the book. I’m noticing there are two categories of tips and am not sure they would work together in a book. Here are samples:
| Broad-stroke | Narrow |
|---|---|
| Use networking for your job search | Name files YYYYMMDD when they contain dates |
| Cultivate your intuition for decision-making | Clear your inbox backlog by deleting extra messages. |
Will these work in the same book? Would someone looking for “happiness and success” tips be that interested in the “file folders” category? And vice versa…
9 responses so far ↓
1 MamaeAzores // Aug 13, 2008 at 10:13 am
I think they would work in the same book, but I would suggest different sections. It seems to me that the end goal is the same, and that to achieve success you would have to incorporate both types. The two seemingly different categories work with each other.
2 Zohar // Aug 13, 2008 at 10:23 am
Everyone’s heard the broad strokes, the Narrow ones are more valuable. If you can group a bunch of narrow ones under a broad one then it makes sense to keep them both (so broad becomes more of a category of tips)
3 Pip // Aug 13, 2008 at 10:23 am
House keeping makes me comfortable, if I’m comfortable I’m happy, ergo, for me they work together. Somethings may seem obvious but some people need a gentle reminder now and again to do mundane tasks that indirectly improve their happiness.
4 Elise // Aug 13, 2008 at 10:37 am
They definately work together for me. In fact, if it’s strictly one or the other type, I have trouble reading the whole book.
5 Rob Kendrick // Aug 13, 2008 at 10:58 am
They definitely go together, Stever, but it depends on how you categorize them. Also, for broad-stroke tips, you can streamline the format by giving examples:
Broad: Use networking for your job search
Then, follow up with bullet points, like so:
* Establish yourself on LinkedIn, http://www.linkedin.com
* Post your resume up on the job search sites, rather than just looking
* Talk with recruiters and headhunters
* Attend job fairs
I hope this helps!
Take care,
Rob Kendrick
6 Carl D // Aug 13, 2008 at 11:08 am
The important thing to me is whether the points contribute to the topic. Like Rob said, you can have different levels. The question is whether the TOPIC is the same. If you can make a link between file folders and my overall life happiness, go for it! I just hope you don’t try to say that file folders are the ONLY thing I need to do to have a fulfilling life. If so, I’d better go get more folders!
7 Wendywindflowers // Aug 14, 2008 at 4:02 am
Yes, both! As long as they make sense together.
It’s kind of like the environment: “Sure, I want to save the Amazon rainforest, but how?”
“Sure, I can use the other side of this paper, but why?”
We need both! We need vision, a dream… but we need to know how do to the little things to get there, they make us feel powerful, give us a sense of accomplishment.
And… you’ve probably done this already, but if you can tie in emotions, and show that you really understand the difficulties in getting stuff done, it’ll make the tips resonate even more!
I want to hear that I’m not the only one who cringes when looking at my pile of random papers/brochures/receipts. That a part of me dies every time I think of an unfinished project. That I feel drained when looking at my floor…I mean, what should be my floor under all my books and folders.
Tell me I’m not alone. Tell me you understand. Tell me you know it’s hard. Then tell me I can fight it, encourage me to see the big picture, tell me how I might feel after I’ve followed your tips. Then you’ll have my full attention!
8 George M. // Aug 14, 2008 at 10:45 am
Mama already told me the “broad-strokes”. So I politely suggest that you stay funny and tackle the twisted, niche advice. Your mind works great for that one!
Thanks for the opportunity to comment and looking forward to reading your book.
9 Paul Nevlud // Aug 16, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I second George M. Broad strokes are easy to come by in all sorts of success literature. I’m a very technical thinker, but I don’t like to create my own systems. I want to learn the technical aspects of how other people have implemented systems and adopt the best ideas for myself.
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