Write the More Challenging Book
Writer: Colin Cerniglia
I’ll never forget the day that I sat down with my wife, Christine, and told her I had two related but completely separate ideas for books. I was hoping to write my first non-fiction book and I wanted to write it on the general topic of leadership. Since I run a leadership academy, I thought it was a natural extension of what we already offered through paid trainings/workshops and our free weekly podcast. But I was stuck trying to decide which book I wanted to write.
One book idea, I told Christine, was cookie-cutter — a story that would have had seven main components and the type of non-fiction book that seems to do well for lots of authors. The other book idea was less mainstream. It wasn’t so different that it would never work, but I was contemplating writing about an iconic brand name without any affiliation to them. It was a daunting feeling: that book idea would require tons of research, patience, and an ability to tell a complex story in a digestible way. The cookie-cutter book idea would (obviously) be much easier, I told Christine (and myself). I could write that book based on my experiences in athletics and my time as a business owner, interview people I knew, and have it done in a much faster timeframe.
What stands out most about that conversation is what happened next. My wife said to me, write the more challenging book. She could tell I was clearly more passionate about that story, even if I did have real reservations about my ability to complete the project. It was the book I wanted to write, but I guess I needed validation from my most trusted partner, and an immediate sense of excitement came over me when she said this. The butterflies in my stomach gave way to confidence.
The book idea I’m talking about did turn into my first published non-fiction book, Culture of Excellence: What The Yankees Can Teach Us About Leadership. Culture of Excellence hit number one on the Amazon bestseller list (in the baseball category) several times during its initial release, but besides the nice public recognition, I’ve felt a strong sense of pride because I tackled a very difficult task and told what I believe is a truly compelling story. Would I feel the same happiness had I gone with the cookie-cutter idea? I doubt it; in fact, it’s not even a debate in my head anymore.
At the time of the conversation with my wife, I was scared. It had been a long time since I had written anything, much less a book, and I didn’t want the idea to flop. But by challenging myself, I wrote the more captivating story, I learned a whole lot of new things along the way, and I came out a better writer and happier person too.
As we all know, writing is a laborious process. We might as well write what makes us happy and passionate, even if it is the more defying route to go! So that is my challenge to you: if you come to a fork in the writer’s road, I hope you choose to be assertive and write the book that takes you out of your comfort zone and into a world of adventure!
About the Writer:
Colin Cerniglia is the CEO of the Talent 409 Leadership Academy, a Charlotte-based business that does leadership development and culture training in athletics. Colin is also the host of the “Dynamic Leaders Podcast.” His first non-fiction book, Culture of Excellence: What The Yankees Can Teach Us About Leadership, was released in September 2020 and is an Amazon #1 Bestseller. Colin lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife Christine and daughter, Stella.
Website: https://cernig.com
Writer’s podcast episode, HERE.