Book Beginnings

Dear Readers--

I have begun to respin my doctoral research and resulting dissertation into a book. This will be my first book (except for my dissertation, of course). Sometimes I feel like the proverbial writer sitting at the typewriter with a pile of crumpled paper at my feet, because I can't get past the beginning paragraph. I go from wondering if I should take a matter-of-fact approach or go for the emotions? Should I make this a book about organizational development or target the self-help market?

After reading Tom Koulopoulos' new book, it occurred to me that I don't have to do this in a vacuum any more. The lone writer approach is denial of being part of the world I want to impact. The observer cannot be separate from the observed, and all that.

Hence, this post, and my request of you. I would love your take on my initial (actually, it is about the 5th) pass for the introduction to my book.What I'm posting is the first couple of paragraphs. Does this draw you in? Do you want to know more? Is it a downer? Does it ring true...or not? Please post your comments, or contact me off-line.

One more thing: The working title for this project is "Flow-based Decision Making: The Impact of 'Being in the Flow' on the Ability to Make Decisions." I realize this is beyond boring, but, being the technical communicator that I am, I have a hard time with fluffy, sexy titles. I would love ideas about this, too.

Thank you in advance for your help. Here goes:

******************************

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

We are living in a world that is more connected than it ever has since the beginning of time, and yet we are feeling more and more isolated. If you have spent any time trying to find work in this environment,  you know exactly what I mean. We fill out forms online, we upload our resume or CV, and click the submit button. And then we wait. There is no one with whom we are allowed to follow up, and there is no response. Everyone is so busy and overworked, no one wants or has time to meet on a one-to-one basis. The time to communicate with another human being is reduced to abbreviated words in texts on our smartphones. (This is resulting in the morphing of language at a rate of speed never before imagined. But that is fodder for another book!) As a result, our individual, as well as our collective well-being is suffering at a rate that is eventually going to impact both individual societal health and our very existence.

In the United States, for the last half century, most people have managed to live in the middle to upper portions of Maslow’s Triangle, but in recent years, have found themselves slipping to the two base levels. When we are constantly worried about how to pay our basic bills and we are looking for work or in a job that is unsatisfying, we are thrown into a space that causes us to be negative. Those negative thoughts then perpetuate our situation. The resulting spiral facilitates bad decision making.

This is a book about you and how you make decisions. It is designed to suggest a new way of being. Each of us has to take responsibility for changing our situation. All it takes is a decision to change. Simple, huh? Change is never simple. It takes courage to trust in the idea that the Universe always works toward the positive even in the direst of situations. Some people use their religious or spiritual beliefs to reinforce this thinking; others use scientific evidence; others know intuitively that personal well-being lies in a space we call “flow” or “being in the zone.”

Someone once described to me the way to get to “Source” (what some call “God") as a wheel with spokes, with Source in the center. On the wheel itself, there are an infinite number of points from which the path to Source is a straight line to the center on its own individual spoke. I love this image, because it validates all spiritual and non-spiritual belief.

This book is an examination of decision making as part of the flow experience, with the ultimate goal of individual and societal well-being. The support for the ideas herein comes from my research in the fire service, which I use as a model for decision making in the “flow.” I combine this work with my Master’s research in managing conflict from a place of authenticity and thirty years as an information technology and human interaction consultant, entrepreneur, teacher, and international leader in the field of technical communication.

Comments

[drglo]

I like the Introduction as is and may be easily tweaked for a book series, which you may consider authoring with others.

[Judy]

Hi Ben!!
Thank you for these amazing suggestions. I will definitely be considering them.

To all who have posted. I have been reworking the introduction. I will be posting an updated Chapter 1 today (I hope). Stay tuned.

Judy

[Ben Woelk]

I'm not sure I have the concept right, and it's a little tough with two potential divergent audiences, but here are a few title suggestions that you might be able to modify into something usable:
Go with the Flow: Effortless Decision Making
or
Holistic Decision Making
or
Harnessing the Flow: Making Your Best Decision
or
Full Immersion Decision Making
or
Five Alarm Decision Making
or
Going with the Flow Without Quenching Your Inner Fire (or Flame)

[Judy]

Thanks, Mary! Marlene's post made me realized that I needed to get back to the essence of what this is all about. My first attempt was definitely a reflection of my own straying from flow. I spent my writing time this weekend focusing on the book, which has become my own flow state. My goodness, I LOVE to write! (And I know you know what I'm talking about).

[Mary]

I think you should start with the third paragraph. That's when you grabbed me! We always hear the phrase "Go with the flow" -- start with that, because that's something everyone knows about, but very few know how to do it. Most think it just means to float along with the tide of life, but I think there's a much deeper meaning, and you've hit on it. (Get rid of the reference to Maslow - I mean, who cares what he says? It's too "academic.")
Go for it Judy!

[Judy]

Thank you, Jane. I so appreciate your taking to time to give me feedback. I've already begun to reweave the intro.

[Jane Califf]

Hi Judy,

I really like your first line. I started to think that you were going to talk about how we can become more connected and mentally healthier. Then you talk about how you will focus on individual decision-making which made me imagine more isolated people working on strategies and life styles that will help them make better decisions.

I suggest that you mention very near the beginning something about how people can be part of a wider community which can help them in figuring out problems and future plans. Community institutions and cultural practices are breaking down and are a serious part of the problem you pose in your first sentence. Are you going to explore this and how to overcome it as a way for people to help one another more in grappling with solutions to issues and problems they face?

I also have forgotten about Maslow's Triangle...Maybe you should put a footnote or a diagram of it.

A lot of people are not making good personal and political decisions, so your book could be a positive contribution to solving these problems.

[Judy Glick-Smith]

Thank you, Marlene!!! This is not supposed to be about finding a job. Your comments are wonderful! Time to respin!!

[Marlene Estorino]

As a huge fan of you work, I'm really looking forward to reading your book. Here are my thoughts as I read this introduction:
#1 This book is about finding a job.
#2 The use of "CV" is a perfect example of how our vocabulary has changed.
#3 Maslow’s Triangle? G-wiz,I can't remember what is.
#4 I love the spoke example.
#5 There is no mention of you PHD.
#6 Judy is cooler than this description of her.

I offer my observation with humility, as I truly admire your work.

Regards,
Marlene Estorino