I've recently been kicking around the idea of trying to write a book. Not a NY Times best seller, but something that could potentially be self published on Amazon or something similar. The inspiration comes from a mentor of mine who published a similar type of project, although on a different topic. I'd love to share his book, but that would pretty quickly eliminate any remaining sense of anonymity on this forum.
Obviously most everyone on this forum is extremely ambitious, driven, and hard working with big dreams. I am no different and hope to one day become the CEO of a company. The company likely will not be a F500, which is fine, but it's a goal of mine nonetheless.
The premise for the book is to write "letters to myself" - recollections of struggles, accomplishments, and the things I have learned throughout my career. The hope would to have each chapter document a specific event, topic, etc. that I have gone through. Additionally, I'd be open to the idea of connecting with others and "collaborate" so that it has more than one perspective.
Obviously there needs to be more of a hook than just documenting these stories and musings and that would be having a "response" to the writings later down the road.
To me, it would be really cool to have a documented perspective looking upward on the path to becoming CEO and then to look back and respond to those "entries" with commentary on what was right/wrong, what has changed, and what the perspective is from the other side.
I understand this is likely a 10+ year project, but that's part of what makes me want to go for it. I think it would help me to stay more present in the moment and have an easier time enjoying the "journey".
Thoughts? Can anyone think of a similar project that has been completed?
This sounds great. To make it more readable and engaging, my suggestions would be:
1) Write it in a direct, personable, letter format (like you already mentioned). E.g., I love the book of Proverbs in the Bible as it was addressed to 'My son' - an aging king to his beloved son. Felt the energy flowing thru the words. Maybe you could write it from an old retired CEO to a young grad ready to take on the world
2) Story format - analogies and allegories. I adore books like 'The Alchemist' for this reason and I think there's a surprising shortage of books which use this format
Each chapter could be a letter addressed to the reader (the young man) at each stage of his life, documenting a specific journey you underwent. E.g., a letter when he enters college, a letter when he graduates, a letter when he starts his IB stint, a letter when he breaks into the buyside etc
Appreciate the thoughts and comments. Looking back I guess I should have been a little more clear on the intent. I view it as a two way street of learning where the "future" CEO is trying to give upward coach based on how situations are perceived from that POV and the response later down the road is either an explanation of why things had to be that way, a reminder of it being good advice to remember, or an admittance of forgetting the lesson.
An example would be a chapter on endless turns on a deck and how it feels as if it didn't impact the outcome and produces more work. The response later on could be that it was necessary and it produces x, y, z results, that the CEO is practicing the lesson in the chapter and reinforces it being a good thought, or that "now" CEO has fallen into the trap that they once hated and is now reminded that turns are painful for juniors.
Does that make sense? I think the juxtaposition of what a budding professional thinks about how things should be vs. the seasoned veteran will be interesting. It could be similar to a child wanting their parents to do things differently but as they grow their perspective changes and when they look back they see the things that they had the wrong perception of as a child, things that they avoided because it caused them pain, and things that they started to do and need the reminder not to.
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