What was your process for turning your ideas, knowledge or experiences into a book?
Michael: The scripts from my social media posts provided a good outline. However, because I wanted the book to be a call to action, I felt a structure and worksheets were needed if people were to apply the concepts each day. As I reflected on the changes to my emotions and feelings over the years, a pattern emerged in how I adjusted my behaviors in response to challenges, which influenced the structure for the book. Conversations with my coaching clients provided additional content, to a depth I thought would be useful as a guide for people to gain insights and act.
How did you balance practical advice, personal experiences and research throughout the book?
Michael: Research is something that I love doing and could keep doing, so balance had to be found if a book was to be written and published. Setting a target deadline provided the incentive to set aside time each day to write and that achieved a good first draft. That draft firmed up the concept of a book with short chapters, inspirational imagery and worksheets. Additionally, engaging Hembury Books made a big difference in getting this book ready for publication. Feedback from Libby and Sinead were very useful for improving the quality of the manuscript.
What was the most challenging part of writing the book, and how did you work through it?
Michael: The most challenging part was that I had high expectations for the quality of the book. Random thoughts in a well presented book may provide momentary inspiration, but I wanted to develop a guide which was simple to use and which had the potential for lasting impact. Reducing complex concepts to straightforward suggestions for action required a lot more effort than I initially thought. The experience was rewarding because it helped me gain clarity on what worked for me. Persistence, accepting all feedback, including from my 98-year-old father, and more research was the way through.
Your book includes a workbook element at the end: how did you decide what these exercises would be?
Michael: The workbook exercises came from three main sources. First, the clarity I gained through the writing process as I reviewed my responses to challenges over the years. Second were insights from my coaching and mentoring clients on what worked for them to make changes stick. Third were comments on my social media posts for what inspired others to take action to make changes in their lives. The idea for the A5 size of the book came from a friend, who thought it would be good to read and reflect over a morning coffee or on the train to work.
How does your form of writing (short, exercises, poetry) complement what you hope the reader will get out of the book?
Michael: A follower on LinkedIn commented they liked the “little gems” I posted each week. Short and sweet and a single concept to reflect on during the week. The poetic statements came from noticing what people wrote down when I presented workshops or as part of coaching conversations, and the images provided a big lift to the inspirational feel of the book. Inspiration in the moment is wonderful, but my objective was to encourage lasting change. Hence the worksheets were added to support readers to hold themselves accountable for action to make a permanent step forward on their path to inner peace.
This book is a collection of the essential principles to transform constant, unfulfilling effort to focused action, self-worth and awakening your inner power. For life to flow, aligning values, goals, skills, emotions, feelings and behaviours is a must. The path to inner peace and flow in life is to move there gradually by observing your behaviours and shifting how you respond. Join Michael on this journey to discover the path to sustainable inner peace.
