Why I abandoned a mega project of 2024
What it teaches us about life
Hey Friends,
Hope you have been well, and August has been august with you so far :)
Welcome to yet another edition of Raw and Real, where every week we have:
1 Raw and Real Conversation
2 Raw One-Liners
3 Real Gratitudes
Let’s go!
(PS: Today’s conversation is going to be a lot about “my” journey + life lessons for you. Just letting you know beforehand, of a perhaps self-bragging post :))
Raw and Real Conversation
In December 2023, I launched a supremely aspirational project called “The Year of Writing”.
The intent was to write and publish an ebook every month of 2024.
I write very fast.
I write well.
I have a decent audience that trusts me.
So why not share with them what I have learnt from my experiences in life?
This is the stellar list of books as well, that I had on my mind:
We kicked off the project in January.
Here is what the first few books stand for:
The Corporate Life Handbook is meant to serve people working in corporates, specifically at the start of their career.
How to Deal with Heartbreak implores us to look within, when we are going through a heartbreak.
Every Writer Needs to Read This was a book I wish I had when I was starting out as a writer.
And the bestseller of them all, The Career Changing Guide which I wrote last year, is still one of the most loved books of all.
However, by March-April, I noticed a weird thing happening with myself:
(Fun fact: I noticed it initially only, but was too busy to put it in place):
I was getting very tired because of working so so much.
For those of you who don’t know, I ghostwrite books on behalf of CXOs as my full-time profession.
At any point of time, I am working on 3 books (and 3 clients). When that lot gets over, I pick up other 3 book writing projects. And so on.
So, the best focus and ideas come to me when I am either relaxed, or merely chilling around. This has also given some groundbreaking ideas for the books I write.
Thus:
with an extra book to write every month
shipping them with the same quality (you cannot compromise on quality na, bro)
re-reading them multiple times
crafting and executing a marketing plan
working on my usual content game on LinkedIn, X, this newsletter, and the daily blog
working on clients’ books
All of this was making me tired pro max ultra.
I noticed this in January and February as well, however, it would have been perhaps weak to let something go without giving your all in.
However, after I pushed out the third ebook of the project, I was certain that if I did not pause right now, the quality of my other assignments would suffer.
It is one thing to launch a new project and help others with what has helped you, however, a more noble thing is to work the best in the world at other high leverage projects that you do, instead of being mediocre at them.
Great to be great at a few things, than to be mediocre at many.
What I am glad, though, is I had this realisation just before I was at the cusp of creative breakdown. So all the existing work was so far unaffected. But it was only a matter of time.
Thus, with a heavy heart, I decided to stop writing an ebook a month.
Was that easy?
No bro, it wasn’t :(
Did I enjoy doing it?
My friend, like nothing else.
Then why did not I make more efforts to continue?
Because, I also enjoy pro max ultra when I write my clients’ books. And you must give them 2X return of what they paid for.
Thus, I abandoned the project for the time being.
Does not mean I have abandoned writing. No, no, not at all :)
However, what I have done is focus on all the projects above. Plus some personal projects. And do it with the determination of a drill, focus of fire, and joy during the journey.
Meanwhile, I have some plans for the books that are already out, as I also continue taking ghostwriting clients for books. Let’s see how things go.
Here are a few lessons learnt along the journey:
Actually none. You figure a great project does not meet a great timing, and sometimes you have to pause for a moment. Nothing wondrous. Just embracing the life lessons before you become miserable :))
So, my friend, hope this inspires you to let go of something you’d like to do someday but perhaps it is not the right timing right now.
And more than anything else, hope it inspires you to always be grateful to be in a place where you can pick amongst your passion projects.
On that note, you can still read the first 4 ebooks here, and get instant access to them:
The Corporate Life Handbook: The book everyone working a corporate job needs :)
The Career Changing Guide: My bestseller so far :)
How to Deal with Heartbreak: Because, life happens :(
Every Writer Needs to Read this: I wish I had this one, when I was starting out as a writer
PS: Sharing some of the feedback from some of the readers of the books here:
Feeling short of words! I mean, from being relatable to not Shashi Tharoorizing the book, making it easier for the Janta, I’m stunned by the efforts that went into writing the book so that the readers find it effortless to read and communicate pearls of wisdom simultaneously. Here are the top two things that I loved about the book, apart from the endless wisdom that the book imparted personally: Unlike some of the books in this genre, which either go ham on being preachy or discard a notion, this book is completely the opposite and miraculously works wonders! Chapters: From the length to the relatability of the chapters like Harsh Truth that give a sudden wakeup pat to any reader reading in a slump, and a lesson we all need (though I doubt it will be the case with even a single person who genuinely wants to read).
The book was simple. No fancy promises just pure, simple facts and tips, from a fan of your writing.
Loved the simple Language. Clear, honest and to the point content.
I loved the fact that you were so transparent about what it would take to make a career change and that you did not promise anything quick and fancy.
Very motivational, written in casual-speak instead of formal language and jargon.
And a wonderful reader recorded a 9-min video on The Career Changing Guide (I am still awed by this gratitude, so thank you, I know you are reading this right now :)) with the following caption:
Heyyyyyy Nishtha a specialllll message for a special soul (i.e. youuuuuuu <3)
I reallllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyy want to meet you one day, sit and talk for hourssssss, it's a part of my bucket list now!!!!!!!!
Recorded a video for you :) here it issssssssss
I promise to live up to all your commitments and comments, in whatever I put out next :))
2 Raw One Liners:
If you want more success in life, start celebrating the success of others, not by being envious of it.
What comes naturally to you is still a miracle to someone else. You are a miracle in motion. <3
3 Real Gratitudes:
Actually, I will share one this week instead of 3, because I am super super pumped (self-brag again, sorry :(
A client of mine (for whom I am ghostwriting their book) got picked by Penguin (the top publishing house in the world) to get their FIRST ever book published! WOW. Plus, they do not have a huge following. Less than 5% of mine. Just a testament to how good writing can take you heights :)) Another client got a cold email from Penguin again, without making any damn efforts! I am certain they will make it too :))
Here is the message the first client forwarded to me, on Penguin’s response to the highly complex book we are writing:
....It is very simply and accessibly written which is rare for a book on this subject. (Followed by specific details on the book, which of course, I cannot share because NDA :))
On that note, thank you, my friend, for taking your time out and reading this.
I’ll see you next week. And talk about myself less :)
Stay raw, stay real
Nishtha
(PS: As you read this email, I am in a meditation retreat for a week. Thus, would you mind forwarding this message to your friends, asking them to sign up for the newsletter? Actually I am off social media this week, and won’t be promoting the newsletter there, so thought of asking you for help. And if you can’t, that’s okay too :))