Seeing the Ball Go Through the Hoop

Gaining confidence and motivation through success

I’ve done plenty of long-term projects, but none like this project to publish 100 books. Nothing I’ve done before compares in terms of scope, ambition, or — significantly — deferred gratification.

The result has been a lot more managing ups and downs in motivation than I expected. It’s been a real challenge.

I was talking with my accountability group about it late last week and they helped me figure out a plan.

That is: I need to get another book published.

There’s a popular cliche with basketball commentators that a slumping player “needs to see the ball go through the hoop.” In most cases, they’ll say it after the player gets an easy layup or dunk. The theory, though it probably defies statistical reality, is that the mere feeling of making a shot will boost confidence, quell anxiety, and ultimately make it more likely the player can make more (and more difficult) shots that game.

The theory for my book publishing project, then, is that if I can just get another book published it will renew my excitement, give me a sustained boost of energy and motivation, and ultimately make it easier for me to publish the other dozens of books inching along in my queue.

Makes sense to me. So I’m giving it a shot.

I’ve stopped working on a ton of books simultaneously and I’m focusing on just getting the next one published.

And if this doesn’t work, then I’m going to have to get a bloop single and/or complete a screen pass to a running back.

To see what I’ve been working on this week in my journey toward 100 books, check out the Work Log.