Seth Goden asked me some questions…

In this post, Seth Goden, one of my influencers, asks some questions for writers.. I have the answers written out for this blog, for this book, and for anything else that i’m doing right now..

Seth Asks:

What is it for?

If this piece of writing works, what will change? What action will be taken?

The more specific you are in your intent, the more frightening it is to do the writing (because you might fail). And, magically, the more specific you are in your intent, the more likely it is to succeed.

My Answer:
I am planning on having a ‘Actionable Items’ at the end. The survival guide will have multiple parts.. sort of a “how to survive” for individuals, which will help them adopt ways to deal with the insanity on a micro (read personal). – less debt, understand yourself, increase credentials, flexibility.. continual reinvestment, attempt to be truly independent, or give up. There is a part that’s going to be a check list, Come to Jesus for employers / managers… i.e. put your money where your mouth is. I expect this part to be short, and I really haven’t fleshed it out yet.. then there is the commentary on ideas.. Building awareness and offering suggestions on action items such as portability of life needs, modern guilds, new employer classifications.. this is going to be the macro stuff. I.e. give everyone at the individual level and the managerial level something to think about / talk about / and give infulencers in the world something to think about.
I would really really like to personify my thoughts with cool and memorable titles. This is important as we live in the age of twitter and if I can’t personify something into a little over a hundred characters or even a hashtag the idea will have a hard time spreading. #PICAnswer

My specific answer is to eventually see this phrase, PIC, or professional individual contributor, become meaningful and used by others.

Seth Asks:

2. Who are you?

Writing comes from someone. Are you writing as scientist, reporting the facts? Are you an angry op-ed writer, seeking political action? Or are you perhaps the voice of an institution, putting up an official warning sign in an official place?

My Answer:

I’m a thinker an analyzer, a problem solver. By trade I’m someone who has experienced life as a Professional Individual Contributor and as someone who is involved in the workforce development system. This means I have a unique perspective, of being both inside the system and external to the system.

I’m also writing as an entrepreneur, I’m someone whose desire is to offer ideas in a package that is compelling enough to make money off of it. I know this isn’t the purpose of writing.. but bottom line is I’d really like to make enough of a profit for it to affect my life in a positive way, on the low end for a car, on the high end for Michele to be a stay at home mom, or in the highest dreamiest place, to have enough money generated where I can do this full time for the rest of my life. You know the dream of any aspiring creative or business person.

Seth Asks:

3. Who is it for?

It’s almost impossible for a piece of writing to change someone. It’s definitely impossible for it to change everyone. So… who is this designed to reach? What do they believe? Do they trust you? Are they inclined to take action?

My Answer:

It’s for Professional Individual Contributors and anyone who has an interest in how society is structured.. it’s for that individual who has a 4 year degree and wonders why they can’t get ahead? It’s to say to them: what do to survive? What are realistic expectations to have about your life and work? Is it even possible to thrive? How did we get here? Where should we go next?

Seth Asks:

4. Will it spread?

After the person you seek to reach reads this, will she share it? Shared action is amplified action.

Your resume is written. So is your Facebook update, your garage sale ad and the memo to your employees.

Writing can make a difference. Write to make a difference.

My Answer

I’ll do youtube, I’ll do twitter, I’ll do podcasts and maybe soundcloud. I’ll write it in different languages and create a community oriented website. I’ll write the type of stuff that I find interesting and I love to share in hopes that others will share it as well.

Will they come? Will they share it? Who the hell knows.

But I will do it, and I’ll invite others along for the ride.  

check out the original post: via Seth’s Blog: Simple questions for writers.