#149: Daniel Pink – How to write like a New York Times bestselling author
May 23, 2023
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Join bestselling author Daniel Pink as he shares insights from his latest work, "The Power of Regret," revealing how analyzing 16,000 regrets can lead to personal growth. Discover why following your passion might be misguided and learn his unique rules for prolific writing. Pink discusses the importance of balancing effort with practicality, his disciplined writing routine, and how thorough research shapes compelling narratives. He also highlights the art of crafting effective book proposals that resonate with both readers and the market.
Focus on natural gravitations for career fulfillment over finding a passion.
Prioritize quality, adaptability, and process-oriented thinking for success.
Ensure book-worthy concept with thorough research and feedback before writing a book.
Deep dives
Impactful Marketing Through Psychological Triggers
The podcast episode delves into how psychology can be a powerful tool when integrated with marketing strategies. By leveraging psychological triggers in communication and marketing efforts, the episode highlights the significant impact it can have on influencing consumer behavior and brand engagement. Through examples and insights shared, the episode emphasizes the effectiveness of understanding and utilizing psychological principles in marketing campaigns.
Reframing Passion to Purpose and Contribution
The discussion challenges the conventional advice of 'follow your passion' by suggesting alternative questions for personal and professional fulfillment. Instead of fixating on finding one's passion, the episode encourages individuals to focus on what they naturally gravitate towards and what contributions they can make. By reframing the narrative to 'what do you do' and 'where can I make my biggest contribution,' the episode advocates for a more practical and impactful approach to career choices and personal fulfillment.
Strategic Approaches to Productivity and Success
The podcast explores the importance of process-oriented thinking and strategic decision-making in achieving success. Emphasizing the significance of focusing on the process rather than fixating on specific outcomes, the episode highlights the value of continuously refining one's approach based on feedback and adaptation. By prioritizing quality, listening to audience feedback, and being nimble in adjusting strategies, the episode advocates for a resilient and growth-oriented mindset towards attaining personal and professional goals.
Importance of Concept Development in Writing a Book
Before embarking on writing a book, it is crucial to ensure that the concept is book-worthy. This entails evaluating whether the idea has the depth and appeal to justify a full-length book. Dan Pink advises aspiring authors to consider if someone unrelated would invest time and money in reading the content. Additionally, he recommends creating a one-page summary to gather feedback from trusted individuals, questioning the uniqueness and necessity of the book's premise before proceeding further.
Adopting a Research-Backed Approach to Writing
Dan Pink emphasizes the value of in-depth research in producing high-quality written content. He suggests immersing oneself in extensive research, sometimes involving reviewing a multitude of papers and sources to ensure depth and accuracy. Pink highlights the need for a rigorous yet unglamorous approach to research, which involves dedicating significant time and effort to gather, analyze, and synthesize information. Furthermore, he emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough market research to understand existing literature and identify gaps for a new book to thrive.
Dan is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. As part of the research for this book, Dan analyzed 16,000 regrets from more than 100 countries. It’s a great book and I highly recommend it.
His other books include the New York Times bestsellers When and A Whole New Mind — as well as the #1 New York Times bestsellers Drive and To Sell is Human. Dan’s books have won multiple awards, have been translated into 42 languages, and have sold millions of copies around the world.
Before he was an author, Dan worked in several positions in politics and government, including serving from 1995 to 1997 as chief speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore. You may also know Dan from of his TED talk, the puzzle of motivation which has received more than 10 million views.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why following your passion can be bad advice
When to maximize vs when to satisfice
Dan’s rules for writing that allow him to be so prolific as an author
And why Dan doesn’t write about the same subject in all of his books
