The Word Leader Podcast

Very few things bring people as much meaning as building. Whether it be a brand, a business, or a portfolio… we humans love building. That's why we've seen the rise and fall of empires, the growth and collapse of multinational corporations, and the advancement of the arts and sciences. In this episode, I'd like to suggest that rather than thinking of building something specific first, start by thinking of the body of work you would like to create. What would you like to leave behind? In this episode, I give you the keys to understanding and beginning to build your body of work.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. To learn how to write like a leader, take our short course, The Architecture of Writing.

In this episode, I share with you three ways to use writing as a means to achieve more happiness and wealth. Writing, in its essence, is a tool for business success and personal development. It's a craft you can use not only to communicate with other people but also to understand yourself. I personally recommend writing every single day—regardless of how much you write. A simple journaling practice can make the world of a difference in your life.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. To learn how to write like a leader, take our short course, The Architecture of Writing.

In this episode, I talk about a writing paradox you may have never thought about. Writing is a skill necessary for success, yet its economics are far from great. Why? Because there are more writers than there is demand for writing. Still, writers can make a great living by choosing a profitable industry and by honing their craft. The people who truly make fantastic money from writing, however, are those who have expertise outside writing. After all, writing is an amplifier. It amplifies what already exists.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. To learn how to write like a leader, take our short course, The Architecture of Writing.

ChatGPT is a free, new, and revolutionary AI technology that generates “original” text within seconds after being prompted by the user. Since its release in November 2022, people have been contending that ChatGPT is bound to replace writers. But what are the implications of using ChatGPT? Might ChatGPT be a scam? This is the question we answer in this episode, and the answer might surprise you.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. To learn how to write like a leader, take our short course, The Architecture of Writing.

I was at a bar on Friday. And as is often the case when meeting new people, I was asked what I do for a living. So I said, as I commonly do (unless I decide to be cheeky), that I write books and help others do the same. So far so good. But my interlocutor was a curious one. So I was pressed to give more details and was asked one very interesting question. "Léandre, can anyone write a book? What is the level of skill needed?" I wanted to share my answer here because someone might need to hear it.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

In this episode, I interview Maida Celedón M., a life coach based out of Toronto, Canada, who recently published her first personal development book, The Road to F*ck It: An Unapologetic Guide to Standing in Your Power with Trivium Writing's help. During our conversation, we talked about the book writing process, personal development, coaching, and what led Maida to write this unconventional book.The Road to F*ck It takes a bold approach to personal development. Straightforward, narrative, and full of personality, the book takes readers on a journey to "F*ck it" —the moment they get off the passenger's seat of their life and finally take the wheel.Connect with Maida through her website or her Instagram page. To purchase a copy of her book, click here.

Have you ever wanted to become an author? If so, this episode is for you as we interview Dr. David Diehl, a retired educator from Houston, TX, who worked with Trivium Writing on his very first book The Umbrella: Your Personal Guide to Weathering Life Storms. During this interview, we talk about Dr. Diehl's book, which is all about creating better ways of thinking to navigate life situations. We also discuss the process of going from an idea to a published book.To purchase your copy of The Umbrella, click here.To connect with Dr. David Diehl, find him on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. To learn more about Dr. Diehl and his book, visit The Umbrella's website.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

To be persuasive, you should avoid certain words and phrases. One of them is the phrase "it's interesting to note that..." The reason this phrase hinders your persuasion is that it forces a conclusion onto the reader. Your readers are capable of making their conclusions, and if they come to the same conclusions as you do, they will be persuaded. But if they feel you are pushing your conclusions onto them, they will not hear you out.  Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

There is a large difference between speaking and writing as far as persuasion goes. When we speak, we can use tonality and body language to show confidence. But when we write, we have to double down on the power of our words themselves, and we can do so by revising and editing our words.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

Can any type of content be persuasive? The short answer is "yes," but it depends on the writing goal. In Trivium Writing's Architecture of Writing methodology, there are 4 writing goals: description, narration, narration, and persuasion. These 4 goals contribute to content being persuasive, but in the end, for content to be persuasive, there must be an intention for the content to be persuasive. For example, a biology textbook isn't persuasive; but Darwin's On the Evolution of Species was very persuasive when it was published.  Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

From time to time, you will find yourself faced with an unconvincing sentence. The rest of the text may be persuasive, but one sentence in particular sounds off. To fix an unconvincing sentence, you have to ask yourself the following question: is the problem inside or outside the sentence? In other words, is the problem the words or the content? If the problem is inside the sentence, you must revise the words and choose them more carefully. If the problem is outside the sentence, then you must revise the paragraph's content.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

How can you tell if a sentence is persuasive? Sure, you can know if a text is persuasive. But how can you tell if one sentence in particular helps the text being persuasive? The answer lies in the certainty of the language. Some words and phrases such as "I think" and "I believe" insert doubt in your writing. Unless you actually doubt what you are writing, in which case you perhaps should not be writing it, do not use doubtful language. The more doubt you insert into your writing, the less persuasive you are.This episode is the first in a series of podcasts on the topic of persuasion. I would like to thank you Carlo Cabrera for asking me questions about writing and persuasion.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

What's interesting about Hollywood movies is they follow a specific structure. Not only that, we can know the structure and have studied and still feel emotionally compelled by it. Why is that? That's because humans are completely wired for story. We understand the world through storytelling, and we crave stories. So, when writing and communicating, make sure you are telling stories.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

The other day, I was reading the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list and noticed something particular. What was it? It was that the top 5 books on the list all had one thing in common: their title was one word only. Of course, that fact does bear significance: it means these words are very strong and capable of drawing the audience in. In this episode, we look at these book titles and how powerful a single word can be.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

It can be hard to stay focused and productive when working on a long piece of writing. One thing I have noticed about myself is that varying where I write helps me a great deal in staying focused. I enjoy being in different environments, in different positions (sitting, standing), and using different devices. I have three different locations where I write in my apartment, and I also frequently go to coffee shops. I also have three devices I use to write: a mac mini, a Macbook, and an iPad. Having these different devices helps me vary where and how I write, which is extremely valuable. Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

Not very long ago, I was reminded by a lawyer that the written word is more persuasive than speech. I should know better since I talk about the importance of writing every single day to anyone willing to hear me out. But I may be excused this time as I was under pressure and looking to avoid a legal dispute. What had happened? I was speaking with an attorney hours before a scheduled meeting with the other party. When I told the attorney I thought I should simply speak with the other party during the meeting, he interrupted me. He said, "no, the written is more persuasive. Write an email, then go to the meeting." I thought, "well, if people won't believe me, they should at least believe the attorney." Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of The Architecture of Writing guide.

I was driving down in Toronto when suddenly I was struck with a sense of sadness and nostalgia. What had happened? I was driving by an avenue where an ex-lover was living when we were seven years ago. I associated that specific corner of the city with the heartbreak that occurred because it was around there I last saw that woman. But how could my emotions be triggered? It was because of the words written on the buildings on that corner. ICICI Bank and Intel. These words, with the image of these buildings, were carved into my mind in association with these feelings. This should all teach us a lesson, which is that words can trigger emotions in the subtlest of ways. When we write, we must be aware that words trigger emotions, and we can use this to our reader's advantage. Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

The Word Leader Podcast is back from a longer-than-expected break! Today's episode is an interview with author and social engineer Ben Bressington. Benjamin is a speaker and author of multiple books. His latest book People Ignorant: Unlocking Success, Confidence & Influence.Ben has a Law & Criminology degree from Australia. Ben spent 10 years helping Fortune 1000 companies apply gamification principles to their sales and communication process.  Now he spends his time helping people improve their sales conversations. Specifically, he helps people close deals faster and discover the hidden opportunities in their daily communication.  With his company, Behavior Sales, Ben designs algorithms for persuasion.To learn more about  Behavior Sales, visit behaviorsales.comBehavior Sales Social Media Linkshttps://www.facebook.com/behaviorsaleshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/behavior-salesBen's personal social media pageshttps://www.facebook.com/benjamin.bressingtonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminbressington

It's hard to believe, but we have passed the 300th episode of The Word Leader Podcast. We are going to take a short pause until the end of the year, and we'll be back strong in January 2022.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

Stories sell, but how do you write a story? Not every piece of information in your hand is a story, but it can become one if you make it so. Remember that a story is made of someone doing something. There needs to be a character and an important action. These two elements create a journey, and the journey creates a change. The character's action is made in order to solve a problem. But the character can't resolve the problem right away. He or she needs to change and become better to do so. By the end of the story, the character is a new person, which gives people the hope of transformation for themselves.   Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

You don't need to be in love with writing to be a good writer. You simply need to be observant and analytical. You can identify the patterns of good writing. Learn some writing concepts and identify them in texts you love. Start implementing these patterns in your own writing, one at a time. Slowly but surely you'll be implementing most of the patterns found in good writing. You can guess what good writing is, but that's going to take you a long time. Looking for patterns is the perfect shortcut to improve your writing.  Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

The best and easiest way to improve your writing is to cut words and sentences. The less words you have, the more impact each word has. The same goes for sentences. Shorter and more concise texts require more from readers. The more engaged the reader, the more power your writing has. When you strike someone's imagination, you leave a mark on their mind. Less is more, always.  Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

You can educate people all you want, but nothing comes close to letting them come to their own conclusions. Your job as a writer is to connect facts, ideas, and stories for readers to make their own minds. You can try to force a perspective down their throat, but you likely won't succeed. Your job is simpler than that. Connect the right information in the right order with the right transitions, and the truth will become obvious. It will shine. It will glow. You'll be rewarded as a thought leader.  Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

Some books contain knowledge that will change your life. Knowledge is power, as the saying goes. But power can kill you, too—or at least leave you incapacitated. Knowledge is empowering if one knows how to use it. There are many unfortunate things about the world we live in, and knowing all about it without the ability to change anything is soul-crushing. You need to grow to handle the truth. If you read more than you grow, you may become jaded and miserable. Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

If you're writing and publishing a book, one of your goals is to sell copies. To sell copies, you must be cognizant of what's been done before you because success leaves a trail. In the end, you have to find a compromise between what you really want (which doesn't necessarily sell) and what works (what sells). One of the biggest mistakes we make both in writing/publishing and business is giving the market what we think it wants—not what it actually wants. Whether for your title, content, or book cover, look at what's worked before to get some inspiration. But remember to stay true to yourself!Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

What's hard about writing a good book is keeping the quality consistent. All too often, when we write our first draft, the quality of our content and writing vary between chapters and sections. Although it can be avoided through solid writing foundations, it's not completely abnormal. Writing is a difficult task, and writing well is even more so. But that's why you should always have people to review your work—whether or not they're professionals. The more pairs of eyes, the better. These people may not know how to fix the issues in your book, but they can at least point them out. You can also work with a professional writer to make sure your book is consistent. If the quality of your book isn't consistent across the whole book, you risk letting down your readers.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

It's tempting to believe that we can only learn how to write well by reading books on writing, by writing a lot, or by taking a graduate program. But the reality is that the mechanics of writing are only one aspect of writing—and it's not even the most important. The most important aspect of writing is human psychology. How well do you understand how people think and process information? That makes the biggest difference in your writing. That's why a lot of non-trained writers have become successful writers. At the end of the day, you can learn how to write anywhere—just look at the world around you and pay attention to how people behave.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

Books take time to write, and that's a good thing. You've probably been in a situation where you spoke too fast and regretted it. Or perhaps you've sent a text message and didn't take the time to evaluate whether you meant what you wrote. That happens to the best of us. But that happens because we don't take the time to review ourselves. Books are great pieces because they afford you the ability to review yourself. So, by writing a book, you can give your message more credence. And by reading books, you can get your hands on better, more thoughtful information. Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

When I was in university, I used personal branding to get good grades on my paper. I developed a very unique way of writing papers, and they usually involved mixing cultural politics and humour. The reality is that you can brand yourself through the way you write and the way you communicate. Branding can be found in everything, and everything can be branded. In the end, your branding is simply how people talk about you when you're not in the room. It's how you're remembered by your audience. Use branding to your advantage.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

Two important needs humans have are certainty and variety. Though certainty matters because people need to trust you to take them somewhere, variety matters a great deal because people get bored if they can predict what's next. At every level of your writing and communication, you need to offer variety. You do so by changing the variables you are using. Variables can be themes, paragraph length, sentence types, and much more. Once you understand the variables of writing and communication, you can vary them and make your writing engaging.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

Conceptual thinking is the ability to connect ideas and turn abstract thoughts into compelling concepts people can visualize. This skill is highly profitable and highly underrated. We don't talk a lot about conceptual thinking, just as we don't talk a lot about writing. Yet it is so important. Conceptual thinking produces best-selling books, billion-dollar brands, and paradigm-shifting thought leaders. Conceptual thinking is the very core of what makes information compelling. If we can feel it, and conceptualize it, we can see it. If we can see it, we can believe it. Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

If you feel you're struggling with writing, you need to ask yourself why. You need to assess your expectations and vision. You also need feedback. The truth might be that you're doing just fine, and that your expectations are too high for where you are. High achievers have a way of always looking ahead and wanting to improve. But you can't get ahead of yourself. Perhaps the only problem you have is perception. Because, after all, your main question should be, “is my writing achieving its goal?” If it's not, you need to understand why so that you can solve the issue. This can only happen if you evaluate what the actual goal is.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

A client asked how to bridge the gap between being structured and being generic. The truth is that structure doesn't need to be generic. The problem with book and content coaches is they put a bandaid on the problem of structure. They say, “put these elements in this order” when in fact the order doesn't matter much. Sure, some things need to go at the beginning and others at the end. But, if you want to write something compelling, you need to trust your creative instincts and let the structure come to you. Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

Writing is the key to a successful life because writing is formalized thinking. Good thinking leads to a good life. But why is that? There are two ways writing can be useful to lead a good life. First, writing helps us figure out what we want. Writing about the future helps get a crystal-clear picture of what we want out of life. Second, writing helps us reconcile ourselves with the past. By writing, we can better understand how we feel about the things that have happened and we can improve our relationship with the past. If you write both about the future and the past, you'll be set for success no matter what happens to you. Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today. Buy the Self-Authoring program at https://selfauthoring.com/ (I am not affiliated with them and am not receiving a commission.)

One of my mentors once told me, “No. Stop. You're growing too fast and not slowing down for your audience. Teach one simple nugget at a time, and your audience will be better off. Stop letting your expertise be your biggest shortcoming.” Damn, he was right. He was completely right, and it was tough to accept. Unfortunately, this happens to everyone—even the people who teach communication. We get so immersed into our field that we forget the world outside. But we need to come back to reality. We need to eat our dog food. So remember to slow down; you may be going to fast for your audience.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

If you write a book for the first time, you'll quickly notice that it's like opening a Pandora's box. You'll find a lot more than you thought you would. In fact, you may wonder whether you have more than one book. You may wonder if you should be expanding your thoughts—or not. You may wonder if you should be blogging, if you should be writing articles, and the like. It's normal. You have more than a book. You have a content library. Your thoughts are not just many, they are evolving. Your substance changes over time. Think about your book as the beginning, not the end. Your book is the beginning of a web of knowledge.Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

While writing your book, you'll get feedback from other people. But chances are that you're attached to your work and taking criticism (even if constructive) can be difficult. I catch myself every so often wincing at the feedback I get when it's not what I want it to be. Of course, I'd like to get everything perfectly the first time. Don't we all? But, in those instances, I remind myself that I'm not doing this for myself. I'm not writing for myself. I'm writing for other people. I'm trying to lead, and as Simon Sinek says, “leaders eat last.” I swallow my pride and evaluate the feedback objectively. This is the only way to handle feedback.  Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

We often dismiss theory on the basis that it's not as useful as practice. We often believe that “practical” books—how-to books—are inherently better. I think that is because we live in the era of personal development. But let's not dismiss theory because we need theory to get to the practical stuff. We need to lay out theories about the world because we don't have all the answers just yet. We need to form theories because they guide us through our investigations of the world. We need theory as much as practice, so let's not dismiss it.  Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

We often talk about all the beautiful things that come with writing and being an author. Of course, writing is a potent way to make a mark on the world and impact other people's lives. But writing can also backfire. Words have lives of their own, and so do texts. Think of how Karl Marx's work was appropriated by various revolutionaries who killed millions of people. The truth is that most people who write are well-intended. They believe they are doing the right thing. But their writing can be appropriated nonetheless. Your responsibility as an author is to be crystal clear about your prescriptions. You can't stop people from interpreting your work, but you can at least make clear what you stand for and what you stand against. Visit www.triviumwriting.com to learn more about writing, read our blog, and grab our resources. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

In the traditional publishing world, books are the fruit of a collaboration between an author and an editor. It's impossible to overstate the importance of the editor. The editor acts on behalf of the audience and the publishing company. After all, giving a book deal to an author is a business decision—it's an investment. From the publisher's company, the book needs to yield a return, and the editor helps in ensuring the book will yield a return. But if you're not going to take the traditional publishing route, then you still need someone to help you with your book. Arguably, it's even more important for you to have someone to help you.  Join The Word Leader Facebook Community to learn more about writing, connect with like-minded fellows, and get support in your writing journey. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

I am not an artist. At least, I don't consider myself one. Sure, I do like poetry and like to put rhythm in my writing. Still, I don't consider myself an artist because I don't think like one. The way I approach writing is closer to architecture. Over the past decade, I've dissected writing and broke it down into its different elements. When I write, I write through an approach I've created. That approach is called “The Architecture of Writing.” It's logical, methodical, and surgical. The idea behind “The Architecture of Writing” is that writing a book, or anything else, is like building a house. Join The Word Leader Facebook Community to learn more about writing, connect with like-minded fellows, and get support in your writing journey. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

Almost every aspiring author thinks they need a destination when, in reality, they need a direction. You don't need to know precisely where you'll land to get to the place where you need to be. It's just like life. (Ouh!) The people who carefully plan every aspect of their life and their final destination miss out on the richness of the world. In other words, they stifle opportunities and kill spontaneity. You can plan your book while also leaving room for creativity. The truth about writing is that it's a humbling and enriching experience. Join The Word Leader Facebook Community to learn more about writing, connect with like-minded fellows, and get support in your writing journey. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

“Assumption” is a dirty word. We're told we shouldn't make assumptions about people, how things will go, and just about anything we can think of. Assumptions are the opposite of empirical evidence, so the story goes. And the story is true — in certain contexts, at least. For example, you shouldn't assume someone's behaviours based on their ethnicity, nor should you run online advertisements based on your assumptions about the market. But writing is a different context, and the process requires a healthy level of assumptions. After all, when you're publishing content or books, you can't know for sure who's going to buy it.Join The Word Leader Facebook Community to learn more about writing, connect with like-minded fellows, and get support in your writing journey. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

Let's be honest: The people who open their mouths simply because they like the sound of their voice aren't worth listening to. Neither are the people who interject because they think they're smart and know it all. People of substance talk when they have something valuable to say, namely, when they know something that's missing from the conversation. When they don't, they listen to what other people have to say, and they learn. The same is true with writing. You should start your book from what's missing in the conversation your community is having. You should look deep within yourself to find what you can contribute.Join The Word Leader Facebook Community to learn more about writing, connect with like-minded fellows, and get support in your writing journey. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

So, what do your people talk about? That's the general topic. Within a group of people, there's always one (or many) recurring conversation topics determined by the group's identity. For example, when mechanics get together, they don't talk about philosophy. That doesn't mean mechanics aren't interested in philosophy; it just means that's not what they generally talk about together. What makes the world beautiful is that we live our lives in different communities. If we only hang out with one group of people, we'd miss out on the richness of life and valuable opportunities. Join The Word Leader Facebook Community to learn more about writing, connect with like-minded fellows, and get support in your writing journey. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

As an individual, you are multifaceted. You have different desires, interests, problems, and pains. This means you are part of different communities. Communities have different bodies of knowledge and different understand- ings of the world. As an individual, you contribute to your communities in different ways… Which is an exciting opportunity for you! But here's the kicker: Those communities are hosting dinner parties every night, and you can only attend one. You can't be at two dinner parties at the same time. This leads to a very important idea: At any given time, there is only one book you should be writing.Join The Word Leader Facebook Community to learn more about writing, connect with like-minded fellows, and get support in your writing journey. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

I always talk about how everything starts from your identity, but the tools also matter in the writing process. The tools matter because they influence your identity. You need to love the way your tools make you feel throughout the writing process—otherwise, you won't stay motivated and you won't enjoy the journey. For example, I recently bought a Lamy fountain pen. One of the reasons I wanted one was that I knew a nice pen would help me take journaling seriously and do it more often. It would also force me to treat my handwriting seriously, too. Join The Word Leader Facebook Community to learn more about writing, connect with like-minded fellows, and get support in your writing journey. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

You always hear me talk about writing on this podcast, but writing is just the beginning. Writing is a tool you can use for your life, your business, or your personal development. But once you've written and published something, you need to stand by it. You need to live up to its promise. By writing, you've made a commitment to the world about the type of person you are and the type of world you want to live in. You have to act accordingly. In the end, you can be the best writer in the world, you can use the written word compellingly, but if you don't live by your word, you haven't accomplished anything worthy with your writing. Your writing becomes a part of you, and you must honor it. Join The Word Leader Facebook Community to learn more about writing, connect with like-minded fellows, and get support in your writing journey. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

Even if you haven't published anything yet, you are someone's favorite writer. Someone somewhere is craving for the way you articulate your experience as a human. Someone somewhere wants to hear your deepest thoughts about who we are, what we're doing, and why we're here. We have intellectual sister souls—people who feel the same things we do, people who think similarly—and frankly, there's nothing better than meeting them. There's nothing more satisfying than being told by someone we've articulated something they've thought for so long but couldn't.Join The Word Leader Facebook Community to learn more about writing, connect with like-minded fellows, and get support in your writing journey. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

There is a word I love in the English language, and that word is serendipity. That word means an unexpected discovery or finding something different than what you were expecting. There exists book serendipity, and there also exists writing serendipity. And the latter makes writing frighteningly beautiful. Book serendipity is finding a book you need at the library while picking up another one. Writing serendipity, though, is writing something you otherwise wouldn't have because you sat down and wrote at a specific moment. Writing serendipity is real, and it's uncanny. You should see it as a jealous God, something to be awe-struck by and also afraid of.Join The Word Leader Facebook Community to learn more about writing, connect with like-minded fellows, and get support in your writing journey. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.

There are very few things that are going to make a bigger difference in your writing than certainty. Certainty, or the state of being certain, means that you do not let other people's doubts bring you down. Of course, it's a state that's difficult to achieve, and you won't achieve it by “faking it until you make it.” You'll achieve certainty by focusing on the things you are knowledgeable about. You'll achieve it by saying things that you know are true. The world needs more certain people. Especially in the last few years, we've seen a lot of chaos and uncertainty in the world. It's your time to be the leader you can be, and to show the world the certainty you have about your ideas.Join The Word Leader Facebook Community to learn more about writing, connect with like-minded fellows, and get support in your writing journey. Get your copy of Write a Book That Matters today.