How Long Does it Take?

The most common question I am asked when people realize that I have written and published a 678 page book is, “How long did this take you?” I’ve never tried to duck the question, but it is not as simple as just giving a date. The truth is that it has taken a lifetime. Or perhaps I could limit it to my professional career. My professional career was preceded by many years of education, which certainly provided skills and knowledge that applied to the topic.

I have been observing leaders, non-leaders, and those in leadership positions my entire career. I have made many notes along the way. I have read, reviewed, and made notes from several hundred books. I have mulled the concept over for a very long time and described that process here.

It was in 2015 when I finally started to put pen to paper and create a manuscript that would become Sustained Leadership WBS. That manuscript, after several rounds of edits (in itself a story with several emergent issues) got to the publisher in 2017, and was released in October, 2017.

So how long did it take? Decades? A lifetime? Two years? I have no idea what the “right” answer might be. All I know is that this one is out there ready to prepare new leaders. And the next one has already been outlined.

What I do know for certain is that unless and until you get started, you will never finish. What is holding you up?