Comments on: To Cut or Not To Cut http://www.steverrobbins.com/blog/2009/10/to-cut-or-not-to-cut/ Creating Extraordinary Lives Thu, 17 May 2012 07:49:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gregg Sanderson http://www.steverrobbins.com/blog/2009/10/to-cut-or-not-to-cut/#comment-4411 Gregg Sanderson Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:33:22 +0000 http://blog.steverrobbins.com/getitdoneguy/?p=185#comment-4411 Stever... I would suggest that the removed chapters are subjects for TWO more books at the "Do More" end of your scale, even as you can probably think of other items in the "Work Less" end. ... i e. specific organizational skills for various professions... Doctors, Realtors, etc. Think the brilliance of the Chicken Soup books. It started out as just for the soul, then branched out to every other soul. Same with "Do More"... different areas of life... "Do More With Your Relationships", "Do More With Your Persuasive Power", etc. etc. The trick is to build trust and build a following, then you have your ready-made market. Start with a good niche wedge, then you can branch out. As for me, once we get a little settled here in FL, I plan to do something similar with my new book "Fun With Metaphysics: TheWay It Is (Unless It's Something Else)" Stever…

I would suggest that the removed chapters are subjects for TWO more books at the “Do More” end of your scale, even as you can probably think of other items in the “Work Less” end. … i e. specific organizational skills for various professions… Doctors, Realtors, etc.

Think the brilliance of the Chicken Soup books. It started out as just for the soul, then branched out to every other soul. Same with “Do More”… different areas of life… “Do More With Your Relationships”, “Do More With Your Persuasive Power”, etc. etc.

The trick is to build trust and build a following, then you have your ready-made market. Start with a good niche wedge, then you can branch out.

As for me, once we get a little settled here in FL, I plan to do something similar with my new book “Fun With Metaphysics: TheWay It Is (Unless It’s Something Else)”

]]> By: markmacleo http://www.steverrobbins.com/blog/2009/10/to-cut-or-not-to-cut/#comment-4406 markmacleo Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:31:33 +0000 http://blog.steverrobbins.com/getitdoneguy/?p=185#comment-4406 IMOH people skills are relevant for your overall topic. You have invested your time in the work and that cannot be taken away, so not including them means they will be useable later. How about an alternative approach - you want to share the information, editor doesnt want to print them - how about using the Internet? I am expecting the publishing and print media to become more integrated to the Internet rather than competing. Set-up a web page that will be protected for people who puchase the book to then access this further information (and extra credit). The info stays secure to you for use in another book (offr dicsount to Stever fans who buy both books) and you get to share in the info in new format that you are laready championing with podcast, Twitter and blog. IMOH people skills are relevant for your overall topic. You have invested your time in the work and that cannot be taken away, so not including them means they will be useable later.
How about an alternative approach – you want to share the information, editor doesnt want to print them – how about using the Internet? I am expecting the publishing and print media to become more integrated to the Internet rather than competing. Set-up a web page that will be protected for people who puchase the book to then access this further information (and extra credit). The info stays secure to you for use in another book (offr dicsount to Stever fans who buy both books) and you get to share in the info in new format that you are laready championing with podcast, Twitter and blog.

]]> By: Robert Wallace http://www.steverrobbins.com/blog/2009/10/to-cut-or-not-to-cut/#comment-4401 Robert Wallace Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:44:51 +0000 http://blog.steverrobbins.com/getitdoneguy/?p=185#comment-4401 If you are really about 'Work less-Do more' you have already completed two chapters of your next book. Let this book become a hit, and your next one will flow quicker and easier. Listen to your editor and have a great life. If you are really about ‘Work less-Do more’ you have already completed two chapters of your next book. Let this book become a hit, and your next one will flow quicker and easier. Listen to your editor and have a great life.

]]> By: Erin Lancione http://www.steverrobbins.com/blog/2009/10/to-cut-or-not-to-cut/#comment-4396 Erin Lancione Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:59:34 +0000 http://blog.steverrobbins.com/getitdoneguy/?p=185#comment-4396 Apply the two other chapters towards a second manuscript. They'll make fascinating reading, especially if you include material on organizational behavior & navigating workplace relationships. Apply the two other chapters towards a second manuscript. They’ll make fascinating reading, especially if you include material on organizational behavior & navigating workplace relationships.

]]> By: Steve http://www.steverrobbins.com/blog/2009/10/to-cut-or-not-to-cut/#comment-4391 Steve Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:11:15 +0000 http://blog.steverrobbins.com/getitdoneguy/?p=185#comment-4391 my view would be cut the chapters as suggested by the editor and keep the book as focusd as possible. Provide the missing chapters as value added 'free' down loadable content - which you could reference in other parts of the book as 'see here for more details on the subject of relationships' for example. You could also then use them, maybe with updated info, in your next book. Everyone's a winner? Would not have thought that people who buy the next book would fel that short changed if a couple of the chpaters had been made available online previously. Guess thought you would loose the financial reward for those 2 chapters - but those 2 free chapters could be a good marketing move so maybe think longer term. Best of luck whatever you do - love the podcast dude! Steve my view would be cut the chapters as suggested by the editor and keep the book as focusd as possible.

Provide the missing chapters as value added ‘free’ down loadable content – which you could reference in other parts of the book as ‘see here for more details on the subject of relationships’ for example.

You could also then use them, maybe with updated info, in your next book. Everyone’s a winner? Would not have thought that people who buy the next book would fel that short changed if a couple of the chpaters had been made available online previously. Guess thought you would loose the financial reward for those 2 chapters – but those 2 free chapters could be a good marketing move so maybe think longer term.

Best of luck whatever you do – love the podcast dude!

Steve

]]> By: skywind http://www.steverrobbins.com/blog/2009/10/to-cut-or-not-to-cut/#comment-4386 skywind Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:30:20 +0000 http://blog.steverrobbins.com/getitdoneguy/?p=185#comment-4386 Save them for your next book. Save them for your next book.

]]> By: Michael Purpura http://www.steverrobbins.com/blog/2009/10/to-cut-or-not-to-cut/#comment-4381 Michael Purpura Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:00:46 +0000 http://blog.steverrobbins.com/getitdoneguy/?p=185#comment-4381 Could make them into an audio product and up-sell them in the back of your book. Either way I (and many, many other people) will gladly pay to read them. Could make them into an audio product and up-sell them in the back of your book.

Either way I (and many, many other people) will gladly pay to read them.

]]> By: Bill http://www.steverrobbins.com/blog/2009/10/to-cut-or-not-to-cut/#comment-4376 Bill Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:45:31 +0000 http://blog.steverrobbins.com/getitdoneguy/?p=185#comment-4376 Save the chapters in their entirety for your next book. But... Pull the best Work Less / Do More info from the two chapters to combine in into one "People Power"-type chapter that (hopefully) your editor will feel flows with the rest of the book. Rework (ugh) as necessary to connect concepts in this combined chapter with topics in other chapters. When this book is a best seller, you can say that you've already started your next book, which will expand on the People Power concepts you introduced in the first book. A literary one-two punch. Save the chapters in their entirety for your next book. But…

Pull the best Work Less / Do More info from the two chapters to combine in into one “People Power”-type chapter that (hopefully) your editor will feel flows with the rest of the book. Rework (ugh) as necessary to connect concepts in this combined chapter with topics in other chapters.

When this book is a best seller, you can say that you’ve already started your next book, which will expand on the People Power concepts you introduced in the first book. A literary one-two punch.

]]> By: Wayne Buckhanan http://www.steverrobbins.com/blog/2009/10/to-cut-or-not-to-cut/#comment-4371 Wayne Buckhanan Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:37:16 +0000 http://blog.steverrobbins.com/getitdoneguy/?p=185#comment-4371 I vote for cutting the chapters and leaving behind a solid motivation for the importance of the topics. Lead them to another resource for the info (preferably yours! ;), add a supplement on the book website, use it as a loss leader for generating buzz about the book, show people the reasons for the paper clip counting and point them to the WM-DL details in this book, make it a bonus for buying on a specific day/week (you are going to do an Amazon ''bum rush'', ne?), use it to spread the tips book into a niche that wouldn't originally have sought it out, etc. I read Gay Hendricks book The Big Leap recently and it was great up until the chapter or two that he was obviously passionate about and were a potential next step for readers but were disjointed from the main thesis of the book. Maybe he could have pulled it off by making them an appendix. It sounds like you've got too much bulk to make that work. Good luck with the emotional attachment. Have you taken second position for your ideal reader to check out how the book works with and without those two chapters? I vote for cutting the chapters and leaving behind a solid motivation for the importance of the topics. Lead them to another resource for the info (preferably yours! ;) , add a supplement on the book website, use it as a loss leader for generating buzz about the book, show people the reasons for the paper clip counting and point them to the WM-DL details in this book, make it a bonus for buying on a specific day/week (you are going to do an Amazon ”bum rush”, ne?), use it to spread the tips book into a niche that wouldn’t originally have sought it out, etc.

I read Gay Hendricks book The Big Leap recently and it was great up until the chapter or two that he was obviously passionate about and were a potential next step for readers but were disjointed from the main thesis of the book. Maybe he could have pulled it off by making them an appendix. It sounds like you’ve got too much bulk to make that work.

Good luck with the emotional attachment. Have you taken second position for your ideal reader to check out how the book works with and without those two chapters?

]]> By: Ryan http://www.steverrobbins.com/blog/2009/10/to-cut-or-not-to-cut/#comment-4366 Ryan Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:16:01 +0000 http://blog.steverrobbins.com/getitdoneguy/?p=185#comment-4366 Not sure how to express this... I think you can keep the message from these chapters without keeping all of the content. All of the life hacks I have implemented have allowed me time to be smarter about relationships and planning how I will enroll others' in helping get the job done (how I think of persuasion). The result is "do more." You have communicated that in this post very succinctly and you can frame the book with this to get around the "clean office" stereotype. Your two chapters will make a logical next book. I am echoing what has been said already, I realize, but wanted to share my 2 cents. Not sure how to express this… I think you can keep the message from these chapters without keeping all of the content. All of the life hacks I have implemented have allowed me time to be smarter about relationships and planning how I will enroll others’ in helping get the job done (how I think of persuasion). The result is “do more.” You have communicated that in this post very succinctly and you can frame the book with this to get around the “clean office” stereotype. Your two chapters will make a logical next book.

I am echoing what has been said already, I realize, but wanted to share my 2 cents.

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