Crowdsourcing Inspiration: A Boost or a Block?
Is it possible to harness public feedback, without losing direction of your own goals?
I’ve started working publicly and sharing some ideas on what I’d like to write next. Part of this process is socialising those ideas (hence, this Substack!) to see what resonates with others. It’s important to remember—you’re not your own market.
This week, I shared a post on Instagram and LinkedIn, and now I feel even more confused. Of the three choices I offered, there’s been a three-way tie!
Here’s the post
CAST YOUR VOTE! I’m keen to jump off my own Hesitation Station and start mapping out my next book.
The best advice given to me from
The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint was written for someone who says, “Ok, I’ve been asked to host a 2 hour workshop in a couple of weeks, I have my content but how on earth do I turn it into an engaging workshop experience?”… that’s when you prescribe my book as the medicine.
Here are the “themes” of questions I’m typically asked when I work with clients, so thinking my next book might be along these lines.
Ideally, the book will be targeting a very specific problem but to kick off, I’d love YOUR OPINION to see any of these broad themes resonate.
If so, just pop 1, 2 or 3 in the comments, or of course, 4: Add your own!
📘1. I’ve been sitting on an idea for a while. I’m excited about it how do you quickly turn an idea into action without overthinking it? (A book about thought breeding and getting off the Hesitation Station. Stop delaying, take immediate action).
📘2. You seem to get pretty cool opportunities with some amazing people around the world. I’d love that, too! (A book about how to create brilliant collaborations with people you admire/would love to work with).
📘 3. I want to get myself out there more and atttact amazing opportunities! (A book about breaking out of the Alcatraz in your own mind, and finding a way to suBtly promote what you do fearlessly, without feeling weird about it).
📘 4. … Anything else? What am I missing? Your ideas pls!
...
So, what is it: 1, 2, 3, 4?
Cast your vote in the comments, or send me a msg.
Here are the results:
Instagram poll
50% like the idea of the hesitation station
30% suBtle self-promotion
20% attracting 11/10 opportunities.
LinkedIn results
It’s a complete split between all three, but I’m paying close attention to the qualitative data in the comments.
Why? Because Pat Flynn talks about learning the "lyrics."
When it comes to marketing a book (or even thinking about the title/subtitle), understanding how your audience describes their problem is key. That’s how you get those magical responses to your work, things like,"It’s like you read my mind!"
Here are some LinkedIn comments that I’ll dig into more:
I love all of those ideas Leanne so there's at least 3 books there for you which is great. Number one probably appeals to me the most right now as people are drowning in overwhelm and too many ideas. Result: they often stay stuck because it's hard to see the wood for the trees and know which is the best way to go as the first step right now. Unfortunately, we all (myself included) overthink (paralysis analysis) and overcomplicate things when we don't have clarity so a great framework to quickly from mountains of ideas to action one with single-minded purpose would be great.
They are all great options. Which one calls to you most? If I had to choose, I love the action of one - I think that’s why so many of us need the method to get started (or restart). The impulse to try, to experiment, lean in (or learn in).
All of them. But I think you have some magical superpowers with #1 and I’d love to read more of your thought process there
There's something about 'attracting' opportunities. Navigating the line between 'forcing' versus 'attracting' opportunities is a largely unspoken element. Really unpicking this could be interesting!
I reckon you could do something very unique with 2 and 3. With your lived experience you could create an awesome book out of either idea, they might even be part of the same book.
Being global: How to make yourself relevant and transcend your local presence into being international.
If you weighed in, thank you!
The next step
Reading these, I see overlapping themes that might come together into one solution.
Next week, I’m taking myself on my strategy off-site to the Gold Coast to play with words, explore market trends, and figure out which idea is calling me right now.
I’ll also dive into my back catalogue of LinkedIn posts, client work, emails, and podcast episodes from the last 12 months. There might be some hidden gems I can connect (time to mind map!).