Readymade or Readywhipped

When I first started out in publishing, I had given myself the vague goal of "getting as far as I could in five years." To this day I have no idea what I meant. It probably pushed me further than if I set no goal at all, but it left me directionless and continually anxious about whether I was making it far enough. I learned that a satisfying and successful career would take a lot more creativity, flexibility, and specific vision. But what I didn't learn quickly is that it would take bravery, a willingness to step forward even if I didn't feel ready.

I was at lunch with a friend and colleague named Allen Arnold, a man who I respect in so many ways. He's the fiction publisher at the company where I work, and I always love bumping into him and talking shop. He's creative, competent, and his team is showing some of the most aggressive year-over-year growth in the company . . . without anyone getting cocky about it. His group is kind of a business utopia, and he has a lot to do with it.

So I was surprised when he told me his story of how he became a publisher . . . and how he wasn't at all ready to do it. Coming up through marketing, he would often forge deep and effective relationships with key authors. In fact, he became a key go-to in his group, often running the same interference an associate publisher or publisher would. This could've been enough to get him noticed for career advancement. But he was going even further, influencing company culture and challenging the status quo. He sent a candid "Change Manifesto" (that's my title, not his) to the leader of the company's publishing division detailing ten areas of opportunity either in business operations or company culture. It was unsolicited. Talk about a bold move.

His aptitude and vision for the company led him to the opportunity of leading the fiction divsion. But at the time, he candidly shared, he didn't have experience in company financials, didn't know how to negotiate contracts. He was moving forward without a guarentee of his own readiness. But he wasn't fazed. He didn't say, "Could you let me do some practice first and then hop in the driver's seat?" Opportunities don't wait for learner's permits. Allen was brave. He is also brilliant and had the right raw materials to be a great publisher. But brilliance wouldn't have compelled him to accept a challenge. Only bravery could do that.

Don't fall into the trap that I've recently escaped from: that readiness is an absolute, that you're either readymade for the task at hand or you'll get readywhpped. If you know that you're in the right target zone for your natural gifting, you have a lot more capacity for taking on challenges than you might think. I've learned to step up in my own role, helping to build new organizations, influence company culture, and take bolder moves with my authors to accomplish a grander vision for the projects and the people around me. It's been so satisfying to know that I do have what it takes and to see the great results of moving forward bravely.

I cringe to think of how much growth, excitement, and satisfaction I've foregone. Probably a lot. Don't let a vague benchmark, such as "I'll tackle this challenge when I'm more ready" stop you, especially in your areas of giftedness and talent. I'm confident you'll discover that when you're in or near your sweet spot, your ability to master new things and create better outcomes is much faster than you anticipated. And you'll probably end up getting pretty far in five years.