If you could speak to your younger self, knowing what you know now, what would you say? Would you have advice for achieving success, a shortcut around obstacles to make a quick victory? Would yours be a cautionary tale, steering the old you away from a dangerous choice at a momentous fork in the road? I was recently in Honolulu …

From the world of entertainment to the hallowed halls of our oldest universities, Story is king. The same can be said of professional speakers and best-selling authors. Stories have the ability to teach us, entertain us, and help us see through a window into another world. Even the bedtime tales that kids devour have their roots in the ancient traditions …

The Magic Flight: The Non-Fiction Writer’s Guide to The Hero’s Journey The power of story is unmatched for conveying simple truths in a work of non-fiction. As an author, even though you may have hard facts to convey, storytelling can be your greatest ally. The practice of teaching through parables is thousands of years old. In this series, we have …

Life doesn’t always give you what you expect. Sometimes you do everything right, just the way you’re supposed to, but things don’t turn out the way you planned. If you’re a speaker or non-fiction author who’s using the device of storytelling to make your point, the Hero’s Journey gives a compelling blueprint for crafting your tale. You can grip your …

“In the grand scheme of things,” an author once told me, “there are no mistakes, only tests and lessons.” She was talking about a chapter from her own life—a trip along what I call the Road of Trials—but the principle can easily be applied as we trace the Hero’s Journey. In fact and fiction, a single choice can mean the …

It’s a truism we’ve all heard before: the only constant is change. In the adventure of life, who among us has faced not only change but the push towards total transformation driven by the darkest hour of our life? Desired or not! It’s something to which we all can relate. Your heart pounds. Your palms sweat. You try to see …

Updated: Aug 21, 2019 As the author of a non-fiction book, you have many options to choose from when it comes to structuring your manuscript. How will your material unfold? What context will prove to be the best backdrop for your message? Make the wrong choice, and your book may come across as two-dimensional or just plain dull. For speakers …

Ahhh, to savor the power of a good story, that is sweet indeed. But how does a non-fiction writer tap into the memorable power of a well-told story? Let’s explore this together through this illustration… Once long ago on a windswept hilltop, a restless boy—almost in his teen years—looked across the valley, his eager eyes searching for news. He spied …

A gripping book title is sheer magic. When you think about it—I mean really think about it—the book title is the first thing that draws in the reader. Even when you have an attractive cover with emotionally compelling imagery and graphic design, no one would even consider your book unless they first like the title. When you hand your book …

More and more, I find myself taking creative retreats to develop material for my books and escape the attention clutter of the office. Sometimes I choose a hotel in the desert or a cabin in the mountains. This time I’ve come to Mazatlán to write. Mazatlán can be an inspiring retreat location, not just for today’s thought leaders but for …