Awkward Bites
The late South African, Anglican bishop and theologian, Desmond Tutu is famously quoted for saying,
“How does one go about eating an elephant?
You eat it one bite at a time.”
Can you imagine?
An African elephant can grow up to 24 feet long and 13 feet tall, and weigh up to 11 tons!
Envision yourself sitting down for a meal, and what’s served is something as big as a short school bus, only taller by about 3 feet, oh, and double the weight. I can’t conceive trying to eat my own weight in anything — let alone, an elephant!
It’s totally absurd! Hysterical even…
And yet, the advice makes complete sense.
“…one bite at a time.”
I’ve been sizing up and nibbling away at my own elephant for a while now.
And I’m at the place in my meal, where I’m feeling really satisfied. Beyond full, even.
I believe I’m ready to invite you to the table…
I received my final proof for Zo’s Quest — Book One this week.
😳🤩😬
For as much excitement I have to finally hold certain proof of the chunks I’ve been nibbling away at for the last several years, I’m struggling with a lot of inertia.
> This is it.
>> This is it?
>>> Am I sure this is it?
It feels like I need to continue editing. It feels like it’s not ready. It feels like there’s more to do. It feels like I’m mortified.
Nibble, nibble, nibble.
In no small part, this is why I gave myself a deadline.
Because the more time I give myself to work on it, the more time I’ll take to work on it.
I’ve been working on this book for over seven years! And if I let myself, I’ll still be nibbling away at my elephant for the another seven.
Nope.
> I gave myself a deadline because I think my elephant is delicious, and is worthy to be shared.
>> I gave myself a deadline because I believe my elephant is actually helpful, and needs to be shared.
>>> I gave myself a deadline because if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t get it done.
It’s okay to honestly see your flaws and it’s important to acknowledge them. But you’ll deny yourself the opportunity to grow, if you don’t use that knowledge to influence intention change…
ACKNOWLEDGED FLAW:
If I don’t set a deadline, I won’t get it done because life, and procrastination, and imposter syndrome, and perfectionistic tendencies, too.
INTENTIONAL CHANGE:
Deadline.
And so, with the very real possibility that I am going to embarrass myself, I’m now taking awkward bites, mouthful chunks and chewing with my mouth open to devour my elephant.
Therefore, I’m very pleased to announce that I will be releasing my very first novel, Zo’s Quest — Book One, in just four weeks.
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Zo’s Quest — Book One will be available
It’s an awkward bite because as good as I feel about it in this moment, I’ve felt this way many times before and inevitably after sharing, hindsight is quite embarrassing.
I’m indebted to each of the keen and graceful eyes who have bore witness to the evolution of Zo’s Quest. Whatever blunders still reside, know that their insight has drastically enhanced in my storytelling.
I’m better because of awkward bites.
In my professional life, one of the recurring exhortations I’ve heard from our chief executive team is this Reid Hoffman quote (the founder of LinkedIn),
If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late.
I don’t think anyone needs to make haste to embarrass themself.
I’m in no rush to gorge myself on the elephant simply because it’s there; I’d make myself sick.
But for those of us who nibble at our elephants, the slow and steady, strategic civilities who endure insatiable development, this quote gives permission to take awkward bites.
Awkward bites.
Oversized, cumbersome, progress.
Allow yourself to devour chunks that may be difficult to swallow, because done is better than perfect.
Perfect is an unrealistic ideal, but done can be achieved.
There will always be something that could be improved. We are human after all. And if you read my previous post (Big Bird Wisdom), you already know that everyone makes mistakes.
For us nibblers, there’s a grace in affording ourselves awkward bites.
So friends, save the date and please join me as I take my most awkward bite yet:
05-16-2023
Get ready, because my mouth is about to overflow with this elephant of a morsel: I’m putting it out there.
I hope you are encouraged to consume your elephant, too.