Update from Pam

Hello everyone!

I know it has been a bit quiet on this front in the last couple of months, so I wanted to give you a quick update about what has been happening, to be followed by much more later!

• First and foremost, I finished the first draft of the book!  It was an amazing, arduous, fantastic, wildly difficult and totally joyful experience.  I don’t think I have ever worked so hard on something my whole life.  There were many moments along the way when I truly did not think I could finish it.  But with amazing support from my family, blog readers, Escape from Cubicle Nation Advisory Council, Twitter buddies and my editor, I made it to the finish line.  Thanks to ALL of you for your help, whether or not you realize that you helped.
• My joy at finishing lasted a total of three days, when I heard from my editor that while she appreciated the depth to which I covered the topics, I have to chop a bunch to make it work as a book.  Every author I have spoken to says the same thing:  the editing process is what really shapes a great book, and also drives the writer crazy.  I am so close to my favorite stories and analogies and helpful hints that it will be hard to hack them away.  But hack I will do with gusto, since I know that will make the book easier to read, and ultimately more useful.
• The good thing is that things I hack from the book can be re-purposed as blog posts.  As I was writing, I kept having the desire to share new thoughts and insights with you here on the blog.  But that which is new in the book needs to stay behind the curtain until the book comes out, which is May of 2009.  So this way I get to sneak some content that would have been in the book, which will benefit us all.
• Speaking of blog posts, I can’t wait to get back to some juicy content-filled posts that are more than brief updates or book reviews.  The image at the top of this post will be in one of them to come soon, based on a talk I gave at Podcamp AZ, on how to strike a balance between giving away content for free and making a living.  I had a great time with the audience, and can’t wait to share my thoughts with you soon.  My son Jeffery drew the images I used in the presentation, and he was excited to get feedback on their impact as well. 
• I have been hopelessly behind on reading a bunch of books that authors have sent hoping for a review.  Hopefully I can chip away this month and next, and share some good resources with you.  First on my list is the very patient Barry Moltz, who wrote a very relevant book for our world economic situation, which is called Bounce:  Failure, Resilency, and the Confidence to Achieve Your Next Great Success, that helps you understand and thrive in the face of failure.  I am hoping he will join me in a podcast, where we can really get into the fascinating topic.
• I will be digging out from unanswered emails, and hope to get back to people soon!  If you have been waiting to hear from me, thanks so much for your patience.  Just a little bit longer and I will be caught up.
• In preparation for the book launch and also just because it is time, I will be overhauling the design of my blog, integrating it with my website and hopefully making it easier to read, more pleasant to look at, and a more useful repository of good information.  That will be quite an endeavor, but I really look forward to it, as it is time for a fresh look.
• I will be planning activities for next year which will include workshops and talks around the topics covered in the book.  I have had a great time teaching the Finding Your Own North Star workshop this year, and just finished up with two groups.   This experience has led me to want to work more closely with groups, since there is a power in numbers that enhances the normal 1:1 coaching sessions I do with clients.  Stay tuned for more to come, and I will definitely ask all of you for input before rolling anything out.
• I can’t wait to spend more time with my family.  The last few months have been grueling, and I have worked all weekend for many weeks in a row.  This simply feels awful since I have small children.  I know from this experience that I do NOT want to create a business model that keeps me away from my kids.  Any one of you with children knows the feeling of looking your 3-year old or baby in the eye and saying "Sorry honey, I can’t play, I have to go to work."  The crushing look of disappointment is enough to start the tears flowing.  So no working weekends in 2009, no matter the opportunities!

So that’s the roundup!  Thanks again for all your patience and support.  I cannot wait to get back in the flow of doing what I love best:  writing blog posts.  As they say, "you can take the girl out of the blog, but you can’t take the blog out of the girl." 

Here is to a great new year ahead!

Now stop reading and GO VOTE!  What a historic day for all of us here in the U.S.

Cheers,

-Pam