Most of the work I do that's not this revolves around coaching, editing, and/or thinking with people who have meaningful ideas they want to better express to the world. In this work, the question I hear most often is about making sense of a complex idea—the kind of idea that contains many smaller, supporting ideas and stories and research. The sort of complex idea best expressed in a lengthy essay, a book, a podcast series, or a documentary.

How does one make a plan for tackling that kind of idea? How does one get started writing or designing that complex idea? How does one keep track of all the bits and bobs that go into a massive project like that?

From my perspective, three biases tend to trip us up when working on a project of this sort. I'll call them the linearity bias, the stick-with bias, and the waste-not bias. I'll explain how each gets in the way of big, messy projects—but first, I have to tell you about HONEYDEW.

Footnotes:

• Read this episode as an essay
• 12 Bytes by Jeanette Winterson
• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
• Thunder and Lightning by Natalie Goldberg
• "Making What Can't Be Sold" by Tara McMullin

I work with people who want to turn their meaningful ideas into remarkable content. Whether you want feedback or thought partnership in a 90-minute strategy session or you've got a more hands-on project involved, I'd love to help. Click here to learn more about working with me.

• (00:00) - Honeydew (Or, 3 Biases That Derail Meaningful Ideas)