The Story: Why the Book Almost Didn’t Happen
Ever had a project you really wanted to finish, but life (and your inner chickens) kept getting in the way?
That’s exactly what happened with Fry Your Chickens!
This book nearly didn’t get written. Not because the stories weren’t ready. Not because the audience wasn’t there. But because the chickens were loud, and I was listening.
The Chicken Army Attacks
The second I said, “I’m writing this book,” a full-blown poultry parade kicked off in my brain:
- Fraidy Cat Phil: “What if nobody reads it? What if they hate it?”
- Perfectionist Penelope: “It has to be flawless. If it’s not, don’t release it!”
- Excuse-Making Earl: “You’re busy. Just push the deadline back. Again.”
And of course, all the Distraction Chickens came marching in:
- Facebook Fanny: “Let’s just check notifications real quick.”
- Chatty Cathy: “Play with AI. Generate some funny rubber chicken pictures.”
- Reply-All Ricky: “Let’s spend the morning crafting the perfect 12-paragraph response to that email.”
Each of them clucked loudly, fighting for my attention, and for a while… they won.
The Turning Point: Set the Deadline
Here’s the truth: This book got finished because I set a firm deadline.
Once the countdown to March 31 became real, everything shifted. I stopped negotiating with the chickens. They weren’t invited to the editing sessions. They didn’t get a seat in my writing chair.
And when they tried to sneak in, I hit them with one phrase that has silenced more internal noise than anything else I’ve ever used:
“You are where you need to be, doing what you need to be doing.”
When Facebook Fanny popped up? When Chatty Cathy tempted me with another goofy AI-generated rubber chicken on a unicycle? When I caught myself wondering if a different project might be more fun?
That one line brought me back:
You are where you need to be. Right here. Working on the book.
Not the next thing. Not the easy thing. The thing that matters most.
And the deadline? That locked in the focus.
Once the countdown was on, there was no time left for chickens. Only action.
In an upcoming post, I’ll break down how to use this mindset to stay focused, even when your internal poultry is squawking at full volume. Because sometimes clarity isn’t about adding more… it’s about knowing exactly what deserves your focus.
What’s Coming Up
- 📘 Book Release – March 31, 2025: Fry Your Chickens! hits the world. Expect launch goodies, behind-the-scenes stories, and maybe a few surprise appearances by the chickens themselves.
- 🎤 NSA Ohio Finals – March 22: I’ll be on stage, frying chickens in front of a live audience.
- 🌎 Fry Your Chickens Global Tour – Kicking off April 28 in Toronto: Details coming soon. Want to bring the keynote to your company or event? Let’s talk.
The Takeaway
Chickens cluck loudest when your goals matter most. But when you commit, when you create urgency, and when you remind yourself…
“I’m where I need to be. Doing what I need to be doing.”
…the noise fades. The distractions weaken. And the work gets done.
Pick the thing that matters. Set the deadline. Fry the chickens.
Because you really are where you need to be.
Let’s go.