Zero to One: The First Step is Always the Hardest
In his book by the same name, Peter Thiel, of PayPal fame, popularized the expression “Zero to One”, which defines the space in which innovation occurs. Scaling a company, even at exponential growth, is about going from 1 to n, but the real challenge is going from 0 to 1, when the entrepreneur bridges that gap through sheer creative will. I believe the concept can also be applied to aspiring writers.
As the eldest of seven cousins, I took on the role of entertainer whenever we were together. I instigated reenactments of the adventures that populated my fantasy, promoted pillow battles, and – the best part – I wrote stories about us that we would read on lazy Sunday afternoons. In those days, being a writer was not a plan, but my identity: I was a writer, in every fiber of my body.
Since then, I have written thousands of words – essays, articles, papers, translations – but the unwavering certainty that animated my early storytelling disappeared, buried perhaps under endless layers of functional writing. Now, when I look at that blank page that so tauntingly establishes itself as my point zero, the gap to 1 extends vertiginously, apparently uncrossable. What is that malignant force that keeps us at 0 when we so long to reach 1, and when by education and training we are expert wordsmiths? The plight is not dissimilar from that of the aspiring entrepreneur, and it resides in a case of overabundance rather than scarcity.
Too Many Ideas
The Zero to One quandary is often the story of an entrepreneur (or a writer) who, far from seeking inspiration, is besieged by ideas. As they perceive a latent need or think of innovative solutions to existing problems, they are already anticipating the countless commercial possibilities - different markets or geographies, the multiple avenues for growth, and even different sources of funding. However, successful execution requires careful choice, terminating many a good idea to let the best one emerge.
Similarly, writers trying to swathe their message in words are forced to whittle it down until the essential parts emerge shiningly, unencumbered by glitzy but less authentic embellishments. They must bring a laser focus to those few points that connect with the title and will make the piece stand out. Success is possible, but it comes at the expense of many a story lurking in the folds of memory and inspiration – to be deferred to the next piece, or picked up by another writer.
Too Much Knowledge
While it may sound counterintuitive, knowledge can get in the way. Entrepreneurs who are experts in the technology underlying their value proposition tend to pitch the idea in language that reflects their erudition, exalting the technical elegance of the solution without considering their audience; investors who do not have the same depth of specific knowledge, might get bogged down in the details without perceiving the overall value of the startup.
When we write, we risk doing something similar. Even if we do not consider ourselves as writers in the loftiest sense of the word, we still have written our way through school, college and the professional ranks; as we stand at point Zero, trying to get that one crucial idea down on paper, all that knowledge clamors to be given room, threatening to suffocate the words that come from the heart and losing our readers’ attention.
Too Much Judgement
A fundamental aspect of entrepreneurship is idea generation. Brainstorming a solution requires a space of its own, in which participants can let their ideas flow freely without judgement. Only when all the different perspectives have been put on the table can they
be organized, and judgement be allowed to intervene. Failure to do so can lead to following the first but not necessarily the best idea, and even worse to silencing important voices in the team. Too much judgement early on, and at the next round team members will feel less motivated to contribute.
Distinguishing between brainstorming and execution helps us also when we write. If we do not give ourselves the mental space to find different ways to shape our thoughts, or if we are too hard on ourselves before we are even off the gate, we will never get to 1. Better to focus on creation, and leave the judgement for later, or better still, wait for the readers’ verdict.
So, if like me, you are trying to find the lost author inside, let’s get inspired by the entrepreneurial world and learn to keep excess ideas, knowledge, and judgement at bay, so we can focus on getting the first 500 words on the page. It may be a small story, written in simple language, that is worlds apart from the work you aspire to produce, but it exists. You have given voice to your individual truth; you are now at ONE. From there, you can let the entrepreneur in you scale up!