“When we feel jittery, or worried, or anxious in thinking of the great amount of work that lies before us, the jittery feelings are not caused by the work, but by our mental attitude – which is ‘I ought to be able to do this all at once.'” – Maxwell Maltz, M.D.

Over a year ago I began writing another book, one that would be at least 20,000 words – and would cover my process of goal-getting. I wrote the first draft, which was about 21,000 words within a week, sent it to an editor, got some great feedback and hammered out a second draft, with a word count of 32,000+ words.

I had someone else look at the manuscript and he remarked, “WOW! This is the BEST book you’ve ever written.”

Along with the praise he had several suggestions which included adding cartoons that would make people clearly see the humorous fallacies in the self-development movement, in regard to goals.

While the cartoons were being created, (by hand – not with A.I.), I continued to refine what I had written, further clarifying the unique and powerful way I go about getting my goals.

In early April, when I received the cartoons, I thought the writing and editing I’d been doing was “almost done.” I figured the book would be out in April, then it was moved to May, and then to June.

At times I wondered if I was ever going to stop editing, stop clarifying, and finalize the book.

When I felt it was finally ready, a friend volunteered to lay out the book for me. “What a great idea,” I thought, figuring once again, with his help, finishing the job would go even quicker.

But my friend, John Wood, who is at least just as detail-oriented as I am, if not more so, gave me many suggestions, which were worthy of consideration and incorporation.

So the journey to the finish line was extended.

On top of this I decided, almost last minute, to add several pages of hand-written sayings. And then John had other ideas with other parts of the book.

John and I would be up late at night, editing and laughing to ourselves about how neither of us are “perfectionists.”

Our focus was on the process leading to the goal. Yet, much of the time, following the process was the goal.

The more we took care of the seemingly insignificant, the better the book became.

Yesterday morning we finalized the book. I took it to a printer who was immediately asking me all about as soon as he heard the title, The Zen Zone: Be the One Who Gets It Done.

Now we wait for copies we can hold in our hands and proclaim, “YES! Another GOAL GOTTEN!”

But the truth is we were getting goals every day, all along the way.

Stay tuned for further updates and the grand announcement on how you can get a copy.

Matt Furey

P.S. The book is 55,000 words – more than double the original goal. It’s one thing to GET a GOAL; it’s another to blow past the original target, leaving it in the dust. And not one word of it was written with or by A.I.