| Most of us perceive rivers as static elements of geography. While they may rise and fall based on local rainfall, we imagine they remain fixed like a road. They’re not. They meander. Their curvy nature causes water flow changes that move and deposit silt from place to place, altering their course. Because of the principle of least resistance, the course of the Mississippi Meander Belt is entirely different from what it was 150 years ago. Similarly, we can reshape our paths, not by changing our beliefs or willpower, but through the act of creation. Before we go there, let’s talk about structural tension. What is structural tension?Imagine your goal is ahead of you on a wall. A giant rubber band around your waist attached to the wall is pulling you towards it. Simultaneously, there is a second rubber band around your waist. This rubber band is attached to anything in your current structure telling you that you can’t or shouldn’t have what you want. You are being pulled back and forth between these two opposing forces, which is called structural tension. Unlike the tension you feel when in an anxious state, this tension is akin to a cable that supports a bridge.
 The tension holds you in a state of limbo between the old status quo and the new promised land. You meander like the Mississippi. The solution is to rearrange the structure to pull AND push you to the new equilibrium where what you want to be is the path of least resistance. Too often, we attribute challenges to ourselves or our circumstances. In reality, it’s because we haven’t created the proper structure. If you are really serious about losing weight, do you stop having those binge foods in your house? You get further in changing your behavior when you change the people, places, and things around you—the structure. How does this concept relate to what I’m doing with Author Nation™?There are always critics—I was one of them. I had my opinions about what needed to change. I could go find people who agree with my worldview and would parrot my opinions. Or, I could change it. Rather than waste energy on criticism, I chose to take responsibility and establish structures that will lead to the path of least resistance and create what I envision to be the best experience. How does this relate to your author business? Resolving tension is all about creativity. Reflect on the opening quote. What kind of life and business do you want to create? Your publishing business is no different from the stories you create. You may have a premise for a story that feels great. However, to turn that premise into a marketable product, you need a structure called publishing. The process of writing the book itself requires effort to transform abstract story concepts into a tangible structure that others can experience in their mind’s eye, just as you intended. Once finished, the easiest path is to simply read the story. Hundreds, thousands, or millions of people can read that story and have the same experience you imagined. It is the structure that becomes the force multiplier. Your act of creation is to see what is not and make it become what is. Just as you can bring your story into reality, you can do the same by creating a structure that guides the energy in the right direction for your entire life. This premise becomes the foundation of the work that we are doing with Author Nation™. As we build the necessary structures to achieve our goals, the energy will naturally follow the path of least resistance. When we start with the end in mind, we can then reverse engineer the structure and, thereby, the behaviors required to attain our desired outcome. In Author Nation, my defining premise is that the show will create value by facilitating a community that Authors and Readers both value. To realize this vision, we need appropriate structures in place that nurture the best aspects of both communities. Finally, we supercharge the system with social media and marketing algorithms. Some individuals find themselves in a transition where the existing structures draw them back to the status quo. I’m not immune to this misstep—my attachments to existing structures will be the biggest obstacle. That’s why the joy and vision of creativity must be applied. Nothing is as powerful and reality-altering. That vision is the pull. The work in the now is the push. One more thing…Last year, Notion added a function to apply AI to the content within your account. As a knowledge management system, the applications of AI in Notion are diverse. Personally, I use it to fix spelling and grammar, as well as improve my writing when it isn’t landing as I would like. Its greatest function is its ability to retrieve old information across all the pages I’ve created. It can also summarize, build to-do lists, and much more. Below is an example it produced as an action item list from this article.
- Reflect on the opening quote and consider the life and business you want to create
- Create structures that make the path of least resistance align with your desired experience
- Build a structure for your publishing business to turn your story into a marketable product
- Redefine the structure to become a force multiplier for your act of creation
- Use the AI function in Notion to apply AI to the content in your Notion account
Utilizing these powerful tools allows us to transform our jumbled notes and ideas into actionable to-do lists, unlocking valuable insights from our extensive research. Imagine the potential of converting your scattered thoughts into a structured framework that propels you toward your desired goals. Take a moment to reflect on the possibilities that lie ahead and envision the life and business you aspire to create. With the aid of these tools, you can effortlessly craft a path of least resistance that aligns with your desired experiences. Turn your story into a marketable masterpiece by constructing a solid publishing structure and amplifying the impact of your creative endeavors. Redefine the very essence of the structure itself, unlocking its potential as a force multiplier for your act of creation. Read: Unlocking the Power of Creativity and Transforming From Daydreamer to Fearless Creator | 