Welcome to the High Achiever’s Curse

Possibility paralysis—also called analysis paralysis—is real, and it’s epidemic among successful leaders who want to turn their insights into books.

Even after decades helping authors bring books to life, I still feel that zing of panic when facing too many choices. Recently, I faced my desert maison as an empty shell with carte blanche to plan whatever I wanted. I’d never decided where to put a sink, outlets, or plumbing for a toilet, for godsakes.

“What if I get this wrong?”  hissed that voice we know too well. Part of me wanted to tell the contractor to decide everything. Part of me doubted my judgment about outlets. Yet part of me absolutely cared where the toilet would go, actually.

I recognize this exact feeling in brilliant entrepreneurs contemplating their books...that mix of terror and excitement when facing the vastness of possibility.

Why Smart Authors Get Stuck

The most successful people often struggle most with book projects. Why? Because they have so many valuable ideas, so many meaningful experiences, and so many potential directions. The abundance that made them so successful becomes their creative kryptonite.

Your book could focus on leadership strategies OR industry insights OR personal transformation OR business systems. Each path feels important because it IS important. But the fear of choosing wrong—of diminishing your life’s work by picking the “ lesser”  story—creates paralysis.

Meanwhile, your expertise is an unwritten chapter unused. Your wisdom does’t reach the people who need them. Your potential impact remains possible but seems far away.

The Queen’s Rule: Structure Enables, Perfectionism Tables

When my renovation paralysis peaked, my designer friend rode in on the proverbial white horse. Over dinner, he listened, then sketched a simple floor plan on a napkin. Not imposing his vision—giving structure to mine. He identified what I truly wanted: Ease.

That napkin sketch changed everything. Not because it was perfect, but because it was a starting point that honored my vision while providing clear next steps.

The Napkin Plan Approach: 3 Ways to Cut Through Book Overwhelm

1. Name Your North Star, Not Your Table of Contents

Instead of trying to map every chapter, identify your single most important outcome. What transformation do you want to create for readers? My designer didn’t ask about bathroom tiles—he asked what I wanted to feel in my space. (The bathroom tiles were easy after this step!)

Think like the Queen of Everything: “ I want readers to become confident decision-makers”  rather than “ I want to cover decision-making frameworks, risk assessment, team dynamics, and leadership styles.”

2. Choose Strategic, Not Perfect

My father joined the Marines in 1947 partly for the GI Bill—a strategic choice that led to MIT, a geology career, and supporting our family. Strategic choosing means picking the path that best serves your bigger goals, not the path that includes everything.

Think like the Queen of Everything: Choose the book that best positions you for your next business phase, even if it means saving other great ideas for later projects.

3. Start with Structure, Then Add Soul

A napkin sketch isn’t architecture, but it’s enough to begin. Your book needs a simple framework that you can populate with your best insights, stories, and expertise.

Think like the Queen of Everything: Think three-part structure around your proven methodology, filled with case studies and lessons from your experience.

When Paralysis Costs More Than Imperfection

Every month you spend wrestling with possibilities is a month your expertise doesn’t reach people who need it. Your business loses the credibility boost, speaking opportunities, and client attraction that comes with published thought leadership.

The most powerful books don’t emerge from certainty—they emerge from beginning despite doubts and fears, trusting that with the right support, your vision will find its form.

The world needs your expertise in book form, not perfect form. Contact me to explore how we can turn your possibility paralysis into a clear publishing plan that serves both your vision and your business goals.

Elizabeth Smith is a ghostwriter, developmental editor, and book strategist with two decades of publishing experience—and a southpaw with a mean right hook. Between her NYC boxing gym and Mojave Desert maison, she helps thinkers, creatives, and organizations articulate their ideas through books that resonate deeply. Ready to transform your vision into a book with impact? Let’s connect!