For me, writing is an iterative process. On average I spend five years of researching and testing as I prepare for one of my books. That entire time I am documenting the journey, recording my findings and writing (a lot of) content for the book. During the final year of my process I assemble the book,  by determining what works together and what doesn’t. In the final year I do almost pure writing and pure (sometimes painful) deleting. Unfortunately, there is certain stuff that just doesn’t fit in with the flow, or is better suited for a future book, or my editor simply had me take it out.

Typos and all, here is an excerpt from the lost content from Fix This Next. 

Enjoy.

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Since I have written five books now, the question I am asked most often is, “Mike, which book should I read first?” A good question, to which I used to give a poor response. I used to say, “You’ve got to read Clockwork.” Or, whichever book I thought most people needed. My responses were not based on what served the reader nearly as much on what I was most hyped up on at the moment. You know; the apparent.

But now I answer that question with a question. When people ask, “What book should I read first?” I respond by asking, “What problem in your business do you need to fix next?” If you need to increase sales and grow your client base, then The Pumpkin Plan provides a proven strategy to do just that. If your sales are sustainable yet you’re still struggling to cover expenses, then Profit First should be number one on your list. Thousands of entrepreneurs have profitable businesses now because they followed the methods detailed in that book. And, if you’re still chained to your desk wondering when you’ll ever get off the hamster wheel that is your business and finally get back to doing the work you love best, then Clockwork is your best bet. Entrepreneurs all over the world—including me—are designing their business to run itself, and taking annual four-week vacation, because they are following the systems I shared in that book. 

And yet, the question remains. Why? Because entrepreneurs don’t know which of their business problems are most important. It’s a serious issue, and it makes sense. I mean, how can you be sure which problem/opportunity you need to address first, if you have so many issues on your list? If you are focused on the apparent, that low-hanging apple that looks so juicy and ripe, you would choose the issue that seems make-or-break right now. Makes sense, right? And you know what that issue is because your gut tells you so, or because you are emotionally connected to the outcome, or because it’s the easiest issue for you to deal with. 

Here’s where you would expect me to tell you which challenge to focus on first. Except that, I honestly don’t know what it is. And, being super honest with you hear now, I don’t think you know what it is either. Actually, I am neither of us know.

That’s why I developed a tool to figure it out. So that I would not miss a single opportunity—be it an offer or a challenge—I needed a way to find the biggest issue in my business, and fast. The tool I created gets me out of guessing mode and into fast, impactful, deliberate action. It took me the better part of three years to perfect it, testing it out in my own business and with other entrepreneurs. After multiple iterations, now all you have to do is understand the simple tool and follow a four-step process. Seriously, it’s so easy, it can be done in less than fifteen minutes (And yes, I have a story about that in this book.) In fact, the tool is so simple, by chapter three you will have mastered the basics and you’ll be ready to use it daily. In fact, if you download the tool right now (at FixThisNext.com), you can pin it above your desk and refer to it whenever the need arises. I hope it becomes your best-est friend, the consigliere who whispers in your ear before you make a critical decision. 

Why does the Fix This Next tool work so well? It works because, rather than connect to your gut or emotions, it connects to your business needs—the foundational needs that all businesses have, regardless of size or industry—and an order to addressing them. When we address the apparent, we may be overlooking a vital need that needs fixing first. And, in solving that need, the apparent issue may automatically be resolved. 

Think of it like this: You can’t build a structurally sound house on grass or sand. You need a strong foundation, a strong first floor, and second floor, and so on. Otherwise, the house will collapse. The same is true for your business. And when we focus on the apparent, it’s like replacing windows on the third floor while the basement floods due to cracks in the foundation.

With every book I’ve ever written, my primary goal has been to simplify some aspect of entrepreneurship so that my readers—so that you can actually use the systems and strategies to meet your business goals. Hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs have dramatically transformed their businesses after applying one or more of the tools I shared in my books. And this book? This one has the mother of all tools, in my not-so-humble opinion.

So, when people ask me which of my books to read first, the answer is easy, now. This book. Start with Fix This Next.

You are closer to your goals than you think you are. Let this book be your compass to help you find your way.

Wishing you transformative success!

-Mike