Ep: 117: Dean Koontz: 500 million books sold and counting

Dean Koontz is an author with fourteen number one hardback bestsellers and sixteen number one paperback bestsellers. His books have sold more than 500 million copies in thirty eight languages.  His latest book is titled: Going Home in the Dark.

 

Summary:

In this engaging conversation, Dean Koontz shares insights into his writing process, the challenges of genre blending, and the impact of his childhood on his career.

He discusses the importance of character development, the role of fear in creativity, and the necessity of maintaining a unique voice in writing. Koontz reflects on his journey to success, the influence of supportive relationships, and the balance between creative freedom and market expectations.

Dean shares insights into his creative process, daily writing routine, and the importance of character development. He discusses overcoming writer’s block, the role of revision, and the impact of his upbringing on his writing themes. Koontz emphasizes the significance of resilience in the face of early career challenges and defines excellence in art and writing.

Takeaways:

  • Dean Koontz has sold over 500 million books worldwide.
  • He emphasizes the importance of character development in storytelling.
  • Koontz believes in blending genres to create unique narratives.
  • His childhood experiences shaped his perspective on happiness and resilience.
  • He faced challenges with publishers regarding genre labeling.
  • Koontz advocates for writing in one’s own voice and style.
  • He highlights the significance of support from loved ones in his career.
  • Fear of failure drives him to push creative boundaries.
  • Koontz believes talent is a grace that must be polished through hard work.
  • He finds joy in overcoming challenges in his writing process.
  • Writers should embrace different ideas, even if they are unfamiliar.
  • Flow state allows for deep immersion in writing.
  • Characters can take on a life of their own.
  • Trusting characters’ free will enriches the story.
  • Self-doubt is a common struggle for writers.
  • Revision is key to achieving perfection in writing.
  • Resilience is crucial in overcoming early career setbacks.

Notes

Book: Going Home in the Dark

Personal Website: Dean Koontz

Ep: 102: Daniel Goleman: How to use Emotional Intelligence to Achieve an Optimal State Every Day

Daniel Goleman is a psychologist, former science journalist for the New York Times, and the author of 13 books including the #1 bestseller Emotional Intelligence.  He has worked with organizations around the globe, examining the way social and emotional competencies impact the bottom-line. Ranked one of the 10 most influential business thinkers by the Wall Street Journal, Daniel has won several awards including the HBR McKinsey Award for the best article of the year and the Centennial Medallion awarded to him by Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.  His latest book which is titled: Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day shows how emotional intelligence can help us have rewarding and productive days every day.

 

Some interesting insights from this episode:

  • There are four parts to emotional intelligence: Self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and relationship management. The latter builds on the first three parts.
  • There are three kinds of empathy – cognitive empathy, emotional empathy, and empathic concern.
  • When you’re in an optimal state, you’re highly productive, highly engaged, you care about others, you feel connected to your work, and connected to others.
  • The ability to focus is one of the pathways into the optimal state.
  • People who have a sense of purpose and feel inspired in their work, do it better.
  • It’s never too late to increase your level of emotional intelligence.
  • In emotionally intelligent organizations, it’s not just about hitting your targets but how you went about it. Did you get them by inspiring people to give their best or was it by fear and pressure?
  • Team EI is how people on a team relate to one another. And teams with highest team EI are often the most productive.

 

Notes:

Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day

Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ

Daniel Goleman website

Emotional Intelligence Courses