From Structured to Success: The Power of an Adaptable Outline

This blog post is the second in a series where we’re sharing some of the key lessons we learned throughout the writing and publishing process. Today, we’ll talk about Lesson #2: From Structure to Success: The Power of an Adaptable Outline.

Why Outlining Is Key—But Only to a Point

When you begin a project as complex as writing a book, especially one with the scope of Mindset Wizardry, an outline is essential. It helps you organize your thoughts, set a roadmap for the content, and gives you a clear sense of direction. For us, it was like the skeleton on which we could later build the flesh of our ideas. It provided a sense of control over a massive amount of material, keeping us from getting lost in the chaos of information.

However, as we dove deeper into interviews, crowdsourcing surveys, and research, we found that our thinking evolved. Ideas that seemed central at the start became less important as new insights emerged. Sticking rigidly to our outline would have boxed us in, preventing us from capturing the full complexity of the topic and integrating fresh ideas we hadn’t initially considered.

Flexibility in Writing: The Power of Adapting

One of the most valuable decisions we made early on was agreeing that while the outline was important, it wasn’t sacred. We gave ourselves permission to deviate from it as we learned more. Each time we uncovered new data or perspectives, we revisited the outline and asked ourselves, “Does this new information fit? Should it reshape the narrative?” More often than not, the answer was yes.

Our outline became less of a map and more of a flexible guide, something we could bend and mold as we wrote. This freedom to adjust ensured that we remained open to new ideas and were able to adapt as the book evolved. Ultimately, it allowed us to produce a book that felt much more insightful and relevant than the one we had initially envisioned.

Our Collaborative Writing Process

Another key to our flexibility was how we approached the writing itself. Rather than both of us working on every section at once, we split the responsibilities. One person took the lead on writing a section, and the other person would come in afterward to review, edit, and suggest changes. This gave each of us the opportunity to look at the content with a fresh set of eyes, making it easier to spot gaps or opportunities for improvement.

What we discovered through this process was that no section ended up exactly as we had planned in our outline—and that was a good thing. With two perspectives on each part, we could refine the ideas and make sure every chapter was as strong and comprehensive as possible. Each section grew into something bigger and better than we initially outlined.

The Takeaway: Balance Structure and Adaptability

If you’re working on a big project like a book, don’t underestimate the importance of an outline—it gives you clarity and a place to start. But also, don’t be afraid to let go of it when necessary. The best ideas often emerge when you step away from the script and allow the process to unfold organically.

Flexibility is essential for growth, whether you’re writing a book, launching a business, or tackling a personal challenge. So, start with a plan, but remember that true creativity and insight come from adapting to new information and evolving along the way.

In our next post, we’ll talk about Lesson #3: The Power of Stories: Turning Facts into Fascination.