The Value of a Fresh Set of Eyes

Writing a book is a deeply personal and often solitary endeavor, but one of the key lessons Javier and I learned while working on Mindset Wizardry is that feedback from trusted sources is invaluable. Whether it’s during the research phase, the writing process, or the post-editing stage, having a fresh set of eyes on your work can make all the difference.

In this fourth post of our series, we’re talking about Lesson #4: the Value of a Fresh Set of Eyes

The Role of Feedback in the Writing Process

When you’re knee-deep in your book’s content, it’s easy to get so close to the material that you lose perspective. That’s where feedback comes in. We realized early on that the ideas we were developing needed to resonate with more than just the two of us—we needed to test them on others. The feedback we received helped us refine our thinking, identify gaps, and improve the way we conveyed complex concepts.

For us, feedback was valuable in three key stages:

1. During Research:
   Before we started writing, we gathered input from more than 30 executives and over 600 survey respondents to help shape our book’s framework. This feedback was crucial in narrowing down our focus and ensuring that the content addressed real-world challenges.

2. During Writing:
   As we drafted each section, we shared our progress with a few trusted advisors. These were people whose opinions we valued, and who weren’t afraid to be honest with us. Their feedback helped us fine-tune our ideas, spot inconsistencies, and make sure our message was clear.

3. After Editing:
   Once we received our professional edits and made necessary revisions, we sent the manuscript out to be formatted for publishing. At the same time, we shared the edited manuscript with several individuals who had agreed to write reviews for the book’s back cover. While their feedback was positive, a few had suggestions that, unfortunately, we couldn’t integrate because the book was already in its final formatting stage.

 What We Learned About Feedback Timing

From this experience, we learned an important lesson: plan for feedback at every stage. It’s not enough to wait until the book is almost done to seek input. To avoid missing out on useful insights, it’s essential to build feedback opportunities into your timeline.

Here’s how we would recommend approaching feedback for any writing project:

⭐Stage 1 – Research Feedback:
Before you even start writing, gather feedback during your research phase to ensure that your content is relevant and addresses the needs of your audience.

⭐Stage 2 – Writing Feedback:
As you’re drafting each chapter or section, send it out to a small, trusted group of readers. Their input can help you refine your ideas and ensure clarity before you get too far down the writing path.

⭐Stage 3 – Post-Editing Feedback:
After your manuscript has gone through professional editing, share it again with your trusted group. This will help you catch any last-minute issues before you move to formatting. If we had built in time for this, we could have integrated the additional feedback we received during the review process.

The Power of Constructive Criticism

One of the most important things we learned is that constructive criticism is a gift. The feedback we received was instrumental in turning our manuscript into a polished, cohesive book. But in order to make the most of it, you need to:

⭐Choose the right people: Trust is key. Make sure the people giving you feedback are invested in your success and are willing to be both encouraging and critical.

⭐Be open to changes: Even if you feel strongly about a certain section or idea, be willing to reconsider it if the feedback suggests otherwise. Remember, the goal is to create something that resonates with your audience, not just something that satisfies you as the writer.

⭐Allow time for revisions: Factor in enough time to incorporate feedback before you move into the final stages of your project. That way, you can make meaningful changes without feeling rushed or compromising the quality of your work.

In Closing

In writing Mindset Wizardry, feedback from trusted advisors was a game-changer for us. It helped shape our ideas, fill in gaps, and ensure that our final product was something we were proud of. If you’re working on a writing project—whether it’s a book, a blog, or a presentation—don’t underestimate the power of thoughtful, constructive feedback. Build it into your process and trust that it will elevate your work to the next level.