Write it Down, Make it Happen
Knowing What You Want—And Getting It!

By Henriette Anne Klauser

A Fireside Book, published in 2000 by Simon and Schuster, New York, NY

ISBN 0-684-85002-8 (PBK)

Dr. Klauser was a keynote speaker at the second OWFI conference I attended. She's dynamic and motivating in person, and it's little surprise that her writing is the same.

During her presentation, Dr. Klauser asked us to write down a list of things we wanted to accomplish in the next six months and hand it to another person at the banquet table along with our address. The lists were to be mailed back to their respective authors at the end of six months. The purpose of the experiment was to let us see how close we came to accomplishing what was on the list even if we never saw the it again for the next six months.

Well, I must confess, I was disappointed when I got my list in the mail. However, I found the list just a few months ago and was surprised to find I had reached all but one goal. While it took me longer than six months to accomplish what I had writting on my list (it always takes me longer than average to do anything!) and I didn't get everything finished, it was an interesting tribute to the fact that once you write something down, your brain has a tendency to work on it subconsciously.

I have read a couple of Dr. Klauser's other books: Writing on Both Sides of the Brain and Put Your Heart on Paper. While I'm not a firm believer in everything she has to say, I came away from the reading feeling like I have a better chance of succeeding. By far the best tool discussed is what writer should be doing in the first place--writing it down. When your goals, dreams and aspirations are in front of you in black and white, it is a good first step in accomplishing what you want to do.

Carolyn

CONTENTS

Chapter 1: Write it Down, Make It Happen

Compose a list of goals: Write quickly, write everything, don’t be afraid of dreaming too big or too much. Writing them down alerts the brain and you’ll notice opportunities that you might otherwise miss. Klauser likens this to buying a new car, and suddenly you realize how many of them just like it are on the road. They were always there; you’re paying attention in a new way. Writing down your goals will help you stay alert to opportunities and possibilities to fulfill them.

Chapter 2: Knowing What You Want: Setting Goals

If you don’t know what you want, you can use your writing to point you in the right direction. After giving a lengthy example of a young man who did this, there are suggestions as to how you can write through to answers.

Chapter 3: Gathering Ideas: A Suggestion Box for the Brain

Discusses being ready to capture ideas and insights that come at any time, any place. Have a place to record them, and keep it at the ready. Examples are given using wheel books, tidbit journals, and index cards. The chapter closes with several suggestions on using a variety of methods to capture ideas and insights so that you can see which best suits you.

Chapter 4: Getting Ready to Receive

The chapter opens with a quote from Napoleon Hill: "There is a difference between wishing for a thing and being ready to receive it." An example of this is shown in detail and then three exercises at the end of the chapter are provided to help you move into a position to receive what you want.

Chapter 5: Addressing Fears and Feelings

When you start writing down what you want, fears of why these won’t work, or potential disastrous consequences also crash the party. The chapter discusses specific ways to deal with these fears and feelings. A detailed account is given of a young woman who used her journal to park her fears and how she was then able to work through them and overcome them. The chapter closes with suggestions to help you do the same.

Chapter 6: Getting Unstuck: Writing Through to Resolution

This chapter addresses the challenge of pushing beyond self-imposed limitations and going farther than you thought possible. Nan’s story is an example of how it works. Suggestions for pushing through to find more complete the chapter.

Chapter 7: Doing It Easy: Listing

"…A short and simple list of items, as specific as possible, will clarify your intentions as surely as an elaborate description, and perhaps will be even more powerful." Sydne’s story illustrates the effectiveness of lists. The exercise at the conclusion of the chapter helps you "use listing as an opportunity to crystallize your intent—to learn what matters most to you."

Chapter 8: Focusing on the Outcome

This chapter discusses how keeping your destination in mind can help you correct your course when you get off track. However, instead of just listing the expected outcome, Klauser encourages also writing down why you want the goal in the first place. The closing exercise coaches you through getting the outcome firmly in mind and on paper.

Chapter 9: Changing Your Environment: Get Near Water to Write

Forget sitting at a desk in a straight-backed chair, pencil held correctly and paper at a proper angle. Creativity flows more readily when you are outdoors, and particularly, Klauser claims, when you’re near water. After documenting the connection between water and creativity (how many times have you had wonderful ideas in the shower?), an exercise closes the chapter.

Chapter 10: Scripting Your Daily Life

Is there a type of daily planner that not only reminds you where you need to be, but challenges you to become a better person? She tells the story of Ron, who uses a daily "List of Intentions" to imprint his goals and principles on his behavior by writing them down every day. The closing exercise helps you to make your own List of Intentions in order to add depth and richness to your life.

Chapter 11: Becoming Committed

"It is up to you to trust the possibility enough to be willing to put your dream in writing, and to take the first step, even with no evidence that it will actually happen." Bill’s story illustrates how doing so can open up unexpected opportunities. The closing exercise encourages you to get started and take that small action toward the realization of your dreams.

Chapter 12: Stacking Goals: Raising the Bar

Use the success of one goal to serve as the foundation for another. Using another real-life experience, Klauser demonstrates how conquering an old fear and accomplishing something that stumped you as a child can spill over into current, adult goals and infuse you with a sense of determination. Contradict childhood limits that often hold us back in other forms as adults. The exercise guides you through conquering childhood block and gaining new confidence.

Chapter 13: Starting a Group: What by When

Explores the advantages of meeting systematically with like-minded people to encourage you and help you assess advancement. Klauser explains that two of the most important questions you can ask to keep moving forward in any project are: 1) What will you do next and 2) By when will you do it. A group can help you keep these questions in the forefront, and the satisfaction of completion will spur you to new goals.

Chapter 14: Taking the Initiative

Klauser explains that while support for your written dreams and aspirations often comes from unpredictable outside sources, you should never lose sight of the fact that ultimately you need to take the initiative to make these things happen. Marian’s story demonstrates how this is true. The chapter ends by challenging you to answer in writing the questions, "Where do I fit into the equation? What do I need to do to help make this happen?"

Chapter 15: Writing Letters to God

"Praying on paper is a way of acknowledging God’s presence in your life, asking for help, and giving thanks," Klauser begins. She closes the chapter with, "You will be astonished at the answers…."

Chapter 16: Resistance Has Meaning

This chapter helps you to face the hesitation that you feel when its time to take the next step toward your goal. While it’s easy to blame it on a tight schedule or lack of cooperation on the part of others, the truth is that you are keeping yourself from completion and for a reason. Trina’s story illustrates that resistance has meaning and the closing exercise helps you find the meaning behind your own resistance.

Chapter 17: Creating A Ritual

Klauser uses story of Elaine St. James (author of Simplify Your Life, Inner Simplicity and other books on the simplicity theme) to illustrate how attaching a ritual to your writing can make the message more meaningful. The chapter closes with coaching to develop your own ritual.

Chapter 18: Letting Go, Creating Balance

This chapter centers on the principle of letting go of what you no longer use. By being willing to throw out what is not working you at the same time create space for something new. Sometimes this can include being willing to give up something that you dearly want. The chapter explains this last concept and then closes with exercises in letting go.

Chapter 19: Giving Thanks

"Celebration acknowledges the victory and gives you a chance to stop and honor those…who helped make your dream a reality." An attitude of gratitude makes the world a better place. The closing exercises help you develop such an attitude.

Chapter 20: Handling Breakdown

"What if you write it down and it doesn’t happen?" Klauser encourages another look at what has happened, suggesting that perhaps the desired outcome actually came but through a different avenue. Perhaps more work or different work is necessary. The advice in the chapter is aimed to keep you from losing heart. "When everything is falling apart, it is a good sign that everything is about to come together." Keep on keeping on.

Epilogue

Thanks and Ever Thanks

Bibliography

About the Author