And if I only could
I’d make a deal with god
And I’d get him to swap our places
Be running up that road
Be running up that hill
Be running up that building
See if I only could, ooh
1985 will be remembered for several amazing record albums, including Songs from the Big Chair (Tears for Fears), Brothers in Arms (Dire Straits), and No Jacket Required (Phil Collins). Somewhat lost in the mix was Hounds of Love from British pop artist Kate Bush. This album featured the song Running Up That Hill, which made it to No. 3 on the UK charts and No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Then it was forgotten. Until 2022 when an entirely new audience, none of whom was around when it was first released, discovered Running Up That Hill when it appeared on the soundtrack of the Netflix series Stranger Things. For a time, it was the most streamed song on Spotify. On June 18, 2022, Running Up That Hillreached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing its original position in 1985. It had similar success in Europe. Kate Bush was re-discovered and because of social media, which was not around in 1985, is now a household name.
I thought about this story as I was going through some of my old books this past weekend. In 2005 I wrote my first book, From Cave to Cubicle: A Practical Guide to Organizational Behavior. It was awful. I didn’t use an editor or a proofreader. My writing was unfocused and tried to reach every audience. Since it was self-published, I ordered 500 copies, thinking that might not be nearly enough. I gave away more than I sold. When we moved from Maryland to Tennessee in 2014, I threw the remaining 300 copies in the recycle bin.
What isn’t known is that I wrote a second book shortly after that. My audience was front and center this time. I knew my material and was better focused. I hired a proofreader. Got a bunch of endorsements. And an artist. Then I recorded an audio version on CD. I released it in 2007 as Podium Paranoia: Transforming Fear into Knockout Presentations. Since I was pretty good at doing presentations, I figured this one would sell like crazy.
Until it didn’t. I sold fewer of this book than my first. A couple of years ago I updated it and re-released it as BossTalk. Then a few months later as How to Win at Giving Presentations. This did nothing. Still no sales. My mom, who is proud of me no matter what I do offered this:
“Maybe people aren’t ready for your books. In time, they might be discovered and serve a whole new audience.”
Enough about me. What about you? Have you created something and found no support? Did you pour your heart into something and got nothing in return? If so, maybe we need to heed my mom’s advice, and look to Kate Bush for inspiration. Our creations might not change, but audiences will.
This week let’s all shift our attitudes. When you put yourself out there, you’ll be criticized, but if you don’t, your work may never be discovered.
I’m in. Are YOU?