Speed is Your Greatest Superpower

✏️ Speed is NOT about moving fast. It's about SIMPLE. ✏️

Publishing is changing faster than ever.

Roughly every 10 to 15 years, the world goes through a technological shift that reshapes how stories are written, published, and experienced.

In the early 2000s, it was the rise of the web. Then came Kindle and mobile. And now? Artificial intelligence is redefining everything again.

This isn’t another “how-to” article. It’s about how to move through change, and why speed, more than anything, is becoming the author’s ultimate competitive advantage.

But first, let me be clear:

Speed isn’t about hustle. It’s about clarity.

It’s not about writing 3,000 words an hour or hitting inbox zero. It’s about simplifying your path so you can spend more time on the right things, the ones that move the ball forward.

The Fastest to Change Wins

Speed isn’t about rushing. It’s about how quickly you’re willing to update your mind. How quickly you’re able to adjust your strategy in a changing world.

When I was writing my fifth or sixth book, I had a multi-year publishing plan mapped out, series after series lined up.

But eventually, the numbers didn’t lie. My books weren’t selling the way I hoped. I’d spent over $10,000 trying to grow my business, and I was burning cash I didn’t have.

So I had a choice: keep pushing forward with the original plan… or adapt.

I shifted genres, started a new series, and pivoted strategies. That decision changed the trajectory of my author career. Since then, I’ve built a publishing platform that’s helped authors earn millions, worked with MrBeast, made a full-time living livestreaming scavenger hunt and manhunt in cities across the country, and started turning books into films with AI. All of that? In just five years.

You don’t need to be me (I’m a bit crazy. But you do need to be flexible.

In a world changing this quickly, rigid plans are liabilities.

Move Fast on What Matters

When people hear “speed,” they often imagine working 18-hour days or constantly sprinting. But real speed comes from decision-making and feedback loops.

Here’s how to practice it:

1. Know the difference between two-way and one-way doors

Some decisions are easy to reverse (two-way doors). Others are harder to undo (one-way doors).

For two-way decisions—like starting a new series, testing a freebie, or launching a newsletter—move fast. Hit publish. See what happens.

For one-way doors—like signing a major contract or investing thousands—slow down. But be honest about which category a decision falls into. Most things aren’t as permanent as they feel.

2. Bias toward action

If you find yourself saying, “I’m thinking about doing X,” stop thinking and try it.

Action is the antidote to uncertainty. Sitting around waiting for the perfect plan won’t protect you from risk, it’ll just delay your growth.

3. Speed to feedback beats speed to perfection

We obsess over details, landing pages, scenes, and social captions, when what we really need is feedback.

Is this draft worth revising? Is this lead magnet resonating? Do readers even want what you’re making?

Speed helps you learn the answer faster. It lets you test more ideas and double down on the ones that work. That’s what successful authors do, they iterate their way to success.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

We work in a power law industry. One great book, one amazing offer, one viral moment can do more for your career than 10 “good” ones.

So instead of slowly investing all your energy into one thing and hoping it hits… use speed to place more bets. More tests. More learning.

This is why small, independent authors have an edge over big publishing houses. You don’t need committee meetings, Gantt charts, or internal reviews. You can move.

Use that advantage.

What’s Slowing You Down?

I know speed can feel counterintuitive to creatives. We want to craft the perfect scene, polish every word, make our art flawless. But perfection isn’t the enemy of speed, uncertainty is.

The truth is:

Creative courage is being willing to ship something that might not work.

It’s asking: “Is this a bet I’m willing to take?” and then taking it. True artistry isn’t about playing it safe; it’s about exploring the unknown.

Here’s the Reframe:

Speed is not about doing more faster.

Speed is about simplifying your process so you’re doing the right things faster.

It’s your greatest tool for learning what your audience wants, adapting to new trends, and thriving in this wild new world of publishing.

So this week, ask yourself:

• Where are you moving too slowly in your author business?

• What decision are you overthinking?

• What action could you take today that would get you feedback fast?

If you reply to this email, I’ll read every response and do my best to help.

We’re in this together. And as always,

Together we are boundless,

Michael Evans

P.S. If you haven’t already grabbed your free Author Marketing Superpowers Deck, it’s a visual toolkit with 50 proven strategies to grow your author business—perfect for helping you move faster, smarter, and bolder. Grab it [here].