From advertising exec to America's storyteller-in-chief: prolific author James Patterson shares his blueprint for turning creative chaos into literary gold.

• Highly prolific author James Patterson maintains success through daily consistency — writing 350-365 days per year, getting up at 5:30 a.m., and viewing his work as "playing" rather than working. This dedication has led to over 400 million books sold.
• James' creative process involves extensive outlining (60-80 pages) but staying flexible within that structure. He keeps multiple projects (around 30) going simultaneously and moves between them if he gets stuck on one.
• James' breakthrough moment came when he realized he was "on the wrong side of the highway" — stuck in advertising traffic heading to a job he didn't want, while watching others freely driving in the opposite direction. This led him to leave his successful advertising career to write full-time.
• James' writing philosophy focuses on respecting the reader's time by following Leonard Elmore's advice to "leave out the parts people skip" and ensuring each chapter compels readers to turn the page. He emphasizes storytelling over showing off literary prowess.
• Anyone can improve their writing and creativity by breaking tasks into manageable pieces: if you're stuck, skip to another section and come back later; don't get too attached to any particular piece of writing; and remember that first drafts don't need to be perfect — you can always revise and refine your work as you go along.
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1100

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!

Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!

Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!

Assad fled, rebels took over, and Syria changed overnight. Intelligence analyst Ryan McBeth maps out who won, who lost, and what's next on Out of the Loop!

Welcome to what we're calling our "Out of the Loop" episodes, where we dig a little deeper into fascinating current events that may only register as a blip on the media's news cycle and have conversations with the people who find themselves immersed in them.

• After over a decade of civil war, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow when his regime collapsed following a rapid 10-day offensive at the end of 2024. The collapse was accelerated by Hezbollah withdrawing forces to fight Israel, leaving Assad's already weak army severely undermanned.
• The new controlling force in Syria is HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), led by Hamed al-Golani. While HTS was formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda, they have since distanced themselves and are showing potentially moderate tendencies, focusing on restoring basic services rather than implementing strict religious law.
• Turkey emerged as a major winner in this scenario, having strategically supported various rebel groups that helped bring down Assad's regime. Meanwhile, Russia and Iran are significant losers - Russia lost important Mediterranean naval access, and Iran lost a crucial supply route to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
• The Syrian civil war involved over 70 different factions, but they could be broadly categorized into three main anti-Assad groups: Islamist groups (like HTS), Kurdish groups (supported by the US), and moderate opposition groups. This complex web of alliances and conflicts made the situation particularly difficult to resolve.
• Despite the country's painful history, Syria has immense potential for rebuilding and renewal. The country was historically known for its rich culture, welcoming people, incredible food, and archaeological treasures. The current focus on restoring basic services and apparent willingness of different factions to cooperate suggests that with proper support and governance, Syria could begin healing and rebuilding its vibrant society.
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter, on Instagram, and on YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on an Out of the Loop episode, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!
• Connect with Ryan McBeth at his website, Twitter, Instagram, and on YouTube. If you'd like to stay on top of what's happening in the world, subscribe to Ryan's Substack!

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1099

Your sister gave you permission to spank her son. Now she's calling you a child abuser and diving deep into conspiracy theories. Welcome to Feedback Friday!

And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!

• You spanked your nephew once after he kicked your daughter, with your sister's prior permission. Now she's calling you a child abuser, your mother's caught in the middle, and there's a fascinating twist involving QAnon, church expulsions, and a high-profile abuse case. How does one find the way through this labyrinth of family dysfunction?
• Picture teaching 100 ESL students daily in a crowded hallway (yes, a hallway!) with no walls, while six precious years stand between you and a cushy pension. Your Etsy side hustle brings joy, but those morning tears on the commute tell a different story. What's the escape route from this educational pressure cooker?
• As a pastor and Army Reserve high-ranker, you counsel others through their darkest hours. But your 16-year-old daughter's bipolar diagnosis, self-harm history, and manipulative behaviors are testing your limits in ways no pastoral training could prepare you for. How do you help someone who refuses to be helped?
• Recommendation of the Week: Use AI in your everyday life.
• For 16 years, you lived in the shadow of narcissistic manipulation, watching your self-esteem erode like a sand castle in rising tide. Now that you've escaped, your ex-wife is spinning tales that would make Scheherazade blush, and you're left wondering: how do you rebuild your truth when someone else has been writing your story?
• Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com!
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.
• Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1098

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including...