The Surprising Connection Between Socks and Writing Success

I want to share a funny story with you about socks (yes, socks!) that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with business or book goals but actually has everything to do with both.

A couple of years ago, when I started a daily walking experiment, one of the things I invested in—right after a great pair of shoes—was great socks.

This was the first time I’d ever gotten socks that were labeled for the foot they were meant to be worn on—L for left, R for right. (It struck me funny at the time because it reminded me of the days-of-the-week underwear I had when I was a little girl.)

 In testing out a few brands, I found that all of the running style socks had these markings, and I quickly came to expect to see them.

Fast forward to last fall, as I was preparing for my first trip to Italy, the type of socks I started researching were compression socks. Again, I purchased several brands to see which I liked best.

The winning brand, which offered a good combination of fit, comfort, and compression, had one distracting flaw: Both socks were labeled with an “L” on the top inside cuff.

I was sure I had somehow been shipped irregulars—to the point that I was going to contact the company, let them know what happened, and ask for a replacement pair or two “R”s to match my “L”s.

Now, it may be clear to you where this is going, but in case it’s not…

The L on the inside of the socks represented the SIZE (large), not the FOOT (left) that it was meant to be worn on.

I had such laser focus on this perceived flaw that I ended up creating a (fictitious) problem I felt I had to solve… and gave mental bandwidth to it over the course of a couple of days.

Ridiculous, right?!

And embarrassing to admit, but I have to ask you:

Have you ever created a problem for yourself where one didn’t really exist… maybe fixated on or became obsessive about something to the point you could only see things one way or gave meaning to something that was based only on perception, not truth?

I’m imagining you’re nodding your head yes—because we all do at one point or another—so I offer these words of encouragement:

If you’re feeling stuck, like there’s no way out of a particular problem or no accessible route to get to your big, hairy audacious goal, remember this story and challenge your assumptions.

Disrupt the familiar spiraling.

Step back and get some distance so you can gain clarity to see things more objectively—outside the limiting and inaccurate context you may be assigning to whatever is in front of you.

We almost always have access to the answer or solution or the ‘real’ truth. The trick is allowing ourselves the space to see it for what it truly is.

We are capable of more than we give ourselves credit for… including becoming as proficient in finding our way “out,” “through,” and to a state of unstuckness as we are in over-complicating things.

Maybe not giving so much attention to the labels others have placed on us over our lifetime—as well as the ones we’ve placed on ourselves—is a good place to start.

How does this all tie back to your book writing journey?

Well, just like I got fixated on the "L" on my socks, it's easy to get hung up on perceived flaws or challenges in your writing process. Maybe you're obsessing over the perfect opening line, worrying if your ideas are good enough, or getting lost in the weeds of formatting and structure.

But here’s the thing: these are often self-created obstacles that can derail your progress. When you find yourself stuck, take a step back. Reassess your approach. Challenge your assumptions and look for a fresh perspective.

Remember, the goal is to move forward, to make progress, and to get your book into the hands of readers. Don’t let the little "L" moments distract you from your big picture. Trust in your ability to navigate through challenges, and give yourself the grace to see your project for what it truly is: a work in progress that’s well on its way to becoming a finished book.

Keep writing, keep moving forward, and remember—you’re capable of more than you think.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Life and business strategist turned bestselling book coach, publishing mentor, and founder of She Gets Published, Lanette Pottle, helps female coaches and entrepreneurs create books that lead to new clients, bigger stages, & more profits. Need help getting started ( or unstuck) on your book journey? Book a call with Lanette today.