The Freak Factory - David Rendall

Sneak Peek at the New Freak Factor Book

I've been blogging about the freak factor for more than three years. During that time, I've also written The Freak Factor manifesto, spoken to audiences all over the world and created a freak factor DVD, CD and quiz. 

Additionally, I have worked with two different agents and was contacted directly by an editor at John Wiley & Sons. Unfortunately, the book was rejected by all of the major, and most of the minor, publishers in the US.

Actually, they didn't reject the book; they rejected me. They loved the book idea but said that I didn't have enough of a "platform," which means that no one really knows who I am.

Despite these rejections, I decided that the book still needed to be written. So I'll be self-publishing it through CreateSpace. I don't have an exact release date yet, but I'm hoping it will be available by March 1st.

Because you've been reading my blog, you've read portions of the book already. But I wanted to give you the first look at the table of contents.

0. overview - finding your freak factor

your job is killing you . . . deforming beliefs . . . recovering from our education . . . negative psychology . . . self-destruction books . . . the problem with most people . . . 7 reasons to be different . . . 7 ways to find your freak factor

1. awareness - what's your problem?

unique . . . positive . . . obsession . . . natural . . . strength . . . weakness . . . 20 questions to help you discover your strengths and weaknesses

2. acceptance - apparent weaknesses are strengths in disguise

negativity bias . . . fundamental attribution error . . . a love (and hate) story . . . reframing . . . the kmart fallacy . . . the myth of self-control . . . preserving the tilt

3. appreciation - we succeed because of our weaknesses, not in spite of them

disorganization . . . dyslexia . . . addiction . . . mental illness . . . amputation . . . executives and inmates . . . limitations are liberating . . . freak profile: allan bacon

4. amplification - exaggerate your weaknesses, don't elminate them

the best are unreasonable . . . freak profile: amber osborne . . . freak profile: joe heuer . . . too much or not enough? . . . the best are the worst . . . the best are obsessed . . . freak profile: nance rosen . . . outrageous rewards . . . rejects . . . hate mail . . . dead leaders . . . freak profile: roxy allen

5. alignment - don't try to fit in; find the right fit

the elephant man . . . a sundial in the shade . . . the rudolph principle . . . 4 elements of fit . . . 7 ways to find the right work . . . career ideas for freaks

6. avoidance - move out of situations that highlight your weaknesses

permanent procrastination . . . be lazy . . . do less . . . the stop-doing list . . . pruning . . . saying no . . . be a quitter

7. affiliation - find people who are strong where you are weak

don't do it yourself . . . outsourcing . . . dirty jobs . . . symbiosis . . . imperfect people . . . choose your audience . . . freak profile: jennifer schuchmann

I'll keep you posted on the status of the book. Right now I'm working on the final edits, deciding on the cover design and formatting the interior of the book. Once I send it to CreateSpace, they will create a proof copy and mail it to me. After I approve the proof, the book will be available on Amazon and CreateSpace and at my live seminars.

Five freak factor books for kids - Book 1

This is the first in a series of five posts about children's books that illustrate the freak factor. If you like what you've been reading in the blog and want to share it with your kids, these books can help.

My middle daughter just started kindergarten and is reading through a series of Hooked on Phonics books, including Kim Kangaroo. The story is a perfect example of my Too Much or Not Enough concept.  It goes like this:

"Kim is a kangaroo. Kim hops a lot!"

Unfortunately, everyone Kim meets tells her that she hops too much.

She responds by saying, "this is what kangaroos do."

Finally she meets the perfect companion, Ron Rabbit. 

Ron doesn't criticize Kim for hopping because rabbits also love to hop.

The story ends with Ron and Kim having a great time hopping together because that's what rabbits and kangaroos do.

This story makes three important points:

1. Some people will always criticize you for doing what you were designed to do.
2. You don't need to change who you are to make others happy. Keep doing what you do best.
3. You can always find someone who accepts you for who you are.

Next time someone criticizes you and tries to get you to fix an apparent weakness just act like Kim Kangaroo. Tell them, "I'm not going to change. This is what I do." Then start looking for other people who like to do the same things and will accept you for who you are.

Make sure to come back or subscribe to the blog for more children's book recommendations

I'm in the Amazon!

OK, not really. I'm in the slightly less glamorous city of Goldsboro, North Carolina.

But my book, The Four Factors of Effective Leadership, is now available on Amazon.com in the following formats.

- Hardcover

- Paperback

- Audiobook

- Live Seminar DVD

If you've already read the book or watched the DVD, I'd love to hear what you think.

Please send me an email and let me know if I can share your comments online.