What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
Thank you for this question. I always knew I had a book in me. I always thought it would be fiction and be along the lines of Stephen King. But you write what you know, and I know business transformation. I’ve been doing the same “work” for more than 30 years across many different job titles and companies, from small startup companies in the 1990s to large Fortune 50 enterprises. The work has always been to find an easier way to get work done and implement solutions that remove friction for the people doing the actual work. When I was part of the massive AI-led layoffs last year, I decided to take the opportunity to start writing about these experiences instead of jumping right into a new job. Once I started, I couldn’t stop until it was done. I think I found my future because of this amazing experience.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?
The main character is the “Flow Coach.” Their theme song would be “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Whenever the Flow Coach is told something isn’t possible or is a waste of time, they see it as a personal challenge, and they pursue the impossible relentlessly.
What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
Horror - Stephen King is my hero.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
Boring, I know, but I need to catch up on Product Managers in Retail, focusing on AI. But if Stephen King releases anything new, I’ll pounce on that first.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
I love the “Diamond in the Rough” chapter because it is one of the strongest signals of transformation that tells you you’re on the right track. It’s about a person on the team or in the organization who is extremely talented but overlooked because the chaos is getting the attention, not the people. When the chaos subsides, the diamond in the rough surfaces, and the dynamic changes completely.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
Hmmm… I don’t think so. I get completely focused when I am writing and lose all sense of time. But that’s not quirky—just a state of zen.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
Start small and build incrementally. So many organizations try to jump right into a new methodology, tool, or framework, and this just adds more chaos on top of the existing chaos. My approach is different. Start with a team or a program, diagnose the symptoms of chaos, and then build small, incremental solutions until the chaos is gone. Then you can expand and scale from there.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
That real transformation starts at the grassroots, not from the top. Skill up to tackle things at the team, project, or program level, and then spread the things that work and discard the things that don’t.
Stephen Yuhas is the author of the new book Building the Enterprise in Flow
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