How many puppets have you designed today?

Attached are the handwritten notes (at The Huntington Library) by Octavia E. Butler, one of the most visionary writers of the 20th century, and the first black woman to gain mainstream recognition and major awards in science fiction.

Her path was not smooth. She faced persistent rejection, financial struggles, and systemic gender and racial bias. Despite her genius, she was isolated and excluded for years before finally being published.

On one page, she repeats almost like a child: 

“My books will be read by millions of people! I shall be a best‑selling writer!”

At first you think it is naive. 

Until it isn’t.

On another page, she sets her goals:

✏️ Pages per day.

✏️Pages per week.

✏️Months per novel.

✏️Time allocated for research and rework.

Today we call them KPIs.

Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, freelancer, artist, startup founder or a puppet designer, setting KPIs and measuring them works. 

Gives you a little bit of structure, safety.

When you’re self employed, the feedback loop you're used to in corporate life weakens.

That’s where actionable KPIs matter.

What has worked for me and might help you get started if you are one of the above people

- btw I really would like to meet you if you are a puppet designer

✓ Write one rough paragraph each for your short‑term, mid‑term, and long‑term vision.

✓ Identify priorities that move you closer to those visions.

✓ Translate them into yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily actions.

✓ Measure them regularly. (Even when the results aren’t there yet, just measure the effort.)

Back to Octavia

At the end of one of her books Octavia E. Butler gives advice for those who want to be writers. It is relevant in many other contexts as well:

“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is persistence in practice.”

So set your KPIs, turn them into habits, write your story. 

Eventually it will be published.