Therapy for Mgbánwè: Problem Identification and Decision-Making Process

Key Steps and Actions:

1. Initial Draft Completion and a 2-Year Mental Blockage:
   • What Happened: In August 2022, the author, Onyedika, finished the draft of the book, and after Kelechi’s (the editor's) revisions, he shared it with Dr. Suzy. Dr. Suzy then asked, "Who is your target audience?"
   • Challenge: Onyedika faced a dilemma—whether to keep his book's content in its formal, academic style or to simplify it for a broader audience. This question disrupted his usual thinking and decision-making, creating a mental blockage that led to procrastination for 2 years.
2. Recognizing His Natural Academic Writing Style:
   • Self-Analysis: During those 2 years, Onyedika engaged regularly with his Facebook audience and pursued continuous learning, which ultimately led him to discover the analytical/logical learning style—a style not commonly highlighted in the popular VARK modalities. Recognizing this as his own learning style helped him embrace a more academic writing tone naturally.
     Onyedika realized that his struggle was due to cognitive dissonance—the conflict between his decision to simplify the content and his learning style caused him to procrastinate until he became aware of and embraced his learning style. While those with his learning style can break down complex concepts, they may find simplifying information challenging, as their natural inclination is to explore depth and complexity rather than present ideas in a more straightforward or accessible way. This might lead to discomfort when trying to adapt their communication style for broader audiences.
   • Audience Insights: He realized that his writing was more suited for an academic audience. This insight was crucial in deciding to embrace his authentic style and refine the book based on feedback rather than force a generalized approach.
   • Agile Decision: By July 2024, with this newfound self-awareness, Onyedika was able to move past the mental blockage. To the book production and release teams, he presented the idea of applying Agile principles by deciding to release a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) version of his book, focusing on iteratively refining and simplifying the content. This approach allowed them to move forward while continuously improving the work over time.

Decision-Making Outcomes:

• Cognitive Dissonance Management: By finally recognizing the mental block as a form of cognitive dissonance, Onyedika broke free from the “mental blockage” and moved forward with the product's release.
• Incremental Delivery: This approach allowed for iterative product improvements, reducing waste and creating value for both academic and general readers in subsequent editions.