10/13/2026
Author Relfections: 3 things Maggie Sass learned from coauthoring Friction.
To write a book called FRICTION, we had to live through it first.
Ross Blankenship and I have known each other since graduate school, but we hadn't spent this much consecutive time together in years.
Co-authoring FRICTION was an incredible ride, and it taught me three big things about creative friction, partnership, and attention:
1. Friction is necessary to figure out what you actually think.
Clear thinking does not happen in a vacuum. It requires white space, reading widely, and writing deliberately awful first drafts.
It also requires having hard conversations with people who think differently from you. I pressure-tested ideas right here on LinkedIn to see what resonated. Seeing what sparked conversation and watching arguments sprout into better concepts in the comments shaped this book in real time.
2. Co-writing works best with someone you genuinely care for.
You can probably co-author a book with an acquaintance, but I am not sure I would have survived the process without our friendship.
Our styles are very different. I lean into detailed preparation, while Ross is brilliant off the cuff. When deadlines shifted, friction hit, and legitimately huge life events happened right in the middle of finalizing the book, what saved us was our relationship bank account.
Because we care about each other's families, partners, and kids, we could take interpersonal risks, absorb direct hits, and still come out on the other side as proud colleagues and close friends.
3. In 2026, a book is competing with literally everything.
We are not just competing with other titles on a shelf. We are competing with reels, TV, movies, social feeds, and everything vying for attention.
We designed FRICTION to respect that reality:
- Part 1 is under 70 pages. You can read the core ideas in under two hours, get excited, and start asking what to do next.
- Part 2 is packed with experiments. Even though we do not know you personally, the likelihood that at least one experiment fits your exact situation is high.
- There are QR codes throughout the chapters to download worksheets immediately.
- And if you are completely overwhelmed, our companion website lets you sort the experiments directly by the specific emotion or leadership challenge you are facing.
If you’re curious about what friction might reveal in your own leadership, explore the ideas, experiments, and resources behind FRICTION at TalentSmartEQ.com/friction, or get your copy on Amazon.
