Let me share something exciting with you. In the next few weeks, I’m releasing a novel that explores leadership and organizational transformation in a completely unique way. “Broken Magic” isn’t just another business book disguised as fiction. It’s a story that will challenge everything you think you know about power, control, and the true nature of organizational change.
I’ve spent years observing how organizations handle transformation, watching leaders navigate the delicate balance between maintaining stability and embracing necessary change. These observations sparked a question: What if we could explore these dynamics through a story that breaks free from traditional business book constraints?
That’s where “Broken Magic” was born. Through the lens of science fantasy, we follow four leaders whose struggles mirror the challenges many of us face in today’s rapidly evolving workplace. Their journeys will feel surprisingly familiar to anyone who’s ever questioned established systems, tried to bridge opposing viewpoints, or found themselves choosing between comfortable success and uncomfortable truth.
In just a moment, I’ll introduce you to these characters and the leadership insights they offer. But first, I want to invite you to be part of this story’s launch. Visit the Broken Magic Pre-Release page to sign up for exclusive pre-release insights, including:
- Early access to character profiles and leadership lessons
- Behind the scenes looks at how the story connects to real organizational challenges
- Special pre-release pricing
- Invitation to virtual launch events where we’ll explore these themes together
Now, let’s meet the leaders who are about to challenge everything you think you know about organizational transformation…
The Perfect System Leader: Samantha Reed
Picture that colleague who seems to do everything right. The one who knows every protocol leads every initiative successfully and seems destined for the executive suite. That’s Commander Samantha Reed. She’s risen through the ranks of her organization through exceptional performance and unwavering dedication to established systems.
But what happens when a high performer starts seeing cracks in the system they’ve mastered? Samantha’s journey from perfect executor to questioning leader mirrors what many of us face when we realize our trusted systems might need renovation rather than just maintenance.
The Visionary Challenger: Connor Blake
We all know that brilliant innovator who sees possibilities others miss. Connor Blake was once the star academic, the one everyone expected to lead the next generation of advancement within the system. Instead, he became the voice challenging everything that the system stood for.
His leadership style speaks to anyone who’s ever had to choose between comfortable success and uncomfortable truth. Connor builds teams not through traditional authority but through a shared vision and natural collaboration. Does this sound familiar to any startup leaders out there?
The System Defender: Marcus Williams
Every organization has its Marcus Williams. The senior leader who’s invested years in building and maintaining current systems. He’s brilliant, dedicated, and certain that strict control is necessary for success. His position of authority comes not just from his title but from his deep understanding of why things work the way they do.
Williams represents that voice in every transformation meeting, saying, “Yes, but here’s why we can’t change this.” His character challenges us to consider when maintaining order crosses the line from protection to constraint.
The Bridge Builder: Emma Carter
Here’s where it gets really interesting. Emma Carter stands in the middle of all this as second in command to Samantha. She’s the one translating between old and new, tradition and innovation. Her role mirrors what many middle managers face today: balancing respect for established systems with the need for evolution.
Emma shows us how middle management isn’t just about maintaining the status quo. It’s about facilitating necessary change while keeping daily operations running smoothly. Sound impossible? She might change your mind.
Why This Story Matters
“Broken Magic” goes beyond simple categories of traditional versus innovative leadership. It shows us how different styles clash, combine, and transform when faced with fundamental challenges to established systems. Through these characters, we see reflections of real challenges in modern organizations:
- How do we maintain stability while embracing necessary change?
- When should we question the systems we’ve mastered?
- How do we balance control with innovation?
- What happens when maintaining order becomes counterproductive?
The Leadership Journey
What makes this story particularly relevant is how it explores the human side of organizational transformation. We see leaders at all levels grappling with questions that might sound familiar:
- What if the systems we’ve built and maintained actually need fundamental change?
- How do we lead others through transformations we’re still figuring out ourselves?
- When do we stand firm, and when do we adapt?
Beyond Traditional Hierarchy
The magic system in this novel serves as a brilliant metaphor for organizational power dynamics. It challenges us to consider what true collaboration and innovation might look like if we moved beyond traditional control structures.
Whether you’re a senior leader questioning established systems, a middle manager bridging different perspectives, or an innovator pushing for change, you’ll find your challenges reflected in these pages.
The Real Magic
What makes Broken Magic truly special is its exploration of leadership styles. It also shows us that real transformation often requires us to question our most basic assumptions about power, control, and collaboration.
For anyone navigating organizational change, leading teams through transformation, or questioning established systems, this book offers both a mirror and a window. It reflects our current challenges while showing us possibilities we might not have considered.
I won’t spoil where these characters end up, but I will say this: their journeys will make you think differently about your own leadership path. Sometimes the most powerful magic isn’t in maintaining perfect control but in learning when and how to let it go.
Ready to question everything you think you know about leadership? “Broken Magic” might be your next essential read.
Ready to explore a new perspective on leadership transformation? Visit the Broken Magic Pre-Release page to join our pre-release community. Together, we’ll discover that sometimes the most powerful organizational magic isn’t in maintaining perfect control but in learning when and how to let it go.
Looking forward to sharing this journey with you,
Richard French
