Stanislav Harciník: project management is key

⁠We’re delving into the making of The Cocktail Balance 2.0, revealing the secrets, struggles, and attention to detail that go into making a book.

Learn about the glassware design in the book from Eva Polgary, the book design from Dávid Tlčimuka, the stunning photography from Adrián Chrzan, all about recipe prep from Katarína Nékiová, copy editing the book with Naomi Hužovičová, and now hearing from the author himself, Stanislav Harciník.

What did you learn writing the first book?

One of the most important lessons I've learned from writing my books is the significance of time and planning. However, what truly stands out is the value of teamwork and People. The people you collaborate with are essential for executing your project at a level of quality and final product that you could never achieve alone.

Additionally, budgeting is crucial; it's important to think ahead about every detail, no matter how small. This includes budgeting for online advertisements, stickers for orders, initial book printing, delivery costs, and team member fees. Attention to these small details is the key to a successful project.

What aspect of writing a book do most people not think about or realise?

The feeling of being an "imposter" often leads to self-questioning whether your content is adequate and worthy of publication. This is particularly relevant in our fast-paced industry, which evolves with new trends almost daily. It's crucial to stay true to the original concept of your book and be certain about what you want to include.

Since writing a book can take months or even years, you might find yourself grappling with the desire to add new information or incorporate emerging trends - especially ones that in the end might not even be relevant. However, if you lack decisiveness and commitment, you may never finish your book, as there will always be something more you could include or add to it.

What goals did you have for the second book and how did you accomplish them?

Throughout my career, particularly during various projects and especially with the first books we published, I have learned the importance of project management. A systematic, step-by-step approach that includes thorough planning and budgeting is essential for success. This method sets you on a path to achieve the most successful outcome possible, allowing you to be confident in what you are undertaking rather than simply hoping for the best.

Before finishing and publishing my second book, I committed to teaching myself project management in addition to the creative process. To be honest, mastering project management has been one of the most exceptional skills I’ve developed and I want to share this knowledge with as many bartenders and hospitality professionals as possible. I aim to show them that any dream, goal, or project they set for themselves is achievable.

I recognized that careful planning, timing for all parts of the project, and continuous management throughout the process are key. Additionally, establishing a proper budget in advance and maintaining oversight during the project is crucial for success.

To be honest, I knew from the beginning what I wanted the content of the book to be like, how I envisioned its design, and how I wanted people to feel when they held it in their hands and when they finished reading it. My main goal was to guide myself and the team to the right finish line with as little stress and as few mistakes as possible.

Did the evolution of AI between the two books play a role in the second?

AI has indeed⁠ played a significant role in the evolution of my writing process. The second book was influenced by the advancements in AI, particularly in the research phase. The ability to access and process vast amounts of information quickly and efficiently has greatly enhanced the depth and accuracy of my work.

Of course, we were able to help ourselves with some of the ingredient photos, we were less dependent on timing. Due to the seasonality of produce, one photo for one ingredient can derail you from the deadline by a lot. With the text, fact checking some of the details that would have taken us days or even weeks to research were much easily solved.  But we still had to have in mind that that AI is not 100%. With generative processes its a great tool, but with the creative, it can be much more challenging and you should always focus more on you and your team, with unique human skills and vision.

Why did you chose to print the book here in Slovakia, as opposed to the trend of printing in cheaper countries (ie. China)?

One of our main goals as self-publishers is to maintain independence in our content choices while focusing on the highest quality in every detail. This includes colour quality for printing and the type of paper used. We wanted to ensure that we could review the various components of the project along the way, allowing us to make decisions that align with our vision, not just being okay with the final product delivered.

Since we are not producing tens of thousands of copies, but rather a few thousand, the price difference is minimal. Therefore, we would rather invest more to achieve the quality we desire than save some money and offer our readers an ordinary book.

What was the hardest aspect of making 2.0? 

To ensure everything is completed by the deadline, I reflected on the experience of the last book. Despite our effective planning, which allowed us to have months of preparation and complete many steps nearly a year in advance, finishing the project proved to be the most challenging part. I became extremely busy with numerous trips and ongoing projects, and most of the workload fell on me. As a result, I found myself completing tasks during flights and enduring long, sleepless nights.

What are you most proud of in the 2.0 book?

I am grateful for the incredible team behind this project, which enabled us to achieve nearly 100% of our initial goals: meeting deadlines, maintaining quality, and attending to even the smallest details. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, our plans, vision, and strategy paid off - we sold out the first edition in just a few months. We also generated significant awareness for our product and brand, The Cocktail Balance, across online platforms and industry media.