The biggest thing that happened this week was the announcement that I had won the video competition in the “Most Life Changing Moment” category for a competition called BeTheNextBestSellingAuthor.com
I wrote a post about it earlier this week with a link to the results in there. (Photo Credit: Shelly)
It was the most stunning win I’ve ever experienced in my life. The competition was fierce with well over 200 videos under consideration. Mark Joyner, the man who organized this competition, said judging was extremely difficult because there was only one winner for each of the three categories (Most Life Changing Moment, Most Views and Funniest Moment). He must have felt bad about it because while there were no official “runner ups,” he listed a handful of “honorable mentions” at the very bottom of the announcement page.
I cannot begin to tell you the level of gratitude when I learned of the win. It was such a profound moment for me - I felt what lottery winners must feel when they learn that they just beat astronomical odds to win millions, forever changing their life!
What’s interesting about this competition (or any competition of that scale), is that if you’re selected as the winner, you’ve just earned yourself a virtual viral marketing campaign without spending a dime! Once a web page is created with a list of winners with a link to whatever material that was submitted (in this case a video), it will be there forever as long as neither party takes it down. Future visitors years down the road will see it, potentially leading to opportunities that have not yet made themselves known.
It certainly didn’t hurt that Simpleology’s newsletter goes out to over 270,000 readers. With that many people knowing about the contest results, there are unlimited possibilities!
Sometimes you just have to do it and go with the flow. Trust that if it’s meant to be, then it will happen. If not, you move on to the next opportunity that comes your way and try again.
It’s just the beginning - I have no idea what will come from this extraordinary situation but I’m riding with it the best I can and am enjoying it. There’s no way I could have forseen any of this but one thing is for certain.
It’s been part of God’s grand plans for me all along. That’s why I couldn’t get another literary agent after my first agent and I went separate ways in 2000, that’s why I haven’t found a publisher yet and that’s why my manuscript has been sitting on the floor, waiting for an opportunity like this to manifest. The universe, once again, showed me (and you) of it’s perfection.
Little did I know my words in a video post a couple weeks ago would be prophetic:
Timing picks you, you don’t pick time.
To see that video click here.
You’ll probably appreciate the enormity of my gratitude when you learn that Mark Joyner has substantial experience in working with authors in transforming their books into best-selling material. Look at this as an example of who I’ll be dealing with in the coming days, weeks and months:
- He’s been called the king of “Viral Marketing”
- He’s a best selling author of several books himself, many of which have been translated to different languages
- His pioneering e-book (”Search Engine Tactics”) was downloaded over 1 million times before e-books became fashionable
- One of his books, (MindControlMarketing) shot to #1 within 36 hours of its release
Clearly the man seems to know what he’s talking about. He’s gotten positive testimonies from some of the most successful Internet marketers out there.
Needless to say, I’m excited to be working with this man - I’m about to embark on a journey with $20,000 worth of work that I won to help transform my manuscript into a bestseller. Several of you have already indicated you want to buy my book - you guys rock - thanks!
Of course, I will keep everyone posted on the progress we make as we go forward.
Once again, thank you all for your support. Have a great weekend!
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May I say an early congratulations, if that’s...
Welcome! I'm the founder and professor of Adversity University specializing in personal development for spiritual beings having a human experience. To see a speaking demo tape and other information, please click
I was doing some research for a new book, and stumbled on this site. I must say congratulations on all of your success both past and present. You know, the most optimistic people are those who have faced and survived adversity. I know I live with a couple of disabilities; however, I have such a positive outlook, (not everyday) more than not.
When I was tested for a learning disability, I found out that dyslexia was a big reason for my troubles in college classes. This did not bother me as much as the chronic pain I must live with on a daily basic. It’s hard to be optimistic everyday, and it’s even harder to go after your goals, when you know in your heart that there are elements/obstacles that always appear much larger than they are.
I have been in college for 6 years, and it looks like I have seven more classes to get through before I can consider myself a college graduate. I continue to learn and I strive to be the best in everything that I do, no matter how great the odds of the goals I set.
Before I faced having pain, I was not as ambitious, and I was a bit on the “lazy” side. It took being faced with a hard situation to make me focus on things that I didn’t think I could do.
I am now a president of my first business, One Stop Write Shop, and I am working on completing my first book, a memoir about my struggles with domestic violence, chronic pain and my children. There are many things I know that I may not be able to do, like be an editor for a big publishing house, (my spelling is the worst!) Although, I love to write and I set my sights on what my strengths are, and never the areas that seem to hold me back.
I believe that we are all talented people, and we all need to be told at one point in our lives, “You can do it.”
A lot of parents use positive reinforcement as a successful tool for bringing up a child, or one with ADD, ADHD, I think that adults also could use reinforcement that is a lot more positive.
We forget that adults have needs and they have doubts, fears, and need a push, a positive kind.
Thank you again for your site, I have gained a lot of information, and have been inspired by your video below.
We would be honored to have you apart of our writer’s community.
Thanks again!
It’s exciting to see this path unfolding in front of you!
Karen Putz’s last blog post..Steak ‘n Shake–Will We Move Forward?
Katina:
What a wonderful, value-added comment you just gave all of us! Thank you for sharing your story and for letting me know how gratitude is such an important part of your life.
I am definitely checking out your writing blog and see how I might participate. Thanks for writing in. Welcome to the AU community - it’s good to have you here.
Karen:
It’s am amazing journey, to be sure. While I certainly hoped I would win, nothing could have prepared me for the morning when I first learned that I beat the odds of winning the category I entered! It’s rather surreal. Almost like waking up in a dream kind of thing except that it was very REAL.
Your support is always appreciated.
May this joy be with you for a long time.
Those of us who love you - yes, we do - are watching it unfold with you in great anticipation.
It is proof that good things do happen to good people.p
Congratulations Stephen.
Congratulations, Stephen! I’m so glad to hear you won the contest. You are reaping what you’ve been sowing all this time. I can’t think of anyone else who more deserves the accolades.
Jo Hawke’s last blog post..?The Censors?
Stephen,
It’s great that you won the competition!
I look forward to reading your book and
each edition of Adversity Universtiy.
Joan:
Thanks a lot for your support - it’s good to have you here as a new member of the Adversity University community.
Welcome!
Jo Hawke:
You too! Welcome to AU - I appreciate you taking delight in my win. That means you and everyone else expressing the same sentiments believe that something like this can happen to anyone with enough faith and perserverence.
I look forward to hearing from you again.
Vi:
Welcome! Thanks for the hearty note of congrats. It’s appreciated.
Corinne:
Do you realize how lucky I have to have someone like you in my corner? It’s fun to watch each other grow, isn’t it? What would life be like without the blogging world and those in it?
You’ve been with me since the earliest days of my blog, watching things unfold and I’m so glad you’re a part of the journey. Only God knows what He has in store for each and every one of us.
All I can tell you is that He has BIG plans for everyone who is ready to meet opportunity with a sense of preparedness.
You were prophetic indeed! This is such a great milestone for you and I believe that your book will go to best seller status in 36 hours just like Mark’s! This is your time and everything is lining up for you. Your work is so powerful that it paid the “tuition” for you to get over $20,000 worth of mentoring, manuscript assistance, etc. to launch your book and it spoke louder than the other 199 entries.
You have been consistently pouring out your heart and sharing your inspiration and you are so deserving of this. You won’t be able to imagine what’s next!!!!!
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
Sharmaine
Sharmaine:
Your enthuaism and love completely bowls me over! Thank you for being such an incredible spiritual supporter - you’re another one of those long-time, loyal subscribers, rooting for me every step of the way, even through the darkest times.
I’m grateful you have a vision for me that is sometimes much larger than my own and it’s great to latch onto your train of thought - it’s almost as if you have been God’s conduit to higher thought - a lifeline when I can’t seem to find it on my own.
You are the light and beacon for me - thank you.
Stephen,
Congratulations and so well deserved!! You are absolutely amazing! I HAD watched this video and am thrilled for you that it was the winning entry!
I love your quote - “Timing picks you. You don’t pick time.” I can learn from that.
Flying airplanes is only one of your many gifts - I look forward to our continued friendship.
Kudos and Congrats!
Warmly,
Donna Cutting
Donna:
I love that quote too - it’s so powerful.
Thank you for your enthuastic, bubbly note of congratulations. I appreciate it greatly. In another 6 weeks, we will finally meet in person at the SOBCon08!
Can’t wait.
I love the quote too!
Stephen, it’s an incredible journey and thanks for letting us all tag along! Congrats!
Lisa Callsen’s last blog post..Heightening Deaf Awareness
Lisa:
I’m delighted to have you and others along for the journey. In a funny sort of way, you are watching a journey of sorts unfold along the way. Because you’re a part of it, you’ll know that whatever happens, it was not an “overnight success” as some people might be led to believe.
It may seem like it to some but in reality, it takes years of planting seeds, watering them and then taking the necessary steps in becoming prepared to meet opportunity when it arrives at your doorsteps.