Okay everybody, we’re back at the university after a few days of rest (are you liking the Spring in the air?).

Before we go into today’s final interview with Harry and James of Men with Pens, let me just give you a brief update from my end. I’ve been a bit preoccupied with the BeTheNextBestsellingAuthor.com online course, faithfully following steps that I need to take in order to realize the dream of publishing my very first book. With more details to come, let me just say that I am now in the extensive “re-editing” stage (it’s been edited numerous times already). I am reviewing the manuscript with a fresh eye and doing what I can to improve its structure before I unleash it to the public.

I’ve also been using the new SONY multi-function DVD recorder, transferring billions of megabytes of video from old 8 mm and VHS tapes to DVDs, many of which will be uploaded to YouTube and later posted to AU as soon as I learn how to convert them to the right video format. So hang in there! I’ve got some never seen before videos coming.

That’s enough from me. Let’s turn our focus and give Harry and James a warm welcome! (Note:  Part I can be seen here).

11. We all have a dark side, what’s yours?

Harry: I would say that if I wasn’t careful, I could be horribly manipulative and controlling. I’m aware of that part of myself and I keep a lid on it.

James: I’m moody. I can be sharp with my words. I tend to like arguments. Sometimes I can’t let go, like a dog with a bone. I have all the classic traits of the personality profile of an entrepreneur – and they’re not all flattering.

Stephen’s response: Wow, what an amazing admission for all to see. This rivals the answer given by a young man who admitted he once thought of and attempted suicide only to pull back when he realized he was really going to go through with it. You’ve just given us a peek at your humanity – thank you for that.

12. At Adversity University, I often talk about the value of changing our perceptions in order to deal with adversity. How have you dealt with adversity in your life? Give us specific examples of adversity and what you did to overcome them.

Harry: The adversity in my life seems small in comparison to what others might have gone through. Looking back, I think I may have caused most of my own problems.

I can’t give any one example. The way I deal with adversity depends on the situation and my position in life at the time. Some events felt like the end of the world, but now? No big deal. It was silly to worry about them in the first place.

I’m always changing my perception. It’s in my nature to see both sides of any given situation and figure out the best way to cope.

James: This is a tough question to answer. I see everything as a challenge, not as adversity. No matter how difficult the situation, I enjoy figuring out how to get what I want or how to achieve the result I need. An obstacle is there simply to overcome, isn’t it?

Ahh, but I can think of one issue: Being English in a French-Canadian province. Language prejudices are pretty common in Quebec. I was shunned in school, taunted and teased by the French kids. It didn’t matter that I was half-French myself. To them, I was all English and the odd man out.

Even today, if I happen to speak the wrong language to the wrong person, I receive poor service – or sometimes no service at all. Some days it makes me angry, and some days I rise to the challenge. Most days, the treatment just irritates me and I let it go.

Stephen’s Response: “Adversity” means different things to different people. Some might say adversity is a representation of a major life or death situation while others might just see it as another word for challenge. It’s all in the eye of the beholder. But like Harry says, when we see that others always have it worst than us, it certainly puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?

13. What would you say was the defining moment that forever changed the course of your life? For example, was it someone who made an impact on you or was it a spiritual revelation?

Harry: I left behind the life I had in New York for the bright lights and desert of Las Vegas. I never looked back. If I had stayed in New York, I would have become just another townie frequenting the same bars and watching the same bands every night of the weekend for the rest of my life. I wanted more, and I got it.

James: The day Harry said to me, “Why don’t you look online for some jobs in writing? You’re a good writer. You could do that.”

Stephen’s Response: Interesting that you would mention Las Vegas. I’ve never been there but three weeks from today, I’ll be there giving a keynote speech at the MGM Hotel. I’m pretty excited about it! I even booked an extra day for myself so that I could experience a full day of sightseeing.

Anyway, this is one of my favorite questions because it challenges people to stop and think back on a moment that forever changed their lives, hopefully for the better.

14. What 2 books, blogs and/or mentors have influenced you and why?

Harry: For books, it would be Marrion Zimmer Bradley’s Mists of Avalon. That book came to me through my mom back in early 1983 when I was searching for my spiritual heritage. It helped me connect with my pagan spirit and I felt like I arrived home.

The second book was one you’ll never find on the bookshelves. One of my karate instructors had given it to me when I earned my green belt. It was a personal account from the founder of the style I studied, Okinawan Goju Ryu.

The Sensei and instructors I studied under during my years in martial arts influenced me as well. I learned so much more than the fighting arts from them. I also learned how to apply those lessons to life, and they stay with me to this day.

James: I don’t have a mentor. No one ever took me under their wing. I suppose my old riding coach influenced me somewhat, because of how he treated me – he simply expected me to do well, so I did.

Books and blogs don’t influence me either. I read books for entertainment and leisure.

Brian Clark from Copyblogger wrote a post once about the Content Crossroads (http://www.copyblogger.com/content-success/). That post still haunts me today, and I think about it often. I feel it reflects where I am in life and the decisions I’m taking.

Stephen’s Response: James, well, I’ll take you under my wing! How’s that? Seriously, I’ll have to check out Brian Clark’s post – it sounds interesting. I believe he will be at the SOBCon08 conference, which I am attending. Are you planning to go yourself? It’ll be my first blogging conference so I’m very much looking forward to it.

15. Name the top 5 articles from “Men with Pens” that you believe readers at Adversity University would benefit from.

• Bloggers That Fake It
• The Way Of Writing – Part 1 of 6
  
• Put Spirit In Your Writing
• How To Finish a Project in Ten Minutes
• Bad Customer Service

Stephen’s Response: My favorite would have to be “Bloggers That Fake It.” It was truly a great piece, a response to those sites that don’t appear to be genuine. There are too many “wanna-bes” out there, enough said.

16. What do you hope God will have to say to you when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

James: My beliefs are pretty wishy-washy. I’m baptized Catholic and went to church when I was a boy, but that’s about it. I do know what I want to do when I reach heaven, though.

We never hugged or touched in our household. My Dad had Alzheimer’s disease and grew sicker as I grew into my teens. One day when he was more lucid than others, he grabbed me in a hug and told me he loved me.

Well, I froze. I didn’t know what to do. The touch was foreign and the words even more so. He let go, and I got the hell out of there as fast as I could. When I die and see my Dad again, I’m going to tell him I love him back.

Stephen’s Response: Wow, that was quite touching. James, do you realize you just gave what I perceive as your “most defining moment”? When your Dad became lucid for a brief flicker of a second and told you that he loved you, that was AWESOME in my book! By the way, your Dad already knows you love him. He’ll be waiting for you at the gates with a smile so brilliant you’ll be rendered momentarily blind when you first arrive there.

17. Being deaf, I am always curious to know which sounds other people love and hate to hear. Tell us a sound you absolutely adore and a sound you detest.

Harry: This is a very cool question. My favorite sound is rain falling on the roof. It doesn’t rain a lot in the desert, but when it does, it’s a treat. I love the way the thunderstorms roll across the land and you can see and hear them from miles away.

The sound I hate the most is metal on teeth. *shivers* My brother used to bite his fork at the dinner table. Drove me nuts.

James: There’s nothing more peaceful sounding than the shush of snow falling on a winter’s night. The whole woods are still and quiet, the light of the lamp outdoors glows softly on the new-fallen snow, and the sound of the snowfall is a whispering of silence.

There’s also nothing more disturbing than suddenly noticing a far-off distance rumble that slowly gains in intensity, approaching like a thundering freight train. We rarely have earthquakes here, but when they do happen, they’re gripping. People talk about our 4.0s for weeks.

Stephen’s Response: I’m glad you liked this question Harry. I also love how thunderstorms roll across the land but not while I’m in the air. There’s nothing more scary than having the wind push the plane around like a bully while the skies darken menacingly. I’ll stay on the ground, thank you very much.

18. We all have our likes and dislikes. What would you say turns you on and what turns you off? Give the first answer that comes to your mind without censoring or editing it.

James: What a question. Sheesh. What turns me on is someone taking initiative, mostly because I always feel like I’m the one who has to be in charge. Of course, someone else taking charge pisses me off to no end because I like to be in charge, so… there you go.

Harry: What turns me on is an open road and a full tank of gas on the motorcycle. What turns me off is people yammering at me when I’m trying to concentrate on something.

Stephen’s Response: Well, you guys certainly have rather colorful characters!

19. What is your favorite word? Least favorite?

James: [Deleted] is my least favorite word in the world. Feel free to edit that out – I can’t even type it without feeling disgusted.

As for favorite words, I don’t have any one in particular – but I do have a tendency to savor certain words from time to time. Someone will say a word and suddenly just the sound of it, the way it feels in my mouth as I repeat it, makes me feel like it was the best word in the world. “Good word, that,” I’ll say.

Harry: I don’t think I have a favorite word. If I did, I’d use it all the time. My taste in words is like my taste in music, it varies according to my mood. However…James did teach me a few Quebecois curse words that I like very much.

Least favorite? Ensure. I’m so tired of seeing that word.

Stephen’s Response: My goodness James, I had to put a censor over that one. We have a G-rated audience with us today but if anyone is curious to know what the word was, I’m sure they’ll contact you right away.

Harry, I find it rather amusing that the word “ensure” is something you’re tired of seeing these days. Is that an overused word in your country?

20. What’s next for Harry and James at “Men with Pens”?

Harry: Good question. I don’t think even we know what’s next. We can never tell what kind of ideas we’ll come up with tomorrow, or even later today for that matter. It’s a hell of a ride.

James: We have plans upon plans upon plans and we’re always thinking and strategizing. The fun never stops around our place. One thing is for sure – the Internet is at a Crossroads of change – and I’m right there, ready to lead the way.

Stephen’s Response: You guys kind of remind me of the “Odd Couple” TV show. Remember them? A funny show, that one. Hey, why not have a TV series of your own? With the two of you in the same room, the producers will never be short of interesting material!

21. And finally but not least, where can we find out more about you two?

Visit our website over at www.menwithpens.ca There are two great posts of 7 Weird Things about each of us. Or email us at info at menwithpens dot ca We’d be happy to answer any questions.

Thanks for the interview, Stephen. It was very well thought-out and we had to work hard to put down the right answer.

Stephen’s Response: The pleasure was all mine. I really enjoyed getting to know both of you and look forward to the day our paths cross – perhaps at SOBCON08 or perhaps another time.

Turning to the audience: Won’t you please give these extraordinary gentlemen a hand? Feel free to drop them a note, especially if you’re dying to know the word I censored out earlier.

Until next time, have a great rest of the week!

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