In this morning’s email, I had asked him how I could enlist the help of well known bloggers with great influence (called “sneezers” in the social media business) who could help me get the word out about my forthcoming book Obstacle Illusions:  Transforming Adversity Into Success.

Because my email was short and to the point where I voiced my desire to make it a win-win situation when contacting blogging superstars, he responded within a few hours with a link to a blog post he wrote about how to use social media to help get the word out for a book you’re writing:  An Author’s Plan for Social Media Efforts (for those who don’t know him, Chris is a highly respected social media expert so he sure walks his talk).

While looking through that very helpful list, I surreptitiously came upon another post he wrote called The Importance of Story in Your Life.   While I tried to read his lips on the video (not an easy thing to do for some strange reason  – he’s super articulate in person), I became more and more intrigued about the importance of story in a person’s life.   In that post, he wrote about Donald Miller’s book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years (this is Chris Brogan’s affiliate link–please help him for he’s been so very generous with me).

The story goes that Miller wrote a best-selling book called Blue Like Jazz.  The book ended up selling more than a million copies but unfortunately his other books didn’t follow suit.  That’s when he had writer’s block and actually avoided his publisher for quite some time.

One day two movie producers contacted him, telling him they wanted to make a movie out of his life (hey, that’s my dream!).  But his initial excitement went straight downhill when they told him the movie would have to be “doctored” to make it more appealing to the masses because apparently Donald’s life didn’t have much drama, suspense or adversity to overcome (italics are my own thoughts/assumptions).  As a result of that encounter, he had an epiphany of sorts and suddenly found renewed purpose at which point he set out on a journey to change his own life for the better and make a difference along the way.

Miller decided that if  his life was a story, why not make it a better one?  The point is you can move your life from what you might think is dull to something inspiring enough to share with others.   A good measure of what you really think of your own life is to pay attention to how you respond to the question “How’s your life is going?”  If your answer has consistently been “Same old, same old,” well golly, that should be a clue right there!

That got me thinking about my own life – just who am I?  Is God my storyteller?  Or am I?  Are all the things I’ve achieved (like becoming the world’s first deaf instrument rated pilot and award-winning stockbroker) merely saavy marketing sound-bites or are they really my life’s story?   Based on my speaking website and the book I wrote, you’d think I’ve turned them into catch-all marketing phrases to inspire people to hire me or buy my book.  Nothing wrong with that but really – what’s my story?   More importantly, what’s yours?

As Miller writes, you get the  feeling that life means something but what?

Incredibly intrigued, I stole a sneek peek through Amazon’s “Take a Look” feature and was enamored with how Miller starts out by saying that we actually don’t even remember half of what happened with our life!   How very true!  Do you remember every single detail?   Other than some of the highs, lows and most embarrassing moments (which I write about in my book), probably not.

Have you ever wondered what exactly your life means, especially when you can’t remember half of it?  Again, just who is the storyteller?

You or God?

I think Miller will have some interesting things to say in his book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, don’t you agree?

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The book, published by Doubleday, has a gorgeous jacket cover with bold gold and red lettering with an artist’s rendition of orchids that would play a powerful spiritual role in Bill’s life.  When I saw the jacket cover at Amazon, I somehow knew the book would touch my soul deeply even though I had never heard of Bill or his far-reaching mission to make a difference in the lives of so many inner-city people.

I rarely do book reviews and there’s a reason for that.  It is my staunch belief that when people make recommendations, especially those who I have come to trust, I expect them to share something from the heart.  

Because this blog is an important platform from which I have an opportunity to make a difference, I expect nothing other than honesty and integrity from myself.  It is for this very reason I don’t rush to the keyboard every single day, to force feed the blog with articles, just for the sake of posting.  When I come this keyboard, I do it because I am deeply inspired and moved to share something with the Adversity University community.   

When I received the above-mentioned book this morning in the mail, I felt irresistibly drawn to it, despite the title being somewhat generic.  After all, who hasn’t heard those words, “Make the Impossible Possible?”  But because I’ve actually seen an impossible dream come true in my own life (becoming the first deaf instrument-rated pilot in the world among others), the title held major significance for me. 

For starters, let me say for the record that I read the entire book, all 227 pages, in ONE DAY.  That’s right, ONE DAY.  I was so taken by Bill’s story that I found myself literally sobbing at certain intervals while smiling and laughing in between.  I was stunned to find many parallels between the experiences of this man and those of my own.  I wouldn’t be surprised if you were able to draw the same conclusion yourself.

It wasn’t until I was several chapters into the book that I was stunned to learn that he also had a passion for flying.  There was nothing on the jacket cover to indicate that Bill was a pilot!  As a young man, he had taken his first airplane ride in a commercial jet, sitting by the window, when his passion to fly was first ignited.  I had a similar experience.  Like what happened to me, he was told his dreams of flying was foolish.  I knew exactly what he was feeling.

Bill also talks about the power of ”swing,” his version of being in the “zone” where magical thinking, circumstances, people and places appear at just the right time to help him bring into reality his passions and visions.  It reminded me of my what my fifth grade teacher did for me with three words – “THAT’S RIGHT STEPHEN!” – forever altering the course of my life.   He preaches the idea that we cannot achieve our dreams alone.  We need help along the way and it is there – waiting for you – all you have to do is look for it.  There is someone else out there who believes in your dreams just as passionately as you do.  They are out there…waiting for you to make an appearance.   For those of you new here, you can see a quick clip of a video where I surprised my fifth grade teacher on a national talk show (“Leeza”) several years ago to thank her for saying those words.  Please go here to see it.

In an interesting sort of way, he talks about the components of my signature H.E.A.R. Principle as essential components of achieving the impossible.  You may recall that it stands for: Having a passion, Entertaining the possibilities, being Authentic (and taking action in some cases) and Remembering who helped you.  

Because Bill put my H.E.A.R. Principle into action (without meaning to, of course, because he isn’t yet aware that I created and then incorporated this principle as part of my speaking business!), he took a compelling vision that he had at 19 years of age and eventually built a multi-million dollar inner-city arts facility for at-risk kids and adults.  

He tells how molding a lifeless lump of clay into a thing of precious beauty was a spiritual moment for him and how that simple act of pottery propelled him forward in ways that were unfathomable to an inner-city kid who didn’t have the know-how to see very far into the future.  Throughout the book, he emphasized with elegance and poise, that the meaning of success was not and should not be confined to a set of goals but instead to a set of inner convictions.  Finally, he preaches the power of “going with the flow” in ways that will surprise and inspire you.

I am writing this book review after nearly 5, maybe 6 hours of reading this book.  As you can tell, I was absolutely inspired to the point where I am planning to contact Bill and let him know how much his story impacted me.  Even more telling is how I was able to relate to his triumphs, defeats and insecurities even though I was never raised in the inner city where drugs, violence and prostitution was a way of life.  I think you will relate too.

It is without reservation that I recommend you buy his book.  Go to Amazon and order it because I think you will also cry, smile and nod your head frequently.  It isn’t everyday that you see a book like this.   It is, without a doubt in my mind, destined to be a best-seller.  (Note of disclosure:  If you buy this book through the links I’ve provided above, I will make a small commission.)

With all the adversity he’s gone through, I am also going to invite him to be interviewed here at Adversity University.  Let us pray that our paths cross in the very near future.   

You might want to bookmark this post so that you can come back here and leave a comment after you’ve finished reading it for I would love to hear of your own reactions to Bill’s book. 

God bless you – I’m grateful that there is a such a thing as blogging where I can instantly publish my thoughts, observations, stories and tips with countless of people who come through here.  I love writing from the heart and love corresponding with you even more. 

Until the next time, enjoy each moment that comes to you.  It’s the last you will have.  We have this moment to enjoy.  The last one is gone forever.  Take it one moment at a time and everything will be alright.  

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Since I love to read, from time to time, I will be reviewing books that inspired and impacted me in some way.  For your convenience, I will provide a widget from Amazon at the end of each review if you are inspired to purchase the book.  Simply click on the title of the book and you’ll be transported to Amazon immediately.  Since I am an Amazon Affliate Associate, I wish to disclose that I will receive a tiny, tiny, tiny commission if you decide to buy. 

One more thing before I begin the review.  If you look up at the top of the page, you’ll see a tab for “Bookstore.”  That page is in the process of being developed.  All of my recommendations will eventually be permanently placed there for easy reference later on.

Today’s review is a short, easy-to-read book called, “Lead Well and Prosper” by Nick McCormick.  While I was guest writing at Phil’s Make it Great! blog, Nick read several of my articles and decided to ask me via email if I would read and comment on his book.  If I did, he’d ship me a review copy right away.  I replied that while I would be happy to do so, I was not guaranteeing that I would end up recommending the book or even write a review of it.  I didn’t want to falsely raise his hopes because I’m very particular about the books I read.  I am not easily swayed – just because you have a book doesn’t mean it’s going to be good.  Nick replied that he fully understood and promptly sent me the book.

The funny thing is I’m not even a manager.  But I enjoyed his bite-sized chapters, each of which began with an interesting cartoon depicting people at the office.  I found myself giggling, smiling and laughing because it reminded me of Harry the Bank Boss and other managers I had while in Corporate America.  I liked his book so much that I found myself wishing I had a manager like him back in those days!   

At the end of each chapter, he gives quick tips, reminding the reader what he/she just read.  Not only was it extremely well written, easy to follow but also entertaining and VERY RELEVANT.  I say relevant because all of the examples he provided were  representative of what actually happens in the office these days.  The examples in the book reminded me of that TV show, “The Office.”  Ever watch it?  It’s pretty funny. 

Guess how long it took me to read it?

Two hours!  From cover to cover!  Yes, that’s right!  Even if you’re not a manager, I would highly recommend this book because I think you’ll really enjoy it.  It’s definitely not like one of those boring, stuffy theoretical leadership books.  In fact, they should make this book a required reading at Harvard Business School!

You’ll love it!  Buy a copy for your boss, especially if he/she is one that needs a lesson or two in management.  Sneak it under the office door or something.

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