Just keep going …
Paul White's nationally distributed syndicated column, “Just keep going … ” is published in 22 publications across seven states. This includes the following newspapers and digital publications: Midland Daily News (MI), SFGate (CA), Seattle PI (WA), Connecticut Post (CT), Laredo Morning Times (TX), Huron Daily Tribune (MI), The Telegraph (IL), and more. In this week's article, Paul offers advice on achieving your dreams after tabling your desires due to life's unforeseen circumstances by hitting the refresh button on your own's life purpose.
When you give up on something, do you ever wonder how close you may have been to the solution finish line?
The question brings to mind Thomas Edison when asked by an associate, “Isn’t it a shame that with the tremendous amount of work you’ve done, you haven’t been able to get any results?”
“Results?” replied Edison, “I have generated thousands of results, all of them showing me what won’t work!”
Edison is known for getting excited each time he theoretically failed, knowing he was one step closer to the solution he sought.
It’s hard to imagine having the drive to keep coming back day after day, attempting to find proof for a hypothesis, only to find something you weren’t looking for that didn’t give you the proof you sought?
Grit is a word I hear often. More and more since Angela Duckworth published a book by that name in 2018. Tenacity is another word that could work, along with drive, endurance, motivation, faith, and inspiration. These are all words that could be used to describe a person unwilling to allow anything to prevent them from reaching a worthy goal. I’m writing about this "Keep Going" thought process today based on what I have personally experienced in an attempt to get a book I completed two years ago that can and will change the world published.
Here’s the short version of the story.
The majority of my work life so far, has included the privilege of owning a successful dry-cleaning business. The business allowed our family to develop wonderful relationships with the people we worked with, our customers, and the community which we’ve been deeply involved in.
When Covid hit and people began working from home rather than the office, the need for the services we offered dropped down to an unsustainable level. Rather than getting mad or being bitter, I realized that I needed to re-invent myself and create a new purpose to wake up to every day.
So, I decided to write a book.
Three months later, utilizing many of the italicized words above, I had a completed manuscript. I sent it off for professional editing with a smile so wide I could have eaten a banana sideways. The book is based on many of the life lessons I’ve learned that I wanted to share with others, condensed into nine gifts we can give ourselves that can literally bring about positive change in the world.
As soon as I completed the manuscript, I began educating myself on the publishing industry. For my book to be successful, I knew that it was imperative for me to understand how the industry functioned on all its different levels. I needed to understand how major publishers acquired authors, how authors acquired Literary Agents, the role smaller publishers played, how the industry sorts by genre, the role a book publishing proposal plays, the print-on-demand, ebooks, and Audible books pieces to the puzzle, and the value of a well-written query letter.
PLUS, as I’ve been studying this, I’ve witnessed the publishing industry going through a metamorphosis due to the change brought on by the pandemic. WOW!
For many people, this journey I’ve been on could be overwhelming to the point that many would simply give up. But that’s not me. You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve been shown what won’t work in my quest to have this book at the top of the best-seller lists once it’s published, including having my book proposal rejected close to 100 times. So, what to do?
After reading hundreds of articles and watching endless videos on the internet, I feel like I’ve earned the equivalent of a college degree in ‘book publishing’. Now, it’s up to me to figure out what to do with the knowledge I’ve gained over the last two years. And that’s precisely what I’m about to do.
Yes, I’m going to seek Celebrity and Business Leader endorsements because they will significantly expand the reach of this book and help me spread its value. Stay tuned. How?
Follow me on LinkedIn and Facebook, or go directly to theanswerdiscovery.com, where you can order "The Answer Discovery – How to Change the World by Helping Others….and Ourselves" book for yourself and the people you love and care about.
So, my story of re-inventing myself with a new purpose is near-complete. How about YOU?
Could it be time to hit the refresh button on your own life’s purpose? Can you identify one thing that you’ve previously shelved and, after reading this gentle push, would consider reviving under the ‘keep going’ mantra? How close were you to success when you lost your drive?
Begin today and re-invent yourself utilizing grit, drive, endurance, motivation, faith, and inspiration.
I sure hope you do because I Believe In You! GiddyUp!
In addition to being a nationally syndicated columnist, Paul White is an author, motivational and inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, podcaster, and life coach located in Midland, Michigan. He offers self-help and culture development to start your journey towards consistent growth and joy. If you’re interested in getting in touch with Paul, please submit an inquiry via our Contact Page.