What A Year!
On this final day of 2021, before I start making plans in anticipation of the launch of another new year, I want to take a moment to take a "look back" at what happened in this last "trip around the sun".
2021 will always have a special place in the calendar of my life, as this was the year I made a huge dream come true.
I became a PUBLISHED AUTHOR!
On November 9, 2021, Brighter Skies Ahead: Forecasting A Full Life When You Empty The Nest (the book and companion journal) were released!
The journey to book completion and launch was complex and filled with many twists and turns. There were exciting connections as well as unexpected disappointments.
Along the way, I learned some very important life lessons:
1. Taking the first step toward a goal is often the most difficult part of the journey. For this literary effort, my "first step" was to send an e-mail to someone I knew in the publishing world. (This was in January, 2020) He agreed to an initial meeting, and told me he thought I may "have something special" in mind.
2. Be ready to do the work! For my book, "doing the work" initially meant writing an in-depth book proposal. After signing a contract to write the book, the next round of "doing the work" meant writing that first draft of the manuscript and meeting a deadline!
3. Get ready for unexpected challenges and disappointments along the way. I was completely blindsided when my book contract was cancelled one day. Due to the significant financial losses in the publishing world due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, even though I had a signed contract with one of the biggest publishing companies in the world, hundreds of author contracts were cancelled; including mine.
4. Look for the blessings in the disappointments. The blessing for me in the cancellation of my initial contract was the publishing company's generosity in allowing me to keep my author advance and to regain all ownership of my edited manuscript! This allowed me flexibility in finding a new publishing company that would allow me to have greater control over the material I had created. (I was able to create the companion journal to be released at the very same time as the book, which would have never happened with my initial contract and publisher)
5. Branching out in life brings new friendships and relationships. By becoming an author, I have developed friendships with other authors and speakers and coaches! A whole new world has opened to me by connecting with other people who share the same passion, drive and creative interest.
6. Be willing to learn. Now that I have published my first book, I am discovering an entirely new set of opportunities for sharing the information I'm creating. In order to reach my full impact, I will need to learn new digital technology for creating on-line courses, videos and even a podcast.
7. Be open to CHANGE! This brings my "full circle" in 2021...as my "One Word" for 2021 was CHANGE! Indeed, by being willing to take chances, work hard, handle disappointments and branch out, the course of my professional life is now open to change.
What a year...INDEED!
I'm looking forward to "what comes next"!
