Have you ever driven California’s spectacular Pacific Coast Highway? If so, you’re familiar with its many hairpin turns.
In the day, you can see what’s ahead and adapt accordingly. Unfortunately, I didn’t get there during the day, I got there at dusk.
Years ago, when I announced at a National Press Club event that I was taking my business on the road for my “Year by the Water,” most people burst into applause and said, “Take me with you!”
However, two people pulled me aside to express their concern.
One asked, “Are you having a midlife crisis?”
As Emcee of the Maui Writers Conference, I walked the beach every morning. One morning, I saw Pulitzer-Prize winning author Frank McCourt (Angela’s Ashes) writing away on two high-school composition notebooks… I was intrigued and asked, “Frank, quick question, what are you doing?”
Earlier in my career, I spoke at UCLA for a career-making presentation. There were decision-makers from the LA Times, Macy’s and Mastercard.
I remember thinking at the time, “If I do a great job of this, I’m set for life.”
Years ago, my son Andrew and I were at dinner and I asked, “Going to VA Tech for Homecoming?” He shrugged, “Nah, I’m exhausted.”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Mom, I want to quit. I’m making good money, but wearing a suit, working in a high-rise, and making cold calls all day isn’t what I want to do with my life.”
“What do you want to do?”…
Years ago, my son Andrew started a non-profit called Dreams for Kids in D.C. He landed a 15-minute meeting with Dr. Roberta McLeod, the Director of Howard University, where he was going to ask to use their Campus Center—for free—to host the Dreams for Kids annual holiday party. A few minutes in, Andrew realized…
Do you know the single most powerful shift you can make to go from sabotaging your success to supporting it? Try switching your focus.
Years ago, a woman came up to me at a conference and asked, “How did you come up with the title of your book ‘Someday is Not a Day in the Week?’”
I told her, “I’ve met so many people over the past few years who talked about what they were going to do… Someday.
When I submitted my book proposal for SOMEDAY Is Not a Day in the Week to my agent, she told me, “Sam, you’ll get a better deal if you have a bigger platform.”
In other words, my book deal depended less on my track record or the topic’s relevance and more on my social media following.
So, I did something I have never done…
Last year, we went around the table at Thanksgiving to share highlights of the year and to express our thanks.
When we finished, Andrew said, “Why do we only do this once a year?”
Good question! Why not start every meal with each person taking a minute to express appreciation for something good that happened that day?
