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Helen Lacey | A Starting Point
I was at my day job the other week and got talking to someone about dreams. And
goals. He asked me what I did outside my day job and when I told him I was a
romance author he quickly started asking me questionsβhow long had I been
writing? Was it hard to get published? How did it feel now I was published?
This gentleman was now retired but had worked in customer service all his life
and he said very quietly that it was never his dream job. I asked him what was
and he stilled for a moment, tilted his head and said, βI would have liked to
make furniture.β He said he'd loved carpentry since he was a boy. He said he
loved spending time in his workshop, but then admitted that when he started
crafting a piece he never finished it. He said his workshop was cluttered with
half made tables and chairs, hall stands and a carved four poster bed. I asked
him why he didnβt finish his pieces and he couldnβt tell me. Which of course
made me curious and I dug a little deeper and before I knew it we were having a
deep conversation about fear of failure.
As an author Iβve experienced this countless times. Fear of rejection and
failure can be polarizing. It can halt creativity and hound you like a great
dark shadow. It can follow you in work and in your personal life. It can make
you hostage to a job you hate, or linger in a relationship thatβs never going to
make you happy.
But one thing I discovered about fear while I was trying to get publishedβ¦itβs
merely a starting point.
Many years ago I was privileged enough to hear a motivational speaker by the
name of Paul Hanna
speak. He was on stage for over an hour and during that time he said something
that resonated so strongly with me that I keep it with me everywhereβon my
computer, on my fridge, on my phone, in my handbagβ¦.
Think about what you want, and not what you donβt want.
The writer in me cringes at the double negativeβ¦but the meaning of Mr Hannaβs
words will stay with me always. So, I mentioned this to the gentleman who wanted
to make furniture and he looked at me and smiled. βYou know,β he said, βI think
thatβs where I am going wrong.β
Heβd found his starting point.
Last Monday he came back into the store where I work and told me heβd finished a
small coffee table and had put it up for sale on a local online shopping site
and it had sold within half an hour. He was grinning from ear to ear. This
gentleman is in his eighties and seeing his enthusiasm was inspiring. It made me
want to get home and dive into my current book.
Think about what you wantβ¦ itβs just a place to start.
Happy Reading!
Comments
14 comments posted.
Re: Helen Lacey | A Starting Point
That was such an inspiring posting, and I really enjoyed
reading your posting today!! I'll also be looking forward to
reading your latest book!! The cover is so sweet, and I'm
sure the story is going to be very moving!! Congratulations!!
(Peggy Roberson 10:43am September 12, 2014)
This sounds like a great read, I'd love to win it.
(Wilma Frana 2:47pm September 12, 2014)
Great story. I was lucky in that I loved my job.
(Donna Antonio 4:02pm September 12, 2014)
Helen, your true story is quite inspirational and motivational. Thank you for this contest. :) Best to all those who have entered and if you have a project you haven't finished time to finish it no matter how small or big it is :)
(Holly Loch 5:28pm September 12, 2014)
This book is going to be really good, can't wait to read
it.
(Katherine Horvath 9:58pm September 12, 2014)
Great blog today! Thanks for being here, I'm looking forward to reading this. Thanks Penney
(Penney Wilfort 12:51pm September 13, 2014)
Yes! You must go after what you want! Thanks for the contest!
(Linda Townsend 10:00pm September 13, 2014)
Have not read this yet , looking forward to reading it !! Thank you much for the chance !!
(Sharron Freelen 12:03pm September 14, 2014)
Excellent advice from the motivational speaker. I'm glad he influenced your writing career and the nice older gentleman's life too.
I'd like to read your story featuring a wedding planner and a doctor!
(Laurie Gommermann 7:57am September 14, 2014)
Sounds interesting
(Deanna Church 9:32am September 14, 2014)
This is definitely a book I'd love to read. Thanks for the great giveaway!!
(Bonnie Capuano 9:45am September 14, 2014)
Now THAT was a motivational story. Really resonated with me. Even though I like to think of the glass as half full, I have been guilty of focusing on the negatives too much lately (as I've had some health problems still unresolved).
Thank you! (I obviously would love to read your latest. Thanks for that too.)
(Elaine Seymour 10:35am September 14, 2014)
I enjoyed the blog. Amazing that just a few words can help someone to finish a project. Never know how much just talking to someone helps.
(Vera Wilson 11:07am September 14, 2014)
Thanks for the story and opportunity to win!
(Kelly Powell 6:21pm September 14, 2014)
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