I met up with an old friend for wine the other day. Mike's not really an old friend, but a newer one, having met only a few years ago. He feels like an old friend though, in that when we talk, it feels like our conversation has been ongoing for a very long time.
A mutual friend introduced us years ago when I was early in the writing process of What Would Water Do? Mike had also written a book, Hello Old Friend; she thought we might connect on the vein of being new, self-published [and aspiring] authors. He gave me so many useful tips on assembling my book, getting multiple sets of eyes on it, and publishing.
Mike provided some early feedback that fundamentally shaped What Would Water Do? I struggled with how to arrange all of my stories into a cohesive framework. The content was there, but it was jumbled. He concurred, and after an early read shared:
"I see your book as a beautiful deck of cards, but there are no suits or numbers that would frame or outline what “game” I might learn from them. I guess I could make up my own game, taking away my own meanings, or look for the instructions that accompanied the deck, but I don’t see any. I am expecting many games to become evident as I delve deeper, even if they are of my own creation."
Hah! Clearly I still had work to do. This feedback was pivotal in forcing me to figure out the purpose behind my first book. Upon reflection, I realized that my stories were born of sitting with people and offering different ways to look at what they were wrangling with at the time. It was a volley, of question and answer. Lay out the problem, then draw from my stories to offer a new way to look at it. That was the eureka that led to the "Dear Brooke" format.
I am forever in his debt for that alone, never mind the ongoing and future wisdom he offered. He sees me, and knows when and where to push. I was happy to present him with a signed copy, now that I have a physical edition to hand him. Being able to share my work product with someone who has walked this path before me, coached me along the way, and who could raise a wine glass in a congratulatory toast afterwards was powerful.
Our conversation wandered from books to careers and what I hope to do next professionally. We covered a lot of ground that at one point found him encouraging me to look into a speaking career as a logical next step. In traditional me-style, I hesitated, thinking through all the possible roadblocks and speed bumps. He quickly shot through each of those, showing a potential path forward if I choose to take it. His challenges to me spun up my mind in the most exciting and scary of ways - I thanked him profusely as we parted ways.
Mike's counsel rang in my ears that next week, and I send him a follow-up email the following weekend. He replied first thing Monday morning.
"It's great to be challenged, it's so liberating. We find ourselves free to soar with our dreams and possibilities for personal enrichment and happiness. When we find ourselves saying, "no, I can't," it's nice to have friends suggest, "yes, you can." Don't allow someone to believe in you more than you believe in yourself. You have accomplished much thus far in your life, and so much more is yet to be experienced and brought to life."
Yes, old friend, truer words have not been spoken. Thank you for your wisdom and for sharing it so generously with me.
Stephanie Brooke Lennon is the author of Family Bank Blueprint, GoldQuest, and What Would Water Do? Simple Strategies for Navigating Life's Obstacles. Her titles are available in Paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com. Follow Stephanie Brooke on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, Amazon, and at BrookeLennon.com.