Month: June 2020

Reading Stephen King’s “On Writing,” one thing that particularly stands out to me is how he started his writing as a child and the encouragement from his mother the first time he shared a story with her. “I remember an immense feeling of possibility at the idea, as if I had ushered into a vast building filled with closed doors and had been given leave to open any I liked.” After his mother mentioned to him that his story was good enough to be a book, Steve said “nothing anyone has said to me since has made me feel happier.” His mother went out to buy his first series of 4 books for a total of $1.

Something happens when you try something new for the first time in front of someone. When you are willing to be vulnerable. Even more, something profound happens the first time you “wow” or impress someone. When you show something that causes an impression, appreciation, or applause. When someone is willing to buy what you created. That reaction you receive changes something within you. You then realize that life doesn’t just happen to you. You can poke at life, and something else can pop out of it.

First dance move I learned was the pin drop. I’ll always remember the reaction from my soccer team, some of the kids asking: “how did you do that?”

First time I played guitar in front of my parents, and they realized I learned to put together chords. My Dad let me bring the guitar to college because of it.

First time I sold products through Amazon or my dropshipping business. I gained the belief that I didn’t just need a job to create income. That with a enough work, I could create my own future.

All these little “wins” or moments of appreciation have driven me from just a kid trying something new to becoming a passion and part of my everyday life.

I’m curious – would Stephen King have ever sold 350 million copies of his books without his mother buying the first 4 books for $1?