Don’t forget to #celebrate and give thanks.
My book was released on Amazon yesterday. It’s exciting for me to see it out in the world, and to read the first set of reviews. At times, it was listed as the #1 book in Work Life Balance, the #1 new release in Job Hunting and Career Guides. #1 new release in Mentoring and Coaching, etc. While that was exciting, I didn’t write this book to become a best-selling author.
The best part of yesterday was hearing how the book was helping people get unstuck, giving them actionable advice and ideas. Readers are thinking about their lives in new ways, and that’s what I was hoping for.
Some friends yesterday offered ideas of what they’d like to see next: a journal for the exercises so they had a place to write and reflect on these questions, or accountability groups so readers could talk about their answers together. And part of my brain went into action mode of how to start executing on that immediately.
But instead, I plan to spend this week celebrating with friends, and being grateful for all the people who helped make this happen, including:
— Vik Gupta who challenged me last fall to think bigger and write a book myself, rather than constantly reference other authors.
— Jenn Steele who made it clear what worked for me as a man would often not work for her as a woman executive. She was one of the inspirations for the privilege check sections where I acknowledge that the same advice won’t work for everyone.
— Seppo Helava who was an accountability partner, as we sent each other regular updates on our writing progress.
— Saeah Wood and the Otterpine team who guided me through the process of self-publishing.
— Jerry Dischler who is an amazing and generous leader. Much of what I know about being effective I learned from watching him (and the other Google leaders) up-close for six years as his chief of staff.
— Kristin Cobble and all of the coaches who trained me, mentored me, and guided me onto the path of #coaching.
— My clients from whom I have learned so much, especially the ones who generously allowed me to share their stories in the book.
The list goes on and on, because despite the individualistic culture of America, we are all learning and interacting and getting feedback from each other. We are enmeshed in all sorts of unseen and often unacknowledged ways.
#Gratitude is a way to acknowledge these connections, a way to consciously notice how we are not just individuals, but the sum of all of our interactions. Each of us affects the others around us in myriad and complex ways.
So I wanted to appreciate all of that today before diving into what’s next. Perhaps you can do the same. Thanks!