You may have heard the saying, “Do few things but do them well; simple joys are holy.” It was meant as a spiritual adage, but it applies to most walks of life. And particularly to me. It tells me, NO, you can’t do everything. At least to me, it’s unsatisfying to be a “jack of all trades and master of none.” So how can I approach this dilemma?

While I was working on my MBA, an expert in fast-food restaurants gave a talk. He said that if you ever see a restaurant adding things to its menu, it’s likely having problems and may go belly-up any time. So I looked at which fast-food restaurants tended to do best. The top producers include Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, Shake Shack, Culver’s, In-N-Out, and Five Guys. All of them have simple, limited menus. Because of that, they manage fewer ingredients, which lets them maintain quality.

The lesson here is that if you want to become good at something, or even the best at something, you should concentrate on your “main thing.” For those of us with minds that come up with idea after idea, this can be hard. Sure, we want to be a good writer, but we also like to paint, play the violin with the local symphony, sell collectibles on eBay, do woodworking, and so on. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have secondary interests. Of course, most people can do with hobbies that let you reset your brain for a while. But doing too much is too much. Having a clear focus doesn’t mean doing only one activity. It means knowing which activity is central to your goal.

I’ve always been jealous of people who knew what they wanted to be from an early age. Like many people, I looked into Dolly Parton’s biography after her death. She knew she wanted to be a singer from childhood. Everything she did growing up helped her improve her craft, learn the business, and how to sidestep distractions. She sang well. From that artistic expertise, she branched out into other creative areas, including creating Dollywood, acting, and even creating a competitor to Buc-ee’s. She first became a world-class expert in one thing, and then expanded that into other interests.

As always, there is a caveat when pursuing excellence in any area. Chick-fil-A does fine operating only six days a week. And you can too. You should plan for downtime. You should plan for relationship building. You should plan for healthy activities. Life is a balancing act. Balance your primary goals with spaces that help you maintain your spiritual, mental, and relational health.

I’m not saying you can’t be a novel writer on the side. I’ve known novelists who got up an hour early, worked on their writing for an hour, then did the other normal things of life. And they were successful. Maybe because they knew that in that hour, they’d better hustle and get things done, they concentrated while in novelist mode. And it worked for them. They weren’t also trying to become an expert quilter, teach yoga, and teach at a local college at the same time.

This is a particularly difficult task for some of us who are polymaths, have ADHD, or just get bored doing only one thing. (Oops, that’s me!) Yes, I admit, I’ve gone down that rabbit hole before. Personally, to do the best with a few things, I’ve had to give up learning the guitar, oil painting, coin collecting, serving on numerous foundations and committees, and a bunch of other interests. And even now, while concentrating on writing, I find that I have to curtail my interests there. I’ve done writing for academic journals, newspapers, magazines, textbooks, adventure novels, mystery novels, middle-grade novels, chapter books, Substack blogs, history books, and children’s books, all at the same time. I can’t do them all. So I have to choose projects carefully. I have to decide what I most want to accomplish and stick with that. The hardest part for many people is not letting go of things they dislike. It’s giving up things they enjoy.

I’m not perfect, and neither are you. My time and resources aren’t unlimited either. And neither are yours. So to be the best at anything, do a few things, and do them well. Decide your main thing. Know your gifts, your calling and what makes you happy. Pursue that with passion while leaving time for relationships, spiritual restoration, and activities that keep you healthy.

Do few things, but do them well.

Because many, if not most, of the people here on Substack do some writing, I’ll use that as my recurring example. But these six habits are relevant to any pursuit. We all know good habits lead to accomplishments, and poor habits hold us back. In this article, I’ll cover the positive steps you can take to develop the habits that will move you toward your goals and dreams. Incorporate these ideas into your daily habits, and they will lift you from mediocrity in any pursuit to excellence. Here are the six habits.

1. Prepare Your Mind for Accomplishment. Before deciding on any goal, such as creating a screenplay, writing a Substack article, programming a game app, or developing a sales strategy, take time to brainstorm what you’re hoping to accomplish. This helps you develop a clear path toward your goals and avoid wasting time, energy, and resources on dead ends. Some people do this with pen and paper, or by typing in whatever comes to mind. Some call the exercise “morning pages.” This habit prepares your mind for whatever tasks you need to do today to move closer to your goals. Another strategy is to meditate. Or pray. As a writer, each morning, I handwrite two legal pages of random notes about whatever comes to mind. If I know I’ll have to deal with certain chores in the coming hours, I think through them in writing. If you use this method, don’t limit yourself. Write obnoxious things. Write harebrained ideas. Use words that spell out exactly how you feel and what you want to happen. Don’t hold back. No one ever needs to read what you’ve written. I tear my notes up and throw them away, but you can keep them if you wish and refer to them later. During these brainstorming sessions, if you do it faithfully, you’ll be surprised how often you’ll produce ideas useful to your goals. Now, it may not happen the first day, but as time goes on, you’ll find that relevant ideas will begin to appear on these pages. If you’re writing poems, ideas for poems will appear from the ether. If you’re an investor, ideas about new ways to find the best investments will seem to appear from nowhere. If you can’t think of anything to write, write gibberish. Write your name. Write your dog’s name. Anything. It clears your mind and opens you up to more creative thinking than you can imagine. Try it for a month. See how it nourishes your brain.

2. Decide what you want to accomplish. In Alice in Wonderland, Alice asks the Cheshire Cat which way she should go. The Cat replies that his answer depends on where she wants to go. When she says she doesn’t know, he answers that, in that case, it doesn’t matter which way she goes. So, if you don’t know where you’re going, almost any road will do. But that will rarely get you anywhere spectacular. You have to know what you want to accomplish before you can get there. You have to set a goal to accomplish a goal. To finish a novel, close that real estate contract, or get the job you’re eyeing, you have to define exactly what you want. Be as specific as possible. Once you’ve set a definite goal, rev up your passion to reach for it. Do something every day that moves you closer. Take a class, make a friend who knows the ins and outs of what you’re seeking, read a book, read many books. Every day do something that moves you closer to your goal. Runners don’t win on talent alone. They win because they’ve trained their talent in disciplined practice. I like the picture in Isaiah 50:7: “I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” It is a powerful picture of determination. When you “set your face like a flint,” you’re determined to stand your ground until you accomplish your objective. Okay, I have to say this. You have to make your goal possible. No matter how hard and passionate you are, you will never levitate to the moon. A goal has to be something you can actually accomplish. It can be hard, unusual, or spectacular. It can be something no one has accomplished before. Even if no one else believes you can do it. But it has to be possible. Almost everyone thought the four-minute mile in racing was impossible. But Roger Bannister did it anyway. DECIDE, then DO.

3. Know your market. If you’re going to provide something for the marketplace, then you have to know your market. You’ve got to know what’s selling, what people are buying. For any of your goals, you have to know WHY you’re doing it. What’s the point? How will it help others? How will it be received? What’s its value? If you’re a writer, go to a large bookstore once a month (at least) and browse around the area that contains books or publications similar to what you write. You MUST know where your book would be placed in the bookstore. Once you know that, you can see who is publishing similar books. You might also be able to determine what editor or agent worked on a particular book. All of this information helps you get your book into the hands of the publisher most likely to want your work. In many other professions, careers, or hobbies, you should do the same thing. Who is the most prominent piano teacher in your town? What college has the best MBA program? What company trains its salespeople best? In any line of work, in any career, you must know the value of what you have to offer, who will want it, and where you can learn from the best.

4. Commitment Despite Rejection. Without committed and determined passion, you’ll rarely accomplish greatness. Charles Schulz wanted to be a cartoonist as soon as he could draw. He redrew well-known cartoon strips and took the best art course his family could afford. Still, he faced failure after failure. Rejection after rejection. Some publishing gatekeepers obviously didn’t see the potential in his cartoons. But he kept trying. Eventually, he got a small start. It grew. And now, even 25 years after his death, reruns of his Peanuts comic strips still run in over 2,200 newspapers around the world. An entire industry has evolved around Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang. Do you have such a passion? And do you have any idea what it would take to make it happen? If not, you’re unlikely to find success. No one will “find you” or “discover you” unless you take action first. You must have a burning desire to accomplish your goal. You may need to sacrifice other things. Your primary career goals must take priority over other less important goals. One important exception: Don’t neglect important personal relationships. Doing so can destroy any other accomplishments you make. You probably know someone who, from an early age, knew what they wanted to do in life. They did everything in their power to accomplish their mission. They didn’t take no for an answer. Or, have you ever observed how people in love will do everything in their power to woo the object of their affection? These people have a BURNING DESIRE to get what they want or accomplish a goal. In the same way, know what you want and go after it with everything you have.

5. Keep learning, practicing, and growing. A writer must write. A runner must run. A salesperson must sell. And the best also take time to learn and improve their craft. So, take courses. Listen to podcasts by known experts. Study good books on your topic. Attend a conference. Get a degree. Like a person learning to play a musical instrument, you must study and practice. And to become accomplished, you have to learn from the best. You have to seek out the best to play with. You can’t become excellent in a vacuum. Mimic the best, understand how they do what they do, but learn to be creative on your own, adding your own flair. Writers usually produce crap in their first drafts. Speakers stumble and mumble during their initial tries. Artists draw horrible drawings. Salespeople stumble. Know that up front. Don’t let it get you down or stop you from learning and becoming better and better. Learning takes practice in any endeavor. If you keep on track, you’ll soon outshine others in your field.

6. Finish your work. Many people want to reach a goal but give up because of initial failure, cost, or even embarrassment. But if your passion is strong, you’ll not only run the race; you’ll pass the finish line. And if you weren’t in first place, you pick yourself up, practice more, and try again. You must first learn to finish, to accomplish even the most rudimentary goals. So many writers have their work stuck on a hard drive or in a bottom drawer. Don’t stop there. Learn about the submission process for your genre (books, website guidelines, etc.) and SUBMIT. Set aside whatever time it takes to finish. Send in your novel. Post your resume. Create your sales flyer. Get out there—learn the ropes—finish projects—submit. And after you submit, after you ask for a sale, after you apply for your dream job, learn to deal with rejection. But never see it as a final answer. See it as a stepping stone toward ultimate acceptance. Examine what you did. Improve your approach. And try again. Don’t let the rejections discourage you. So many famous, bestselling authors had their work rejected dozens of times before someone said yes. So keep submitting, keep trying. All it takes is one editor, one agency, one company, or one team to say, “Yes, you’re accepted,” to make it all worthwhile.

A Deeper Conclusion: Every discussion about success needs a dose of reality. You can be a success in sports, business, and the arts, and be the most miserable person in the world. Or you can succeed in both your career and your personal life. It’s not an either-or proposition. Keep love, service, and faith a top priority in your life. Carve out time. Chick-fil-A is one of the most successful fast-food franchises. And yet, its founder, Truett Cathy, purposely closed on Sunday so he and his employees could have a day of rest. So, lavish love on your spouse, your kids, and your friends. They are a lifeline to hold you up when inevitable troubles come. Serve others. Give your time and resources to those who are less fortunate and to those who are struggling to learn. Love God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Enjoy His love, wisdom, and solace. When everything around you fails, He can help you stand back up with confidence and strength.

This article is at the heart of Hard Knocks & Soft Landings. I spent years reading hundreds of biographies of people who overcame adversity to stand tall. Those stories formed the basis for my book Dreams That Built America and continue to provide material for the articles and notes on Substack. That’s what I hope to do here: share stories that help you not only survive the hard knocks of life, but thrive with soft landings on the other side.

Keep in touch. Friends help each other. I read all your comments and will always attempt to address any concerns.

They saw things that none of them could have ever imagined. Bombs. Chaos. Shouting. Screaming. Death all around them.

Looking back more than 80 years later, that morning was tragic, horrifying, and yet inspiring. Everyone in our group was in awe of the many who gave their lives so others could have freedom. So many young people with lives cut short. No more kisses. No more dances. We hear about those who gave the “ultimate sacrifice,” but seeing the graves made it all the more real.

I believe the takeaway is this: let’s do everything in our power never to have to experience this again.

As I stood on the beach, watching the waves come in, imagining the horror the men faced coming toward enemy fire on that rainy June morning, and then seeing children playing there eighty years later, it made me think: evil will always exist in this world, and should always be checked and confronted. The big question is: can we stop it from gaining a foothold before it gets out of hand? Historically, it is often a single corrupt person gaining unchecked power that causes the death and destruction of countless people.

In her 1944 essay titled “Give!” Anne Frank wrote, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

I believe each of us can and should do our part by bringing light into the world. We can influence people, even if it is just one person at a time. By our own example of living, expressing, and promoting a moral life, we can help people on the edge choose decency rather than corruption. As parents, teachers, preachers, employers, and influencers, we have that opportunity, and that obligation.

Take a look at the accompanying photographs. Notice the families enjoying the beach near the memorial sculpture. In a way, those vacationing families are why the invasion happened. The soldiers memorialized here came ashore to help end the cruel war so families such as these could once again enjoy peaceful pleasures, laughing and playing with their kids.

Perhaps in our own way, whether it is writing a Substack note, raising kids, serving in our community, or simply influencing one person at a time, we can help make this world a kinder, more loving place to live. In the end, by using our talents and gifts, we can create a better world for us all.

To learn how a skilled author puts together a novel, don’t just read a novel once.Go deeper. Sure, read the STORY the first time, but then read the novel again for a deeper understanding of the author’s technique. For example, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, most people get the main theme of prejudice against the accused Black defendant, Tom Robinson. They might even see a parallel between Scout, Jem and Dill’s prejudice against the mysterious recluse Boo (Arthur) Radley. On a second read, look closer. Notice how virtually every scene has something to do with one type of person having something against another type of person – examples of intolerance, injustice, or misunderstanding. The whites look down on other whites who are not from their county, or if they accept welfare, if their history is not up to snuff, or if they were on the wrong side in the Civil War.

Scout’s teacher doesn’t understand the plight of the poor white families, and when her teacher talks about the horror of the Jews in Nazi Germany, we find out that she has her own prejudice against blacks. In fact, it’s shown one-by-one that virtually all of the townfolk have some prejudice. And yet, Atticus, Calpurnia, and a few others stand out as trying to accept people for who they are. In all of it, Scout is trying to find her way in life, to grow up, but not with all of the flaws she sees in the people around her. Her character arc takes her on a journey in which she will grow up with a view of people that allows her to “walk around in their skins” – that is, to understand the issues different people face in their own quest for happiness and meaning in life. The book doesn’t imply that there are no evil people. The message is not that everyone and anyone can do as they please. It is that we should not be too quick to judge others simply because they are different. (Obviously there is a lot more to the book than I’ve mentioned here. I’m only pointing out the well-conceived characterization in the story.) Thus, as you read To Kill a Mockingbird the second (or third) time, look deeper and deeper into the author’s mind to grasp the decisions that must have gone into the creation of the well-thought-out characters and situations that make up the story. Do this same exercise with any other successful book that you love – read it for pleasure. Read it a second time to dissect it and discover why and how the story was constructed. This can be a powerful tool for any author – to learn the techniques and story-construction elements used by master writers.

If you are called to write novels, speeches, sermons, blogs, or Substack articles, write them with all your heart. Write them with passion. Write best you can with all the talent you have, and with the faith that what you say will inspire your reader. God values carefully chosen words, so be deliberate in learning your craft. (Colossians 3:23)

Writers should do the same thing when devising a plot for a scene, an act, or an entire story. Too often we write scenes with a setup and a single payoff. That’s not a bad strategy, but it’s not fantastic, either. When writing, think ahead. Better yet, make the payoff a false payoff. How about having another better payoff later in the story? Create a series of scenes with escalating payoffs. Make some good, some bad, some that make the crisis worse, and some that make it better, but all leading to whatever the ultimate payoff will be. Keep the reader guessing. Each payoff advances the plot, even if it is a roadblock.

For example, in a mystery, a detective finds a cigarette butt that points to a suspect. But that suspect has a great alibi. Was the cigarette planted to throw off the investigation? Or did the suspect concoct a fake alibi? Or is the evidence irrelevant? Take the reader through the investigation’s ups and downs. Suspects come and go. Planted evidence points in the wrong direction. Someone who seems to be helping the investigation is in cahoots with the real killer. And the plot twists continue.

Now, this isn’t limited to the major plot of the story. There should be other plot structures within your story, like the revelation of a character flaw (or strength) in one of your characters. Perhaps a person’s intentions are revealed, only to find later that the revelation was a ploy.

I call these ups and downs within a story the story’s texture. Stories shouldn’t be smooth like a silk tie. They should be rough like a gunny sack. Texture is the graininess of a story. Like a road full of bumps, turns, and roadblocks, it’s the characteristic that makes a reader think, question, and predict. It keeps the reader’s interest. Maybe even teases them. Most readers want that. They want to be led down paths that seem to make sense, only to discover a turncoat character or some other circumstance has duped them. Readers read to have fun, to be frightened, to be terrorized, to be inspired, and to be surprised. Give it to them! Make them laugh. Make them slam their fist on the table. Make them cry. Make them mad. Allow them to have fun.

A professional writer tells a story as if they were a shrewd player in a high-stakes game. Like a game of pool, for example. For your own writing, read through a scene with “texture” in mind. (and perhaps for your entire book’s plot.) Don’t allow your characters to take one shot and get what they want. Make them work for it. Make them take a shot that ricochets into multiple new territories. Have one shot reveal some new twist. Escalate the tension with each setback. Create new questions, put up new roadblocks, send them down the wrong road. Have each twist and turn reveal something, perhaps hidden in the fog of the moment, and continue until the events bring your story to an ultimate conclusion. Your reader should be able to look back, see the hidden path that led to the story’s end, as if it were planned by a professional pool player who stacked their shots so that one led to another, and another, until the last shot won the game.

We all experience pain, whether physical or mental. It can destroy us, stop us from meeting our goals, make us rethink our entire life, or be a passageway to gaining more courage, strength, and determination.

Elisabeth Elliot knew agonizing pain. Her husband was one of five missionaries speared to death while attempting to make friends with a South American tribe known as the Waodani. She wanted to die and escape this horrible world. But in her misery, she believed God was calling her to go to the tribe and teach them forgiveness. With courage in the midst of her pain, she prepared for an uncertain and unbelievable future moment. She didn’t know how God would open the door. She simply prepared herself for the day He did. Anthropologists had labeled the tribe one of the most violent people on earth. Disputes within their group resulted in revenge killings. It didn’t matter if it was men, women, or children. And no one even knew their language. Colleagues told her not to do it. Common sense told her it was impossible.

She kept honing her linguistic abilities. Then something happened no one expected. Two Waodani women walked into a nearby camp. Elisabeth jumped at the chance. She met them, learned their language and made friends with them. Over time, the relationship led to an invitation to visit the tribe’s village. Elliot put her life on the line. She, along with her three-year-old daughter and another missionary (Rachael Saint), were invited to visit the tribe’s village, something no foreigner had ever received before.

They arrived and were invited to stay. They slept in the community tents with everyone—men, women, and children. They ate monkey fingers, grub worms, and wild birds. They had no privacy for daily tasks. The tribe that had at once been known as the most violent people on the earth listened to the women’s message. Over time, the cycles of revenge that had defined the Waodani people for generations began to disappear.

Years later, Elliot often quoted a poem by Minnie Kenney Paul (1859-1895) that summarized how she’d survived her darkest moments.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer,

do it reliantly, casting all care

Do it with reverence, tracing His hand

who placed it before thee with earnest command,

Stayed on omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,

leave all resultings, DO THE NEXT THING.

That’s what Elisabeth Elliot did. She did the next thing, leaving the results up to God. And the miracle no one could have predicted, the opening no one could have imagined, happened.

Every great thing requires a first small step. One small action destroys inertia. One step forward, one decision, one action leads to another, and another, and another.

This concept is true in every facet of life. Want to rebuild a broken relationship? Make a phone call. Want to recover from heartache? Step outside into the sun. Want to find hope again? Help someone else.

Take a step. Begin.

If you’re unsure what to do next, try this. Micah 6:8, which says, “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” So do something for someone else. Find someone who’s been forgotten, ignored, harassed, or bullied, and make a difference in their life. Show them mercy. Sit with them, encourage them, make a friend. Helping someone else is a great start to turning your own life around. It helps you rise above the doldrums.

You don’t have to know the entire ending. You just have to take that first step. And trust that God will lead you into new territory you could have never imagined.

That phrase finally made sense after an experience I had years ago. A friend called and asked if I could meet for lunch at Pulidos restaurant. “Sure,” I said. But when I got there, my friend was nowhere in sight. After fifteen minutes, I called. “Oh, I’m at the other Pulidos,” he said. One missing detail turned a simple lunch into an unnecessary hassle.

Although Jesus was talking about honesty, I think his admonition: “all you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” underscores the importance of brevity in our communication. Don’t make people guess. Be precise, concise, and don’t waste people’s time with the ambiguous “maybe,” “I’ll see,” or “let me consider that.”

I bet, like me, you’ve seen your share of text conversations that go something like this:

Blake: Want to go to a concert on Saturday?

Robin: Sounds fun. What kind.

Blake: Classical.

Robin: Who?

Blake: The Symphony

Robin: I mean, what will be performed?

Blake: Gershwin, I think. And Ravel.

Robin: I love “Rhapsody in Blue.’

Blake: I think it will be ‘An American in Paris.’

Okay, you get the point… This kind of conversation drives me crazy! To me, “reduce ambiguity” means thinking through what you’re about to say and including all the information (and only the information) the other person actually needs. Like this:

Blake: Want to go to a matinee concert at 2:30 this Saturday? Symphony’s playing Gershwin’s “American in Paris”, Ravel’s “Piano Concerto for the Left Hand,” and a few other pieces. I found some good Orchestra seats (bottom floor) for $89 each. Interested?

Robin: Sounds fun, but I’ll be at work until 5. Maybe next time.

Following this simple proverb clarifies communication, prevents misunderstandings, eliminates unnecessary work, and saves everyone time.

Now, I’m not perfect. I realize too late when I don’t take this axiom to heart. Too often, I make the mistake of including too little information in my texts, emails, instructions, or conversations. And each time, I eventually recognize my error and promise myself to pause a moment before I speak (or text) next time so I won’t do it again.

Think about how much time we’d save if we clarified our tasks before spending hours solving the wrong problem. A few extra seconds of instruction or explanation can prevent hours of wasted effort later.

So I think Jesus’s message was deeper than just telling us to “be honest.” It also implies that we shouldn’t waste people’s time, keep our conversation concise and to the point, avoid rambling, say what we mean, and the list goes on.

What’s the biggest misunderstanding (work or personal) you’ve ever seen that could have been prevented by a few extra details? I’d love to hear your story in the comments.

Before the proliferation of books describing standard story structure, Bob Banner taught pioneering writers like Woody Allen, Neil Simon, and others how to tell a story. With this technique, he produced classic TV shows such as Candid Camera, The Carol Burnett Show, The Garry Moore Show, and others. Below is a graphic outline of his technique, which I recreated from Banner’s teaching. You’ll see similar story structure diagrams in many writing books today. Banner was teaching this version for decades before such books became common. The following 10 steps are a simplified summary of this diagram. I’ll cover them in more detail in a future piece.

1. ACT 1 establishes the locale and introduces the main character. Is your story in Paris, outer space, or some small town? Introduce characters through scenes that reveal their foibles, desires, talents, and other traits. Often, the opening scene reflects or foreshadows the story’s ending (so you may have to go back after you finish your story to make sure that the setup works). Picture Luke Skywalker on his farm in the opening scenes of Star Wars.

2. The Inciting Incident is the event that begins the story and leads to Act Two. It could be a sudden problem like a bomb going off, bad news from a friend, an approaching storm, a murder, a kidnapping, or an argument. The jagged line on the graph indicates a sudden rise in tension. This incident needs to come early to capture the reader's or viewer’s attention. And it needs to contain mystery, uncertainty, and ambiguity. The incident must make your audience want to know how the story will be resolved. Does it involve potential harm to a cherished person? Does it threaten the entire Earth with destruction? In Finding Nemo, the incident that launches the story is Nemo (a child) being taken.

3. With the problem established, who can solve it? (THE QUEST BEGINS) Who has the guts, the audacity, the pressure, to respond? Their story begins here. Your main character must break away from the “ordinary” life set up in Act One and seek a solution. The quest may be solving a crime, finding a missing person, saving the world, or winning the heart of someone they’ve come to love. Whatever the quest, it has to be appealing. It has to be significant. It can’t be delayed. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones’ quest is to find the lost Ark of the Covenant before the Germans do.

4. The jagged line following the Inciting Incident represents rising tension in the first part of Act Two. It reflects the main character’s first attempts to solve the problem. They show promise, then fail. Show promise and fail. Show promise and fail. Each time, tension (or the cost) rises. Each of these incidents is like a little miniature story. In fact, each scene is a story in itself. It contains a problem, rising tension, and some kind of resolution (whether successful or not).

5. The Mid-Act Crisis is a revelation that changes everything. Perhaps the main character finds out they’ve been on the wrong path. The main suspect has a clear alibi, or has been murdered. The person they thought could help them is a turncoat. Whatever it is, it shatters the main character’s plans, and they have to rethink, redo, and come up with some other plan. Indiana Jones finds the ark, but loses it. Dorothy reaches Oz only to face a new and different challenge. In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo reaches Mordor, but destroying the ring is not as easy as he imagined.

6. A new, modified quest now has its own ups and downs as the main character searches for something that will solve the problem. Each try fails, and the tension escalates. Perhaps time is running out. A clock is ticking. The kidnapped victim is near death. Whatever the situation, you must raise the stakes for your main character. Make them sweat as they get closer and closer to a solution.

7. The Final Crisis occurs. It’s much worse than the Mid-Act crisis. There is no turning back. Everything is on the line. The main character is nearing a solution, but the enemy is right behind them. Every escape route closes. Allies disappear. The enemy is on the main character’s heels. Tension is at an all-time high.

8. The main character fails again. This time, there seems to be no escape. Their final plan misfired. They blundered. The enemy captures them. They find themselves in a place of no return. Some call it “The Dark Night of the Soul.” Tensions rise again as the main character’s defeat seems inevitable. In Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear experiences his own “Dark Night of the Soul” when he realizes he isn’t a real Space Ranger.

9. The Obligatory Scene is a dramatic resolution. It turns the tables. (Note, this cannot be a sudden appearance of something from “beyond” that solves the problem – often called deus ex machina, or “god in the machine.”) The solution that appears needs to be something cleverly foreshadowed. Perhaps it is a character who we thought had become a traitor, but was really just biding their time. A gun was hidden in a previous scene. An incidental character who turns out to be more important than we thought. Or, the main character comes up with a clever “MacGyver” type solution.

10. The resolution is a short scene (usually one chapter or scene) that wraps up the story. The audience finally breathes as loose ends get resolved. The main character gets their sweetheart. The villain is banished for good. And perhaps the main character returns to a “normal” (or even better) life. Whatever it is, your audience usually wants a satisfying ending that wraps up every character’s stories (including B-plots). Yes, some stories end other ways, but this is by far the most typical ending for commercial stories.

As I mentioned, these are brief (and incomplete) descriptions of the 10 major points in the structure of a typical and commercial story. If you’re trying to get published, you’re much more likely to be seen as an accomplished writer if you follow these standard plot points for your story – whether it is a picture book, a movie, or a novel. While you’re learning the craft and hoping to get published, mastering this proven story structure gives your creativity the strongest possible commercial foundation.

There are certainly many more aspects to writing a commercially successful story beyond this short piece. For example, great characters, compelling dialogue, and vivid settings matter too. But learning these fundamental rules first provides a solid foundation that allows you to expand your knowledge and craft even further.

The next time you watch a movie, read a novel, or see a TV show, think about these 10 points. Notice how the story progresses, and see if you can identify how the writers used these turning points in their story. I’d love to hear about your observations in the comments.

After Texas gained independence, Borden made a living as a surveyor, laying out the original streets for Galveston and Houston. But disaster struck in 1844 when yellow fever raced across Galveston. Borden lost one of his children, and to add to his horror, his wife, Penelope, also died. Borden fell into depression, had fits of violence, and abandoned all his work. Eventually, to keep his mind busy, he started inventing things again. But his ideas never seemed to pay off. His land-and-sea vehicle nearly drowned the town elders of Galveston, Texas, during a demonstration voyage. His meat biscuit won a gold medal at the 1851 London Crystal Palace Exposition, but he couldn’t sell it. It seemed like everything he tried failed.

We’ve all known seasons like that. Our plans collapse, we believe our prayers are unanswered, and doors repeatedly close in our faces. It’s tempting to believe failure is God’s final answer. Gail Borden’s life reminds us that sometimes failure is only preparation. It seems God was preparing Borden for something new…

On the ship’s voyage back to America from the Exposition, Borden noticed the deaths of four children caused by sour milk. The tragedy made him wonder. Could there be a way to store milk for long periods without it souring? He searched tirelessly for a solution but found nothing. But he persisted in the conviction that God had inspired his idea for creating safe milk.

Biographers report that in his darkest hour, Borden turned to the Bible and found Jesus’ commandment, “Feed my sheep.” He took that as a personal message, so he kept searching. Soon after that, he stumbled upon an account of how Shaker’s condensed fruit juice was made using a vacuum process. He modified the idea for milk and came up with something he called “Condensed Milk.” It lasted for weeks without refrigeration. Unfortunately, he was underfunded and failed again.

But he didn’t give up. He found a partner, Jeremiah Milbank, who knew all about marketing. Together, they educated New Yorkers about the value of safe, clean, and long-lasting milk. And his business began to make headway. Around this same time, he met a widow, Emeline Church, who knew all about the dairy business. They fell in love and married in 1860. Together, they developed ways to produce the condensed milk using obsessively clean processes.

Then, the Civil War began. The U.S. Army discovered that Borden’s condensed milk could be carried by soldiers onto the battlefield (for use in coffee) and remained safe to use for weeks. Borden sold the army all the milk he could produce. With that initial success in hand, Borden created a new version of his milk, this time with sugar, and called it “Eagle Brand Milk.” This version made it easier for soldiers to add both milk and sugar to their coffee at the same time. After decades of disappointments, success finally arrived. Borden became a rich man.

To “pay back” his blessings, Borden used his new wealth to educate Texas farmers in modern dairy techniques, to organize a school for African-Americans in 1873, to build five churches, and to support underpaid ministers, missionaries, and teachers. His strict demands for cleanliness and efficiency from the dairies that supplied his milk led to a vast improvement in how dairy farms operated in the 1860s and 70s. For this effort, he became known as the father of the modern dairy industry. From failure to success, Borden kept trying, kept going, and never gave up. Borden County in Texas was named after him, and its county seat was named Gail. With faith, persistence, and providence, his life changed the world for the better.

Winston Churchill famously said, “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” Similarly, Scripture encourages us with “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

No matter what your chosen profession, the same principle remains. To find victory, success, and achievement, you often have to keep going despite defeat. You have to try one more application. Do one more audition. Write one more draft. Have one more conversation. Say one more prayer.

We often expect God to work through dramatic moments. More often, He works through ordinary faithfulness repeated over months and years. The people who quietly keep showing up, loving others, planting seeds, encouraging friends, and serving where they’re needed rarely make headlines. Yet those are often the people God uses to change the world.

If you’re discouraged today, don’t underestimate the value of “one more time.” Sometimes the breakthrough isn’t ten miles away. It’s just one more faithful step beyond where most people stopped. One of the hardest life lessons is learning to trust progress you can’t measure. Not every worthwhile thing produces immediate evidence. A child doesn’t mature in one day. It’s a day-by-day, week-by-week, year-by-year process. Wisdom accumulates one experience at a time. Proficiency advances one lesson at a time. If you’re tempted to think, “This isn’t working,” pause before giving up. Pray. Reflect. Be patient. Stay persistent. Don’t lose hope. God’s answer may arrive when you least expect it, not because success comes overnight, but because God often blesses ordinary faithfulness repeated one day at a time.

Reference: Texas Yankee by Nina Brown Baker, Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1955.

What does the life of Fred Rogers have to do with your Substack journey? As he became known for his public persona, something was happening in the background. Maybe, when you see how his life unfolded, you find that it could be your secret as well.

Many of us grew up watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood or the sequel, Daniel Tiger. We met X the Owl, King Friday XIII, Henrietta Pussycat, and the rest. They were all part of Fred Rogers’ personality. In fact, he voiced many of them. As a kid, Fred was shy, overweight, and withdrawn, and was a little embarrassed that his family was wealthy. That made him the target of teasing, with people calling him “Fat Freddy.” Sometimes he escaped into his own world of music and puppeteering. But he didn’t dislike people. He enjoyed meeting and getting to know people. A turning point in his school career came when he began tutoring one of the most popular athletes at his school, Jim Stumbaugh, while he was recovering in the hospital. That began a lifelong friendship and gave Fred credibility among his fellow students.

Many of us, as writers (and sometimes introverts), also know this feeling. We wonder if our voice matters or if there is anything we can contribute to the world that would make a difference. We wonder, “Is anyone out there listening?”

When Fred went to college, he found a new group of people with whom he could share his love of music. Fred excelled on the piano and became an inspiration to other students. In fact, he met his wife, Joanne, a fellow piano student in college.

When Fred was searching for a career, he ended up at NBC in New York during the early days of something called television. In particular, he worked on a show called “The Gabby Hayes Show,” where he saw how the star talked to the camera as if it were “just one little buckaroo.” He also saw how many of the early kids’ programs were slapstick, pies-in-the-face, and such. That part of television he abhorred.

So when he got a job at the CBC in Canada in 1963, he put his puppeteering expertise to use, creating a short children’s television program. Along with his musical expertise, he found this creative outlet right in line with what he enjoyed. And he based his show on communicating with kids at their own level, not on quick laughs.

But as the Rogers family thought about their future, Joanne and he decided they wanted to return to Pittsburgh, where his family lived. He created a children’s show at the blossoming public television station, WQED, while studying with educator Dr. Margaret McFarland to learn everything he could about child psychology.

He was developing a calling to help kids rather than just entertain them. Much of this grew out of his experience growing up in church, and his understanding of how God wanted people to live together in kindness, love, and purpose.

After a few years, Fred took his show solo to gain more control over its content. He continued studying child psychology and began taking classes at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, where he eventually earned a Master of Divinity degree and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1963. But instead of assigning him a church, he convinced them to assign him to work with his children’s program.

As Fred Rogers became known for his public persona, something was happening in the background. Every morning, Fred studied the Bible. He went through a list of names on a yellow tablet (sometimes as many as 500 names) and prayed for each person. These were his co-workers, family, and people he’d met. They also included people who had sent him letters. Fred had a deep desire to meet people, find out their cares and concerns, and put them on his prayer list. He often asked them to pray for him as well. He’d then weigh himself. His ideal weight was 143 pounds, which he purposely kept because the number reminded him of the letters in the phrase “I Love You.” Fred Rogers sought to make his life, his career, and his personal life better for people all over the world.

After his morning study, Fred went to a local pool to swim a few laps. But before he dove into the pool, he prayed the prayer. “Jubilate Deo, jubilate Deo, alleluia“ (Rejoice in the Lord, rejoice in the Lord, alleluia.) Going from there to the television studio, he entered by saying the prayer, “Dear God, let some word that is heard be Yours.”

On “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” Fred carefully crafted everything with a purpose. His coat and tie represented a father coming home from work. Putting on his sweater and sneakers meant work was over, and it was time to relax. Using what he’d learned from his New York experience, he imagined himself talking to one child at a time. Instead of the fast pace of other shows, Fred intentionally kept his show slow and calm. Parents and kids both loved it. The show mesmerized the kids and calmed them down like a thirty-minute babysitter. It was all planned – feeding the fish, taking a delivery, and introducing a problem of the day -- all to prepare kids to go into the town of make-believe. The trolley signaled the transition. And once in make-believe land, kids could talk about any subject. And for each subject, whether fear, sadness, family situations, and the like, Fred assured them with ways to handle the problems of the world. When disasters struck, and horrible images appeared on newscasts, Fred told them to “Look for the helpers.” There will always be someone around who can help you.

In 1969, with our country embroiled in civil rights issues, Fred invited a Black policeman (Officer Clemmons) to soak their feet together in a small swimming pool. He reprised the incident in 1993, even drying Officer Clemmons’ feet with a towel, reflecting Christ’s example in the gospels. If you look deeper into what Fred Rogers did in his neighborhood, you’ll see other examples of “parables” and teachings from Christ. In fact, the phrase “won’t you be my neighbor” is reflective of the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Fred’s puppets were kind of amateurish on purpose, not like the Muppets. They were more like something a kid would make. Professional puppets and flawless performances weren’t the way to get his points across. As writers, we can also learn that simplicity is often more powerful than fancy words and convoluted ideas.

As his crew and others found out, Fred was the same in person as he was on television. Through television, he lived out a message of kindness and empathy while also demanding that each person do their best. Reporters also found the same thing. When reporters interviewed him, he ended up interviewing them -- learning about the family, their concerns and their deepest desires. And he put them on his prayer list and followed up with letters and calls, sometimes for years.

Fred Rogers had a calling. Scripture reminds us how some people prepare the soil, some plant seeds, some water, some pull weeds, and some harvest. Fred’s calling was to prepare the soil in the minds of millions of kids – teaching them to live in kindness, love, and with purpose.

Similarly, Substack is a way to live out a calling. The thousands (are there millions?) of Substack contributors can, if they wish, be among those who prepare, plant, water, or harvest from the soil of the human soul. It’s my purpose, and I hope it is yours also, that whatever I write on Substack is not random babbling; it has a reason. I hope to share my thoughts (often imperfectly) with others, so we can all learn to live lives that support each other, make this world a better place, and help others find their own life’s purpose.

No matter what life throws at you, “Look for the helpers.” There will always be kind, knowledgeable, and caring people on Substack who can help you find answers and provide support. With that in mind, may I be a little like Fred Rogers for a moment and pray a prayer for you, that you will find your calling? Just let me know.

Most people give up on their dreams too soon. Not because they lack talent. (Talent is overrated.) They give up because they don’t understand the secret to success.

Creative genius is a numbers game. Hear me out. I think the world gets confused by hyped-up stories about some writer who made it big with their first novel, or some musician who comes out of nowhere onto the national stage. But in the long run, that’s not typically how becoming known as a creative genius works.

Not everyone has the goal of becoming a famous musician, painting a masterpiece, or becoming an Internet influencer. And that’s okay. Most of us can find happiness in a less public life. But some hard-working people can, and should, share their talents with the world. And if they know the secret discussed in this article, they will have a much better chance of success. (Be patient with my following list.)

Genius Comes from Persistence and Repetition

Picasso, considered a genius, created over 13,000 paintings and about 100,000 other works in his lifetime. Yet his genius rests on a few great works. Similarly, Vincent van Gogh created close to 3,000 pieces of art, but is mainly known for Starry Night, Sunflowers, and a handful of other paintings.

Thomas Edison holds more than 1,000 patents, but is chiefly known for developing a practical incandescent bulb (which took over 1,000 tries before he got it right), the phonograph, and motion picture technology.

Barbara Cartland had 723 novels published during her lifetime. Were they all masterpieces? No. Only a few stood out and gave her a reputation as a prolific romance writer.

Two of the most represented hymn writers in church hymnbooks are Charles Wesley and Fanny Crosby. If you’ve gone to church at all, you’ve probably heard Crosby’s songs like “Blessed Assurance” and “To God Be the Glory.” Of the 9,000 she wrote, only a handful (depending on denomination) are in hymnbooks. Wesley wrote 6,000 hymns, but his reputation as a genius hymn writer is based on about a dozen, including “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” and “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.”

Johann Sebastian Bach wrote over 1,000 compositions, Irving Berlin wrote over 1,500 songs, and the list could go on.

Most People Give Up Too Soon

The truth is, “genius” is sometimes seen mostly in hindsight. Van Gogh died believing he had failed as a painter, and few people know the extent of Picasso’s, Crosby’s, Wesley’s, or Bach’s works. But there are also more modern examples. MrBeast, one of the most prolific (and wealthy) YouTube producers, created close to 500 videos before he began building a significant following. In fact, it took him about 4 years to reach 1,000 subscribers. At last check, he had over 400 million followers and a business empire.

In most creative endeavors, persistence is key. 12 publishers rejected J.K. Rowling before Harry Potter was published. Other “creators” had similarly tough beginnings, such as Dr. Seuss, Stephen King, Colonel Sanders, and James Dyson. The Beatles also had to persist. They played for thousands of hours before developing the skills that made them famous. The list could go on.

Even Jesus talked about the importance of persistence in getting what you want. In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus says, “Because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice.” And Proverbs famously tells us not to give up in the saying, “Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” (Proverbs 24:16)

The point of this list is that creative genius is more about persistence, patience, and effort than about innate talent. The lesson is that it can take time for our efforts to pay off.

Most of Us Produce Things that Only a Mother Could Love

I’ve certainly experienced this process as a writer. With 25+ books published, many would say I’ve “made it” as a writer. But I still had to experience many rejection letters, and I still haven’t written a New York Times bestseller. I’ve written a few duds, but I persist. I can see my skills growing. I hope what I’m doing has purpose and can be helpful to people. I’ve received positive feedback on my work. I’ve had people say their lives were changed for the better by some of the things I’ve written. (That, in itself, is a huge reward.) And if, in the long run, I don’t make it to the “big time,” that’s okay. Sometimes the journey is the reward.

So how do you become a “genius” or “a star” in any field? It takes multiple efforts and growth. Everyone begins as an amateur. Most of us produce things that only a mother could love. But as we learn and grow, our work becomes better, then acceptable. After many tries and much practice, we gain some mastery. Thousands of iterations later, we may reach the pinnacle of true mastery. But even that isn’t enough. It usually still takes more patience, more practice, and more repetitions before you create something exceptional. A pattern seen over and over again in history is that it takes making many attempts, persistently growing in skill, and creating a large body of work to succeed in any creative endeavor.

When P is Small, Make N Big

Given my career as a statistician, I can explain this concept with a simple formula. P represents the probability that something you do will become “viral” or “become a masterpiece.” That number tends to be very, very small. So, to have a decent chance at success, you have to make the number of attempts, N, large. Thus,

SUCCESS = P * N

That is, when P is small, make N big. That is, the more attempts you take, the more likely one (or more) of them will become “a success.”

Simple, isn’t it? But the truth is, most people give up too soon. They try and try, but they get tired of not seeing any progress. They don’t allow their skills to grow and bloom. Then there are the stubborn few who refuse to give up. They get the reward.

The Number of Possible Ideas… is as Big as the Universe

There is one more belief that holds some people back. They get the notion that there’s a limit to the number of good ideas. All the great novels, songs, paintings, and inventions have already been created. Frankly, that’s rubbish. The number of possible ideas (and creations) in the universe is as big as the universe.

Now you know a valuable secret that many people don’t realize. Genius is less about a single sudden inspiration and more about persistence, learning through experimentation, skill development, and repeated creative output.

Seeing and enjoying beauty is a spiritual testament to the wonders of the universe. But according to some worldviews, it’s nothing of the sort.

In 1943, C.S. Lewis gave three lectures that were later published as The Abolition of Man. The purpose of the fifteenth annual Riddell Memorial Lectures was to focus on “the relation between religion and contemporary thought.” Lewis regarded The Abolition of Man as one of his most important works. It was, in fact, far ahead of its time. So, how does this message impact your personal life and the world? Keep reading.

The talk’s message was a warning that when we lose objective value, we stop seeing beauty clearly.

Lewis once lamented that the public was ignoring this odd little book. And yet, it has recently ranked in the 5,000-6,000 range on the Amazon best-seller list. (Which is very high considering the millions of books on the site.) To put it in perspective, it’s often more popular (in terms of Amazon rank) than The Grapes of Wrath, The Old Man and the Sea, and Man’s Search for Meaning. So why are people reading this 70-year-old book, and what does it have to tell us today?

The crux of the work is Lewis’s analysis and warnings about the dangers of a culture that pushes the belief that whatever we “feel” is right supersedes “old-fashioned,” timeless principles that have guided humanity for thousands of years. In other words, Lewis says we risk replacing common (he might call it “Natural”) morality with whatever today’s popular thinking comes up with. That is, he warns against humanity losing its moral compass. Many years before this modern concept became popular, Lewis foresaw a “cultural elite” that would seek to impose its “enlightened” worldview as a replacement for “traditional” or “antiquated” values.

What does this actually mean? Think about love. It’s a common concept. We may love our spouse, a painting, a house, or even a book. But no. In the modern context, love risks becoming reduced to little more than a chemical reaction in our brains, triggering a sense of pleasure (again, a chemical reaction) in response to something we see, someone we’re with, or something we do.

The concept of modern value judgments is more subtly promoted in society, since such a flat-out description would be offensive to many people. Instead, some modern thinkers (and perhaps teachers) are moving toward this more dehumanizing concept. After all, if we’re just some random conglomeration of atoms, how can there be anything close to beauty, love, or wisdom?

Lewis argues that humans are spiritual beings and are governed by a shared framework that’s present worldwide. Lewis points out that, in virtually every culture throughout history, there is a spiritual component (he called it the Tao) woven into humanity that has guided the human experience. This set of objective moral values, found in virtually every culture (justice, mercy, honor, courage, etc.), is similar to the principles of logic used in science. It is the foundation on which every other morality is based.

When our culture moves beyond this kind of moral reasoning, we begin to see people with “hollow chests” (as Lewis called them). That means that although their intellect and appetite remain, the virtues that connect knowledge with goodness have weakened. They are only driven by intellectual cleverness.

Once common morality is abandoned, these new “value judgments,” which are based solely on current feelings (which can change with a particular government, philosophy, or worldview), seep into education and produce more and more adults without a moral compass. In the end, people are answerable to no one. My values are as good as yours. If a government declares that eliminating a group of people (even through genocide) will create a better society, what higher moral law remains to say it is wrong? If courts, governments, or cultural elites can redefine human worth without reference to any moral law beyond themselves, then the vulnerable are always at risk. After all, some people routinely give credence to the concept that new (and more modern) beliefs are better than obsolete beliefs.

When he was an atheist, C.S. Lewis recognized the challenge of grounding morality without something beyond personal preference. And although he would have been considered a basically “moral” person, if circumstances dictated, and if some other morality came along, there was no reason not to consider or adopt it.

Albert Einstein is often quoted as saying, “The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life.”

The ultimate conclusion of the loss of the “Natural” moral compass is that humanity will have the power to redesign itself in its own image. And who knows where that might lead? It would certainly be driven by technology. Perhaps AI can define our new morality based on computer logic. More subtly, our morality can be influenced by propaganda. Unless you live under a rock, you know that some countries control their populace by feeding them a morality that supports the government above all. Perhaps it will be controlled by genetic manipulation. For example, in Iceland today, prenatal screening is common, and reports indicate that a high percentage of pregnancies with a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome are terminated. As technology advances, it’s likely that babies will be selected for certain “good” characteristics. What are the limits to this selection process? Some will tell you that they trust the ethics panels that decide what is right and wrong in these cases. But a committee will never be able to manufacture true morality from nothing. They must have some foundation for such decisions.

Even famed science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke is credited with saying, “As our own species is in the process of proving, one cannot have superior science and inferior morals. The combination is unstable and self-destroying.”

If Lewis is right, concepts like beauty are not illusions. Here are ten places where I see beauty still revealing itself.

1. Beauty in Creation: Beauty is not just “in the eye of the beholder.” It is universal. Almost every human being appreciates a meadow of flowers, the colors of a sunrise, the greatness of architecture, and the wonder of nature.

2. Beauty in the Human Connection: Humans see beauty when they look at someone they think would be a good mate. Different men may see beauty in dimples, curly hair, strong-willed women, freckles, and many other features. Different women may see beauty (okay, handsomeness) in muscles, brains, honesty, stature, and other features.

3. Beauty in Creative Skills: Beauty is in performance. A skater or dancer’s delicate performance, a runner’s stride, a singer’s clarity, a musician’s passion, and an artist’s composition.

4. Beauty in Imagination: Beauty is created by an author in a sentence, story, poem, or novel, composed in such a way as to evoke emotions, insights, and a new perspective on truths.

5. Beauty in Service: Beauty is the sacrifice one person pays to see another person saved. Financial, military, spiritual.

6. Beauty in Memories: Beauty fills our memories and longings. Delight in seeing the face of a friend we’d long forgotten about, a hymn that lifts our heart, the aroma of a favorite dinner, the night we fell in love, and the longing to be in the comforting lap of God.

7. Beauty in the Ordinary: A cup of coffee in the morning, a dog or cat cuddling in our lap, seeing our children at play, and sitting with friends, telling stories of the past, and laughing out loud.

8. Beauty in Human Life: Beauty manifests itself in the conception, birth, and smile of a baby.

9. Beauty in Loving and Serving Others: Beauty is in the caring that people have for one another, taking care of those in need, helping those who have fallen get up, nursing the sick back to health, giving justice to those who’ve been mistreated, and showing mercy to those who have made mistakes.

10. Beauty in Assurance: Beauty is in spiritual confidence that we do not live in a mechanical universe, but in a world created by love, for love, and for us to be loved.

Lewis named his book The Abolition of Man because he foresaw the future. He realized that common morality was subtly being replaced in school textbooks. It would, if unchecked, produce more and more adults who paid no attention to common morality, but who would only believe what they thought was right in their own eyes, and would shun any notion that some kind of natural and objective morality exists.

Recognizing the reality of beauty does more than make life enjoyable. It changes how we live. A person who sees beauty in a sunrise lives with gratitude and wonder. A person who recognizes the duty of sacrifice is willing to serve others. A person who recognizes the worth and beauty of every human being will treat everyone with respect.

Beauty empowers individuals, and moral individuals empower communities.

By recognizing beauty through your senses, you are able to experience more joy in this world. Your life is impacted through the wonder of belonging to such a great and glorious existence. The ability to appreciate goodness, truth, and beauty empowers us in our work. It is indicative of a commitment to caring, honesty, and responsibility that makes us trustworthy. And societies built on respect and moral responsibility create a community where creativity, imagination, innovation, and mutual respect will flourish.

In summary, C.S. Lewis warned that when we lose objective value, we lose our ability to recognize miracles sitting right in front of us, such as sunsets, friendship, sacrifice, love, and a baby’s smile.

Beauty doesn’t come from an arrangement of atoms in our brains. It comes from creation itself. It shows itself to us, reveals truth, and gives us hope to carry on. It has been there from the beginning, and will last forever.

What is it in your life that you can enjoy, appreciate, and relish right now by taking a breath, relaxing, and welcoming the assurance of God’s goodness and love?

However, in addition to my normal eccentricities, I discovered that I was also suffering from a medical side effect. Correcting that problem helped me find my “normal” brain again. There are many reasons that our minds can lead us down dark paths. (And sometimes you need to find medical or therapeutic ways to address that.) On the other hand, sometimes we entertain thoughts that don’t deserve our attention. Harmful self-talk, “stinking thinking,” and low self-esteem can sidetrack our best days, but we can take back control.

A particular verse in Scripture comes to mind. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8) Do you think that people had this same problem thousands of years ago? Of course they did.

Living in this world is tough. It bombards us with things that go wrong, disasters, uncomfortable situations, people who say bad things about us, failed dreams, deaths of loved ones, and the list goes on. There are so many bad things happening right now, in this moment, all around the world, that if we knew half of them, we’d likely fall into a deep depression, get so angry we’d blow up, or give up entirely on life. That’s reality. But we don’t have to succumb to that part of life. There is another aspect to living.

Good things are also happening. People getting married, babies being born, fulfilled dreams, celebration parties, and so much more. Someone pays you a compliment. Someone you care about says, “I love you.” A bird singing in the tree sounds like joy. Kids laughing on a playground make you remember the fun times in your childhood. A saying, a scripture, a smile reminds you of how much God watches out for you. You envision yourself relaxing in His arms, with no cares in the world.

Think on these things. Life is full of choices. Every day we stand in front of two doors. Which will we open? Door number one is full of hatred, sadness, and strife. Door number two is full of things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.

Every day, we choose goodness over evil, beauty over ugliness, and honesty over deception. Life is full of choices. Stop for a moment and have a little “self-talk.” Think on good things. Tell yourself about the good things you can enjoy, the blessings you have, the ways your actions can help and heal other people.

That choice, daily, is more valuable than gold. Choose how you’ll treat yourself and others well. We can all change the world, one moment at a time, one person at a time, one situation at a time, but only through a loving and considerate approach. This isn’t some simplistic “positive thinking” statement. It’s a heartfelt appeal to bring unselfish love and care into all situations and to watch great things happen as a result.

Years ago, my thoughts led me to believe everything was falling apart. They were wrong.

Not every thought deserves a home.

We cannot choose every circumstance that enters our lives. But we can, with faith and conviction, choose how we will respond to things we know aren’t right. By doing so, we can withstand life's hard knocks with intention and achieve the satisfaction of a “soft landing.”

What are some good, beautiful, and admirable things you can focus on today?

Years ago, after several promotions early in my career, a coworker walked into my office with a question: “How did you do it? How did you manage to get so many promotions?” When I mentioned things like hustle, integrity, availability, and reliability, they balked and said I was crazy. As far as I know, that employee has never received a promotion.

I remember going to a talk by Zig Ziglar, who claimed we all needed an “Attitude adjustment” and a “Checkup from the neck up.” His clever words were entertaining but meaningful. They were all about having a mindset that made you an asset to whatever organization you were in.

This concept came into better focus when I heard a talk by Stephen J. Cannell. He produced some of television’s most memorable shows, including “The Rockford Files” and “Baretta.” He described how he went to work for Universal as “the cheapest writer on the lot.” School wasn’t easy for Cannell. His dyslexia made reading and writing difficult, the very tools he would need for his profession. For some people, that would hold them back. Instead of letting that hold him back, he made up for it with hustle. Whenever there was an opportunity to do something, particularly if no one else wanted to do it, he’d volunteer. He became a go-to guy, working his way up to writing pilots for shows. After years of persistence and diligence, the cheapest writer became the hottest writer and eventually a star producer in Hollywood.

Hustle, integrity, availability, and reliability keep showing up in the hundreds of biographies I’ve read of people who climb out of difficult beginnings into meaningful lives. Yes, there are also a few examples of people who’ve made a lot of money without having stellar character traits. The thing that usually separates the two is that the person who builds their life on integrity usually enjoys a life of purpose and consistency. In contrast, those who chase success without scruples often discover that money and fame don’t bring peace or satisfaction. And also yes, no one is perfect. No one person is an ideal example of success. Career paths often experience failures, challenges, and setbacks. But those who believe in themselves, live honestly and with integrity, and build a support network of loyal friends, mentors, and loved ones, rise above the fray, overcome problems, and enjoy their life dreams in satisfaction and well-being.

Someone asked why I write Substack articles. I have to. Writing is part of who I am. And I’m fortunate to have received notes and letters from people who’ve read my ramblings (particularly in my books like Dreams that Built America) that tell me how they impacted their lives. One couple read the stories to their unborn child. Others read stories at their company’s morning sessions to encourage their fellow workers. One person said it had helped him choose a career that would benefit others. Reports like these are more valuable than money. So I keep watching the world, noticing how some people rise above the fray, try to figure out how they do it, and let you know. All in the hope that something I say will encourage you in your work, your career, and your daily life. After studying hundreds of biographies about remarkable lives, I’m convinced of one thing:

Talent may open a door, but character determines how high you climb.

Who is someone you know whose character has inspired you?

In later years, after a diagnosis of cancer, he went through many years of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, but kept enjoying life. He continued to be the computer guru and practical joker for two family businesses until he simply couldn’t do it anymore. I was in the hospital room when his pastor told him that this was the end. They’d done everything they could. His body was shutting down, and he needed to prepare for the end. (And he was prepared.) When I left him that day, he gave me the longest, tightest hug I’d ever experienced. He left there for hospice at his home. During the next few weeks, he was often in bed, unable to communicate. Occasionally, he rallied. He’d sit at his computer, read the news, answer emails, and have a real conversation with his wife and kids. Then he’d slip back into unresponsiveness. I planned to go see him one day, but then got one of the worst calls of my life: “Les is gone.”

There is no replacement for family members who have died. It shatters a hole in your existence. The awful truth is that, no matter who you are or how much money you make, life is going to knock you to your knees. It’s going to take your breath (and sometimes hope) away. There’s no denying the sadness that overwhelms your body and soul during these times.

What can you do? How can you rise above the distress of that moment? Certainly, you don’t want people telling you to “shake it off,” “take a breath, and you’ll be okay,” or “time will heal.” When Jesus’ friend died, the Bible says, “Jesus wept.” It’s normal. It’s okay. In times of depression and sadness, all people want are friends who will sit with them, comfort them, not with advice, but with presence.

It’s possible to find life again after sorrow. But there is no simple answer, no one-size-fits-all solution. Some inevitable day, you’ll be knocked down, through the loss of friends, relatives, prestige, a job, or even your integrity. If you’re so happy-go-lucky (and naive) that you don’t prepare, you’ll not only be knocked down, you’ll also be knocked out. But if you have a solid understanding of what life is all about through faith, belief, and wisdom, you can be like the proverb promises, “A righteous man may fall seven times, and rise again.” (Proverbs 24:16) This is not a proverb about being optimistic, sloughing off disaster, and getting back into the game. It’s about being mentally and spiritually prepared, knowing where you stand in life.

Viktor Frankl survived the horrors of the Holocaust during World War II, but lost his parents, his brother, and his pregnant wife, Tilly. But he found meaning in his imprisonment, knowing the Nazis could take life, but not the soul. At the end of the war, he wrote the influential book Man’s Search for Meaning. In it, he argued that life can still have meaning and purpose even after death and suffering, and that people can overcome life’s tragedies with love, dignity, and purposeful work.

Horatio Spafford lost a four-year-old son to scarlet fever in 1870. Then, in October 1871, he suffered a huge financial loss in the Chicago fire. In 1873, he lost his four daughters in the horrific sinking of the ship Ville du Havre. In his grief, he penned a poem that became a great hymn. “When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.” He and his wife spent the rest of their lives in philanthropic work, helping Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike.

After his wife’s death, C.S. Lewis famously wrote, “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.” He said that the physicality of grief affects the body, the mind, and the soul. He became angry with God, to “get it off his chest.” But, like anyone passing through the stages of grief, the clouds eventually began to lift. And then one morning, he reported, “My heart was lighter than it had been for many weeks.” From his own experience, he observed that “a little courage helps more than much knowledge, a little human sympathy more than much courage, and the least tincture of the love of God more than all.” In time, C.S. Lewis rose again from his grief.

We can rise again, not because grief is gone, but because love, faith, and remembrance help us stand back up. Les is gone. But what he gave me is not.

At 95 years old, Jimmy Carter took a nasty fall that left him with fourteen stitches and a big blue bruise on his face. Most people would sit at home and recover. But that was not the story of Jimmy Carter’s life. He never let a setback define his future. After losing the presidency to Ronald Reagan, he refused to vanish from the public eye. The Carters returned to Plains, Georgia and got back to work. Not only did he continue to use his influence in worldwide diplomacy, but he also found another way to serve the American people: by helping families build and purchase homes.

In 1984, he and his wife picked up hammers and saws and began the “Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project” to raise international awareness of Habitat for Humanity. For 35 years, they worked alongside thousands of other volunteers. Even at 95, with bruises and stitches on his face and a hammer in his hand, he still showed up to help others. Proverbs 24:16 says, “For a righteous man may fall seven times, And rise again.” That epitomizes Carter’s resilience in coming back amid both political and physical setbacks.

Regardless of your political views, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s grit and perseverance should challenge us all.

No matter your religious beliefs, his message will attract international attention. So, beyond his well-chosen soundbite, what other significant points did he make? He addressed these topics:

• AI-controlled warfare

• Concentration of power in tech monopolies

• Replacing authentic human relationships with algorithmic systems

• Reducing people to “data points” or “passive consumers”

All of these concerns point to the problem of AI replacing human traits such as compassion, mercy, and love with unfiltered logic and merciless decisions. It doesn’t mean, I think, that logic and reason are evil or invalid in themselves.

AI-controlled weapons, or any weapons, are a cruel (albeit effective) part of this world’s military might. Will AI-controlled weapons help bring peace or cause more brutal wars? Both sides in any conflict will have these weapons, so the righteous and the tyrannical will both suffer many deaths at their hands. If possible, like nuclear weapons, the most we can hope for is treaties that regulate their extent and proliferation, or that they dissuade wars because to fight one another becomes horrific and futile. AI is not all bad. The taming of nuclear power created horrific weapons, but it also created treatments that have saved numerous lives.

The concentration of power in tech monopolies is not much different from that held by global companies in the past. The East India Company (founded in 1600) and the Royal African Company (founded in 1650) both trafficked in enslaved people, resulting in some of the most brutal treatment of people humanity has ever seen. (Thank you, William Wilberforce, for being instrumental in ridding the world of the slave trade.) Today’s AI giants risk many of the same temptations. Pope Leo stated, “Technology decisions must never be separated from conscience and responsibility.” AI removes human compassion from decisions. As much as possible, the world needs to address this problem. “Stay awake,” the Pope says, and continually work for justice around the world, not for building better models to control the world.

The problem of replacing authentic human relationships with algorithmic systems is another challenging and potentially disruptive issue. Can artificial girlfriends and boyfriends really replace human contact and love? I hope not and think not. And “algorithms that can block access to healthcare, employment, and security based on data tainted by prejudice and injustice” is another concern. Merciless decisions about who lives and who doesn’t can undermine healthcare (and all care). It’s a challenge society has to fight against.

As a career data analyst, I’m aware of how experimental data can, and has been used to make important decisions that affect humanity. At its best, I’ve seen it help develop cures for diseases and verify the efficacy of new medicines to fight the world’s worst diseases. At its worst, I’ve seen it misused to reinforce biased beliefs and immoral causes. We have to discourage those who treat people as mere “data points.” Professional statisticians (particularly members of the American Statistical Society and similar professional organizations) work under strict ethical guidelines that support the unbiased collection and use of data. However, that doesn’t keep politicians, government bureaucrats, or companies from massaging data to meet their personal, financial, political, and power needs.

Pope Leo concludes with the statement, “Let us not sleep as others do,” admonished the Apostle Paul, “but let us keep awake.” Such vigilance is necessary today. Peace — not merely the absence of war — is justice at work. But when technology weakens our critical sense, peace itself is at risk.’

You and I are not as influential as the Pope. However, we can stop reposting content that’s obviously AI-generated. And if we interact with them at all, we should comment, for example, “This is a fake picture” or “This is an AI-generated story.” We can carefully read stories, search for corroborating evidence when a fishy fact is reported, and, as Pope Leo says, “Stay awake.” And if you have influence in any field, lobby for the ethical use of AI. But we also need to be realistic. Instead of merely “raging against the machine,” we need to actively join efforts to support its proper use and protect against its misuse.

Only humans should manage humanity. Which means we must make every effort to use AI properly and never let its power overwhelm, distract, or deceive us. What are your thoughts?

Years ago, a friend asked me if they could borrow our new minivan for a family vacation. I said no. They offered to put new tires on it. And I knew they were a meticulous family who would return it better than they found it. I still said no. Years later, I realized how selfish I’d been. Friendships are more important than material things. Sharing, within reason, makes the world a better place. I know that discernment plays a big role in helping people. You don’t want to enable someone’s bad habits or behavior. And, yes, some abusive people will take advantage of any generosity. But caring and a bit of trust goes a long way in making this place better for all of us. So, consider each of these with that caveat.

1. Realize that small acts of kindness add up to important ways of gluing civilization together and make the world a more comfortable place to live. Be kind today.

2. The commonplace decency of ordinary people changes the world more than grandiose speeches or statues to famous people. Be one of those ordinary people.

3. When someone (particularly a relative) asks to borrow money, consider giving it to them instead, and ask them to do the same for someone else when they are able. Always let wisdom guide your compassion for others.

4. When someone asks to borrow a tool, a gizmo, or a pie pan, let them. But be careful not to expect it back. If they return it, great. If not, don’t let it embitter your friendship.

5. If you borrow someone’s car, truck, or any other motorized gadget, return it full of gas or fully charged. Clean and in good order. And, always promptly return anything you borrow. If you lose it or damage it, replace it.

6. When you see someone in a parking lot with a dead car, and if you have the expertise, give them a jump to help get their car started. Or at least offer to call for help or to wait with them until help comes (particularly if they appear vulnerable).

7. If a friend is sick or grieving, don’t just say, “How can I help?” Do something. Sit with them. Bring them a casserole. Or if you’re out of town, at least send them a card (maybe with an Uber EATS gift card).

8. When someone new walks into your place of worship, club, workplace, or school, pay attention and offer help finding their way or answering questions.

9. If you offer help to someone and they appear afraid of or distrustful of you, walk away; don’t make the situation worse.

10. Always leave any place you visit better than you found it. Pick up trash even if it’s not yours.

11. If you have a garden that grows extra food, share it with neighbors or see if your local food bank could distribute it to people in need.

12. When you see someone (particularly a child) do something good, praise them.

13. Let people know how much you appreciate their efforts to make things better, even if they fail.

14. Be stingy with insults. You don’t know what someone is going through. Maybe they need encouragement more than correction.

15. Never embarrass someone in public. If someone needs correction or instruction, and it’s your job to provide it, tell them privately, with respect and love.

16. Stand up for someone who is being bullied, mocked, or harassed. Step up next to them. Many times, showing your concern and willingness to help them can diffuse a situation and give them courage.

17. Don’t be an online bully. Watch how you interact with people in online forums. Don’t humiliate or embarrass people, and be careful not to spread misleading information. Think before you respond.

18. Be willing to listen before offering advice. Often, people just need to vent or share their ideas without interruption. You don’t have to solve everyone’s problems. Only advise if asked.

19. Tip generously. If someone gives bad service, consider what they may be going through in their life. Maybe they are in the midst of a tough time, a cruel illness, or a soured relationship and need someone willing to look beyond behavior and see a person in need. Consider responding with the kind of unexpected grace you’d want people to show to you. Sometimes a single act of kindness can turn a bad day around.

20. Be humble. Be willing to admit you’re wrong. Apologize quickly and sincerely. Realize that you may be guilty of incorrect or harmful thinking, and realize that changing your prideful attitudes, mistaken assumptions, and harmful prejudices can be a strength, not a weakness.

21. Hold doors open for people. Most people will thank you. Some people will resent your actions, but no matter. Just smile.

22. When you’re on a bus, subway, or similar vehicle, and you see someone who needs a seat, offer them yours.

23. When you have an opportunity, be courteous. That may mean offering to carry heavy bags, letting someone in a hurry pass you, helping someone cross a busy road, or being someone who brings calm to a tense situation.

24. If something changes your life for the better, like a book, a blog, or a movie, share (briefly) with others. Maybe even gift them the book that helped you over a hump in life.

25. Keep an eye on your neighbors. If you discover they are sick or in need, do what you can. Offer to mow their lawn, bring them dinner, or feed their pet, or call for help.

26. When someone says something bad about you or does something that you think is wrong, forgive them anyway. Not to remove accountability, but to diffuse situations that might lead to anger and contention. Everyone makes mistakes. And if you let it, annoyance will fester into resentment. Learn to moderate problems rather than letting them explode.

27. When you see someone trying to improve their life, at least encourage them. If it’s within your capabilities, help them out. Maybe pay tuition or buy them the gizmo they need to succeed.

28. Support your local food and clothing bank (or other organizations that help the disadvantaged) with your resources, and if possible, your time. This is one of the best ways to help those in need in your community and to ensure your donations don’t enable someone’s bad habits.

29. Pray for those in need, who are victims of disasters or crime, or who are down on their luck, knowing that God always turns sincere prayers into action.

30. Be patient with people who have disabilities, who are older, younger, or who lack some social skills. They have worth and should be treated with the same respect as someone with power, prestige, and resources.

31. When someone does something worthwhile, to you or others, write them a physical letter or thank-you note. Show your appreciation for that person’s making this a better world.

32. When someone fails to do what you expect or acts rudely, consider giving them another chance. You’re not perfect either. If possible, offer to help them improve their “people skills.”

33. Commit to care about people, about the world, and about the environment. Caring people can make life better for everyone.

34. If you have money or other resources, help individuals and organizations whose vision is to create a more caring world.

35. Spend time with and give attention to those you love. Put distractions away, and give people your full attention. The best way to help others learn to love is to model love to those you care about.

36. When someone is grieving, don’t offer advice (unless asked). Most people need your presence, a listening ear, and a hug more than they need your ideas of how to make things better.

37. Be anonymous in your service. Help other people without them knowing, and without expecting anything in return. Do kind things that no one else knows about.

38. People who are abusive, divisive, and lawless need help. Consider supporting institutions (Such as churches, the Salvation Army, Teen Challenge, Prison Fellowship, and others). whose vision is to help people transform their lives away from their addictions to hatred, bigotry, and hostility and become more caring, loving, and productive people.

39. Offer hope to those who lack resources, comfort the brokenhearted, help people recover from addictions and despair, and help people see that living in love and kindness is better than bitterness and contempt, and that a life rooted in dignity and love leads to wholeness and purpose.

40. Governments, celebrities, and technology have limited power to improve the world. In the long run, you and I are responsible for the small acts of love and kindness that make life healthier and more humane.

I realize this list is too short and too limited. So what ideas can you add to this list? Thanks for sharing.

Some people stop dreaming because life’s struggles overwhelm them. They stop imagining, creating, and believing they can accomplish anything remarkable. I’ve had those same thoughts. But I’ve also found they are not true. There are ways to bring your spark back to life. That’s a primary reason I began this Substack newsletter. In the first few articles, I’ve tried to set the tone for what I hope to discuss. And now, more about why I’m here.

Technology, History, Children’s books, and Inspiration

First of all, I’m a writer. I’ve written technology, history, children’s books, and inspirational books. And I can’t help it. My mind explodes with ideas. Substack is a forum for writers to explore ideas. To write things that are important (at least to us) but may never make it into a printed book, magazine, or other forums. And what we have to say isn’t really Facebook- or X-material, so there you have it. Frankly, I think this is going to be a fun adventure for me, and hopefully for you.

In my case, one of the areas I’ve been interested in for decades is why some businesses, people, and organizations “make it” and some don’t, and how some people find ways to make the world a better place. While working on my MBA, that interest expanded into reading hundreds of biographies of people, businesses, and organizations. It also prompted one of my books, A Daily Dose of the American Dream, which included 366 stories about how things were invented, how some companies rose to the top, and how some people lived lives that served others. More recently, that idea morphed into a new book titled Dreams that Built America.

A Reason for Creating

I’ve often been overwhelmed by people’s responses to these books. One couple said they had been reading these daily stories to their future child since they found out they were pregnant. Several small companies (real estate groups, insurance companies, financial advisors) read the stories at morning meetings. One day, a young man called and said he was struggling to decide on a college major. The book inspired him to choose a life of service to others. With those kinds of positive responses to the stories, I wondered whether all the stories I didn’t have room to tell had value. Many of those stories, plus new material, will appear in this newsletter.

The Thread of Creativity

In all the stories I’ve read, creativity seems to be the lifeblood of a life well lived. We all dream. Particularly when we are young, we imagine great possibilities. And yet, some people have their dreams squashed so often that they lose their ability to imagine. But that can change. No matter your age or situation, you can still dream, achieve, and create things that are fantastic and important. You can still nurture your spark of imagination. So, what is your vision? Do you want to write a novel, create an invention, start a company, begin a career, or raise healthy and moral children? I hope the stories and tips in these articles help you turn your dreams into reality.

Two Stories

I’ll end with two brief stories. One that shows how an idea can turn into a reality (sometimes in unexpected ways). And another that shows how important integrity is in making this world more beautiful and compassionate. (In future entries, stories will be more detailed.)

Art Fry was frustrated that bookmarks kept falling from his hymnal during choir practice. Remembering an experimental adhesive created by another 3M scientist, he imagined a reusable sticky note. The result became Post-it Notes—one of the most recognizable office inventions in history. A small frustration became a worldwide idea.

William Wilberforce changed the course of history. Although elected to the British Parliament at the age of 21, his life was one of indulgence, gambling, carousing, and drunkenness. Then, he took a trip with a brilliant Christian, Isaac Milner, who kept making him rethink his life. Wilberforce experienced a “great change” and committed his life to God. He soon felt a particular call to fight against the moral depravity of the slave trade. He proposed a bill in Parliament to outlaw the slave trade in all of Great Britain. It failed miserably. Opponents crushed him with slander and threats. For 18 years, he proposed similar bills, losing every time. Each defeat deepened his resolve. Finally, in 1807, he got a victory. Parliament voted to forbid the capture of people in Africa for the slave trade. But slavery was not forbidden. In 1824, old age forced Wilberforce into retirement. As he lay on his deathbed in 1833, he received the news that the British Empire had abolished slavery once and for all. He paid a price for his convictions, yet won a victory that changed the world for the better.

How you live your life is a choice. You could be the next inventor, novelist, imaginer, or dreamer who creates something that makes the world a little better for everyone. You could be someone who brings a message of peace, redemption, and love into a world full of hate. In these newsletter entries, I hope we’ll explore both possibilities. So, thanks for reading. Thanks for going on this journey with me. I hope we can learn useful life strategies together.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, often cited as the United States’ most respected president, fought hard for that office. Business struggles, political defeats, and deep grief marked his early adult years. These events led to severe depression. He came back and sought a congressional nomination in 1843, but lost. He applied for a Land Office commission and was turned down. He was defeated for the U.S. Senate in 1854, lost a vice-presidential nomination in 1856, and was defeated again for the U.S. Senate in 1858. Then, in 1860, he won the election for President of the United States. Failure did not stop him, nor did it destroy his dreams. In fact, some say it gave him the wisdom and strength to face the horrors of the Civil War and the audacity to keep going until victory was achieved. He once said, “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.”

Milton Hershey

Almost everyone loves Hershey’s chocolate, and the brand name is everywhere. Yet, failure after failure preceded its climb to success. Milton Hershey grew up with a father who invested in every kind of business and usually failed. In the chaotic life his family lived, he attended seven schools in eight years and never made it past the fourth grade. So he took whatever jobs he could find. But nothing worked until he apprenticed with a confectioner. The candy business interested him, so in 1876, Milton opened his own shop in Philadelphia. But he lacked business acumen, and it went bankrupt. He moved and tried again, this time in Denver. It also failed. Something inside Milton made him keep trying. He made another attempt in New York City. In 1886, it was unsuccessful, too. With ten years of failure under his belt, he returned to his hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This time, he tried making caramel candy. Finally, he had some success and built a modest factory. But he wasn’t finished. In 1893, he attended the World’s Columbian Exhibition and was inspired by German chocolate. He began the Hershey Chocolate Company, sold his caramel business, and began producing his own chocolates. At last, he’d found real success. Reflecting on his journey, he later said, “I didn’t follow the policies of those already in the business. If I had, I would never have made a go of it. Instead, I started with the determination to make a better nickel chocolate bar than any of my competitors made, and I did so.” Some people see failure as a sign to give up, while others rise from their failures and keep trying. Those are the ones who succeed.

George Washington Carver

One final story of failure that turned into success is the remarkable life of George Washington Carver. Born into slavery near the end of the Civil War, a raiding party kidnapped his mother, so Moses and Susan Carver raised him. Although his brother and other workers were tall and strong, George was small and fragile. So, instead of working in the field, George helped with the garden and cooking and learned to read. Nature was Carver’s early teacher. And according to him, his talks with God in the forests inspired him to overcome the poverty and hunger that plagued his early life. He often told this story to illustrate how he viewed prayer and discovery:

“Dear Mr. Creator, please tell me what the universe was made for.”
“Your mind is too small. Ask for something more your size.”
“What was man made for?”
“You are still asking too much...”
“So, why was the peanut made?”
“That’s better—what do you want to know about the peanut?”

So Carver worked to become a science teacher. At thirteen, he set out to seek an education beyond the farm. He took jobs washing clothes, baking bread, and doing every kind of menial work to pay for tutoring. His persistence enabled him to enroll at Iowa State University and become the first Black to earn a Master of Science in Agriculture. And although Iowa begged him to finish his doctorate, he felt God calling him to help his fellow Black people in the South at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. There, he taught farmers how to rotate crops to prevent cotton from ruining the ground, and became known as a “plant doctor” to residents (white and black) who could almost always restore ailing plants. Carver’s reputation soon spread around the world. On Sunday nights, he taught Bible lessons to his students, encouraging them to follow “The Jesus Way” of living. These studies attracted so many students that some had to listen to his lessons outside the library. But fame didn’t limit discrimination. Even as a featured speaker at national meetings, he was forced to travel by coach, eat in kitchens rather than banquet halls, and sleep in inferior hotels. Carver received job offers from Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and others. He refused, believing that for him, success was staying at Tuskegee and helping his race improve its standard of living. When Carver died in 1943, his epitaph read: “He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world.”

Many other success stories began with failure. Stories that could be told include Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Colonel Sanders, Chuck Colson, Soichiro Honda, Richard Branson, Stephen King, Michael Jordon, and the list goes on.

Hopefully, the pattern is clear. None of the people mentioned here knew their struggles would eventually lead to success. They simply kept going. You may fall many times in life, but with faith and hope, you can rise and keep moving forward. Of course, there are also many stories of people who tried, and tried and didn’t succeed. What can we say about them? Perhaps they gave up too soon. Or, maybe the journey itself can be its own reward. Monetary success, when sought, often turns into dust. Many people living in poverty enjoy rich lives full of love, companionship, and joy. Those stories rarely make the headlines. So, set your eyes not on the goal of achieving riches, fame, or power, but set your heart on living the best life you can, and decide to enjoy whatever (even small) successes life allows.

Author of Dreams That Built America, Rescuing JFK: How Solomon Islanders Rescued John F. Kennedy and the crew of the PT 109, and others.

My author website: www.alanelliott.com