The 2020s Will Be Your Decade Of Success
Are you ready for the 2020s?
You have a fresh decade to work with, so what are you going to do with it?
What hopes and dreams do you have for the next 10 years?
Is this the decade you finally launch that business you've always wanted or maybe you'll passionately pursue your ideal career?
No matter what the 2020s have in store, there will be roadblocks.
But, if you're truly creative and persistent, you'll find a way.
For example, in 2011, I started to have this intense desire to write a nonfiction book that would be traditionally published and available in bookstores.
I pitched ideas to various publishers and book agents and was rejected over and over again.
You see, I was a nobody.
I didn't have millions of people following me on Twitter or any kind of built-in audience that publishers and agents craved in order to sell books.
But, what I did have was persistence, an ability to notice a gap in the marketplace and to use my past work experience to fill that gap.
So, in 2014, I noticed a Chicago sports book publisher, Triumph Books, had a line of books called 100 Things where they'd cover the history of individual sports franchises.
Since I was a Toronto Raptors basketball fan, I noticed there wasn't a 100 Things Raptors book available.
At that time, the club had surprisingly made the playoffs and really got Canada excited about the team's success.
The franchise had a large fanbase and would be hosting the NBA All-Star Game for the first time in 2016.
I thought the timing was perfect to write a book about the Raptors.
So, I pitched Triumph.
To prove my case, I used online newspaper article links that displayed the club's exploding TV ratings and I included the team's big social media following numbers plus I pointed out the All-Star Game was on the horizon.
After that, I mentioned I was the right man for this role by stating my past media experience as a former national television sports reporter and podcaster who covered the Raptors for many years.
Once my pitch was sent, it was out of my hands.
I didn't know what would happen next.
Until December 2014, I received this email...
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Hi Tom, My Apologies
From: "Tom Bast" <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, December 10, 2014 10:00 am
Dave, I think we will move ahead with this and offer you a contract with our standard terms, including an advance of $3,000. If you agree, can you turn in your manuscript by March 1?
As you can imagine, I freaked out!
I secured my first U.S. book deal with a traditional publisher.
It was an incredible moment for a guy who, as a younger man, thought the best job he'd ever get would be as a gas pumper at your local station.
100 Things Raptors Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die was born.
It would be released in November 2015 and its updated edition is coming out in March 2020.
Remember, I was a nobody, but I found a way to make my book dream a reality.
So, when those roadblocks hit, get creative and be persistent.
If you're passionate enough, you'll achieve what you're looking for in the 2020s.
Keep at it.
Your success will come. :)
#Careers #Business #Publishing #Books