I recently had the honor and privilege of selling at the Third Coast Author & Book Festival in beautiful Grand Haven, MI. There, I met a wide variety of authors. Especially at the VIP event held afterward.
Yet, there’s one young man who stood out to me. His name is Patrick Goran.
You see, Patrick is only 17. At the age of 13, he wrote and published a book of letters that he wrote to his grandpa called Letters To Grandpa. Why? Because his grandma passed away from Alzheimer’s. He wanted to create a book that would make his grandpa proud. He also wanted to make a difference in the world.
And he has. Over the past few years, Patrick has raised over $25,000 to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s. That’s a significant impact he’s leaving on the world. His work, his passion, is helping end a disease that’s challenged many families. Maybe it’s even helped yours.
What’s Stopping You From Doing Something Amazing?
I spent quite a bit of time talking to Patrick during the book festival. He was young, eager, and excited to share his letters with the world. His passion and desire to see change were evident in his words and deeds.
I asked him how he’s sold so many books. His answer was shocking.
Patrick had gone door to door in his neighborhood asking neighbors to purchase his book. His door to door salesmanship of his book reminds me of the days of people selling Kirby vacuums door to door. He was willing to share his story and have a literal door shut in his face. These days, many of us would wince at this happening to us. He embraced it.
Patrick also reached out to organizations and asked for corporate sponsorships. The businesses he reached out to said they would! And they did!
When I think about the stories Patrick told me, it makes me consider what’s stopping me from doing something amazing. There’s fear that creeps in at times. There’s a sense of asking for something from someone else. There’s even dread that people aren’t as passionate about the same things as me.
But…
Looking at Patrick, he reminded me that those things aren’t true. I shouldn’t let fear, dread, or a different kind of passion stop me from reaching out to others. Some people will join with me on this journey. You all have been a part of the journey. You’ve seen this blog transform into sharing my passions for ice climbing, road running for clean water, and movies. In fact, one of those passions turned into a book!
We can’t let our doubts and fears stop us from doing something amazing. The next time you’re scared to take your next step, think about young Patrick. At 13, he did something almost everyone wants to do: write a book. He pushed through the fear, doubt, angst, and youth to make a difference and write a book.
You can too. You’re not too old to do something amazing. Whether it’s in your organization or family, you can change the world.
So, what’s stopping you from doing something amazing? Is it fear? Push through it. Is it youth? Know that you’re not too young. Is it angst? Get over it.
You have something within you that can change the world. Go change it.
