Success; to succeed at a goal, to master a challenge, to over come an obstacle.  In today’s world we tend to interpret success in terms of some extraordinary level of accomplishment.  But, what really defines success?  And, why do I spend so much time defining this?  Isn’t it making a million bucks off your first book?  Being on Oprah?  Don’t get me wrong, making a million dollars off any book first, last book or all of the ones in between is a major accomplishment and would definitely qualify as successful.  The reality is, if making a million dollars is your primary goal for writing than your best bet is to play the lottery.  Your chances of winning are better and your personal time and financial investment is far less. 

I actually learned something from hundreds of hours I spent in the 80’s in all of those corporate funded seminars on Quality Circles, Continuous Improvement, Just In Time, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.  When your set tasks for yourself or a group of people, begin with ones that are easily obtainable.  Then celebrate that success.  Success builds on itself and creates its own momentum.  Begin with a goal that is too difficult to achieve and the early failures will doom your project.  And why is this important?  You’ve just written the greatest novel, the steamiest romance, the most intriguing mystery, the greatest self help book, or the most revolutionary scientific investigation, your book will be a success!  If you have finished a story or a book be proud of your accomplishment.  Be very proud.  Consider that between the US and the UK more than 200,000 new titles are published each year.  Assume that only 5% of the works submitted are published (which is a generous percentage), that means that 4 million works were submitted.  Now assume that of all of the people who say they want to write a book or are in the process of doing so, roughly 5% of them ever finish anything.  You have accomplished something that 76 million people fail to accomplish.  That’s like finishing the Iron Man Competition, or the Boston Marathon or making it to the Olympics!  Celebrate your success in whatever fashion allows you to acknowledge to yourself that you have reached a very important milestone.

Your next goal should be to take that story or book and get it into a form that can be shared with the rest of the world.  A task that for most of us is more daunting than the actual writing of the book.  Whether you decide that going the traditional route, or a POD, or indie is best, getting your book into print is no small task.  After months of waiting and hundreds of drop – dead and die letters from agents and publishers, or after reviewing a zillion iterations of your own proofs, when you finally have that first book in hand, write “First Copy” on the cover page, then take your spouse, best friend, editor, etc out for a fabulous meal and celebrate.  Call your mother and tell her.  Be proud of this accomplishment.  Realize that of the 4 million works submitted, you did something that 3,800,000 other people are desperately trying to do and 79,800,000 people can only dream about.

As you progress further on this journey realize each and every success as a genuine milestone, the first copy sold to a complete stranger, your first radio interview, your tenth copy sold to a total stranger, your first book review, the first time you see your book on the shelf of a major book store or an independent one at that.  I think the best way to illustrate how I see success is by sharing some of the most important moments I have had with my stories. 

At the LA Times Festival of Books, there was a quiet older man who stood and read the entire book.  When he was finished he looked at me and said, "Thank you for writing this story." That is why I write and why I pursue this strange path I'm taking.  As a CFO, no one, not once, not ever, for all of the million of dollars I have helped people to make has anyone ever said "thank you".  My work as a CFO never brought a heartfelt tear to the reader’s eye, unless they were reading the Year End EBIT.  In life, quality beats quantity hands down. 

Milestones of My Success

 When I began The Chronicles of Adrian Smith

When I finished The Chronicles of Adrian Smith: The Audit Report

When I saw the first copy in print.

The night that Ellen and Mike Walsh took me out to celebrate at Syrah and the couple next to us bought a copy.  I have that $15 framed on my desk.

Seeing The Chronicles of Adrian Smith on the shelf at Copperfield’s in Santa Rosa.

The day I was interviewed on the cable network KCNS about the book.

Being inspired to write Charlie’s Treasures

Being introduced to Dian DeWolf

Seeing Dian’s first sketches of her interpretation of the story.

Hearing Dean Morrissery Tell me “You’ve Got It!  This story is great!”

Receiving a letter back from the publisher Little Brown saying how much they liked the story, even if it wasn’t right for them to publish.

Meeting Pat Adler from Hampton Roads.

Almost getting picked up by Tricycle Press.

Being able to sell enough hand made copies to raise the money to go to New York.

Knocking on the doors of 110 agents and publishers.

Signing with Frank Weimann literary agent.

Seeing Dian’s artwork on display at the Napa Valley Opera House.

Having the VOENA Children’s choir give us an delightfully unexpected concert.

Have Ali at Rising Bird believe enough in the book and me to help me find the financing to begin Stone In The Surf.

Seeing the first copies of Charlie’s Treasures at Kaz’s Winery.

Enjoying having a woman send her husband back time and time again to buy five copies of the book.

Being complemented on the story on the quality of the book by the manager of Copperfield’s in Napa.

At The LA Times Festival of Books;

When Franchee Harmon bought a book and wrapped her arms around it. When I asked her why she was carrying the book like 

that, she replied, "Treasures are to be cuddled." 

The first woman who bought a copy was so moved by the story she could hardly speak. 

The shy young woman from Eastern Europe, Polina who came by three times and it was obvious that something about the story 

and the art work captivated her, she finally bought a copy.  

There was the young girl on Sunday morning who read the story and shouted, "I get it!  The old man is ....  

I have to have this book!"  

Her excitement did draw in Mrs. Mohr, a school principal who bought a copy and was hoping to convince her 

teachers to do the same.  

Then there were the exchange students from Bangladesh who bought a copy. 

Recently as a guest on Kaz’s radio show on KSVY a gentleman called in and said he and his wife had found a copy of Charlie’s Treasures at the local Starbucks and thought it was delightful.

And then there was yesterday …

I went to my PO Box and found a letter from Barnes & Nobel.  They’ve order a case of Charlie’s Treasures for their stores.  They also asked me to submit new works to them.  That is success!

 These are how I define success.  This is why I write.

The Chronicles of Adrian Smith at Copperfield's

Can you find it?

 

 “So What Have You Done About It Today?”

Richard Neumann