The Power of Books
I believe in the power of books to change lives. Sometimes just the right book comes into our hands when we at a dead end, or a crossroads, in our lives, and it inspires to take a new path. While many books have inspired me over time, below are three books, in particular, that changed the course of my life.
In 1978 I read the book, "Out of my Life and Thought," by Albert Schweitzer. Schweitzer described how he resigned his university position as a theologian and musical scholar, at age 30, to undertake the study of medicine so that he could become a medical missionary in the Congo (Africa). He had read a pamphlet that described the great need that existed for doctors and he decided to answer the call.
I was inspired by his life to follow in his footsteps. Although my motivations were not religious, and I wasn't a doctor, I used a different way to accomplish the same goal of helping out people in underdeveloped countries. I chose to get a degree in agriculture, since most people in developing countries rely heavily on agriculture for the sustenance. I previously had received a degree in political science, but I realized that a degree in agriculture would be more useful for the purposes that I had in mind.
The culmination of my dream occurred in 1985 when I joined the Peace Corps in 1985 and was sent to Honduras where I worked for three years. Hardly a day goes by that I don't think about my rewarding experiences there.
I bought a used copy of "Creating Wealth" by Robert G. Allen around 1989. The book described how to make money by investing in real estate. I was inspired by the idea of buying rental houses, although I didn't think the book itself was very clear on how to do it. I read the book and kept it on my book shelf.
In 2001, after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, and subsequent economic recession, my work hours were being cut back. l and I started to cast around for another job that would be recession-proof. I remembered my book "Creating Wealth," and thought that real estate might be the answer. I started doing extensive research on real estate investing. I took classes. I read books. I went to meetings, and I talked with people who had experience doing it.
In 2002, my wife and I bought our first, of many, fixer-upper houses that we turned into a rental property. It has been a rewarding business for us.
In 2004 I started to write down the things that I had learned about my fixer-upper house business. Initially, I kept the notes for my own personal reference. Later, I decided to write a book and share my experiences with others who might benefit from following a similar path that I had taken.
I had written a lot of text, but I didn't know to actually get my book published, or self-published. When I came across "Aiming at Amazon" by Aaron Shepard, I almost couldn't believe that I had found a book that told me exactly what I needed to do to get self published. I followed the book step by step, and I carried it with me almost everywhere I went for a period of about three months, as I was constantly referring to it.
I established my own publishing company, and I layed out and formated my book. I hired someone to make a cover for me. And in September 2007, my first book, "Fix em Up, Rent em Out," appeared for sale on Amazon.com. I felt a tremendous sense of gratitude towards Aaron Shepard.
Conclusion
The changes that these three books sparked are still reverberating in my life. I am still in touch with people that I made friends with in Honduras. My real estate business provides my family with a safety net of economic security. I have found a new satisfying niche in book writing, and am presently working on my fourth book.
Are You Big Enough to Pay it Forward?
3 Reason Why You Become a Giant When Write Your Book
My Upcoming Radio Interviews
Jan 30th, 10:40 AM (Central Time), I will discuss how people can find their niche in life in what their heart tells them to do, with Patti Penn of WJBC AM 1230 in Bloomington, IL. You can also listen to the interview on the internet at http://wjbc.com/.
Tune in Tuesday, January 10th at 7 PM eastern standard time for post holiday treat, as I will be discussing my new book "Carve Out Your Niche" on the ArtistFirst Radio Network(http://www.artistfirst.com/)
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