“I didn’t want to turn the page, but I couldn’t put it down.” Bob Hixon (my Dad)
After painstakingly laboring over each word that appeared in my book, Retirement Stepping Stones, I then had to think through and approve the book cover design. Ultimately, good book covers sell books. Our eyes are drawn to pictures and colors and graphics that, if combined properly, make you want to read the title.
And, if the title is good, you might glance at the subtitle.
And, if all that checks the boxes, you might flip the book over to read the synopsis on the back.
And after all that, as a consumer, you look at the price.
Finally, if all aspects of that 60-second-or-less experience converge in a positive way, you make the purchase.
So, yeah, the book cover design felt like a weighty decision. As did writing the synopsis on the back cover, as did setting the price. But, that was 2021 and all that is behind me now. Thousands of book sales later and an Amazon Best Seller in 5 categories, I think our team and my publisher did a fairly decent job.
Our team was set to launch the book in September of 2021, but in reality, the book was finalized in June of that year. As the author, I got a sneak peak of the first copy. I was sent a box of 25 books. I was tasked to look it over with a fine-toothed comb and make sure there were absolutely no changes before it was set to release to the masses in September. I re-read it. My wife re-read it. And, neither of us had any changes. The book was ready.
Remember, I had 25 copies in my possession, but it hadn’t been released. Because the story was so deeply personal, I thought it best to give a signed copy in advance to only 3 people in my life who were impacted greatly by Mom’s death. First, my business partner and best friend, Adam Zuercher, who stood by me through Mom’s tragic death and supported me as I grieved and processed the situation. Next, my sister who had a special relationship with Mom and was devastated by her loss. And last, my Dad, who through this tragedy lost his wife of 40 years, his high school sweetheart, and his best friend. Sharing such a personal story was hard for all of us. But we all agreed it was a story that needed to be shared, to honor Mom’s legacy, and help others avoid her mistakes.
So, in June of that year, my Dad and sister met me at a local coffee shop and I brought their copies along. To say I was a bit emotional was an understatement. A year and a half of hard work (on top of my day job) went into this project. And now, I had the deliverable. I signed their copies with my newly developed phrase that I’ve included on each signed copy since, “You were made on purpose, for a purpose. Live it today! The best is ahead.” We shed some tears, took a picture, and parted ways.
A few weeks later (ok, maybe longer than that, my Dad isn’t an avid reader), I heard from him with the quote that I started this essay with. It was a hard story for him to re-live. It was a hard book for him to read. He didn’t want to turn the page, but he couldn’t put the book down. After choking down the lump in my throat after hearing how my book impacted him, I couldn’t help but agree. It is a hard story to read.
For him, it was an even harder story to have lived. It’s a sad story.
You really don’t want to turn the page. But you can’t put it down.
I recently heard about a guy who is on his second reading of my book, stating that if he hadn’t read it, he surely would’ve ended up just like my mom. These stories deeply impact me.
And, the story continues.
It didn’t end upon the book’s release date in September that year. The story lives on.
It lives on through my team at work who live their purpose each and every day to help our clients transition to a purpose-filled life after retirement.
It lives on through my writings, which are posted each Friday where I muse about all things, including encouraging us to live with optimism, significance, and purpose.
It lives on through my kids, who each received their signed copy of my book as well. They were so young, they don’t have a lot of memories of their Grandma (Mama Pam), but they have pictures and stories that we try to tell often.
My oldest daughter, Eliana, took a Personal Finance college class while she was in high school. The professor assigned each student to read a finance book. When Eliana asked permission to read mine, the professor stated she’d never heard of it and would have to read it first to approve it for her class. After reading it, the professor was so moved, so impressed, that she submitted a request to the Board to allow it to be available in the library on the University campus. They approved. I cried. I’m still friends with that Professor today.
Mom’s story lives on. She’s missed so much, but she won’t be forgotten. The pages, while sometimes hard to turn, are worth it. The book, while tough to read, is still impacting lives.
Today is the 3rd anniversary of my book’s release.
I pray that it continues to be read and acted upon by its readers for years to come.
And in my Mom’s honor, may we all find meaning, live with purpose, and leave a legacy.
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To honor my book’s three year anniversary, I’m excited to offer the Retirement Stepping Stones e-book for discount, now through October 1st, 2024. It’s my hope that this offer will allow you an opportunity to become inspired. May it guide you as we all strive to live with purpose and leave a meaningful legacy.
