Posts filed under 'Heroes And Sheroes'
This post contains the chapter titles to Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness, “When Good People Become Great.” As time permits, I will begin inserting brief excerpts from each chapter of this introspective, inspirational story about “personal leadership” to inspire you to take the next step necessary to make your “Big Dream” come true.
In the meantime, please feel free to peruse “The Archives” to see how far this humbled beginner has come by faith since January 1, 2007. I didn’t “choose to write this book.” Over 10 years ago, this thought-provoking, 272 page book chose me. If I can beat the odds with God’s help and choose to “keep risin’ to my feet after every fall I survived,” you can do the same. The choice to do so will always be yours alone to make. So choose wisely.
“But by grace still go I.”
The Prologue — “Always Expect The Unexpected”
Chapter 1– “Working Together For Good”
Chapter 2 — “Back To Square One”
Chapter 3 — “How The Story Begins”
Chapter 4 — “The Importance Of Struggle”
Chapter 5 — “Joy, Peace, And Good Feelings”
Chapter 6 — “Distractions, Distractions, Distractions”
Chapter 7 — “Detoured, Detained, But Not Denied”
Chapter 8 — “After The Fall”
Chapter 9 — “The Greatest Lie Ever Told”
Chapter 10 — “The Seeds Of Self-Hatred”
Chapter 11 — “Crossing Jordan’s River”
Chapter 12 — “To Whom Little Appears Given”
Chapter 13 — “Heart-Breaking, Heart-Broken, But Hopeful”
Chapter 14 — “Dry Bones, Abandoned Visions, And Forgotten Dreams”
Chapter 15 — “Pain And Pleasure”
Chapter 16 — “Without Respect And Confidence”
Chapter 17 — “A Three Word Revelation”
Chapter 18 — “The Gift Of Greatness”
Chapter 19 — “One Root, One Tree, One Fruit”
Chapter 20 — “Lessons Lived And Learned”
Chapter 21 — “A Preview Of Coming Attractions”
Chapter 22 — “Despise Not Humbled Beginners”
Epilogue — “Talent Alone Is Not Enough™”
Quick question. Which one of the aforementioned chapter titles inspired you to sit up in your seat and say “Hmmmm” when you first saw it? When time permits, please post a comment to let me know which one has peaked your curiosity the most.
Copyright © 2007-2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.
Popularity: 38% [?]
June 1st, 2008
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The failed attempts by the Clintons to “marginalize” Senator Barack Obama and “minimize” the accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. validated my honest belief that voting for Barack on “Super Tuesday” is the right thing to do. Obama is a courageous candidate, who just happens to be Black, that will give all Americans hope. Matters not what ethnicity, what gender, what political affiliation, what generation, or what income bracket you claim.
Unlike Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Obama spoke truth to power in love when the majority of our political leaders believed the infamous lie President Bush told to justify a war that has bankrupted our children’s future. Obama got it right when he refused to go-along just to get-along with the status quo who got it wrong once again. Americans are not the only great nation of great people who desperately need Change that we can all believe in. The whole world is watching and waiting to see what will happen during what will become America’s defining moment in 2008.
The words, ” I see your true colors shining through,” came to mind while watching the Clintons execute their failed character assassination of the only 2008 Presidential Candidate whose time and season I believe has finally come. Their publicly televised, fear-based actions reminded me of what frequently happens privately to Black men who boldly stand in the way of powerful people precariously perched in positions of influence. The end does not justify the means. Never did. Never will.
Together, we, as Bloggers For Barack Obama, can make a difference by casting our votes for Senator Obama on Super Tuesday. As one of the many bloggers, who are not ashamed to publicly stand with Senator Barack Obama, I honestly believe that we can impact the ultimate outcome of the 2008 Presidential election process.
Together, we can beat the odds and achieve what Obama’s opponents refused to believe was possible before now if we choose to walk together in peace and work together as one for the greater good of humanity’s global village. Do you believe? I hope so. We can’t afford to get it wrong again.
“Yes We Can!” Divide and Conquer No More!
Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.
Popularity: 40% [?]
February 4th, 2008
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Last year, my wife, KWiz, and I watched the movie “Freedom Writers.” This year, we watched “The Great Debaters.” Both are unforgettable films. If you’re an aspiring writer who needs a reason to finish writing your book, please don’t wait to see either of these films. Both are amazing examples of the art of story-telling.
It’s true! Everybody has a story to tell. Some of you are extremely talented, gifted writers who can effortlessly employ the power of the written word to tell your stories. For me, writing is a struggle, which is why I started blogging last year. Have you ever wondered if there’s some secret formula or writing technique that will make one book sell better than another?
Can “talent alone” ensure the success of the books that authors allegedly choose to write? Who or what enables prolific writers to repeat the meticulous process behind the creative chaos that made your book a success? Does the timing of a book’s release play a significant part in its author’s ability to emotionally connect with one generation and not another? Do you believe that book sales, or the lack thereof, are an accurate indication of the perceived success or the failure of a book?
According to prolific author Paulo Coelho’s profile, “Slow initial sales [of The Alchemist] convinced his first publisher to drop the novel, but it went on to become one of the best selling Brazilian books of all time.
Have any of you ever pondered the possibility that the part you played did little to determine the success of your book? Did God’s sovereign will and perfect plan have anything to do with the success of your book? If yes, does it really matter whether or not an author chooses to employ “urban street teams” or “main stream” marketeers to promote a book that’s destined to become a national best seller? As writers, what part do we play in the books we author?
Do books choose their writers or do writers choose the books they pen? I had no desire to write a book before I began to pen Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness. I believe the book that I birthed chose me. I can still recall waking up in the middle of the night to write the first page of my big dream. Once I began writing it, I couldn’t stop. Whenever I felt inspired to write, I didn’t sleep much. I didn’t eat. I didn’t talk. Since I didn’t have anything to distract me, I just wrote. I constantly canceled or rescheduled appointments until the words stopped flowing from somewhere deep within the heart of my soul.
Am I crazy or has this ever happened to any of you? What did you do initially? Did you look around the room to see if you were all alone? Did you ignore the words you heard or did you heed the still, small voice that inspired you to believe that you could achieve something bigger than yourself? Did people laugh at you, ridicule you, and reject you when they heard about the genesis of your big dream? My mother and my wife stood by me at a time when I needed their love and support the most.
Writing Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness was an act of faith for me. I wrote on anything and everything I could get my hands on as evidenced by all the cardboard boxes still stuffed with the hastily scribbled notes that I stockpiled over the years. During those difficult days when I had no place to lay my head, I didn’t have time to feel sorry for myself. For reasons that still escape me, I refused to give up after the fall I survived.
Nevertheless, trusting God when nothing made sense wasn’t easy. To challenge myself to keep getting up and showing up for my street fight with Adversity, I started writing poetic essays. Writing literally saved my life after my business failed and I was forced to file bankruptcy. Because of the vision that God gifted to me, I had a plan that I could believe in. God’s unchanging love gave me hope during my darkest days. It’s true! Without a vision, people with no reason to hope will perish.
For reasons now known, “But by grace still go I” is not just some empty Christian phrase that I casually toss around to sound spiritual. If you’re a published writer, did your book choose you or did you choose your book? I hope this post has encouraged somebody to rise to your feet and inspired you to honestly believe that you can beat impossible odds with God’s help. If so, please let me know.
Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.
Popularity: 33% [?]
January 14th, 2008
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B.M.A.D.™ in 2008 is an acronym for “Bloggers Making A Difference™ In 2008.” For new visitors, I birthed this blog January 1, 2007. Since then, I’ve learned so much from many of you about the art of blogging. In the process of reading your insightful, informative, and thought-provoking posts, I’ve learned much about myself. I look forward to doing the same this year with your help, prayers, and support.
Personal growth is always a painful process. Nevertheless, I’m a better person because you have chosen to love me despite my imperfections and great weaknesses. Hopefully, I’ve learned from the mistakes I made during my first year of blogging. If not, check me. Better to be wounded by a friend than to be kissed by an enemy.
As we begin yet another journey together, I want to ask each of you to think about what you plan to accomplish with your blogs in 2008? Knowing your purpose as a blogger will gift you with a deeper understanding of how you can improve your blogs and increase traffic to your sites?
How can you use your writing skills and your blogs to make a difference in the lives of the people you will meet “for the first time” this year? How can you use an activity that I still consider a privilege to inspire, empower, and encourage the readers who visit your blogs or subscribe to your blogs?
Let’s challenge one another to do something this year that will compel the whole world to sit up and pay attention to what bloggers have to say in 2008 to make a difference in the lives of our blended, extended family members. Let’s challenge one another to actively participate in the making and the shaping of our ever-evolving history.
What can we do to focus more attention on the ordinary, everyday people I call “unsung heroes and sheroes?” How many people do you know who have the “courage to teach” the next generation of leaders? What person’s courageous “act of faith” has had the most impact on your life? What teacher or mentor challenged to you to do more than you ever thought possible? Who still inspires you, encourages you, empowers you and loves you unconditionally?
Since Change is inevitable, I challenge myself and all my peers in the blogosphere to “B.M.A.D™ In 2008″ before it’s too late to save the next generation of leaders who are destined to become great. Are you willing to do more than you ever thought possible? I hope so.
Copyright © 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights reserved.
Popularity: 20% [?]
January 2nd, 2008
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Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness, “When Good People Become Great” started shipping May 6, 2008. My gratitude to all whom have already invested in their “autographed copies” is beyond words. Click on “Always Expect The Unexpected” to read the Prologue to this introspective, inspirational story about personal leadership.
Click Here To View Back Cover
** Note: This is a “Sticky Post.” Please scroll through the “Calendar” atop the sidebar on my Home page to locate all the previous posts stored in my archives.
Copyright © 2007-08 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.
Popularity: 79% [?]
December 17th, 2007
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