Yesterday I found out that The Promise of a Pencil will be spending its second week on the New York Times Bestseller list. It debuted at #2 last week and within five days completely sold out all of Amazon and BN.com’s stock nationwide.
This week it’s at #8, joining a list of authors in the Top 10 that includes Arianna Huffington, President Jimmy Carter, Malcolm Gladwell, Bill O’Reilly, Chelsea Handler and Sheryl Sandberg. Just writing that sentence makes me recognize how surreal things have become in the past two weeks.
Each day since the book launched I’ve been reading emails and tweets from people’s reactions and favorite chapters, for which I’m grateful beyond words. But in the midst of the madness, I decided last night to pause to write about something that I’ve been thinking about for a while.
There are several books that have changed my life, but my favorite book of all time is Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. There’s one phrase in particular that has always stood out for me personally…
“A good man is as strong as the right woman needs him to be.” (click to Tweet this).
I never had the courage to write a book until I met my fiancé, Tehillah. It was only in finding that she loved me for exactly the person I am, and that she celebrated the qualities I most aspired to embody, that I felt the first urge to move forward with my lifelong dream of writing a book. The entire manuscript was written while the two of us traveled together, carrying only a backpack each for three months last year through South Africa, Europe and SE Asia. Her influence on my writing was immense, as her feedback helped me refine the chapters I’d craft on my laptop most mornings and evenings while typing by her side.
Over the past year she has listened to nearly every sentence of the book as it was drafted, reviewed and agonizingly finalized. She soothed my nerves in the months leading up to the launch, and gave me confidence that even if it failed to change one life, it was a pursuit worth chasing. While many attribute their successes to standing on the shoulders of giants, this book succeeded because I held the hand of an angel from the start to the finish.
Too often the importance of a great partner is lost on us. We celebrate the individual, but forget to acknowledge the foundation from which they draw their strength. It is the love of another, whether it’s your mother, father, brother, sister, husband, wife, grandparent, son, daughter, coach, mentor or friend, that has helped each of us get to our current place in life.
So I hope you take a brief moment to acknowledge that person today. Honor the sanctity of their presence in your life. Call them to say, “I love you, thank you for always being there.” Write a handwritten letter explaining how much they mean to you. And most importantly, let them know how much you appreciate the strength they give you to become the person you’re meant to be.
I’ll be doing the same…
Wiley
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This is a great point, Adam. It took me a long time to find a partner who complemented my strengths and challenged me to want to be a better man (in the best way possible).
Having that person in your life who understands you and gives you extra strength is an amazing thing.
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Dear Adam,
It is great to learn about you just few days back. God bless you for your good deeds and the message should reach all the youngsters who need the right role models to follow through; the need of the hour. Just gifted your book to my daughter whose wave length will match your activities. I too will go through the book. One man change the world.
Adam
Great comment, I hope you enjoy the book as well!
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Jane Zaretsy
Hi Adam,
I just finished your book and remember that wonderful feeling when you breath, sleep and live for your dreams. I started a humanitarian program in Ghana when I was 50. It is constantly growing, changing and evolving every year. I am the Queen Mother of a small village outside Cape Coast. Our organization built our fist school in this village and we hope to build more. I run a feeding program with a partner organization in the USA called Feed My Starving Children. We provide a rice, soy,protein and vitamin enriched meal. I often found that a child especially a girl is not sent to school because the parents make her work in the fields. When we offered school lunches more children attended and there was an increase in their learning capability. I would love to discuss the possibility of providing a school lunch program in other schools in Ghana. Our organization is based in NYC and would be happy to discuss this further.
Melissa Kimmerling
Hi Adam,
You spoke in Omaha at the Greater Omaha Young Professionals Summit last year, which is when I first heard of PoP and became involved. The college I work for had a big fundraiser for PoP last year, and individual donations still continue to trickle in. They are planning another fundraiser for this summer as well. I am writing today because I have been reading your book (which I have affectionately attached your signature to the inside front cover of) these last few days, and I wanted to tell you about an experience I had recently. To keep the story short, I recently resigned from my job. Bold move for a young woman with a family and home, but in my heart I knew it was right. So you know what I did? I went to a local company with a great reputation and told them how I would be a great asset to their company. They said they weren’t looking for anyone at the time, but that we would be in touch. Two weeks later, I received an email that the owner had been thinking about our meeting and wanted to chat. I received an offer for full time employment yesterday. I am an occupational therapist with a doctorate in education (c), and am passionate about program development and reaching underserved populations, especially those with chronic and/ or disabling conditions. I suppose I wanted to share this with you for a couple reasons- the notion of speaking the language of the person you are looking to become and getting out of my comfort zone. On p. 101 you discuss moments of uncertainty and fear of failure. This really spoke to me today. Thank you for everything.
I traveled to Belize while I was in college three times on an education/ medical mission. I maintain contacts in the area. Ever thought about Belize? 🙂
Take care and keep up the amazing work.
Melissa Kimmerling
Adam
Amazing story, thanks for sharing Melissa! We’re not going to expand into any new countries until 2016, but all will be considered then.
Anna Bar
Hi Adam,
I’m just reading your book and love it. I am so excited that I came across your everything: POP, your book, your ideas of the new world!! I am so inspired!! POP finally gives me hope that everyone is able to actually make a difference. I will come up with a cool idea of how I can be part of POP soon. I know it! I would love to bring it to Berlin.. or is there some Berliners involved already? If so, can you connect me?
By the way, me and my fiancé own a bike café in Berlin and we make our own popsicles called SUPER POPs and I through a big Halloween Party every year. So much about reading the signs.. 😉
Good luck for everything! You will hear from me again soon. Let’s make it hugh! Profitable purpose here we come!
Anna
Adam
Email me at adam@ipromise.org, we’d love to get some Berliners involved.
Elisa Lionne
Thank you Adam! I absolutely love the phrase “a pursuit worth chasing”. It’s so encouraging to recognize that your pursuits are worth chasing, even if they won’t have a massive impact. I also like to say, “it doesn’t have to be perfect to make a difference.” That just makes me relax immediately and helps me to put my work out there. I love your book and I look forward to writing one myself.
xx
Adam
Absolutely Elisa, find that pursuit that’s worth chasing and build a life around it.
Jenni
Adam,
First, I want to thank you for writing this book and being such an inspiration. Thank you! After reading the book and highlighting the quotes inside the book, it was another boost of inspiration and motivation for me to further wanting to accomplish my dreams.
I have a friend that was fighting cancer on our last semester of college. I recently met up and had dinner with him. I did not know that he was fighting cancer while we were going to school but he has told me that he beat cancer. The reason why I want to share this mini story with you and others is that he has told me that he is just so happy being able to live. That just touched my heart because during that week before seeing him, I was complaining about my bad days to my boyfriend. It was a slap of reality in my face and that I should be grateful for everything I have. So… after that dinner, I always remind myself and say “thank you” just to the world being able to wake up in my bed, being able to have warm meal, friends and family, a job, being healthy, etc. We get so caught up in a fast paced world that I think that we don’t stop and say thank you enough to others.
Thank you.
Adam
Beautiful note, really appreciate you sharing it Jenni.
Nicholle
Adam,
Thank you so much for sharing! It’s so amazing and special that you have found some one so beautiful to share your life with! I often think about how I would like to thank my loved ones for the huge contributions and impact they have made on my life! And the honour they have given me by allowing me to be a fundamental part of theirs! And thank you Adam – you have given so many of us a precious part of yourself that has empowered us to be better, braver, stronger!
Adam
I’m lucky to have found Tehillah, but I genuinely believe each person has someone else out there (or multiple people) who complete them as well… just make sure you thank them once you find them for the contributions they bring into your life!
Savory (@Miss_Savory)
Love u 2 🙂 Talk about PRETTIEST couple EVER. lol
Your book just came in the mail today (thanks Amazon). Will read it this wknd.
Nicholle
Clear your schedule cause you won’t be able to put it down!
Michelle
That was one of my favorite parts of your book when you shared that you always knew you would marry a girl with a unique name and green eyes. Tears came to my eyes and it affirmed the fact that it’s okay to follow your heart and your gut because it will never steer you wrong. Never stop writing. I appreciate you.
Adam
Thanks so much for the words of encouragement Michelle, it was scary to write in the book but I’m glad it’s in there and resonated with so many others.
Julia
Well, I can assure you, that it has at least changed one life already.
Finally the source of Inspiration I have been looking for.
Adam
Amazing, so many others have changed my life in positive ways so I’m glad to have helped Julia!
Mahalia
Is that really all there is to it because that’d be flrbaebgasting.
JJ
This is a great point, Adam. It took me a long time to find a partner who complemented my strengths and challenged me to want to be a better man (in the best way possible).
Having that person in your life who understands you and gives you extra strength is an amazing thing.
Adam
Completely agreed JJ, it might take a while but the search is worth it.