JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Gary Johnson, author of 25 Things That Really Matter in Life
(Courtland Press)
25 Things That Really Matter In Life will help you identify your natural gifts and how to use them to feel better about yourself. Gary Johnson uses worksheets to outline the principles of Life Mastery to cleanse your mind of all the dysfunctional thoughts that have accumulated over the years.
Practicing Life Mastery will allow you to develop yourself to be the best “you” that you can be for yourself, family and friends. Control the quality of your life by making 25 Things That Really Matter In Life a part of your daily living. This book was written for people who have some sense of needing to make changes in their life but do not know how to do it.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write 25 Things That Really Matter in Life?
Gary Johnson: I wrote this book at one of the lowest points in my life. My businesses were heavily in debt . Although I continued to function every day, there were times when I did not feel good about myself. Through it all, I continued to try to affect the lives of others through my training seminars and speeches.
I also went out of my way to make sure I was an active dad for my sons. On a Friday night, in September 2006, I decided to write down the things that really mattered to me. I stopped the list at twenty-five and shelved the project for another year.
Putting pen to paper was a measure of accountability. Thirteen months later I was ready to be accountable and make a change in my life. Writing my thoughts on paper was therapeutic and gave me a sense of relief. This process was a “freeing” experience that helped me to feel good again.
JP: What sets 25 Things That Really Matter in Life apart from other motivational books?
GJ: This book is universal in that it is easy to read and understand and appeals to men and women of all races and culture. The book has worksheets that help examine your life in a way that perhaps you haven’t done before.
Looking at your life and the choices you’ve made in an open and honest way can be an emotional and gut-wrenching experience. As you rewind your mental tapes, you are likely to see a pattern of decision-making that is self-defeating or sabotaging. This book wastes no time helping you to help yourself.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to 25 Things That Really Matter in Life getting out to the public?
GJ: I’m fortunate that I own digital media in the form of a very popular web site/online magazine called Black Men In America.com (www.blackmeninamerica.com). This site gets millions of hits a month from both men and women and provides a forum that most authors don’t have as a starting point.
I’m also a successful management consultant and motivational speaker who has traveled around the world and developed a network. I have to consistently work hard. When you have an established network, you can also work smart. For authors who don’t have a web site, my advice is to get one. The key to success is to market and let people know you are out there and that your book is worth buying.
JP: Who would best benefit from 25 Things That Really Matter in Life?
GJ: I firmly believe that anyone who purchases this book will benefit from reading it. If you’re asking me about a demographic or target market, I would have to say women would benefit the most from reading this book because my experience is that they tend to read more books than men.
JP: What’s next for Gary Johnson?
GJ: I plan to write a book on relationships using the same “keep it simple and keep it real” formula as 25 Things That Really Matter in Life. I’m not ready to share the specifics just yet. Let’s just say that you can never have enough books on relationships. I also want to continue my efforts to help authors and independent artist have their voices heard through Black Men In America.com.
http://www.blackmeninamerica.com/
http://www.courtlandpress.com/
http://www.garyjohnsoncompany.com/
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