How the ABC-123 Strategy is helping me write a book!

 “Since no two persons are alike, there must be a unique place for you in the scheme of things. Dare to be yourself!             Ernest Holmes

I have a dream. It’s a pretty big dream for me. For the last two years, I’ve felt a strong desire to revise two books I’ve co-authored.

The first book, small change: a 28- day guide to eating, thinking, and feeling healthier (2005), was a fun book I co-wrote with my son, Cameron. At the time, I was a public health administrator, and Cameron was a performance trainer and coach. We were both enjoying our careers and decided to share our small change approach to making healthy lifestyle changes.

The last book, The Stroke that Touched My Heart: How Gratitude Transformed a 37-Year-Old Massive Stroke Survivor (2019), was co-written with my daughter, Mia, a nurse and stroke survivor. Before the stroke, I dreamed of writing a book on the power of gratitude, but this one wasn’t what I had in mind. Still, guided by my calling, I felt compelled to share how the gifts of gratitude shaped our stories of triumph in the face of adversity.

Health outcomes haven’t improved since I co-wrote these two books; they’ve worsened. Still, our small change principles, coupled with our ongoing discovery of the bounty of grateful living, continue to impact our lives in unimaginable ways, and I want to show you how they can do the same for you if you apply them.

I'll start with small change, since it’s currently out of print, and then move on to The Stroke that Touched My Heart. I know this won’t be a quick and easy goal to accomplish, so I’ll use my small change ABC-123 Strategy: Acknowledgement of what I want to accomplish, Belief in myself and my abilities, and Commitment to do the work.

ONE goal I acknowledge I want to accomplish:

1.      Revise one book at a time.

TWO reasons I believe I can accomplish my goal:

1.      I wrote the first editions while working full-time, so I have more time to write now that I’m retired.

2.      I know how to tap into the mindset that fuels my “I can” attitude.

THREE small changes I commit to making to get me started:

1.      I'll set aside mornings to write. 

2.      For the first 30 days, I'll spend 30 minutes each day outlining and envisioning my new book structure and content.

3.      I'll write at least 300 words daily; that's a full 50,000-word book in a year.

Do I know how this new book will turn out?  No. But that’s not my worry. As long as I know “what” I want to do, I’ll let the universe take care of “how.”

When you fully commit to the process, no goal is too big for the ABC-123 approach. Making the three initial changes sets things in motion and creates a transformative ripple effect - each small win builds momentum, and you find yourself setting and reaching new targets faster than you imagined. The key is to start small and build on your progress.

So what’s one meaningful goal you want to achieve?

Perhaps it’s something you’ve always wanted to pursue but keep postponing? Or maybe there’s a habit that’s interfering with your health and well-being. Don’t let hesitation stop you. Click on the free PDF download below and put your plan into action.

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