Friday, February 3, 2012

"MIND POWER"...the book that helped MAXDOG

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!
MAXMOM here...



In January 2011, I sat wondering if I was strong enough to take the next step in the journey I had embarked upon the previous year. In my hand I held the product of my vision – an unedited manuscript of ‘Maxdog’; a story of a Golden Retriever, who had touched my life and touched the lives of hundreds of people across the world through his blog, ‘The Adventures of Maxdog…in South Africa’.

From the moment I honoured my commitment, it took me 8 months to write the first draft.   It was a story that simply HAD to be told – there was no debate. The difficulty, at the time, was that "I" was the one who would have to do it. I didn’t see myself as a writer and I didn't really believe that I could do it.

Nevertheless, the compulsion persisted. What kept me going were the two crystal-clear visions in my mind:

1) I simply had to give voice to the powerful relationships which can develop between some companion animals and their owners and

2) I knew that by sharing my own, very personal story, I could provide some hope to the millions of people around the world who live daily with the affliction of depression and anxiety.

So, picture this:
There I was with a completed manuscript in my lap, but my mission was only half-accomplished.  I was stuck. Where to next? I had reached the rhetorical ‘brick wall’ and if I were to be honest.  The 'brick wall' was made up only by my fear.  I needed to conquer my fear if I was to move on.
Was I brave enough to finally contact the man who I knew had the knowledge to advise me on the ‘business’ front? Was I brave enought to expose my soul to the world?
Somehow,in my heart of hearts, I also still didn't believe that I could do this. Simply put; years of lack of self-esteem had become my biggest enemy and it was being made obvious to me every second I delayed acting.

Well, if MAXDOG’ was to get out there, I knew I had no choice but to confront my fear head on!  I would have to make the call - even if I had to get someone to come along and ‘hold my hand’.

‘Howard’, a high-powered and well-known successful businessman was the person I’d targeted. His family and mine had strong ties, but I’d always been rather intimidated by him. Much to my surprise,he immediately and graciously agreed to meet me at a small coffee shop, where I tentatively handed him the manuscript.

‘I need your advice and your guidance’ I said. ‘I need you to tell me if this is going to work. And if my story has merit, I need you to guide me, please,’ I begged

His answer was simple:

1. "It will work – but YOU need to believe it!

2. “You need to get yourself a good editor.”

3. “You need a good publicist – and I will help you.”

4. “You need to have conquered your depression.”

And finally….

5. “The minute you walk out of here, you need to go to a book store and buy ‘Mind Power...into the 21st century’ by John Kehoe. Read the book, from cover-to-cover, internalise it and then decide if you want this journey or not.”

It was the best advice I could ever have hoped for. I went straight to the bookstore and bought this book. In the days ahead I read it and made that 'all-important' call to the publicist. With the vision for ‘MAXDOG’ intact, I began to implement some of your principles whenever I could. The minute I felt my anxiety rise up, I applied the ‘Affirmations’. My meeting with Helen Holyoake (the publicist), for example, was preceded by some heavy visualisation and my nerves were steady when I finally got to her office. I started changing my thoughts to positive ones and put a firm image in my mind of ‘MAXDOG’ in print. Yes, as you would expect, the correct avenues started opening for me…the perfect editor, the cost-effective publisher, etc.

“MAXDOG” was launched on the 24th November 2011. There are already 500 copies ‘out there’ in South Africa and my constant prayer for the book, i.e
 ‘Wherever MAXDOG goes, let it do good!'
... is being honoured as I write this blogpost. I know this by the emails that arrive from people who have read the book and have told me how it has resonated with them.

I have made the decision for a further print-run of 1000 copies (based on intuition and gut feel). I am certain that this book is going to follow the same pattern as that of my blog, i.e. slow, strong foundations of word-of-mouth. But above all, I know that, ‘no-matter-what’,
 MAXDOG WILL ‘do good!’

In the next few weeks, MAXDOG will become available on Amazon.com and therefore be accessible to my international blogging friends
(Please watch this space and PLEASE spread the word about this book.  I desperately need your help with this task...I really do!)

Mr John Kehoe,  is in South Africa at the moment and just wanted to say a big ‘thank you’ to him for his inspiration in my ‘Maxdog’ journey. Whenever, I have the smatterings of anxiety creep up, (yes, they still do) I reach for his book. Having written it in 1987, I am sure that it is was always destined to be a classic.

 I look forward to hearing Mr Kehoe speak in Durban on the 15th.

Do yourself a favour today...
It will change your life!
Sending lotsaluv to you all.
 

13 comments:

Scout and Freyja said...

As with everything in life, I believe, it is what we feel and think that empowers us to 'do'. Our mind can give us the power to go into battle with little more than our bare hands believing that we can conquer our strongest foe or our mind can convince us that going into battle, at all, in is a useless endeavor. Trusting in ourselves to make good decisions is critical. Believing that we can make our decisions reality is monumental.

My Dog Sam - Ruptured Disk said...

Thanks Maxmom, attitude and outlook are all important and are driven by what we think. Changing one can have a profound effect on the others.

NanaNor's said...

Hi there, So very glad you persevered and took those difficult steps-I know many will be encouraged by MaxDog. I can't wait to get my copy in hand and read it through. You've been such an encourager and voice of wisdom as I lost my Sadie and cherish every day of grace with Reggie. Sending lots of love to you today; I am blessed to know you!
Noreen & Reggie

Mrs. JP said...

Whatever is good, noble, of good repute, excellent, worthy of praise, think on these things! Philippians, my favorite book in the Bible.

KB said...

I'm going to take a look at that book "Mind Power" - it sounds really helpful.

I like the "today" part the best!

So happy about the Amazon availability!

24 Paws of Love said...

Thank you for sharing so deeply about what you went through. I needed to hear this today.

Thanks for the book.

24 Paws of Love said...

I've never known how anyone does it and I wanted to ask you so many times, how did you do it?

Thank you for sharing. I really needed to hear this. Thank you again.

STELLA and RORY from Down Under said...

Thanks Caryl. Its always good to hear about positive ways to improve ourselves. Max would be proud of you. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory

Suka said...

Conquering our own fears is always the hardest, it seems. Glad to read you found a way to get past your fears and the intimidation you felt. That, in itself, is so inspiring! Our minds are extremely powerful, and I do believe that if we change our thoughts, we change our lives. So it is great you have managed to keep your thoughts and vision focused and positive. And your affirmations are perfect!

Good luck to you! It seems to be a great success so far!

K and Suka

Sagira said...

I just wanted to thank you so much for stopping by Sagira's blog and leaving us such a wonderful comment. The loss of my father has been very hard and we are trying to heal. Just don't understand why and probably never will.

Brandon - The dog with a blog said...

Thank you for sharing, it sounds like a wonderful book!
I'm so glad MAXDOG was published & I really hope sales stay well :)

-Brandon's Raiser

abigail said...

We LOVED the book and I'm telling all my friends about it. Thanks for sharing and all the very best for 2012 - may the sales go through the roof!!

Abigail the Yorkie & clan

Tweedles -- that's me said...

I have been hoping that the book can be purchased through Amazon- and now happy to hear that it will happen!
love
tweedles