Daily Inspiration: Skills & Reinvention – “Every failure is in reality a critical step in a successful reinvention!”

“Every failure is in reality a critical step in a successful reinvention!” – Futurist Jim Carroll

It’s book week! Each day, a post involving one of my books! Today, my biggest book failure!

Life is sometimes full of wild success punctuated by staggering failure. In that context, let’s take a look a look at my biggest book failure – I think it has sold, what, maybe 10 copies? (That’s a bit of an understatement, but I can assure you that the sales numbers are less than overwhelming.)

Released at the tail-end of the global pandemic, Now What? Reinvention and the Role of Optimism in Finding Your New Future, is probably my biggest book failure, and yet to me, is a remarkable success. That’s because, in my mind, the very action of writing the book clarified in my mind some valuable lessons, many of which have made their way into my stage presentations and other material. You can find the book at my site at https://books.jimcarroll.com or on Amazon.

The book itself? it comes at an interesting time in the publishing industry – quite simply, in the last few years, the market for many types of books has evaporated with the collapse of attention spans and the dominance of short content. It’s a telling thing when you hear of someone like Guenther Steiner, the team leader of one of the world’s most successful F1 racing teams, featured prominently in the popular Netflix series, selling only 60,000 copies of his book F1 Surviving To Drive. I’m often asked by people about the process of publishing a book, and the first thing I tell them is to expect that they will probably sell very few actual copies. There is no market for books anymore, other than that for New York Times bestselling authors.

The book itself discusses the stories of individuals who faced challenges and reinvented themselves through the pandemic, or earlier than that – all of whom I knew before or met during the global lockdown. They discovered new careers, new opportunities, or new skills – some sort of reinvention from who they were into who they could become. It was based on a series of interviews I did from my virtual broadcast studio during lockdown – and those interviews are still available at https://reinvention.jimcarroll.com.

The book starts with Jeffrey Lee Campbell’s journey from success to a realization of the need for reinvention after a decline in his career – he was a guitarist for Sting until some wayward personal decisions cost him his future. Beth Cooper’s story follows, detailing her transition from a successful career in conference services to adapting to the digitalization of the industry post-pandemic. Tom Morley – the drummer for the fabled 80’s band Scritti Politti – showcases how he used virtual drumming sessions to foster team bonding during the pandemic. Keith Pelzer – a pastor in Philadelphia – highlights his shift from music production to modernizing church services using technical skills. Nick Inglis tells of his transition from a successful business executive to a fitness trainer as a result of his successful management of his demons. Phil DeWolf’s story involves his transition from an accountant to a firefighter to an emergency management professional – a remarkable story of continued knowledge and experience-based reinvention. Lastly, Randy Kearse’s story illustrates his reinvention journey from incarceration to becoming an author, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection and creativity in overcoming challenges.

All of these stories emphasize the themes of reinvention, resilience, and adaptability in the face of adversity, and offer valuable guidance to those who are seeking to do something different with their lives. In my mind, many powerful lessons came about:

• Personal recovery as a springboard: Successful reinvention often stems from personal recovery, serving as a powerful method of transformation for individuals who have faced a complex challenge
• Accidental reinvention: Reinvention is not always a planned process; individuals like Nick Inglis may stumble into it, adapting to new circumstances without a grand plan but by embracing change and investing in new skills and technologies
• Optimism is a key driver: Maintaining a mindset of relentless optimism is crucial for successful reinvention, shaping daily choices, actions, and resilience toward achieving one’s goals
• Manage constant change and adapt!: In a world of continuous change, the ability to reinvent oneself becomes essential for navigating evolving career paths, acquiring new skills, and embracing new opportunities
• Manage the surprise. The urgency of the moment will often spark the need for reinvention. Major events like the COVID-19 pandemic often act as catalysts for reinvention, pushing individuals to adapt quickly to new circumstances and embrace change for survival and growth
• Acceptance accelerates reinvention: Swift acceptance of changing realities facilitates faster reinvention processes, enabling individuals to pivot and adapt more effectively to new challenges
• Optimism fuels resilience: Optimism serves as the fuel for resilience during challenging times, guiding individuals through tough moments and inspiring them to reinvent themselves when necessary
• Creativity and innovation are key: Embracing creativity and innovation allows individuals like Beth Cooper to see opportunities in the future rather than threats, driving proactive action toward reinvention
• Teamwork and generosity matter: Collaborative teamwork, generosity of spirit, and the concept of ubuntu can foster a culture of creativity, energy, and shared success within teams, enhancing the reinvention process
• Utilizing available resources: Do what you can with what you’ve got! om Morley’s story highlights the importance of using existing resources creatively to carve out new opportunities for reinvention, showcasing how unconventional tools can lead to innovative solutions in career transitions

Optimism is a key theme in the book, working its’ way into the title – and is inherent to everything I do involving the future, trends, and innovation. Delving into what I learned from the interviews and the process of writing the book, how can a mindset of optimism help in the process of reinvention? There are several powerful lessons:

• Mindset matters. A mindset of optimism plays a crucial role in the process of reinvention by providing the energy and resilience needed to navigate challenging paths.
• Focus on the energy for change: Optimism serves as the driving force that enables individuals to take necessary steps towards reinvention, even in the face of daunting odds.
• Accept the inevitability of reinvention: Living in a world of constant change necessitates continual reinvention, making optimism a vital component in embracing and adapting to new circumstances
• Develop the courage to take risks: Reinvention often involves taking risks and putting everything on the line for one’s beliefs, highlighting the importance of optimism in facing challenges head-on
• Link yourself to the future: Optimism rooted in future possibilities, rather than past experiences, is essential for maintaining a positive outlook and driving proactive steps towards reinvention
• Acceptance will accelerate your reinvention: Swiftly moving past the shock and denial stages of your changing circumstances towards acceptance is crucial for successful reinvention, showcasing how optimism can expedite the process
• Embrace the change – don’t fight it. Successful reinventors quickly accept the inevitability of change, focusing on adapting to new realities rather than dwelling on past circumstances
• Focus on your future potential: Rather than clinging to your past achievements, individuals like Beth Cooper emphasize looking forward to what could be, highlighting the importance of optimism in envisioning future possibilities during the reinvention process
• Breathe the oxygen of optimism: Maintaining a reservoir of optimism is likened to having oxygen for survival; it provides the necessary energy and motivation to push forward during challenging times and drive successful reinvention efforts

Last but not least, we can discover in the book the risks that exist with the process of reinvention.

• External criticism and naysayers: When embarking on a journey of reinvention, you’ll face criticism and negativity from others who doubt the feasibility or success of your plans. This external pressure can create self-doubt and act as a barrier to progress – ignore it and stay committed to your cause!
• Fear of failure: The fear of failure, especially when taking risks or pursuing something entirely new, can be a significant risk in the reinvention process – fight against that too.
• Unforeseen challenges: Reinvention often involves stepping into unfamiliar territory, which can lead to encountering unforeseen challenges and obstacles that individuals may not have anticipated. These challenges can test one’s resilience and determination – anticipate them and be ready for them!
• Loss of identity: Transitioning to a new career or lifestyle during the process of reinvention may result in a loss of identity or a sense of disorientation as you navigate unfamiliar roles or environments, impacting your sense of self. Prepare for that as a part of your reinvention journey.
• Resistance to change: Human nature tends to resist change, making it challenging for you to embrace new opportunities and adapt to different circumstances during your reinvention process. Overcoming this resistance requires a strong mindset and determination – fortify yourself!
• Lack of support: Insufficient support from friends, family, or colleagues can pose a risk during your reinvention, as having a strong support system is crucial for maintaining motivation and overcoming obstacles along the way.
• Overcoming past successes: Individuals who have experienced past successes may find it challenging to let go of their previous achievements and embrace the need for reinvention, leading to complacency or resistance to change. Throw away the past – focus on the future.
• Emotional strain: The emotional toll of reinventing oneself, including dealing with uncertainty, self-doubt, and the pressure to succeed in a new endeavor, can be emotionally taxing and impact mental well-being throughout the process. Know that and work through it.
• Navigating uncertainty: The inherent uncertainty associated with reinvention, such as not knowing the outcome or facing ambiguity in the new path chosen, can create anxiety and stress for individuals venturing into uncharted territories

That’s a lot of life lessons to cram into a little 130-page book – one that has essentially failed – and yet, the book remains one of my proudest works!

Why is that? Every once in a while, someone will stumble across the book on my website or will come across it on Amazon, and will write to me that it became a very powerful guide to their process of reinventing their life or career. That email or comment will send chills down my spine – because it will help me to realize that while the book might not have succeeded with sales numbers, it has succeeded where it matters – helping a few individuals here and there adapt and evolve into an entirely different – and successful – future.

And to me, that’s worth far more than sales numbers – because over time, I have successfully reinvented my view of what success means. It’s not the numbers that matter – it’s how you’ve inspired a few people along the way.

Reinvent like your life depends on it.

Because often, it does!
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