My younger daughter Laura, to whom my book Soul Proprietor is dedicated, helped me out this week by listening to the soon-to-be-released audio version of the book. Line by line, she read the text while listening to the recording I’d spent the last couple of months on. I wanted a fresh pair of eyes and ears to catch any stumbles or other errors in the recorded version.
She did a fine job dog-earing any page that had a repeated phrase, a mispronunciation or missed word from the text. I want this to be letter perfect. I plan to submit it for acceptance in iTunes and know that any boo-boos would throw it into a reject pile. (BTW, if anyone knows the best way to get onto iTunes listings, please let me know.)
When she was all done reading this new edition as well as listening to my voice speaking it, I asked her if she had learned anything new. After all, she’s known me for 28 years. I was pretty sure it would be in her bones having lived with and observed me for the first 18. Laura is entrepreneurial now herself, translating Japanese text daily for an international television company. She works independently and takes on other freelance work as it comes.
“I was not aware of how much help you’ve gotten from other people,” she told me. The book is filled with examples of my reaching out and asking questions of people in my mastermind group, taking courses, attending networking events and otherwise relying on a think-tank of friends and colleagues who have been more than generous with their advice and resources.
“I didn’t realize how many people you’ve hired and how much you’ve delegated.”
“I had no idea how persistent you have to be. You would call someone six times before letting go. I’ve never done that.”
I love that Laura had me so magically powerful–that I had created it all by myself. But, I love it more that she knows the truth and has a realistic sense of what it truly takes to be successful: lots of help and the determination, willingness and self-caring to go for it.
I like that your daughter is now one more of those generous people you can add to your list of helpful and meaningful people that helped you meet your accomplishments. And your daughter looks so much like you–I thought you had your hair straightened. Great shot.
It must be extra special for you to know that being an entrepreneur has inspired both Lindsey and Laura!
You know you are already on itunes 4 times and your daughter Rachel once. I haven’t listened to the podcast that Rachel is on but I did listen to one of yours, The Skirted Roundtable.
I think it doesn’t hurt to have people request your book on Itunes. I went ahead and requested it this morning. Maybe you could blog the link to all of your fans and have them request it.
Here is the link: http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunes.html
You’re right, Jane, this is important information to share with our children. Sometimes the curse of a capable person is that they make things LOOK easy and then they don’t get the credit for all the behind-the-scenes work they’ve done. In the case of children, that can even be a disincentive if they don’t understand why they’re not achieving at the same level, so they quit trying. Obviously that didn’t happen to your impressive daughter, however!
Kudos to you and your daughter both for being each other’s fans and supporters. I know I treasure the encouragement I get from my 31 year-old daughter. Your book is fabulous…very few pages so far have escaped my highlighter for things I want to remember.
@Barbara
You’re TOO kind!
@Karen
Just wait a few years and see what impact your business has on YOUR daughter. It’s very gratifying.
@Vickie
Thanks for this useful information!
@Elizabeth
Thank you so much for these comments.