Choices. Comedian Buddy Hackett once said this: “As a child, my family’s menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.” Choice sounds so easy, but the truth is, making the right choices is anything but easy. Ask my friend Ron James. He made the choice to write a book called Choices, which is in final production right now.
There’s an irony regarding the fact that Ron wrote a book about choices. One of the choices we can choose to make is to write a book. As a matter of fact, I would venture to guess that more than 100 people have approached me in my career, telling me of their dreams to write a book, and asking me for advice. The truth is, writing a book is something anyone can do. It comes down to following a process, and making the choice to do it. To help those I mentor, one of the first things I send them is a quote I ask to be placed on a wall where he or she can see it every day. It goes like this:
Planning to write is not writing.
Thinking about writing is not writing.
Talking about writing is not writing.
Researching and outlining to write is not writing.
None of this is writing.
Writing is writing.
Most don’t follow through, but Ron James made a different choice. He chose to put that poem up on his wall, stay true to his dream, tell his story, and write his book… from his prison cell. He did not have the luxury of sitting in front of a computer, setting up files, and manipulating the text as he went along. Ron James was given paper and a pen, and he began to write; oh, did this man write! Ten pages grew to twenty, twenty grew to fifty, and then to one hundred pages. Then two hundred, then three hundred, then five hundred, and then a thousand pages.
Finally, I received a letter from Ron telling me he had finished the first draft of his book. Apparently, he went through plenty of pens, and he used up a whole lot of paper because his first draft was exactly 1,825 pages long. When I begrudgingly informed Ron that he would have to shorten this a bit, he made another choice. He chose to keep working, and he edited that hand written manuscript. For most who write, editing means copying and pasting, and moving text around here and there on a computer screen. For Ron, it meant studying what he had written, and writing it again. Then he rewrote it again, and finally, he trimmed it down to a mere 538 pages. I should know; he mailed it to me, and when I need to be inspired, I look at it. I don’t just think about the text in hand; I think about the over 3,000 handwritten pages of self-discovery Ron worked through to get to this point.
3rd Manuscript From Ron
Clearly, Ron James made a choice to grind, and work, and not give up because he had a story he wanted others to hear. In fact, he has created a powerful description of the decades of life choices he has made: Some good, and some not so good, and the consequences that came with those choices. He lived those choices, and throughout his twenty years of incarceration, he had a front row seat, allowing him to view the impact of these choices. Now, having served his time, his sincere passion is to help others by teaching what he has learned.
In searching for the meaning in the choices he has made, he has evolved from a man of thought to a man of action. In searching for the meaning in his life, he made a choice to become a man of faith and to work hard to be a better man each and every day. In searching for a way to help others, he made the choice to chronicle these choices. He didn’t do this because he wanted to unburden his soul; he did it because he wanted to help others learn from these choices.
Meeting Ron James
Poet George Herbert once wrote this: “The shortest answer is doing.” In a prison cell, with pen and paper in hand, Ron went beyond the dream of writing a book, to doing it, and helping others to learn from the choices he made. In doing so, he reminded us all of this simple, but important message: If you can dream it, you can do it. What have you been dreaming about lately?
Rob,
How timely! I had my book project in front of me as I read your article. The going has been hard and I have been struggling to move forward with it. I have committed to one hour a day and have surprised myself that I often spend more time on it than that. Thank you for telling me the story that will help me push on and, of course, for being so prescient!
ok,ok, I hear you…………I am DOING the re-write………..grins……
Thank you for the inspiration, Rob!
I really enjoyed this article, Rob. Inspirational story in Ron James, and good advice you give as well.
I tried to find “Choices” by Ron James on Amazon but came up empty. Any idea where to find Ron’s book?
Ron’s book is in production right now. I predict it will be available for purchase in three months. I will certainly inform BLArticle® nation when it’s out!
Another great Blarticle! First of all, I am going to paste the poem on my wall. I also look forward to reading Ron’s book when it’s available. Oh, and I also look forward to reading the next book by best selling author, Rob Jolles, which I beleive will be hitting news stands very soon!
Awesome Blarticle Rob! Inspiring story…you could substitute in pieces for “planning is not selling…selling is selling” 🙂
I not only work with Ron, he is also my roommate and one of my dearest friends. Rob has hit the nail on the head in his comments. Ron is a daily inspiration to me in many ways, not the least of which is his ability to run at full speed every waking minute. I have read portions of his book over the last couple of months and I can not wait to see the book when it is finally published.
Very inspiring BLArticle, Rob! I’m going to send the link to my writers group. Regarding Brian’s comment – is this book #3 for you? Or 4???
That would be number five. You’ll be hearing a lot more about it from me around launch time, which is June 3rd.
Choices are made for a variety of reasons. In my life I’ve chosen to choose some good, some bad; some correct, some incorrect; some right, and some wrong. Many of my choices were made because of my presupposition or judgemental (ME,MYSELF,and I) lenses. Even worse most often in the past because of being down right selfish. I’ve always made choices…. The only difference today is that I choose to do the right things for the right reasons (Glorifying God and helping others).
Dear Ron
Wow! That was amazing! I just spoke to your brother for the fist time in about 10 months, and he told me about what your doing, and to check this out. So I did! First, I want to say that I’m proud of you! Your doing what I started to do but never finished, because once I hit the street I started a new life in many ways. Second, you hit the street and didn’t give up on your goal, to write your book.
As you know, our lives were very similar in a lot of ways. I just made the choice sooner than you did. The important thing is is that you made the right choice, and your following your dreams, and giving back!
Your brother and I have been friends since you guys moved up here, and remain close friends. I’m going to make a point on telling him that him and I make a road trip to come see you and your new wife. You! Inspire me to finish what I’ve started and to continue on following my dream as well. Thank you for sharing!