Would you publish your personal story if you knew it would help others? Since the beginning of time, humans have used the power of storytelling to teach, comfort, excite, inspire and share. It is the one thing that unites all cultures of the world. Stories also have the power to heal. Through the wonderful virtual tentacles of my blog, I met Glenda Watson Hyatt, an inspiring and encouraging Canadian entrepreneur, writer and consultant. She shared with me her unique story of living life with cerebral palsy. Using the power of positive thinking, Glenda set out an audacious goal: publish her life story before her 40th birthday on November 4, 2006. An excerpt from her book I Will Do it Myself: a Collection of Memories from a Woman Living with Cerebral Palsy really got my wheels turning: Glenda has cerebral palsy. A lack of oxygen at birth meant she would not be able to walk, her hands would not function well and her speech would be almost impossible to understand. Her parents were advised to institutionalize her. She wouldn't amount to anything, the experts said. Yet, this gutsy redhead proved them wrong. Glenda was integrated into a regular classroom long before mainstream was a buzzword. She went on to earn the Canada Cord, the highest award in Girl Guides, and the Outstanding Junior Student Award. The girl who could not walk won a gold medal in horseback riding! How did she do it? Read Glenda's inspiring autobiography I'll Do It Myself: a Collection of Memories from a Woman Living with Cerebral Palsy, due out later this year. Glenda intimately shares her life story to show others cerebral palsy is not a death sentence, but rather a life sentence. I immediately wanted to find out more about Glenda's journey since I knew it would inspire my Get a Life readers. Here are excerpts from our interview: Q: When did you first realize that you wanted to share the story of your life with others? A: I was about ten when I knew some day I would write my autobiography. I think it was after I read books like Ice Castles about a talented figure skater who became blind but continued competing by hiding her disability, The Other Side of the Mountain about an Olympic-bound skier who broke her neck during a qualifying competition and Joni (pronounced Johnny) who also became a quadriplegic resulting from a diving accident. After reading those books, I knew I wanted to share my life story too. Actually, as I was growing up, I saved memorabilia that would help remind me of events and such for that day when I would write my book. Unfortunately, much of that stuff was discarded or destroyed through the years, so now I'm relying mostly on memory. Q: Why is it important to you that others benefit from what you have experienced in your life? A: Because children are not likely in my future, unfortunately, I feel that this book will become a part of my legacy. By sharing my experiences and lessons learned, I hope it may make others' lives easier or it may ignite some spark in their life. Q: Are there any central messages in your book? A: By intimately sharing my life story, I try to show others cerebral palsy is not a death sentence, but rather a life sentence. Although I can't walk and my speech is very difficult to understand, I still have a meaningful life. With determination and perseverance, I can accomplish so much, despite my limitations - or what perceive to be my limitations. I am far from dead! Q: What have been your personal challenges at writing this book? (By this I mean both internal challenges such as fear or lack of motivation to any external challenges such as unsupportive comments, or lack of publishers) A: I must confess that my biggest internal challenge is that I'm so easily distracted. It is so much easier to check my email or to look up something on the Internet rather than to seriously write; writing is such a solitary and lonely activity at times. And opportunities seem to pop up, as if to test my commitment to writing this book. However, I am improving at focusing lately; turning off my network connection during writing sessions really helps. Then I'm not as tempted to check my email when I get stuck. Rather I try to sit still until the right words come to me - still need to practice that though. My other personal challenge is my typing speed - see my blog entry to get an idea of what it takes for me to type. {Pam's note: this is an amazing description, and will forever shut down any complaints I have about typing} Getting 500 words out is a good, productive writing session for me. A lack of a publisher offering a book deal has yet to discourage me. I know this book will be published, one way or another, with or without a traditional publisher. If I don't find a publisher in time to get the book out for my 40th birthday, my targeted launch date, then I will find another way to publish it. Not having a publisher won't stop me from writing this book and getting it out. Q: What or who has given you encouragement to write your book? A: First, my husband Darrell [www.enablingabilities.com] is a wonderful source of support and encouragement. He is allowing me to take the time to write, which means he often cooks dinner or does the grocery shopping. He always has an encouraging word when the task feels impossible and he gives me a well-intentioned kick in the butt when I get too distracted. My family, particularly my Mom, and my close friends have also been supportive once they realized how I am about making this happen. I have also been amazed at how supportive virtual strangers are; people I have met online who don't know me at all have been so positive and encouraging, freely offer advice and suggestions, and offering to assist me in spreading the word. [Pamela is one of these awesome individuals. Thank you, Pam!] It is truly amazing! They are like pennies from heaven. Finally, messages I have picked up from Oprah and Dr. Robert Schuller [from the Hour of Power, Crystal Cathedral] were the impetus in turning my thirty-old-year dream into reality by saying someday is now and by setting my fortieth birthday as the launch date, which forced me to get serious about doing this. Q: What would you say to other people who feel like their story is not important enough to share with others? A: Everyone has unique experience and by sharing them, they may be sharing a nugget or igniting a spark in someone else's life that could change, impact or improve the reader's life in unimaginable ways. I don't think you need to have climbed Mt Everest, walked on the moon or made a million dollars selling the greatest widget to teach, inspire, or nurture others. I think it is the ordinary story that touches and inspires the ordinary person because the reader can better relate to the story, and potentially gain more from it. Q: What would help you get the word out there about your book? A: As viral marketing is my main marketing strategy, people can assist me to get the word out by signing up for the monthly updates [http://www.booksbyglenda.com/updates.htm], which contain book excerpts and any pre-launch specials. Subscribers can then forward those to their friends who may be interested in the book. Alternatively, they can use the form on the site [http://www.booksbyglenda.com/friend.php] to tell their friends. I have also written a book blurb that people can include in their own newsletter or to email to friends. Likewise, doing this kind of interview for ezines or blogs is also awesome! I appreciate any help in spreading the word. I think once this strategy gets going, the word will spread like wildfire - and then who knows what opportunities for the book will open! My dear Get a Life readers, I think that we can really give Glenda a strong, encouraging push by using our collective resources to get the word out about her book. Hearing her story and being around her positive, encouraging energy has really inspired me to work hard to realize my own dreams. If you have any contacts in the publishing world or know someone who would be interested in her story, please drop her a line at Glenda@webaccessibility.biz. In my blog Escape from Cubicle Nation I write about 5 entries a week on topics related to helping people in corporate jobs break out and start their own business. Here are some recent posts: What my baby son has taught me about living my dreams Three ways to take the fear of failing head on Speaking marketing nonsense? Get a gang member coach Planning by the light of the moon: Spring Solstice is here! Embrace your competitors If you want to be notified of new posts, you can sign up in the box in upper right corner that says "Sign up here - and I'll let you know when I post." Not a Get a Life Subscriber yet? Click here to subscribe. Welcome new subscribers! I am so happy that you have joined the Get a Life subscriber list. You are in good company! Get a Life readers are smart, funny, ambitious, compassionate and interested in the world around them. If you know any like-minded individuals who would benefit from this eZine, please send them an invitation to join via the Get a Life Referral Page. All the best, -Pam Pamela Stewart Ganas Consulting 7744 E. Albany Street Mesa, AZ 85207 480-663-3252 pcs@ganas.com www.ganas.com To View Past Issues of Get a Life click here ©  Pamela Stewart, All rights reserved. You are free to use material from the Get a Life eZine in whole or in part, as long as you include complete attribution. Please also notify me.