Stan R. Mitchell's Blog, page 54
September 24, 2014
You are not stuck!
So, earlier today, I was feeling a bit down. Been a few things happen of late to help bring it on…
Including, Danah and I trying to refinance our company debt, to lower the monthly payment — and were rejected on the first attempt. (We feel much better about the second attempt, but it still takes time and energy and paperwork and allowing rather nosy people — rightfully so — going through your dirty laundry, so to speak. And while they never come out and judge you, you always feel as though they’re tsk-tsk-ing to themselves.)
Besides this swell fun of meeting with bankers, our reliable — read old — Jeep recently died, and needed more work done to its engine than the entire thing was worth. So, we sold the non-running, 1997, 200,000-mile Jeep, which desperately needed new tires, for very little. And we didn’t replace it (see next graph for why), so we’re now down to one car. And when you’re down to one car, you’re immediately hit with this primal sort of fear, like, “You’ve only got one horse now instead of two. And besides this being a huge inconvenience, you worry, ‘What if a saber-toothed tiger comes and there’s only one horse?'”
Add to all this that my current employment ends next week on 9/30. The funding grant for it runs out and while I knew when I was hired that I’d only be a six-month employee, I had felt confident that I could find another grant or way to extend it out longer. (Hey, I’m Stan, and I think I can do anything, and I’m right about 20 10 5 percent of the time.)
Let me make one quick note on this, before I get to my main point below. I am NOT worried about this situation and NOT saying this for sympathy or any of that. Just laying out the background before I make my point. The fact is that I have applied for two great jobs and I’m pretty well-positioned for both of them, with some strong advocates working to help me secure each of them. Furthermore, prior to getting this job, I literally just posted on facebook and twitter the type of work I was looking for and within four hours, had a person contact me for the very job I’m in. Without question, I am SUPER blessed with great friends and contacts, and almost everyone around Oak Ridge knows my insane work ethic and bull-headed belief that I can punch through brick walls with my bare hands. In fact, if I don’t hear something from these jobs soon, I’ve got nearly twenty email addresses of some pretty big names and a pre-written email already created, for my resume to be sent out to immediately, so please believe me that I’m not worried about this. I’m also SO NOT above working three crappy jobs, if necessary. (Stan has cleaned a lot of toilets and mowed a lot of grass in his days, and he’s not afraid to do so again.)
Anyway, my point for all that crap above is that, without question, it’s interesting times in the Mitchell household!
And while I was at work earlier today and not being terribly productive — remember what it’s like your final week at your last job? — I finally broke down and took the time to watch the video below from Dave Ramsey.
The video totally motivated me and I probably accomplished more in the two hours after watching it then I’d typically accomplish in four hours anyway.
So, I’m hoping it helps you, as much as it helped me! (Note: While I know Dave makes a couple of conservative talking points, please look past this. I do not want a political fight down below in the comments.)
Keep the faith,
Stan R. Mitchell
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
About me: I’m an action fiction author with books similar to Vince Flynn, Stephen Hunter, and Tom Clancy. I’m also a prior infantry Marine with Combat Action Ribbon, and a guy who spent 10+ years in the newspaper business. Please consider subscribing to my blog — I mostly post about things that either motivate you, inspire you, or make you laugh.
September 23, 2014
Sergeant Major tears it up on the dance floor
This is all the proof you need that Marines slay it on the battlefield, and we slay it on the dance floor…
Keep in mind that that man in the white trousers is a Marine Corps Sergeant Major, the highest enlisted rank of this battalion.
It’s worth noting that usually Sergeant Majors are insanely reserved, strict, and someone you usually want to avoid. Officers are the leaders, and they usually have an encouraging word, a joke, something nice to say.
Senior Staff NCOs, such as this Sgt Major, are usually just looking for a good reason to rip you a new one. Their job is to enforce the highest state of discipline, and they do their jobs well…
Nice to see one loosening up and yet again setting the example that Marines should dance, and dance well. (At least once a year.)
Keep the faith,
Stan R. Mitchell
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
About me: I’m an action fiction author with books similar to Vince Flynn, Stephen Hunter, and Tom Clancy. I’m also a prior infantry Marine with Combat Action Ribbon, and a guy who spent 10+ years in the newspaper business. Please consider subscribing to my blog — I mostly post about things that either motivate you, inspire you, or make you laugh.
September 21, 2014
A lot of beauty and wisdom in this video
Video link: http://nyti.ms/1s0fcv2
(Hat tip, @cjmorris)
Keep the faith,
Stan R. Mitchell
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
About me: I’m an action fiction author with books similar to Vince Flynn, Stephen Hunter, and Tom Clancy. I’m also a prior infantry Marine with Combat Action Ribbon, and a guy who spent 10+ years in the newspaper business. Please consider subscribing to my blog — I mostly post about things that either motivate you, inspire you, or make you laugh.
September 19, 2014
‘Mexican Heat’ is “Tom Clancy on steroids,” says Author Mark Allen
“Mexican Heat,” my second Nick Woods book, got reviewed by Author (and friend) Mark Allen.
Mark Allen’s review of Mexican Heat
Take a look if you get a moment, and I hope everyone has a great weekend!
(Oh! And I should say that “Mexican Heat”and “Sold Out” have been selling amazing of late, spending much of the week with BOTH of them in the Top 100 of Amazon’s political thriller genre, with the likes of Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, and David Baldacci.)
Keep the faith,
Stan R. Mitchell
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
About me: I’m an action fiction author with books similar to Vince Flynn, Stephen Hunter, and Tom Clancy. I’m also a prior infantry Marine with Combat Action Ribbon, and a guy who spent 10+ years in the newspaper business. Please consider subscribing to my blog — I mostly post about things that either motivate you, inspire you, or make you laugh.
September 16, 2014
Small successes lead to big ones
My friend Erin Darby wrote a nice piece about “small successes leading to big ones.”
I love how she’s able to avoid getting distracted by the long-term goal of big money or publishing her first book, and able to just focus on the step she’s currently on.
Good stuff. Check it out if you get a moment.
Keep the faith,
Stan R. Mitchell
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
About me: I’m an action fiction author with books similar to Vince Flynn, Stephen Hunter, and Tom Clancy. I’m also a prior infantry Marine with Combat Action Ribbon, and a guy who spent 10+ years in the newspaper business. Please consider subscribing to my blog — I mostly post about things that either motivate you, inspire you, or make you laugh.
September 12, 2014
Best tweets of the week, 9/12/14
As my regular readers know, I’m always trying to combat the cynicism that mostly consumes our country (and world?).
And Twitter, for all its faults, provides a decent daily nourishment if you know where to look. And since most of you probably aren’t on Twitter, I thought I’d share some pretty good Tweets from the past week. (As well as just a few that may be newsworthy, but something you didn’t see.)
Hope they encourage you or make you think, as well!
[ ] “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” — Plato (From @BetterManProj)
[ ] Poll: Strikes in Iraq, Syria supported: stripes.com/1.302150 (From @starsandstripes)
[ ] Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. — John R. Wooden (From @MuscleProdigy)
[ ] Barnes & Noble climbing back out of the abyss as book sales stabilize. pwne.ws/YwtQ3b (From @PublishersWkly)
[ ] Spending today complaining about yesterday won’t make tomorrow any better! (From @InkyJohnson)
[ ] What U.S. airstrikes in Iraq look like, mapped by region. pic.twitter.com/AiBmbtpBWl (From @DanLamothe)
[ ] “Our worst fault is our preoccupation with the faults of others.“ — Kahlil Gibran (From @mindfuleveryday)
[ ] “Don’t go through life, grow through life.” — Eric Butterworth (From @GreatestQuotes)
[ ] The World’s Top-Earning Authors: Veronica Roth, John Green and Gillian Flynn join ranking — ow.ly/BiAvR (From Forbes)
[ ] “As our own peace of mind grows, so the atmosphere around us becomes more peaceful.” (From @DalaiLamaPosts)
[ ] “A good book is all-consuming: part of it becomes you, and part of you becomes it.” — Wisława Szymborska (From @i_Author)
[ ] “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” — Mark Twain (From @BetterManProj)
[ ] “Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” — Socrates (From @AncientWisdoms)
[ ] “He is able who thinks he is able.” — Buddha (From @TrainingMindful)
[ ] “Great works are performed, not by strength, but perseverance.” — Samuel Johnson (From @GreatestQuotes)
[ ] “Life is what you make it, always has been, always will be.” — Grandma Moses (From @Dakota_Meyer)
Keep the faith,
Stan R. Mitchell
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
About me: I’m an action fiction author with books similar to Vince Flynn, Stephen Hunter, and Tom Clancy. I’m also a prior infantry Marine with Combat Action Ribbon, and a guy who spent 10+ years in the newspaper business. Please consider subscribing to my blog — I mostly post about things that either motivate you, inspire you, or make you laugh.
September 9, 2014
The music industry has 99 problems. And they are…
I had no idea the music industry was struggling this bad. I mean, I knew I was pretty bad, but this is really bad…
The music industry has 99 problems. And they are…
Love to hear your thoughts on the matter, and make sure you’re supporting whatever groups you’re big fans of. (Hat tip, The Passive Voice.)
Keep the faith,
Stan R. Mitchell
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
About me: I’m an action fiction author with books similar to Vince Flynn, Stephen Hunter, and Tom Clancy. I’m also a prior infantry Marine with Combat Action Ribbon, and a guy who spent 10+ years in the newspaper business. Please consider subscribing to my blog — I mostly post about things that either motivate you, inspire you, or make you laugh.
September 6, 2014
Find true happiness: announce your dreams to the world today
Dear amazing friends and members of Mitchell’s Militia,
It’s been a great week or so with the release of “Mexican Heat (Nick Woods, No. 2)!” Myself and many others spent a lot of time trying to get the book as perfect (and hot!) as possible, and so far, the feedback is we scored pretty close to the mark.
And with my feelings at an all-time high, I thought it the perfect opportunity to try to motivate those who follow me on here to do your own creating and race off — or crawl off, at first — after your own dreams!
You see, with the publishing of this book, I really feel I broke the stratosphere.
My sales had been rising steadily already, and I had quite a bit of confidence from my two other books, but with the publishing of this book, it’s been an interesting time for me professionally and personally. And it’s been curious to see the changes in how I’m treated by those I’ve known for a long time. (Stick with me a second. You’ll see how this ties into trying to motivate you to create, as well, here in a moment.)
As I said, I’ve noticed a distinct change with the publishing of “Mexican Heat” in the reactions of some of the folks I interact with.
You see, a couple years ago, I was just a guy with a book out, and I got interactions that typically fell into one of the categories listed below.
Option 1: Honest happiness.
“Oh, Stan, congrats. You fulfilled your dream of writing a book!”
Option 2: Honest realism.
“Oh, that’s great about the book. But you know, the market is super crowded and it’s hard to get discovered. Just don’t get your hopes up too much.”
Option 3: Straight up, go-for-the-throat envy.
“Is it self-published?” Or: “Did you hire an editor?” Or: “Good luck, but don’t expect to sell many.”
I accepted the praise that went along with Category 1 with delight and bit my tongue when I’d get a Category 3-type snide remark.
Then I published a second novel and got much the same response. Praise from the friends and cheerleaders. Small cut-downs or a total ignoring of the news (accomplishment?) from others.
But with this third major book, I’m being treated as if I’m a pro. Local folks, who brushed me off as delusional in the past, and who never found time to read my books or ask me about my dreams, have actually bought all three and started telling others about me.
Folks who in the past had doubted whether my insane dream to make it big was actually possible are now suddenly just convinced that major success for me is now all but inevitable.
I’ve got some decent, big-shot folks in the writing biz talking to me as if I’ve already made it, and younger writers emailing me for advice like I’m an expert.
Best of all, I’m earning some decent dough and just a year or two from accomplishing my dream of working from home as a full-time fiction writer.
And all of this is so invigorating. It’s beyond rewarding. And it’s impossible to fully describe how happy it makes me.
This happiness and complete bliss, my friends, is exactly the feeling you should have.
No, I’m not saying you should be a writer like me, though for some of you, I probably am.
I’m talking about creating.
I’m talking about doing what you were put on this earth to do.
Bear with me while I explain.
A week ago on Saturday morning, I got into the zone on some writing and before I knew it, I’d forgotten to take a shower, skipped lunch (I never skip meals and usually eat like six or eight times a day), and looked up to see it was approaching 6 p.m.
And I swear I thought I’d only been sitting there an hour or so.
And then before getting up to go eat and shower, I checked my sales and thought, “Wow, I’ve made some serious money today — again — and I’m doing what I’d glad do for free.”
Hell, I have done it for free. For most of my life, in fact.
And yet, just a couple of years ago, there were days when I’d only sell one or two books. Yes, just one or two books, and some days, zero books.
But momentum builds. The snowball gets bigger. The word of mouth spreads. Your friends take you more serious. The dream comes closer to reality, and your drive and skill kicks into a higher gear than you ever thought possible.
All of this is possible for any of us.
Many of you have been on this journey with me from the beginning. You’ve witnessed my mis-steps. Heard me complain. Probably been amused by the whole affair, and likely placed bets on whether I’d make it or not.
I’m writing all this because I know there’s at least one of you who has that something you want to do, but you “know” there’s no money in it.
Maybe it’s wood-working. Maybe it’s painting. Maybe it’s designing guns or inventing something or opening up your own business or creating movies or singing opera or acting or training lions for a living.
And I know the comments you hear, if you’re even brave enough to bring it up. I know the fears you think and feel every time it crosses your mind.
I remember the first copy of “Little Man, and the Dixon County War” that I ever sold — and this was after nearly not publishing it until my wife mentioned wanting to re-read it someday. (Thank you, Danah!)
But my first sale ever came in the middle of the night from the UK, before I was even able to announce the news that the book was finally for sale to family and friends. And I remember thinking, “Wait. I don’t even know anyone in the UK. Oh, crap.”
And I was nearly sick to my stomach. Would they ask for a refund, when they realized they had in their hands the first book of some amateur? Would they right a brutal review?
But none of that hhappened and as time went on, good comments came in and I realized my 20+ years of writing had prepared me well for this first step in my dream.
Probably, all the years you’ve spent doing what you love has prepared you, as well.
But I know where you are. You’re afraid to call your shot as Babe Ruth once famously did. You’re afraid to announce to the world what your dreams are.
I get it. It’s easier to do something as a hobby. To shrug and tell people you’re just doing it for fun. Or there’s no money in it.
I did that for years. Honestly, for probably 15+ years. Sure, I wrote. I studied my craft. I read like crazy. I told people I planned to write a book. Or was writing a book. Or was making final edits on a book.
I actually did all of those things. I actually finished one with a buddy, and have 30 manuscripts in various stages.
But I never called my shot like Babe Ruth. I never said this is my dream with complete sincerity.
I never said, “This is what I’m going to kill myself doing. It’s what I’m going to achieve or die trying.”
I never did that until I launched this blog two or three years ago. And in that first post, I did that. The post is gone, because a few people shamed me into taking it down — stupid me, for backing down — but I proudly said I’d make it big or look like a complete fool trying.
I announced to the universe my intentions, and once I did that, I couldn’t back down. How could I?
And that’s what I’m challenging you to do. Because once you do, it’s no longer a hobby.
Once you do, your critics will watch you and laugh at you and that fire inside of you will burn brighter.
Your anger, your determination, your force, it will all grow stronger.
A week ago, I had a good friend call me a “master” on one of my social media profiles.
An absurd comment, for sure, but it caused me to vent a bit on why I push so hard.
Here’s what I said:
Oh, (HER NAME), you are too kind, but I am no master, just a crazy madman who’s too driven and delusional with grand dreams! lol
If I had an ounce of common sense, I’d just accept the reality that the chance of reaching where I want to arrive is lower than the chance of any talented athlete actually making it to the NFL.
I know this to be the statistical, proven reality — I’ve seen articles that mapped out the thousands of writers who tried to make it big and didn’t — and yet I plan to keep banging away at the brick wall with my fists, until the wall either falls or I’m left with nubs. And if I’m left with nubs, I’ll start using my elbows, and then my feet, and then my knees, and finally my forehead.
The cynics would say that I’m wasting my time, energy, and effort, and that my journey will end in great folly. And even I know that the cynics are mostly right. I fight the urge to walk across the field and line up on their sideline every day. Often, every hour.
The cynics are almost certainly right. Probably at least 99.999999 percent right.
But I refuse to live in a world where a man or woman can’t reach their dreams. Such a world would be too dark for me to imagine. Too dark for me to even want to live in.
And I’d would rather be dead than accept such an outlook. So, I’ll continue trying to stay inspired, by reading of successes who came before me.
I’ll continue to dream as big as I possibly can,while studying and refining my craft.
And I will strive, with every ounce of energy in my body, to work as hard and as much as I possibly can.
If it is possible to get there — either through, over, under, or around — I will make it. And if I don’t, then I will stand before those who laugh and mock and jest, and I will accept their jeers with my head held high.
I suppose I’m rambling now, but I don’t want you to live in a world where you choose not to chase your dreams. That’s a dark world. That’s — forgive me — a pretty shitty and dreary life, I’d imagine.
I’m 36, and I often think, “What if I’d launched a website at 21, when my buddy and I first completed our book together?”
And then I think, “What if I’d never gotten in that writing group a couple years later, full of — in hindsight — bitter writers who’d had marginal success, who were full of cynicism and tore my writing apart while downplaying my chances of ever achieving my dream.”
These critics. These “friends.” These cynics.
They cost me a lot of time. They cost me years of doing what I wanted to do more than anything else in the world.
They so convinced me that being a full-time author was impossible that I chased off into what I thought would be an easier career. Yes, they convinced me that it would be easier to be a newspaper publisher (in print, at that) in the year 2004 than make it as an author.
How stupid was I, and how real are the hurdles we all face as creators?
So, I’m challenging you to take a firmer step than you’ve ever taken. I’m challenging you to put more effort into whatever dreams you may have.
I don’t care your age. I don’t care “how little” you can make in that field. (Average authors make six or eight thousand a year , so don’t bore me with the odds of your dream.)
Call your shot like Babe Ruth. Announce your intentions to the world.
The moment you do, magic will start happening. You’ll find new friends in your field. You’ll feel the eyes of your critics. You’ll feel relief at finally saying what your soul has wanted you to scream for decades.
I think most of us were put on this world to create.
It’s not easy facing your critics or the steep hill and daunting circumstances you’ll have to face. (Some have said it was easier for Hitler to start World War II than it was for him to face a blank square of canvas.)
But in actuality, it’s not a steep hill. It only looks that way from afar.
When you finally walk to it and arrive at its base, you’ll find there’s a handhold and just above, a small toehold. And you’ll start climbing, for fun at first, and pretty soon people are looking at you in amazement.
And you’ll soon be missing showers and meals and truly living, happier than you’ve ever been professionally.
Your determination to reach the top of that summit will grow, and what began as just something fun will soon become something you can’t imagine not doing.
And what began as just a small amount of gold along the way will steadily increase and you’ll see real glimpses of much bigger piles of it ahead.
You’ll look down at those at the bottom, or those who stand miles away ignoring you, and you’ll wonder why they’re not experiencing this same rush.
Before long, those at the bottom will marvel at your ascent, and certainly some will criticize you for all kinds of nonsense (usually having to do with your focus on your dream and the exclusion of some other thing they see as important), but you don’t worry about those who aren’t supporting you.
You keep climbing. You keep dreaming. You keep getting better.
So that’s my challenge. I challenge each of you to go harder after that dream of creating that you have.
I’m not saying quit your job tomorrow — I’m saying tell people your intentions, get more inspired, get more skilled and practiced, and pursue that effort with all your heart and soul.
It’ll be an amazing journey that I’m betting you won’t regret. And once you start to make it, do your best to encourage some others, as well.
The world is slam full of of cynics and critics. It needs your voice once you’ve proven your cynics wrong.
One final quote: As Robert Kennedy once said, “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”
So, dare to achieve greatly. Think it. Say it. Do it.
Keep the faith,
Stan R. Mitchell
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
About me: My name is Stan R. Mitchell and I’m an action fiction author with books similar to Vince Flynn, Stephen Hunter, and Tom Clancy. I’m also a prior infantry Marine with Combat Action Ribbon, and a guy who spent 10+ years in the news business, working as a reporter, editor, and publisher. Please consider subscribing to my blog or taking a look at some of my books.
August 30, 2014
“Mexican Heat (Nick Woods, No. 2)” has arrived…
Finally, it has arrived!
“Mexican Heat (Nick Woods, No. 2)” is live and up for sale on Amazon! (This is the follow-up/sequel to “Sold Out.”)
So, buy it, tell your friends about it, share it on facebook, and go yell at that neighbor across the street. Tell him, too!
Book Description:
Nick Woods is tired of waiting. America’s greatest sniper has spent the better part of two years up in the mountains of Montana, waiting for the government to double-cross him and try to come get him.
He has good reason to be wary. The government has betrayed him twice already, but Nick’s a hard man to kill.
And just waiting in isolation, with his wife Anne gone, and his paranoia at dangerous levels, is killing him, day-by-day.
And so Nick ventures out. Carefully, like Nick does everything.
But what Nick doesn’t know is that the Mexican government stands on the verge of complete collapse.
A brilliant madman has united the drug cartels into a deadly alliance, and the Mexican President holds a perilous grip on power.
Now, Mexico’s leading businessman — a multi-billionaire who owns much of the country — is about to exit the country, selling off his businesses and taking his capital out of the country.
Such a move would lead to an exodus of other businesses and just like that, America would face one of its largest catastrophes in recent times: a third world country on its borders, run by a drug cartel whose reach spans from South America into deep within the United States.
America has already sent special forces to deal with this cartel, but that proved a catastrophe.
The country needs Nick Woods again, and it needs him now.
Hope you guys enjoy this book half as much as I enjoyed writing it!!!
Keep the faith,
Stan R. Mitchell
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
About me: My name is Stan R. Mitchell and I’m an action fiction author with books similar to Vince Flynn, Stephen Hunter, and Tom Clancy. I’m also a prior infantry Marine with Combat Action Ribbon, and a guy who spent 10+ years in the news business, working as a reporter, editor, and publisher. I write every chance I get and I’m far too ambitious for my own good. Please consider subscribing to my blog for email alerts or taking a look at some of my action books.
August 27, 2014
Best tweets of the week, 8/27/14
This post is something I’ve been meaning to start up on a regular basis.
As my regular readers know, I’m always trying to combat the cynicism (and frankly darkness) that mostly consumes our country (and world?).
And Twitter, for all its faults, provides a decent daily nourishment if you know where to look. And since most of you probably aren’t on Twitter, I thought I’d share some pretty good Tweets from the past week. (As well as just a few that may be newsworthy, but something you didn’t see.)
Hope they encourage you or make you think, as well!
(Legend: RT= Retweet, or repeating another person’s tweet. MT=ModifiedTweet, or modifying — usually shortening — a tweet.)
RT
RT
It’s sad that I’m 36 and still struggling with this… RT
Be strong, my friends! Tackle your problems.
RT: Business competition can be nasty. But the alternative is usually worse.
Remember: “Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence.” T. Roosevelt
MT
Kurds can’t beat ISIS — http://ow.ly/AJDbU
Stephen King’s “Read a lot. Write a lot.” should be “Read a lot. Write a lot. Edit more.”
China continues to get more aggressive. Latest example: “Chinese Warplane Intercepts U.S. Jet” — http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/08/22/chinese-warplane-intercepts-u-s-jet.html …
Encourage and support those around you. Especially those who are just getting started in the pursuit of their dreams.
U.S. Army Veteran Killed in Ukraine — http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/08/22/u-s-army-veteran-killed-in-ukraine.html …
RT
RT @ivancano29 I don’t think you understand, these boys killed my dog. – Bob Lee Swagger
Keep the faith,
Stan R. Mitchell
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
About me: My name is Stan R. Mitchell and I’m an action fiction author with books similar to Vince Flynn, Stephen Hunter, and Tom Clancy. I’m also a prior infantry Marine with Combat Action Ribbon, and a guy who spent 10+ years in the news business, working as a reporter, editor, and publisher. I write every chance I get and I’m far too ambitious for my own good. Please consider subscribing to my blog for email alerts or taking a look at some of my action books.
