The Power of a Good Story

My teenage daughters love their TOMS shoes.  CEO of TOMS, Blake Mycoskie, was inspired in 2006, when on a trip to Argentina, he starting wearing the national shoe:  the alpargata.  It was casual and comfy  and when he returned to the United States, he founded the company TOMS with a simple promise:  for every pair of shoes he sold, he would provide a free pair to a child in need.  Thanks to his efforts, TOMS gave the One Millionth pair of new shoes to a child in need in September 2010.
In his book, "Start Something that Matters," he shares, "When you have a memorable story about who you are and what your missioin is, your success no longer depends on how experienced you are or how many degrees you have or who you know.  A good story transcends boundaries, breaks barriers, and opens doors.  It is a key not only to starting a business but also to clarifying your own personal identity and choices."
That's what I feel I have done by writing "Room 939."  In releasing my story, I want to allow barriers to come down for people who may have pain and suffering in their lives.  Can my story evoke emotion which leads to healing?  I sincerely hope my book starts something that matters.

Great Ideas Brewing at Starbucks

Can a cup of coffee with a colleague at Starbucks become the inspirational moment to decide to write a book?  Yes!  It happened to me.  A year ago, Nov. 10, 2010, I met with Ric Mandes, retired Director of Institional Development at Georgia Southern University  to talk about my future.  He knew of my background and the assault I had lived through in 1990.  At the end of our meeting at Starbucks, he said simply, "Jenny Lynn, I always thought you had a greater story to tell."

With that kernel of truth and the Holy Spirit prompting me to share my story, I am now the author of Room 939 and Ric is the editor.  We celebrated with our favorite baristas and showed them the prototype of the book yesterday.  It's less than a week from the launch and I am thankful the idea for the book perculated that cold morning last November.