20 Apr The Power of One Idea

One idea can make a difference. One decision. One leap of faith. One crazy, scary, exciting dream can change your future and send your life on a path you couldn’t have imagined.

I didn’t set out to become an author, but God had a plan. Even when I wrote My Daddy is in Heaven with Jesus, I couldn’t have predicted that my first book would lead me to create the Texas Farm Girl series. The series and the brand have opened so many doors and allowed me to meet incredible people whose passion for agriculture, education and sustainability mirror my own.

Tuesday night, April 17th, Sunray ISD hosted Sunray Literacy Night and I was honored to be their special guest. We spoke about the power of your ideas and how executing on one idea can spawn a number of open doors.  We read Texas Farm Girl books and also enjoyed singing along with the Texas Farm Girl song performed by Billy Dawson.  We even did some fun giveaways for the kids to go home with Texas Farm Girl items.

Special thanks to the faculty Janet Pipken, Pam Kiesling, Angaleta Crenshaw, Deborah Ruiz, Stacie Jones, and Joni Hightower for their support of the event and for being so gracious to give me the opportunity to give back to the school in this way.

The Texas Farm Girl series began with an idea for a children’s book. Ideas are wonderful, dangerous things – some are gentle, comforting thoughts and others are so outlandish that even to say them aloud incites a stomach of butterflies. But you know what? Those terrible, wonderful ideas are often the most rewarding.

And it’s not just me! In 1928, Nellie McPherson wrote the fan letter to author Irving Bacheller. Bacheller sent Nellie a signed story in return and, in her excitement, she pitched the idea of National Author’s Day to the General Federation of Women’s Club. The decision to pen a note of appreciation led to the creation of National Author’s Day, which is still celebrated today.

Even Dr. Seuss thought his dreams of publishing were lost after receiving 27 rejection letters…that is until a chance encounter with an old friend changed his fate. Had Seuss been walking on the other side of the street, or even walking down the same pavement just ten minutes later, he wouldn’t have run into his editor friend and his prolific career might not have been launched.

When those ideas blossom, write them down. Capture them and share them with your family or friends. Get feedback. And, most importantly, don’t allow negative feedback to overshadow your drive to bring the idea to fruition.

You’re smart.

You’re creative.

You are talented!

God is good. His plans aren’t always meant for us to know or understand. Take a chance on yourself and believe in your ideas – you never know where they might lead you.