D. L. Anderson is a speaker and life trainer whose goals
are centered on helping others live a life of purpose, excellence, and balance.
Drawing on 15+ years of experience in various fields including information
technology, consulting, and business management, D. L. Anderson is very excited
to be able to effectively teach others the same principles which have made his
life both fulfilling and successful.
His latest book is the self-help book, Unlocking
the Mystery of You: The Pinnacle of Purpose.
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Can you tell us what your book is about?
“Unlocking the
Mystery of You” is a book which guides individuals in their quest for
fulfillment by providing them with a roadmap to understanding and fulfilling
their purpose. The argument I make is this: the primary reason why
approximately 70% of our world is admittedly unfulfilled is because they are
not living their life with purpose. The
Why did you write your book?
I wrote this book
because I once was leading a very unfulfilling and unexceptional life. That was
in spite of my socioeconomic status. That’s when I began to search for a clear
path to turn my life around so that I could experience continued fulfillment
while understanding the true meaning of success – and I did. I discovered such
a path and have verified its effectiveness and value in my own life. From now I
want to share the lessons I have learned with others who, like me, are tired of
the persisting states of unhappiness and discontentment, and will stop at
nothing to find the fulfillment they are seeking.
What kind of message is your book trying to tell your
readers?
The message my book
conveys is as follows: everyone in the world has a purpose to fulfill which is
unique to their individual being. As such, no one can fulfill your purpose but
you just as no one can fulfill my purpose but me. At the same time, fulfilling
your purpose is neither easy nor uncomplicated. Therefore, I provide various
tips, advice, training and the like to help each “purpose seeker” as they
strive to fulfill their calling in life. If this is something you are
interested in, this is a book you must read.
Who influenced you to write your book?
My brother was my
greatest influence and inspiration for writing this book. He died a young man,
at the age of 30, and left his young wife and his 2 children behind him. In the
last month of his life, we talked for hours on average each week – and more than
anything, he lamented about all the things he would not get to do with his
family, all the events he would miss, and how ultimately he had not fulfilled
his purpose.
He warned me that
the same could and would befall me even if I did not die a young man if I did
not stop sitting on my purpose. Within a month after he died, I began writing
this book and promised myself and my brother that I would fulfill my purpose at
all costs; even if it was the last thing I’d do.
Is it hard to publish a nonfiction book?
It is hard if you
are not motivated by an authentic purpose which will allow you to press your
way through the difficult parts of the publishing process.
Have you suffered from writer’s block and what do you do
to get back on track?
It’s been years
since I’ve experienced anything close to “writer’s block.” I believe it’s
because I generally only write about those things I have intimate knowledge of.
Therefore, my advice to each writer would be to concentrate writing on topics
which you can address at a certain level of expertise. Then again, I would also
adopt a writing routine. Mine is simply getting a cup of warm green tea and
listening to soft music. I, being a creature of habit, do it every time before
I start to write – and it’s always worked. So to sum it up: write what you
know, and try adopting a writing routine.
What would you do with an extra hour today if you could
do anything you wanted?
I would read a book.
Many writers don’t read enough because we’re too busy writing. However, I
believe that we improve our writing skills by regularly reading the works of
other authors – and we further validate our profession as well as our own
office.
If we were to meet for lunch to talk books, where would
we go?
Starbucks. I find it
an intellectually stimulating environment – and I love coffee.
What do you like the most about being an author?
I like the fact that
I have the opportunity to help and to heal on a large scale while utilizing my
greatest gift (i.e. my creative writing voice). It is the most fulfilling
aspect of my life and I look forward to writing tens, maybe hundreds of books
in years to come.
What kind of advice would you give other non-fiction
authors?
If you’re writing
your book to make money, I would advise against it. In my opinion, you should
write because you have a message or a story to share which can help others who
are in similar situations or facing similar challenges. Being an author, by
default, elevates you to the level of “expert.” So be responsible and
accountable for what you are writing and be sure you are writing for the right
reasons; that is primarily for your audience as opposed to yourself, while
remembering your book will not be for everyone. Otherwise you may be
disappointed with the outcome of publishing your book, even if your book is by
purest definition a success.