Earl Jackson, author of, A Spirit of Perseverance, has been so gracious and kind enough to agree to be featured on the blog for a short Q & A. Below are some of the questions I asked him based on my reading experience of the book and what I was curious to know. Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
Q: What motivated you to write your book?
Earl Jackson: One reason I wanted to write the book is because I'm always up for new challenges and this was definitely a challenging task to finish in 5 months. Also, I thought about my life after basketball. My college coach would always tell me I had the gift of influencing people to do things and that I could make it a profession if applied the right way. I found myself wanting to motivate others and with this book it will be the start of a foundation.
Q: How did your family and those close to you react when you showed them the final product of your book?
Earl Jackson: They were all surprised like, "Wow, you wrote a book?" Many people reacted like that because they didn't see where the actual time came from for me to complete a book, with my current hub being a professional basketball player. I was always traveling, practicing, and I was often fatigued afterwards. But, in the end everyone was proud and supportive.
Q: What has it meant for you to publish your first book?
Earl Jackson: It hit me that I published my first book and I am happy, but for me personally, I know I have so much more to dish out from this book than to be anywhere near satisfied. Happy to have done it, but there are probably more one-time authors than there are ones who continued writing. I want to separate myself into that elite group and write more books.
Q: Were there any challenges you faced in taking on the task of writing a book?
Earl Jackson: The main challenge of writing a book is the discipline in actually sitting down, focusing, and writing. There are so many other things that you could be doing. It takes a high level of discipline and concentration to write a book, especially if you set a deadline for yourself and stick to it.
Q: From your journey thus far, what are some of the major life lessons you've learned about yourself as a person and about life in general?
Earl Jackson: I've learned to always treat people well, work your hardest at everything you do and sacrifice what you are now for what you want to become. Also, I have learned that it's not the circumstances from which you came that determine your opportunities in life, but it's the amount of excuses you let yourself use to make you feel sorry for yourself.
Q: What advice can you offer on pursuing your dreams and facing the unknown challenges that lie ahead?
Earl Jackson: Some advice I can give for pursuing your dream is as simple as this, "To stay where you are, be consistent in what you are doing, to move on to bigger and better things, work harder consistently." You have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable in order to grow. If you never get out your comfort zone, you will stay the same and be the same. The thing about challenges is that they will always be there in whatever you do, whether it's what you love or if you are just doing something to get by. At least go through the tough challenges for what you love. The unknown challenges aren't as bad because I'm going through it for something I love.
Q: Where are you currently playing overseas and what have you learned by living in other countries?
Earl Jackson: I am currently in Beaujolais, France playing basketball. It is the City of Wine. Out here it's a very family-oriented atmosphere and every game, home or away, we feed off of our crowd's intensity. I've learned that playing pro basketball abroad helps you develop character because in a sense you rely on the people who not only pay you, but feed you, house you, and take you places. It teaches you humility, patience, and appreciation.
Q: What do you hope your readers learn from reading your book?
Earl Jackson: I hope the readers learn that their dreams are never too big, along as their work ethic is not small.