It was the Best of Times; It was the Worst of Times | | Dan Walkovitz

Deana Brown Mitchell: 00:00:00

Good morning, everybody. It's Dina Mitchell. And we're talking today with Dan Walkovitz of it's about The Scars to Stars book launch. That's going to happen on February 22. And we have 20, Arthur's that have told very personal stories through their chapter about overcoming adversity. And it's all different stories. So there's, there's so many, so many lessons throughout the book. So Dan, I would like you to tell the audience what, just a little bit about what your chapter is, what what did you write about?

Dan Walkovitz: 00:00:37

Happy to do that. Dina, a colleague of mine quoted someone who I think's named Alan Kay, reasonably to me, and he said that talents that you can add add points to your IQ. If you open up your point of view, this chapter reminds me of that. It deals with financial trauma. Certainly nothing like many of the other authors dealt with, but a period of many years where, financially I was not doing well at all. And I believe that my family had suffered and had a situation with my mother and my family, that prompted me to completely rethink that experience. And once again, it's a matter of point of view. Truly, it had been difficult, financially very difficult, very difficult for me and a family. But it's all in your point of view. And that's what I talked about in my chapter.

Deana Brown Mitchell: 00:01:36

As some of you may know, or may not know that Dan and I are both entrepreneurs. And we've both had several businesses. And we talk a lot about business when we get together. And I think it's it's crucial that entrepreneurs do look at their self care and their self worth, and, you know, their delegation of duties and all those things, to keep themselves seen and as productive as they can be. And I think I've definitely learned that lesson the hard way. And I had it, I had a financial year like that in 2019, that we've talked about, and I can completely relate. But sometimes it's our own our own mental state, you know, or not taking care of ourselves or not getting enough sleep that that gets us in those situations. So I just wanted to mention that because I think it's so important.

Dan Walkovitz: 00:02:36

I agree, I think it's very important. All of those things are vitally important. The chapter I named it, the title of the chapter, I took from a book that I love it, called The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. And the first line, maybe one of the best lines ever written. It is, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. And that's the title of my chapter. Because I do believe that stepping back and realizing while you're going through it, what is really going on and taking care of yourself is vital. It's also important to keep perspective while you're going through it. Because it may be different than to one perspective makes it seem any much take a moment to reflect on. Well, maybe there's another point of view.

Deana Brown Mitchell: 00:03:30

That's very true. So would you share a little bit about your journey with this project with their audiences, they can get a little more glimpse of, you know, a lot of us in this book or not, have not written things before. And I think it was a it was a very personal journey for most of the people involved. So

Dan Walkovitz: 00:03:54

I'd love being a part of this. Frankly, I'm honored that you asked me to be a part of it. I've gotten to know many of the authors, at least a little bit, certainly know, Dina pretty well. And I, I'm humbled to be in this book, because the kinds of traumas and difficult times that many others in the book had are far more far more life threatening than mine was there were times when I got close to wondering that because I really spent any time in my mind, but the thought of suicide pass my mind. It's done more than pass them on to many of the people who are authored with either of these chapters. And the incredible thing is it didn't stop them, obviously did not happen. But they've learned to grow in a variety of different ways, from that experience, and to pull themselves out of it. Many students still having difficult times and it's a day by day, but they're here But thank God, and they're able to express their perseverance, their willingness to look those kinds of traumas to the eye, and say, no, no, not for me, there's a lesson in every one of these chapters that we all need to pay attention to. And I, frankly, am as excited about having the opportunity to read fully all of the other chapters, as I am about being pleased to be able to share mine, I think mine offers a life lesson as well. And I presume that's why I'm a part of this. But it's been so far, one of the best experiences ever, and, you know, I thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.

Deana Brown Mitchell: 00:05:43

Well, I thank you for being a part of it, and for being a part of many things going on in my life. And you've been the voice of reason, in many situations. And I think sometimes it's hard to see past our own thoughts or vision. And I think that's what all of us in this project are doing for each other. Because a lot of people, you know, you kind of get lost in whatever's going on, for you, you know, in your own world. And sometimes having a group of people like this that can help you see past some of the things you can see yourself is, is world changing,

Dan Walkovitz: 00:06:29

in my opinion, for sure, for sure.