Why History Preservation is so Important to the Future

By T. R. Shaw Jr.

            As a baby boomer, I’ve seen a lot of history in my lifetime.  My generation grew up in the post-World War II boom, where the second half of the 20^th Century saw the greatest advances in nearly everything; to the internet and the information age, space and the moon landing, muscle cars, and arguably, the greatest music ever made. 

As boomers, we’re pretty nostalgic.  We want to look back at the great things we’ve experienced and witnessed as we reach retirement age.  I know firsthand that many of us boomers long for simpler times and want our posterity to learn about it and to see how great it was, even with the social strife that came with it.

A few years ago, I finished my career as a funeral director.  Our funeral home, Shaw Funeral Home, was the first in Battle Creek, Michigan; founded in 1866 and operated by four generations of my family since 1909.  As a funeral director I had a front row seat to history, in both my childhood and professional life.  I oversaw the passing of my community’s finest citizens and families.  I was honored and privileged to write many of their obituaries which will be reviewed and studied by future historians.

Educated as a journalist, I was taught the idea we write the first draft of history, and it’s true!

I’ve always been close to history and lived through much of it and have written about a lot of it.  I participated in historical events in the military, including the end of the cold war, Navy ship commissioning, global conflicts, and world changing events, including witness to the Beirut Bombing of our Marines and its aftermath, the first volley in the War on Terrorism.

I was blessed to study Michigan history in high school and at Central Michigan University. I had wonderful professors who ignited my passion for all things Michigan and piqued my curiosity.  I fondly remember taking part in Michigan Week events as a youngster, something we should bring back.  It lit my passion for our state.

A while ago, I was asked to get involved with The Battle Creek Regional History Museum, (BCRHM).  I was flattered but put it on the backburner as something to do “later.”  I had the opportunity to do a presentation on Navy History for the museum a few years ago and it reignited my interest in local history and the museum, which was about to transform into something great.  Recently, I was elected to serve on the RHM Board of Directors and have jumped in with both feet.  Timing is everything.

I’ve always believed Battle Creek has the very best local history in Michigan, so much has happened here.  Most peg us as the Cereal City, but we’re so much more.  Battle Creek has been the site of many industrial era revolutions, religious and social movements, military history, and music revolutions in all genres.  I’m excited to be part of our local history network.

The Battle Creek Regional History Museum is still in its infancy and holds a great deal of promise to become one of Michigan’s top historical destinations.  Right now, it’s a work in progress.  Presently, communities all over Michigan are reclaiming their collective history, as they should.

If you are not aware, the BCRHM is at 307 West Jackson Street in the old Battle Creek Equipment Company building.  It is perfectly situated at the confluence of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Rivers along the linear park, and next to historic Sullivan Barn. The building itself is historic. The company manufactured a great deal of exercise equipment for Dr. Kellogg’s Battle Creek Sanitarium and the public. 

BCRHM is very close to paying off the original mortgage and then can begin really making it into something spectacular!  You can help!  We still need the community’s resources going forward to make it so.  It’s a very worthy investment, not just in our past, but our future.

Recently, many of the BCRHM board members, including myself, were interviewed by history students at Albion College.  This chat really encouraged me to continue to speak out on historic preservation.  It was refreshing to see a new generation taking a strong interest in history.  History is not boring!

My hope is the BCRHM continues on its meteoric rise as a source of community pride, an educational resource, and inspiration for many years to come.  If we don’t preserve our history now, it might be too late, and lost forever.  There is so much here to be proud of and we have to preserve it for those coming behind us.  It’s just the right thing to do! 

We hope to see you soon!

To become a member or contribute to the BCRHM visit www.bcrhm.org. 

You can also support the museum through the Battle Creek Community Foundation.  The donation link at the BCCF for the museum is:

www.bccfoundation.org/fund/regional-history-museum-capital-campaign-fund

T. R. Shaw Jr. is a lifelong resident of Battle Creek, Michigan, CEO of Shaw Communication, and board member of the BCRHM.  He is a retired funeral director and Navy officer as well as a published author and freelance writer.  www.trshawjr.com

Diabesity; The Pandemic We're Not Talking About

 By T. R. Shaw Jr.

   

 As I watched this year’s Super Bowl LV, it was great to see an ad for Dexcom, a personal diagnostic device to continuously monitor blood glucose level on your phone, without finger pokes!  This device, and others like it, which I use and swear by, are a quantum leap in self-management of diabetes.  

As a diabetes advocate, the exciting thing was this ad affirmed that diabetes awareness is becoming more mainstream, and the growing chronic disease is finally getting the media attention it deserves. 

The fact it aired in a Super Bowl ad is unprecedented and welcome!  But, I had to chuckle a little though, because it was preceded by a Mountain Dew ad! 

A few days earlier I had an appointment with my endocrinologist.  He brought up a term I’ve never heard…diabesity.  He said it’s America’s silent pandemic, and that it's exploding and we’re not hearing about.  I couldn’t agree more.

I did a little research on the term, "diabesity."  It's a well documented condition for the past 10 years.  Diabesity is the medical term for diabetes occurring within the context of obesity; another pandemic in the United States.  The latest epidemiological data shows the rising prevalence, health, and economic impact of diabesity.  It’s only getting worse.

            I’ve been a type-2 diabetic for more than 25 years.  I’m acutely aware of what it’s all about.  I have it under good control through hard work and knowledge, but I’m one of the lucky ones.    I’ve had good insurance, a healthy lifestyle, as well as access to great healthcare.  Many today don’t have access, and even more don’t realize they have the chronic disease.  

            Typically, denial came before acceptance, like many others before me.  I write about the personal struggle in a chapter of my motivational memoir, Defy the Immediate.

According to a recent National Institute of Health report, The global prevalence of diabetes in 2010 was 284 million people worldwide constituting around 6.4% of the world population, which is higher than was projected in earlier studies.  Furthermore, the projections for 2030 show the prevalence to reach 439 million individuals comprising 7.7% of the world population.

The economic impact will be more staggering.  The NIH says the burden of diabetes on the world economy has been rising steadily in the last decade to reach $376 billion in 2010 and is expected to reach $490 billion in 2030.  

NIH goes on to say that “Diabesity represents a substantial economic burden as reflected by diabetes and obesity consuming 14% [for diabetes] and 5.7% [for obesity] of the USA's total health expenditure respectively, representing the highest known expenditure on diabesity worldwide. When costs associated with being overweight were also included, the upper limit of obesity expenditure rises to 9.1% of the USA's total healthcare expenditure.”

The Report continues: “The health impact of diabesity is substantial to include long-term diabetic complications, reduction in health-related functioning, reduction of quality of life, and reduced overall life expectancy. Long-term complications include myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular stroke, and end-stage renal disease. Recent advances also have found that there is an association between chronic stress, depression, and sleeping troubles to both diabetes and obesity. This century is the unprecedented diabetogenic era in human history. It is thus urgent to take steps including screening, prevention and early management in an attempt to control this evolving epidemic of diabesity,” according to the NIH Report.

It has long been said that America has suffered from “affluenza,” a term for all the good things that came out of the post-WWII boom.  My generation grew up in the 50’s and 60’s when our lifestyles took a dramatic turn.  As a society we shifted from rural to suburban culture.  Our staples came from grocery stores and not so much from the garden.  With mobility, came convenience. 

We saw the rise of home baking.  Betty Crocker replaced baking from scratch and we developed a craving for sweets.  Here in Michigan, we lean toward Jiffy mixes!  Home baking was now easy and quick.  We saw the rise of fast-food franchises and eating-on-the-go.  Vending machines popped up everywhere.  In my hometown, the cereal industry discovered that sweet sells, and our breakfast habits changed to match our busy lifestyle. 

Eating has almost become an an American sport and the marketing of food has followed.  All of this has created the healthcare problem we have today and it’s still fueled by aggressive marketing in our mass media. 

            One of the benefits of freedom and prosperity is many choices of everything.  As famed economist Milton Friedman said, we are “Free to Chose,” the problem is few of us choose wisely when it comes to what we consume, and we are now paying a terrible price for it.  Especially my generation in which one in three of us will become diabetic, according to the American Diabetes Association.

While government and the media have focused on COVID, as they should, diabesity will be with us long after COVID becomes a bad memory.  Diabesity will only grow in seriousness and will continue to tax our healthcare delivery system.  We need to act now to make combating diabetes and obesity a national priority.  We must make insulin widely available to those who need it and we need to educate ourselves about healthy lifestyle choices.  

The good thing about diabetes, if there is such a thing, is it's the most manageable, and often reversible chronic diseases we can face.  The advances in medications and diagnostic devices for management is astounding.  But, like everything else, it's far better to prevent it in the first place.

I look forward to the day when a White House press conference announces a War on Diabesity as a threat to not only our collective health but our economic stability as a nation.  Today, that’s just a pipe dream, but we can hope.

T. R. Shaw Jr. is CEO of Shaw Communication in Battle Creek, Michigan.  He is a longtime journalist, author, retired U.S. Navy public affairs officer, retired funeral director, and active community leader.  DEFY THE IMMEDIATE; A Journey of Failure, Perseverance and Success, is his first book and is available on Shaw’s website, www.trshawjr.com, and bookstores can order directly from www.missionpointpress.com

2020 A Year of Defiance, Challenges and Opportunities

By T. R. Shaw Jr.           

            As 2020 ends I have an urge to look back, write, and put it all in perspective.  While I’d like to wax poetically about it, it’s a daunting task for any writer or big-thinker. Many will try.

We’ve all been through so much.  COVID-19 of course, shutdowns, quarantines, wildfires, floods, hurricanes, heat waves, racial strife, a contentious election, and social isolation.  Where would you begin?  What a year to remember or forget!

            Instead, I’d like to focus on being a first-time author during a pandemic. 

A year ago in December, I launched my first published book, DEFY THE IMMEDIATE, A Journey of Failure, Perseverance and Success, which I termed a “motivational memoir” on overcoming obstacles and challenges, where I shared my life experiences; both good and bad.

I hosted a great launch party in my hometown, sold many books that evening, and had high hopes for a successful and profitable year, speaking, selling and signing books.  Little did I know how apropos the title would become, as nearly all of us spent the year “Defying the Immediate.” 

The title came from a speech at Central Michigan University by legendary sportscaster and fellow alumnus Dick Enberg, who penned my Foreward.  In his 1980 commencement speech he quoted former CMU President, Dr. Charles Anspach, who frequently lectured the student body when the young Enberg was a student.

Before the internet, oratory was a leadership trait and Anspach was a master speaker.  “Defy the Immediate” was Anspach’s frequent catchphrase.  He encouraged students to persevere and overcome problems and obstacles which blocked your immediate path, Enberg stated.  I never forgot that phrase and it helped me through many tough circumstances in my multiple careers.

After struggling for a few years with the traditional publishing route where you query literary agents hoping one might like it and sell it to a publisher for you. I got little to no response as a first timer.  I sent nearly 20 to 30 query letters, others have done more than 100, each carefully crafted for what each agent wanted.   I actually attended seminars on how to write the letters and researched the agents.  That in itself, was a tedious and time-consuming task. I had only two negative responses.

Even Snoopy had problems with query letters

An author friend, best selling Michigan novelist, John Wemlinger, who had a great deal of success, referred me to his regional editing and publishing firm, Mission Point Press in Northern Michigan, who helps authors get published.  It cost a little, but it was worth it.  It beat banging my head against the wall chasing agents.  It’s best described as “assisted self-publishing.”  The staff of editors and designers really knew the craft and how to get it edited, printed and promoted.  They knew all the common mistakes authors make and guided me through the publishing minefield that exists today.

Late last year, all my long hours of writing, re-writing, editing and re-editing paid off.  We finally got it to press and I became a duly published author!  It was exciting.  It was a beginning, not an end.

Mission Point Press created a sell sheet which was distributed to Michigan bookstores.  It gave my book credibility, a huge help.  A few stores ordered it.  It was very exciting and gratifying.  The initial response was very positive.  But being self-published it requires the author to be the true pitchman.  I followed up with many bookstores and even set up a couple of signing events which I was really looking forward to. 

    Things were looking good and I planned to take several days and visit many bookstores personally selling it, like a traveling salesman.  I found a few bookstores which wanted nothing to do with self-published authors, which surprised me. 

No sooner than I made all these grandiose promotional plans, Michigan shut down with the COVID-19 pandemic.  We couldn’t travel, closed bookstores don’t buy books.  My speaking events all cancelled, and I was left to sell myself from afar.  It had the potential to become very depressing.

I once again sent letters to bookstores “selling” my book, but with few customers during a shutdown, they were reluctant to buy more inventory.  I took to social media and did many targeted Facebook ads which yielded sparse online purchases, but hopefully raised awareness.  I did get on a few radio shows and spoke to several service clubs virtually.  It’s very difficult to sell books with virtual presentations!

Needless to say, it’s been a very challenging year as a first-time author.  I’m hoping to get back into doing live presentations and events in 2021, but not sure when things will open up to allow it.

One of the things I address in my presentations came from my first consultation.  I was  told to think about...“You’re not a celebrity, you haven’t been fired from the White House, and you’ve not landed a plane in the Hudson River…Who are you?  Why should I read your book?”

After some thought, my response to that question became, “I’m a representative of my generation who grew up with high ambition, faced many setbacks and challenges, and now have a platform to educate those coming behind me.  I feel obligated to tell my story and inspire others that success isn’t always certain, and failure is never final.”  In essence, that is what my book is all about.

So this past year, as a first-timer with lofty goals, I’ve had to Defy the Immediate.  I’m not giving up, that’s the essence of my book.  I just hope this next year, my message might catch on with a little more promotion. 

What I have to say, the world needs to hear.  Things can only get better from here, so long as we continue to "Defy the Immediate."

DEFY THE IMMEDIATE is available on Shaw’s website, www.trshawjr.com and bookstores can order directly from www.missionpointpress.com

 

T. R. Shaw Jr. is CEO of Shaw Communication in Battle Creek, Michigan.  He is a longtime journalist, retired U.S. Navy public affairs officer, retired funeral director, and active community leader.  DEFY THE IMMEDIATE is his first book.

September; That Strange and Transitional Season.

By T. R. Shaw Jr.

            As I write on Labor Day weekend, 2020 I find it extremely unusual, especially this year as we still deal with COVID-19.  We have no college football, and we wear sweatshirts following a summer where we had 24 days above 90 degrees; wonderful and unusual for a Michigan summer.

            Recently, I thought about September in music.  September may be one of the most sung about and celebrated months of the year.  Many tunes come to mind.  Sinatra’s September of my Years is a melancholy refrain on looking back at a life and lost loves.  Neil Diamond’s September Morn is another tune which romances the month and recognizes life changes.  And then there’s the jazzy and upbeat Earth, Wind and Fire’s September!   The very first lyric is, Do You Remember?  Add to that the classic, sung by many artists, Try to Remember…the time in September; when life was slow and oh, so mellow…

            Typically, Labor Day always has a hint of sadness to.  It marks the end of summer and we transition to a busy fall.  The days shorten and the temperature drops.  We think about all the things we never got around to, friends we wanted to see, and places we didn’t go.  In the wonder and excitement of summer, time seems to slip away from us.  In some ways that’s part of what makes Labor Day a sad affair.

            September in many ways is a metaphor for life.  It’s placement in our calendar is a time of transition from summer and brings us the autumnal equinox. September is a time of organizing, preparing and remembering.  School starts and our lives take on a new frenzy.  It’s a time when we bring in the harvest of another season.

            Recently, I turned 60 and September has taken on a new meaning for me; as Sinatra croons, I’ve reached the “September of my Years.” 

To use a football analogy, I’m now firmly in the third quarter of life.  There is still a lot of game to be played, but you realize that halftime is over and you are forced to manage the clock for the rest of the game.

            I had of a lot of accomplishments in my first half.   I finished college, served in the U.S. Navy, had a dual career as a funeral director and Navy Reservist, dove into community affairs and built a life of service. 

Professionally, I was fortunate I could see coming trends and sold our funeral home at the top of its game.  The past five years the funeral profession, and societies’ norms have changed profoundly. 

            At first, I felt liberated and was excited for the next challenge in life.  I had hoped to resurrect my first career in communication, and I imagined my own public relations firm.  My wife and I set it up and did a lot of free PR work, hoping to parlay it into a steady income.  That hasn't really happened…yet.  We are still hopeful.

            I was 55 years old when I sold the funeral home, and moved on, but I faced the constant question, “How’s retirement?”  I considered it halftime, not retirement, but I pushed on and finally responded that I am not retired, I’m building my fourth career.  I considered myself far too young to be the ranks of the retired.  I never liked the R word and equated it with surrender and complacency.

            In the past five years, I did a lot of writing, produced newsletters for organizations, did communication for a capital campaign, served the community on boards and committees, wrote, published and promoted a book, and did lots of speaking events.  Hardly retired in my opinion.  

            This year I turned 60 and gained some new perspective as many of my friends and colleagues my age, took early retirements and buy outs, especially with the pandemic.  Many of them express how much they love retirement, and are having the time of their life.  I still want to remain relevant and play a role in the world, I guess it’s in my nature.  I now have time to make a difference and want to make the best of it, even though I’m in the September of my Years, there is still much more to do and accomplish.

            While September brings a different perspective, let us use the time we have well.  The world needs the perspective and wisdom of those with experience as my generation moves into senior status. 

Many of us have a lifetime of skills and knowledge that can still change and impact the world, and may soon be forgotten.  We’ve seen a lot, and done a lot, but the game is far from over.  

The second half of our lives can, and should be, our finest hours if we choose to make them so.

 

T. R. Shaw Jr. is CEO of Shaw Communication in Battle Creek, Michigan.  He is the author of DEFY THE IMMEDIATE, a Journey of Failure, Perseverance and Success and active in many community affairs.  www.trshawjr.com

           

Why Community Colleges are Important...and Relevant Today

Kellogg Community College
Battle Creek, Michigan

By T. R. Shaw Jr.

            When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to attend Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Michigan, as an advanced standing high school student.  I took some basic college classes in subjects I excelled in.  I felt important.  I was getting to attend a real college as a high schooler. 

        Following graduation at Battle Creek Central High School, I enrolled at  Central Michigan University with advanced credits.  Those credits helped me graduate in four years, many of my college classmates ended up with an extra semester or year to earn their bachelor’s degree.

       Today, students are facing an expensive proposition when seeking a sheepskin.  For many, they may spend the first third, if not half, of their working career paying back their college debt.   

            When I started college I paid $33.00 a credit hour at CMU.  Those days are long gone. 

            In my youth, community colleges were somewhat looked down upon.  They were viewed as an alternative for those who couldn’t compete in, or afford a four-year college, or weren’t ready to leave home.  The college also had a reputation as a trade school were vocational education was offered to those not pursuing college degrees.  Community colleges, in those days, had a blue collar feel to it.  I’ve grown up and realize I was wrong.

That paradigm has been destroyed as skilled trades have exploded, and many times out-earned college graduates.  Thank you Mike Rowe and Dirty Jobs!

Today, we question the value of a four-year degree as expensive, and sometimes obsolete in today’s market place.   Fortunate are those whose employer can cover advance schooling.  Community colleges are still a great academic and economical starting point for higher education.  In fact, 52 percent of bachelors degree earners in Michigan have had some connection to a community college, according to the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA). 

As we come out of the COVID pandemic, there is a new focus on jobs that have been deemed “essential.”  Many of those professions and trades began at community colleges.  Those involved in programs like nursing, emergency medical services, law enforcement, fire fighting, and many other skilled trades began in community college.    Additionally, many top level leaders and executives in business and government, with advanced degrees from prestigious colleges, also began their academic quest in a community college.

            Beyond skills training and preliminary higher education, community colleges are an integral part of the community they serve.  Here in Battle Creek, KCC has played a vital role in the economic, cultural and academic flavor of our community.  It is a vital asset that is often overlooked in the broader role of economic development.  It provides resources and expertise that cannot be found anywhere else.

            One impressive part of KCC is their campus in the Fort Custer Industrial Park, the Regional Manufacturing Technology Center (RMTC).  It is an asset, training workers and creating more and better employment opportunities.  There are few such academic-industrial relationships in Michigan.

            While I once dismissed community college as educational path, I’ve come to realize what an important and needed asset it is to a community.  It is a source of pride and a first opportunity for many people to really improve their lives.  It provides hope and direction for those who cannot afford a large institution.   Additionally, it’s an asset for non-traditional students and learners who seek knowledge later in life.

            Education offers the greatest path to prosperity and upward mobility.  Community colleges are uniquely suited as an academic starting line, as well as a place to gain needed skills in this new world where technology and expertise are in high demand.

            As large four-year colleges, built for a post-war baby boom, see their numbers (and offerings) decline, the logic and relevance of community colleges has never been greater. 

The future is very bright for community colleges, especially in Michigan where we traditionally ride the first wave of emerging technology.

                       

T. R. Shaw Jr. is CEO of Shaw Communication in Battle Creek, Michigan; a published author and community leader.  He is also a candidate for Trustee at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek.

Class of 2020; Sacrifice is the Final Lesson Learned

By T. R. Shaw Jr.

            Many of us have been forced to make sacrifices during this pandemic.  One group of individuals, perhaps more than any other, has made a bigger sacrifice.

            The seniors of the Class of 2020 have been asked to give up a lot.  A time honored and significant milestone and ritual in our society…graduation…and all the pomp and circumstance that goes with it, has been lost.

            While I’ve missed many things, sports for example, I especially miss this time of year when we hear inspiring sound bites from celebrities, academic leaders, powerful business leaders, and others, extolling their wisdom while wearing gowns and mortar boards. 

I’ve always wanted to deliver a commencement speech, maybe someday I will!

            Graduation was a great time in my life, I remember it well.  That period of time when “senioritis” set in.  Thoughts of leaving home to “make your way” in the world was, and is, a significant personal milestone; not to mention all the open houses you attended with family friends.  I also remember a baccalaureate service before political correctness took over public schools. The thoughts of never seeing everyone you grew up with again tugged at you, and anxiety became real.

            As humans, we mark significant points in our lives with traditions and rituals.  Rituals are important to society.  Baby showers, baptisms, graduations, weddings, retirements, birthdays, anniversaries, and funerals, all play a significant role in the human experience.  As a funeral director for most of my career, I can attest to the importance of ritual in recognizing death.  COVID-19 has also greatly affected funeral rituals in a big way!

            Although I don’t have children, I’ve followed my niece and nephew as they grew from infancy to academia.  Time does fly!  My niece is in the high school Class of 2020 and has missed out on prom, graduation, and all the traditions surrounding it.  She has handled it well and creatively, yet I feel her sense of loss and I’m not sure what to do about it.  I couldn’t be prouder though.  My nephew has also lost a significant part of his college experience when campus closed.

            The Class of 2020 will always have a unique memory of this time.  In so many ways this class will always be remembered for what they sacrificed, and what they didn’t get to do.  Many other classes have come and gone and are vaguely remembered, but the Class of 2020 will always be special and unique.  Fifty years from now they will still be talking about it, and how they did it.  There will always be a special bond within this class of graduates, no matter where they hail from. 

Leaders will rise from this class, and the experience will temper their thinking and attitudes for years to come, in ways we cannot comprehend today.  Perhaps this sacrifice is the biggest lesson learned for 2020.  This class will be leading the world in a few years, the world is truly in their hands.  I’m not worried. 

Maybe we’ve become a little too soft, and a little too comfortable.  Maybe the rest of us have forgotten how to sacrifice.  Perhaps, the Class of 2020 will become the next Greatest Generation, facing a new world, tempered in the idealism that nothing is guaranteed, and sacrifice has to be a part of the equation.  They will lead with a new and different paradigm.

Let’s truly celebrate this class of graduates, who were born in this millennium.   The world is now in their hands and I’m secure in knowing it will be great in the years to come.  They’ve got this!

Best wishes and congratulations to every graduate today!  

Change the World...for the better!

T. R. Shaw Jr. is a Battle Creek, Michigan based author and speaker.  His recent book, DEFY THE IMMEDIATE, A Journey of Failure, Perseverance and Success, is a memoir on life challenges and opportunities.  Visit his website, www.trshawjr.com.

           

Staying Relevant in Difficult Times

By T. R. Shaw Jr.

            As the COVID-19 pandemic continues its relentless path of destruction to our lives, our economy, and our sense of well-being and security, it gives us time to think about our relevance in our world and to others.

            For many, it’s a challenging time like no other.  Fear is driving much of it, but social distancing and isolation is also taking its toll.  For many it may result in depression, anxiety, and sense of hopelessness.  Many of us, including me, previously led very active and socially driven lives. 

I thrived on being with people, taking on leadership roles, and having a full calendar of places to be and people to see.  I valued, for lack of a better term, being “relevant.” Suddenly, it all went out the window; my schedule has been cleared of everything.  Sure, many meetings became virtual events over the computer, but it’s not the same, and leaves us longing for close personal contact.

One of the things I’ve been involved with was being an advocate for our local military.  My community, Battle Creek, Michigan, has long been a great military town, with a large Army base, airport, strong Air National Guard, and federal presence.  In the era of downsizing and base closures, we became activists for keeping our assets here.  By lobbying and taking part in activities to “keep us on the map” militarily, we highlighted our relevance to the bigger defense posture.  Relevance, became our buzzword when we approached how we would pitch ourselves to the higher decision-makers and bean-counters. 

While other communities pitched economic impact, and what losing assets would do to their community, big-picture relevance became our mantra.  It worked quite well, our local airbase became the only one in the nation to be spared from the base closure list, and paved the way for more development that would be long-relevant to national security.  Our community has remained, and continues to remain relevant to national security and our defense infrastructure.

So, how does that relate to our current situation, where most of us are feeling rather irrelevant right now?  How do we stay relevant during this time, where there is little we can do but sit and watch the world go by?

Honestly, I don’t know!  But, I do know we can use this time to improve ourselves and look for future opportunities.  When all this is a bad memory, there will be new challenges and opportunities we can’t even imagine right now.  My feeling is we will come out of this stronger and more resilient than ever before.  Those who used this time for reflection and self-improvement will be the ones leading the way.  Will you be one of them?

            In my recently published book, DEFY THE IMMEDIATE, I wrote about struggling with difficult circumstances and situations with which I was involved through several careers and professional challenges.  In every situation, I came out stronger and better than when I began.  Failure and difficult time is the incubator of character.  Ironically, this is most definitely a time to “defy the immediate.”

            While it’s trite to say “this too shall pass,” it’s equally important to realize we all have a tremendous gift of time right now.  How we use it, is up to us. 

Let us not forget that many of our nation’s greatest inventions and innovations were created during crisis.  It is during these times entrepreneurs were born.  History is full of people and items that came out of a crisis.   In the coming months, there will be new things and processes that will astonish us, watch for them.

While some might deem it arrogant…it is…there is still a concept of American Exceptionalism that has driven our nation forward since our birth.  This time is simply another defining moment in our history, another chapter in our Exceptionalism.  We will get through this.

My way of staying relevant is writing, each of us can do something.

Stay safe, stay positive, and above all, strive to remain relevant in this time, however you define it.  We will all be back to our “normal” lives again soon.  You can bet on it, we’re Americans!

T. R. Shaw Jr. is a Battle Creek, Michigan based author and speaker.  His recent book, DEFY THE IMMEDIATE, A Journey of Failure, Perseverance and Success is a memoir on life challenges and opportunities.  Visit his website, www.trshawjr.com.

The Seven Things I Learned About Writing and Publishing a Book.

By T. R. Shaw Jr.

Author of DEFY THE IMMEDIATE; A Journey of Failure, Perseverance and Success

            My first book, a motivational memoir entitled DEFY THE IMMEDIATE is finally published!

            I am excited as it has been a multi-year endeavor with many setbacks and learning curves, which is sort of what my book is all about, failure, perseverance and success.  I plan to begin a marketing campaign soon hoping to reach, and speak to as many groups and organizations as possible to share what I’ve learned in my nearly five decades of working, learning, serving, struggling and leading.

            My personal journey took me through high school and college, a career in the media, the U.S. Navy both active duty and reserve.   I maintained and built up a fourth generation family funeral business, and dealt with professional and civic leadership issues and challenges in many organizations.

            You might say I’m the ultimate generalist.  I’ve done a lot of things and had many experiences.  My hope is to become a motivational speaker and educator.  I have something worthy to share, and something the world needs to hear. 

In the tradition of my friend, Carlos Fontana’s Seven Daily Nuggets blog, here is what I’ve learned about writing a book.

1.     Believe in your dream and have a vision

With my diverse and complicated background, I felt I had a powerful message to share.  Originally, my goal was to produce a book for junior military officers and share my stories of success and failure from the ship’s bridge, there were many!  I planned to give hope to young military leaders that mistakes and bad situations are not unique, and certainly not always your fault.  It was all about how you did…or didn’t react to dynamic situations.  The old saying hindsight is 20/20 is good, but my goal was to enlighten juniors that your situation is not hopeless.  Things change quickly in the military.  You need to stay positive and seek good advice. 

As the book progressed it grew into a more comprehensive work with broader mass appeal as I discovered a world hungry for motivation and inspiration.

2.    Don’t learn the Tricks of the Trade…learn the Trade!

I first heard that saying in mortuary school at Wayne State University as our professors trained us to properly and professionally embalm a body.  They drove into us the fact that as you progress you will find better, faster, and easier methods to do the procedure, but first you must know how to do it right.  Pragmatism comes later. 

With that in mind I set out to learn as much as I could about book writing and publishing, and how to do it right!  I devoured websites and read many books and articles on the subject.  All offered sage advice to the aspiring writer.  However, many were conflicting.  Everyone had different opinions on how you should do it.  The key was to look for the commonalities and learn to evaluate the advice as it applies to your goals.  I also found there are entirely different approaches to genres.  Gaining the attention of an agent is entirely different for a fiction writer than a non-fiction writer.  Many times attracting an agent is a real shot in the dark and you just have to learn pragmatism and take your chances.  Expect rejection…lots of it!

3.     Seminars give you some perspective; take it as a learning experience

I attended a few professional writers’ seminar where we had the opportunity to “Pitch an Agent.”  I thought this might be my big opportunity to get noticed.  I learned a lot in a one-day event.  I studied carefully the agents attending, what they were looking for, and selected three appropriate agents to pitch.  It was a very humbling experience.  I sat down with professionals who’d seen it all, I was nothing new.  It briefly dampened my enthusiasm, but I kept believing in my goal. 

That seminar I also learned that non-fiction is a hard genre to sell, especially a memoir.  “Who are you, and why should I care?” seemed to be an unspoken attitude.  I wasn’t a celebrity or sports icon.  I hadn’t been fired from the White House, or landed a plane in the Hudson River, but I felt I had many valuable experiences worth sharing.  As I glanced around the room in one of the seminars, I noticed about 90 percent of the attendees were female fiction writers competing to become the next J.K. Rowling or Danielle Steele.  The experience at least gave me the confidence I was doing something unique in the publishing world.  My story must be told, regardless of what agents thought.

4.     Talk to others who’ve done it.

I have a few friends, family and acquaintances who’ve been published in one form or another, they are a great source of information and ideas.  I'm grateful for their shared knowledge and wisdom.  They will continue to be a source of information in the future as I progress.  No one becomes a success on their own.  Likewise, I hope future authors seek me out when they want to pursue their passion.  I will gladly reciprocate.

5.    Build a platform

One of the things I learned is that to sell a book, or an idea, you need a platform.  You need several large circles of people to relate to.  I realized I had several circles of influence I could reach out to with my varied and diverse background.  I found this fascinating and dove into social media techniques.  I read many books on how to do it and became self-educated.  Although I’m not a social media expert, I learned as much as I could.  I’d highly recommend Michael Hyatt’s book PLATFORM; Get Noticed in a Noisy World, as a blueprint for building your platform.  

We live in a very connected world and your virtual presence is extremely important if you want to have influence and reach.  When I looked at the big picture, I’ve had many experiences that touched many circles of people.  I needed to connect with them and learn to properly self-promote, it’s a practical, not egotistical act.  I’ve found platform building to be a fascinating social experiment and endeavor.  I also have learned that nobody is a complete expert in social media, it is a constantly evolving medium.

6.     Self-Publishing isn’t bad.

I was referred to a young regional agency by a friend who has had three books published by Mission Point Press in Traverse City, Michigan.  At first I had them do my editing and give me some advice on how to proceed.  They helped improve my query letter and would have helped me with a formal proposal, if I reached that point.  After dragging my feet to do the really hard and time consuming task of going the “traditional” route, they proposed to publish it regionally.  They understood how difficult getting the attention of a national agent is.  I heeded their advice.  They have an impressive collection of many genres, including memoirs like mine.  It may have been another year of beating the bushes with no resolution or interest from prospective agents.   While it may cost me a little, at least I’d have book.  With a book comes credibility.  I believe I have a message that’s worth the cost. 

A published author is an experience I’m just beginning, it’s exciting.  Nobody really cares how it’s published.  It’s more important to have a book to promote and sell.  Self-publishing gives one control in what you are doing.  That’s a great thing!

7.    Don’t quit

Like many aspiring authors I often put things on the back-burner when they became difficult.  Life got in the way of what I should have been doing.  Some call it writers block.  There is also an element of fear, and self-doubt which you have to overcome.  I’m a skilled procrastinator and this effort was no exception.  Don’t overthink it.  Resist the urge to back off.  It was more than a few years in the making.  Take a break if you have to, but don’t give up on your dream.  The motivation will return, sometimes it might take a while, but you need to keep your eyes on the prize, it will be worth it.  Good things take time and effort.  If it’s worth having, it’s worth working for.  Keep moving forward and Defy the Immediate!

A little about the book:

DEFY THE IMMEDIATE is an energizing and inspiring look at real life failure, success and perseverance filled with personal stories of coming up short, winning and humility with generous portions of humor along the way.  I was blessed to have legendary broadcaster and fellow Central Michigan University alumni Dick Enberg write my foreward.  The title comes from a speech he delivered at CMU.

Growing up in the space age of the 1960s, much has been expected of my generation.  Throughout my life, I’ve demanded much of myself.  I document my journey of idealism through the traumas of high school, college, working in the media, military, the funeral profession and community service.  Failure was a frequent accomplice and I document the stories of working hard, often with the wrong knowledge, coming up short, sometimes quitting and ultimately succeeding. 

Following a great career as a college journalist, the job market was flat and I was a starry-eyed visionary looking to accomplish the next big thing.  I entered the U. S. Navy to become a public affairs officer as President Ronald Reagan was building a 600 ship Navy.  I had to begin as a regular line officer and pursue a warfare specialty, surface warfare in my case, before I could transfer into public affairs, the smallest community in the Navy, and perhaps the least understood.  I struggled, and was challenged to “stay afloat” among peers with more talent, mechanical and mathematical aptitude, education and background than I had.  It was brutally competitive and required a different mind-set.  I struggled valiantly with help from good people and graduated second to last in my Officer Candidate School class, but I made it! 

On active and reserve duty, I was dealt many “bad hands” to play and was in circumstances I couldn’t control. I dealt with both good and bad superiors and subordinates.   It took almost everything I had to deal with things in a very tough and unforgiving environment.  While many would consider my active duty performance a professional failure, I redeemed myself in the Navy Reserve where I ultimately found my passion and calling in public affairs where I excelled and thrived.   My journey to that point was filled with many setbacks and disappointments which I overcame. 

For nearly 20 years, I carried on a dual career as a Navy reservist and funeral director trying hard to excel in two career paths, facing both systematic and professional challenges in each career.  I ended up being forced to retire from the Navy during the very best time of my career, I loved what I was doing and I didn’t want to leave.  In the funeral business, I lost my father, and business partner, to a quick and unrelenting disease and struggled to keep the family business strong and thriving.  We did well for many years, but I eventually had to come to the reality my heart was no longer in funeral service.  Life is too short not to pursue your true ambitions and talents.  We sold our successful century-old family business. I faced new challenges and opportunities.  I gave up a thriving business and large degree of financial security.  I believe others can draw inspiration from my experiences and challenges.

DEFY THE IMMEDIATE is available in local bookstores and online at Amazon.com. W

T. R. Shaw, Jr. holds a degree in journalism from Central Michigan University and a certificate in mortuary science from Wayne State University.  He has worked as a journalist, a U.S. Navy line officer and public affairs officer. He is CEO and co-founder of Shaw Communication in Battle Creek, Michigan.  He was formerly President of the Shaw Funeral Homes, a fourth-generation family business.  He has held leadership in several non-profit organizations, foundations, service clubs, and military and professional associations.  He is a dynamic public speaker, publishes organizational newsletters, and is a columnist in regional publications.  He believes literacy and reading are fundamental to leadership development and personal success and hopes to encourage people to read more often and regularly.  Readers Are Leaders!  Defy The Immediate is his first book.

His personal website is www.trshawjr.com.