This news from my client stunned me.

“Siera’ is one of my book writing clients. She is professionally at the top of  the food chain, running a company worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Her life is something most of us can only imagine- global travel, meeting with kings, presidents, and princes. Her story is one I salivated over writing from the moment I heard her speak. In fact, by the time she was done delivering her 45 minute talk, I had outlined 8 chapters of the book I knew I would write for her one day. The only detail in between me and writing her book was that we’d never met, she had no idea who I was, and I did not have the top tier ticket allowing me to meet the speakers at that event. 

But I knew we would somehow meet. And we did. I’ll share that story another time. 

We stayed in touch for several months. We met in person at different events, and each time, Siera told me that this would be the month we start her book. 

Then next month arrived, and another month after that… I wrote a few more books for a few more people. I enjoyed each of those projects but I really wanted to write her story. So I’d message her every few months. 

It was over one year before she signed a contract and paid a deposit. Finally! I thought. We are doing  this. And then… we didn’t.

A few more months went by with a wall of silence. Siera ghosted the ghostwriter - even after paying a significant deposit. Eventually I accepted that something changed, and she wasn’t going to write her book with me. At least, not anytime soon. What a shame, I thought. But there was nothing else I could do, and I wasn’t about to chase after anyone.

I wrote a couple more books, wondering from time to time what had happened, hoping she was okay.

More months went by until.. Ping! My phone chimed its little WhatsApp chime. Siera was back.

She’d spent the past several months in a life or death battle. Her cancer diagnosis had been sudden, unexpected, and devastatingly serious. She has an aggressive disease in advanced stages. In the hospital, she told me, when she was told she may not survive, one of her immediate regrets had been not writing her book yet.

She had so much to say. So much to share. So much to pass down and around. And in that moment she thought she’d missed her chance to do so.

She built a global company. Traveled the world. Met countless people who will be recorded in history. Revolutionized an industry. She’s overcome immense adversity and trauma. And yet, in spite of seeing a life resume packed with extraordinary achievement, she saw her life flash before her, thinking of the book she never wrote. 

Hearing this reminded me of the gut feelings I’d had, that drew me to the event where I met her. I heard her speaking. I remembered the way I knew I’d write her book, and I made a promise to myself that I would stick with her throughout whatever comes next, until we write her book.

So, every once in a while I reach back out to her. Her health issues remain serious. Her business remains all consuming. And her book remains unwritten. I don’t know if it will ever be written at all, but I won’t give up on her. I’ll continue writing for new clients, working toward the production of my film, and living my life to the fullest I can, hoping her book does not become the greatest story never told. 

What are you holding back from doing in your life? What’s that thing you repeatedly return to in your mind, but never take action on? What are your reasons you tell yourself you “can’t” right now. 

And will today be the day you flip that script, to go all in on every moment you have left?