365 Thank Yous – John Kralik – Author 101 Series

[youtube hhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vESUyUqXx_I&fs=1&hl=en_US]

365 Thank Yous Facebook Page

365 Thank Yous Facebook Page

John Kralik was invited by Rick Frishman to speak at the 2011 Author 101 University Event in Los Angeles. JW Najarian interviewed John about his book and how he became published.

365 Thank Yous

One recent December, at age 53, John Kralik found his life at a terrible, frightening low: his small law firm was failing; he was struggling through a painful second divorce; he had grown distant from his two older children and was afraid he might lose contact with his young daughter; he was living in a tiny apartment where he froze in the winter and baked in the summer.

John was 40 pounds overweight; his girlfriend had just broken up with him; and overall, his dearest life dreams–including hopes of upholding idealistic legal principles and of becoming a judge–seemed to have slipped beyond his reach.

Then, during a desperate walk in the hills on New Year’s Day, John was struck by the belief that his life might become at least tolerable if, instead of focusing on what he didn’t have, he could find some way to be grateful for what he had.

Inspired by a beautiful, simple note his ex-girlfriend had sent to thank him for his Christmas gift, John imagined that he might find a way to feel grateful by writing thank-you notes. To keep himself going, he set himself a goal–come what may–of writing 365 thank-you notes in the coming year.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJGBujEmxKs&fs=1&hl=en_US]One by one, day after day, he began to handwrite thank yous–for gifts or kindnesses he’d received from loved ones and coworkers, from past business associates and current foes, from college friends and doctors and store clerks and handymen and neighbors, and anyone, really, absolutely anyone, who’d done him a good turn, however large or small. Immediately after he’d sent his very first notes, significant and surprising benefits began to come John’s way–from financial gain to true friendship, from weight loss to inner peace. While John wrote his notes, the economy collapsed, the bank across the street from his office failed, but thank-you note by thank-you note, John’s whole life turned around.

365 Thank Yous is a rare memoir: its touching, immediately accessible message–and benefits–come to readers from the plainspoken storytelling of an ordinary man. Kralik sets a believable, doable example of how to live a miraculously good life. To read 365 Thank Yous is to be changed.

About the Author

John Kralik was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended the University of Michigan for college and law school. He practiced law for thirty years, and was a partner in the law firms of Hughes Hubbard & Reed, Miller Tokuyama Kralik & Sur, and Kralik & Jacobs. In 2009, he was appointed a judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court. He lives in the Los Angeles area.

Rick Frishman’s Author 101

logo author 101Are you curious about what publishers like Harper Collins, Morgan James, Adams Media, Wiley, Random House, and Simon & Schuster are looking for? What is the best way to get your manuscript read when you’re an unpublished author? Want to know the biggest mistakes to avoid when writing book proposals? You’ll be engaged as these top pros share their expertise, reveal the inner workings of the publishing industry, and discuss various approaches to common marketing and publishing challenges.

Additional bonus after hours cocktail party where you’ll have the opportunity to network with speakers from the day, industry experts and other attendees.
Author 101 University Event Website: www.author101university.com

5 responses to “365 Thank Yous – John Kralik – Author 101 Series

  1. Someone once told me that when an employee of an establishment does an especially good job at whatever they’re doing, an important reaction is to not only thank that person but to bring their performance to the attention of their boss, so I’ve tried to do that whenever I can at restaurants, motels, stores, etc. — in person or with a note. Managers most often just hear complaints, so they are VERY receptive to compliments on their help and hopefully pass the pat on the back to the employee — they receive good feedback from two sources on the same behavior.

    • That is a great idea. We are so inside our own heads and believe that good customer service is a right. I believe that it goes both ways. If you expect to be well treated, you must reciprocate in kind. Yes you can just go to a real nice place and pay for the service, but I still think that, even in the nicer places, your type of feedback goes a long way to really making your and their experience and future experiences – The Best.

  2. I imagine that at first it would be hard in his situation to think of one thing to be thankful for and then, as you continue to find things, more things appear. That is also how you stay in love and happy.
    What you focus on expands thus, the more you find to be in love with the more you love and the more you find to be happy about and so on and so on….

  3. Fantastic post. THANK YOU!

  4. I agree with John’s belief. The more grateful, giving and positive you are, the more good things happen to you. Thank’s for the article.

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