Starting the car, I handed over my phone to my wife to plug into CarPlay, so we could pick up where we left off listening to the latest book in the Hunger Games series.
As she looked at my phone, A wave of something between mortification and embarrassment washed over me as I realized what I'd done.
Carelessly, I had neglected to close out of the notes app on my phone, and now she was reading the first draft of this post!
A draft that I had just started a few minutes earlier while she went into Publix to pick up some things for Sunday dinner with our youngest daughter, Lauren.
Like a crazy person, I quickly snatched the phone from her hand, muttering "It's just some notes I was writing”.
I didn't speak another word about it, wondering just how much she had read. And we drove on in silence for several agonizing minutes that seemed like an eternity, before she broke the tension with a remark about the weather.
Feeling tremendous relief, I took a deep calming breath. And I settled back in my seat.
Crisis averted - for now.
I wanted to say something. I really did.
But how could I? How could I get her to believe something that seems so crazy, and which I have absolutely no evidence for?
How could I get her to join my journey?
Believe That it Will
I just wish money would fall from the sky!!!!
My wife had said these exact words earlier that day. After a less-than-fruitful discussion about how we could make some extra money.
I wanted so badly to tell her that it will. It’s going to. That I’ve got a plan, and that everything’s going to be all right.
Better than all right. Amazing. Extraordinary.
Perfect.
Instead, I simply said:
“Believe that it will”
But I sincerely doubt that she does. Or that she will.
Words that Sting
Earlier that day, we’d been discussing our finances and how we were going to come up with the money to pay off our credit card debt and finance the home renovations we desperately want and really need to make.
And she said these words, casually, as if they were nothing, but the sound of them sliced me to the bone.
“You tried this internet thing. And it didn’t work.”
Ouch!
That hurts!
It hurts because I know that she probably still holds against me some resentment for the $17,000 I spent on coaching three years ago, after refinancing our house to get the money.
But most of all, it hurts to know that you have a dream, and that the one closest to you doesn’t believe in it.
so I mulled this over and over in my head;
should I or shouldn’t I?
I have a plan that I’m working on, and I have absolute faith in it. But I’m also as equally sure it’s not going to happen overnight!
So the question is:
do I tell her my plans, knowing that they may very likely be thrown against the wall and dashed into a million pieces?
Or do I say nothing, and let her sink further into doubt and worry?
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that talk is cheap.
Actions are what matter. Signs are what matter. Results are what matter.
I needed something tangible. Something concrete. Something I can point to that shows things are okay, and the future is bright.
So I prayed on it. I prayed for guidance and wisdom to help me through my struggle.
And I let go.
Nothing happened - until yesterday.
A demonstration
As they say, you never know where inspiration will come from. and this is absolutely true.
As I was scrolling through my Notes feed on Substack yesterday, I came across this post from
.And as I read it, I knew what it said was true.
As it stood at the time of writing this, I was asking for a full 100% greater investment than that being asked for by The New Yorker, a magazine with an army of talented columnists, publishing dozens of articles every day!
My rule, popularized by the giants of marketing, has always been 10x.
Give value that is equal to 10 times that which you are asking.
And by charging $8 for a subscription, that is saying that each of my 10-12 articles a month is worth like $8 - which is simply ludicrous!
I mean, Netflix charges about this much, for access to like one million movies and shows!
So here’s what I’m offering you, dear reader.
First I’m slashing the price of my subscription plans.
For the first 50 subscribers, I’m making it only…
One Dollar!
That’s almost 90% off!!!!!
I may increase it after that time. But I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
If you’ve gotten anything, anything at all from these poems and stories that I share, please consider becoming a premium subscriber.
In addition to my undying love, devotion, and gratitude, I’m throwing in full access to my archives. Plus priority access to me, so I can help you with your journey.
And if you have your own newsletter, I promise to do all that I can to support and promote you, as my dear friend!
Help me demonstrate to my wife the abundance that is available, and waiting for us to claim it.
Because she needs it. Because I need it. We need it.
Thanks for reading. I hope this isn’t too much to ask. Know that I love you, and appreciate you so so much!
Aaron
P.S. If $1 a month is too much to ask - And believe me, I understand if that is the case - then you can help me just as much by sharing this with a friend, using the button below. Send this link, along with a message that you know this super-cool guy named Aaron who spreads Love and Peace and Joy, and that they should go check him out!
P.P.S. - After writing this, I realized that Substack will not let you offer your publication for less than $5 a month or $30 for a full year. So that is what I set it to. But, if that is still too much, you can go to my Ko-Fi page. Pledge $10 or more and I will grant you a 1-year membership! Please let me know though - comment here, DM, email, carrier pigeon - whatever - because I forget to look over there sometimes, and need to be reminded!
https://ko-fi.com/aaronwaddell
Keep being wonderful!
How was my storytelling on this? Did you like it? Did it keep your interest? Let me know!
If you’re a writer, what do you think of this philosophy? Does it make you reconsider your own pricing? Or am I being silly?