Adam Grant is a National Treasure, Here's Why....

Back in 2017 when saying the word pandemic would make people tilt their heads with a confused look, I read a book that hit me in a different way than most books.

The book I am about to plug is not one that I'll say is the best book ever, but it is written by one of the most brilliant minds our world has to offer.

ADAM GRANT!

So the book? It's called Option B. And yes, Adam wrote this book with Sheryl Sandberg. I am not discrediting Sheryl here, but I am writing to tell you that every story has a story.

Before I do share exactly why Adam is a national treasure, I will state that I bring my story up because six years ago was not that long ago. Six years ago we were facing a pandemic we knew nothing about. Six years ago, we needed to be resilient without knowing why or how to be resilient. Six years ago, Adam and Sheryl brought us the book Option B.

I was compelled by the title, by the book, and by the emphasis on storytelling that could relate to our lives.

After I pre-ordered the book, I e-mailed Adam and Sheryl. On May 17, 2017, I told them why I loved the book and shared my story of how I chose Option B in my life. Every single person has an Option B. If they choose it, that's a different story.

My story stems back to my childhood which is why I share these four core beliefs. I am not going to share my childhood need for Option B since this focus is on Adam Grant and why he's a national treasure. I do want you to see the four core beliefs. In 2017, I did not know I was going to be a parent. While I wanted to be one, the opportunity was not in front of me. In 2019, I became one and I revisit these core beliefs often to know the importance when we are developing people, especially our children. My first challenge to you is to reflect on these four core beliefs as a person, then as a teacher, coach, parent, and leader.

Now the national treasure part, when I emailed Adam and Sheryl, the email was lengthy. If you can't tell, I can be quite verbose. It shared my admiration for their work and started from the lessons related to these core beliefs that my father taught me as young as five years old. It took Adam and Sheryl through my long journey and at the time, informed them of whom I was becoming as a 30-year-old.

Then, the call to action popped up! I made an offer and it was an offer that had zero financial appeal. After telling Adam and Sheryl how much I believed the world needed this book, I said I want to offer $100 for 100 copies of Option B. Here's what I said...

For a second, I want you to think about how insane I am. Only a second, please. Then, think, did he get a reply?

11 days later, the answer became yes.

His heart sank. My heart sank. This man is a legend, Adam truly practices what he preaches. He doesn't take, he GIVES. He lives and gives. New book title, Adam?

Like any other person who would be in awe of a reply and even more, the kind gesture to "send some free copies" my way, I was floored when I saw what showed up on June 2nd, 2017.

From May 17th (initial email) to May 28th (reply) to June 2nd and a knock on the door from the FedEx guy.

I answer.

He replies, "Bro, you building a house?"

As you can see from the photos to the right, Adam delivered and I didn't pay $100. Now I have red books, yellow books, white books, audiobooks, hardback covers, paperback covers, and more than 100 books!

It was a surprise and then some. Now I had to follow up on my word and get these books to the people who needed them.

So I did and I documented the whole thing. Given the option, I didn't want to go Option B and why should I when Adam showed that a fan of his work brave enough to e-mail him could get a reply? Adam saw an email, read it, saw an offer, declined it, and countered with a better offer!

Adam wrote a book to ignite resiliency in people. People shared their stories and he responded in the way he knows how. We need more people like this in the world. Let's read the work of people like Adam. Let's practice resiliency, let's reach out and make an offer. It's the act to pay it forward and extend yourself with no expectations. If it doesn't happen, you have Option B, but if it does, well it's the reply that will surprise you.