From The Dojo to 70 Books: The Lesson That Took 11 Years to Fully Land

In May of 2015, I sat down to write my third book:
Lessons From The Dojo: 101 Kick Butt Ways To Improve Your Life, Business and Relationships

At the time, I thought I had a brilliant concept—and honestly, I still do.

Every page delivered a new lesson.
Every section followed the progression of karate belts—white to black—because life, business, and relationships aren’t mastered overnight… they’re earned step by step.

It wasn’t just a book.
It was a system for growth.

The Concept Was Solid… The Timing Wasn’t

The book officially launched in October 2015.

But here’s the part most “marketing experts” would cringe at…

Right before launch, my wife and I went on a planned church trip to Italy.

No aggressive promo.
No nonstop launch campaign.
No “you must buy this now” urgency.

And just like that… the launch fizzled.

At least, that’s what it looked like on the surface.

What The Book Was Really About

The premise was simple:

If something matters to you… it’s worth fighting for.

The lessons inside were designed to challenge people—to inspire, frustrate, and ultimately push them forward.

• Trust your gut
• Embrace discomfort
• Simplify what’s complicated
• Learn from everything—even a dog or a Navy SEAL
• Stop waiting for someone else to save you

And just like a dojo…

You don’t start as a master.
You earn your way there.

The “Failure” That Wasn’t

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Despite what felt like a weak launch:

• Karate studios bought copies for their students
• The Argyle Town Council in Texas bought copies for their members
• Readers connected with the message over time

The book didn’t explode…

It endured.

And that’s a lesson most people miss.

The Lie About Book Launches

We’ve been conditioned to believe:

• If your book doesn’t crush it in week one… it failed
• If it doesn’t hit bestseller status… it’s irrelevant
• If you don’t promote nonstop… you don’t care

That’s nonsense.

A launch is a moment.
A book is an asset.

And assets don’t always pay off immediately.

What Lessons From The Dojo Actually Did

That book did something far more valuable than a quick spike in sales.

It helped me:

• Refine my voice
• Structure ideas in a way people could consume
• Build a repeatable framework for teaching
• Reinforce principles I still live by today

And most importantly…

It kept me writing.

Fast Forward to 2026

Today, I’m working on my 70th produced book.

Seventy.

And that doesn’t happen because one book “succeeded.”

It happens because I didn’t stop after one that didn’t.

The Real Lesson From The Dojo

Looking back, the biggest takeaway isn’t inside the book…

It’s what the book taught me about the process.

Not every book is meant to:

• Go viral
• Hit big immediately
• Change your life overnight

Some books are meant to:

• Sharpen you
• Discipline you
• Prepare you for what comes next

Just like training in a dojo.

Final Thought

If I had judged that book purely by its launch…

I might have stopped writing.

And if I had stopped writing…

There would be no 70th book.

So no…

Lessons From The Dojo didn’t fail.

It did exactly what it was supposed to do.

It trained me.

If you’re sitting on a book, an idea, or something you’ve already released that didn’t “take off”…

Good.

You’re not behind.

You’re just on your white belt.

Now keep going until you earn black.

Grab your copy on Amazon – paperback and kindle