We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rick D Molchan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rick D below.
Hi Rick D, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
I have always believed that the glass is half full. Seeking out optimism and hope is the very cornerstone of human nature. While I may have developed confidence from spending 21 years in the military (15 in the Army and 6 in the Air Force) or humility from my grandmother that raised me or patience from raising twins – Radek and Marley, it has been the belief that you can make it and that tomorrow will be a better day, but you are in charge of making it a better day. You have to go and find the little wins, and when you find the little wins, then you will discover they start building up to bigger wins. Life is short and amazing; and the chance to live it is why I have so much optimism.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My love for comics started when I was very young. Comics provided a relief and a solutitude for me as a kid. It was my way of escaping to another place, time, or reality. Long before cell phones ruled our lives, comic books were there for the little boy that mowed the lawn, got a few dollars as payment and then walked to the local gas station and bought a soft drink, a Little Debbie and the latest issue of The Hulk, Daredevil or Silver Surfer. I was part of a publishing company 30 years ago, bringing to life a story that was very personal to me called Paradox. Fast forward 30 years later, and I get to see this story brought to life again and get the closure it finally deserves. I have already started working on an Oz story (Oz: Nightmare in Emerald) as Oz was the very first book I read as a child. Both Paradox and Oz are darker stories exploring a component of realty meeting dark fantasy. A twist on what we think we know. I love to create, and I love to help other Independent Creators which is why I have also started the series GASP which stands for Giant Anthology of Small Publishers. The goal is to work together and find a way to help others bring rich, vibrant stories to life.
My other love has always been scuba diving. While being a PADI and SSI Scuba Instructor, I also became a Paranormal Scuba Instructor a few years ago. I am fascinated with the secrets that the water hides. Over 70% of our planet is covered in water, and the tales that are hidden in this 70% is a fascinating adventure for those willing to take it. Whether it is the Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, the Graveyard in Deliverance, or lakes that people report seeing ghosts, the paranormal is an interesting experience!
I just released the Resolute Tour Book with stories from Paradox and Oz, and I am planning to dive near the Lost Colony of Roanoke for inspiration for my next story.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The best advice I can give anyone is twofold 1) Don’t be afraid to try and 2) Don’t be afraid to fail. I am asked all the time, how I know so much about running businesses, etc. It isn’t that I know so much, it is because I experienced it. When you experience anything, you learn more than any academic setting could ever offer. Try and be ok with failing because that is how you improve and gain insight that others simply don’t have.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Two of the most impactful books on me were the Wizard of Oz and All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. The Wizard of Oz because it was the first book I ever read, and I learned from it that you could always be a kid. Dorothy was naïve, but she kept traveling down the Yellow Brick Road. Her ‘kid like’ view of the world made new friends, gave her hope, showed valiant perseverance, and vanquished evil – all as a child. All the supporting characters whether her Aunt and Uncle, Wizard, or even the good Witch were all jaded with life and saw no hope and it was easier to be complacent and encourage one to go about their business instead of moving forward with hope. Dorothy, really being the only child in the story, compared to the much older characters that appear, challenged these beliefs and always look forward and believed. The ending line shouldn’t have been “There is No Place Like Home” but more akin to “There is no better view of the world than through a child’s eyes.” Understanding why I place so much emphasis on the Wizard of Oz as being an influence in my life helps to understand why All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten was so influential to me. I discovered this book when I was in college, and the lessons it taught were all characteristics to what epitomized Dorothy and how she looked at life. Whether it is “Share everything,” “Play fair,” “Don’t hit people,” or “Say you’re SORRY when you HURT somebody.” These are the rules that Dorothy played by and these are the rules that as a society we learned but became jaded and quickly forgot as we aged. I would change the book’s name to “Dorothyisms.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ResoluteBliss.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stuart.goddard.18
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@resoluteblisspublishing
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