We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tomm A. Boyer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tomm A. below.
Tomm A., we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Good question. I do believe that everyone has a purpose; and one should strive to find it. You owe it to yourself to make that a priority in your life. However, for me, purpose has always been more of a moving target. I grew up in a small diverse town, Coatesville PA. Even with the different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, mostly everyone considered each other equal. I loved it there. However, even with this, I felt like I did not fit in with any particular group, especially outside of the city. Therefore, it was hard for me to find acceptance from others or even value within myself. But one day, I was watching a documentary (yes…as a teen I know) on the many purposes of nature. It showed how everything in nature had a purpose, from trees producing oxygen to bees producing honey. I thought, ‘So, in addition to nature, does everything else in this world have a purpose as well?’ I got excited and researched anything I could, like the purpose of eyebrows (stops sweat from going into your eyes), fingernails, and even planet physics. I realized that, if everything had a purpose, including every biological cell in my own body and mind, then by default, I must have a purpose as well, and even a greater one.
At that moment, I became obsessed with learning. My grades in high school went from C/D’s to all A’s. And for that period in my life to early adulthood, learning just to learn became my purpose. As a result of acquiring more knowledge and being open to different experiences (e.g., seminars, traveling, jobs, hiking), I began to fit in with almost any type of group or individual, and acceptance of others became so much easier. But more importantly, the value I had of myself became greater, whether I had acceptance or not.
When I got older, I started mentoring to help kids and teens realize early on that they had a purpose as well, and to find the value within themselves no matter their situation or what others thought.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
First, I am VP of Development for a commercial real estate advisory firm where I handle the procurement and development of commercial real estate projects. I actually started out in this industry over 20 years ago just as an administrative assistant, and faced many obstacles and resistance from people who didn’t look like me or who didn’t want to work with me. For example, I had a coworker accidentally leave a voice-message on my phone talking with someone else saying how I didn’t deserve my position because I was too young and “…didn’t look like them.” Instead of getting upset, I used that as an opportunity to help them understand our differences and there weren’t many. We ended up being great coworkers and good friends. Subsequently, with my focus on learning, strong work ethics, and the right mentors, I went from Coordinator to Manager to Director to now Vice-President.
Second, I am the author of a national best seller Christian supernatural mystery novel entitled, “The Deceived”. It was Amazon’s #1 release for its specified genre-market, ranked in Amazon’s Top 100 (rolling) numerous times for the same, and received a Dante Rossetti ‘YA’ Fiction Chanticleer International Finalist Award. I’m so excited for the upcoming release of its sequel currently scheduled for early-mid Spring.
Third, I have a publishing company called Lighthouse Manuscripts that focuses on books for and by young adults and self-development. Since I have a team of assistants, editors, and designers that run this company for me, I only get involved whenever necessary. This helps me focus on other ventures. I am excited for the release of a bunch of our books coming out this year, including an informative research study education book by a professor about the results and imperativeness of a child having reading proficiency by third grade.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
From many experiences, successes, and failures, I learned the importance of the following:
1) “Failure is the growing pains of a winner, but never trying is the success of a loser”. Unfortunately, many business ideas that I had in the past are now great companies or start-ups. Therefore, don’t wait for the right time, the right motivation quote, the right full plan, or even the right partners. These are all just delays to you completing your vision. You have in you already what you need for your purpose;
2) “Expected the best but prepare for the worst”. I always had faith in God, but things don’t always work out as we plan or hope. I had projects succeed. I had projects fail. But some of my most successful projects were not ones where I did everything right, but ones where I had a prepared backup plan if things went wrong;
3) “Give yourself deadlines!” I completed my first book so quickly by setting an exact deadline for my first draft, edited version, and release. Then I spoke out loud daily to myself that, “I must complete it by the deadline,” and I repeated multiple times throughout the day. Within four months, I wrote 300 pages. Written goals and deadlines are a must for your success; and
4) “The right few is better than the wrong many.” This is a very hurtful and painful process, but necessary for your own growth and success. I learned the hard way that my time and efforts for success, and even self-care, was only important to the people that wanted to see me win. If you lose people doing what’s best for you or what God has given you, then it wasn’t meant to be or a true relationship.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I stop what I’m doing to either meditate or complete a short simple task to feel some type of accomplishment, such as cleaning my office, reorganizing files, or even washing the dishes. Mediation and completing something/anything are good ways to relax, reset, or feel like you have gained some control back over your life.
Life is not easy. In fact, it can be extremely difficult. However, you don’t want the life that giving up will give you. So, onward and upward in your “Bold Journey!”
May God’s Light Shine on You!
Contact Info:
- Website: lighthousemanuscripts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_tommaboyer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authortommaboyer
