Contagious Optimism, Business Edition
- 1,500 words or less.
- Include a title.
- Include a bio of 200 words or less and feel free to include a website and/or email address if you would like that published as well.
- Please send a hi-resolution head shot photograph no larger than 3MB (JPEG format).
- Please send your submission in MS Word or in the body of an email program.
- Single space after sentences.
- No indentation.
- Please share your silver lining business story. Tell us about your life, how you started, a favorite memory, moment, and/or a decision that stands out. Consider telling us what you have done, learned, etc. and how you have persevered to where you are today. There are no wrong answers. The most important thing to remember is that our readers will love your story and will gain so much from it that it will also help their own personal and/or professional lives.
- Feel free to peruse the sample story below.
- Please include a short takeaway at the end of your story (see sample story below).
- Be sure to include your contact information should our team have any questions.
- Submit your story to submissions@lifecarrots.com. Please be sure to include a signed copy of the Statement of Copyright & Originality if you haven't done so already. This document is required and can be found by clicking here.
Please remember that these are guidelines only. We are flexible! And, your story does not have to be written perfectly. We have a terrific team of copyeditors that will address grammar, spelling, etc. prior to publication.
If you are a third party or professional, please feel free to share stories or insight and guidance along with supporting examples. (Pen or anonymous names are accepted for privacy purposes).
Help us spread the power of Contagious Optimism and get psyched to potentially be published in our bestselling global book series. We appreciate your interest and look forward to having you on board! Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
Interested in learning more?
Submission Guidelines
© 2014 Contagious Optimism. All rights reserved.
How would you like to be a coauthor in the bestselling Contagious Optimism book series - Business Edition? Now is your chance!
Benefits of joining our family...
- Coauthor status once your essay is approved.
- Book testimonials from other bestselling authors - domestic and international.
- Grassroots and online marketing campaigns managed by our publisher, our publicists, and our team at Contagious Optimism.
- Copy-editing, publishing, printing, distribution, reviews, promotion, and more are all included.
- Each coauthor will have their essay credited to them along with a bio in the "meet our coauthors" section of the book and website. The bio can also be used to reference their business, their website, and their contact information (if applicable).
- Invitations to appear on radio, television, web, and print along with invitations to book events in the coauthor's geographic area. Coauthors will be asked to sign their chapter at book signing events.
- Profits are shared with charities and nonprofits.
- There are no fees to participate whatsoever.
Still interested? We welcome you to submit your story for potential publication in a future volume of Contagious Optimism. Below please find our submission guidelines along with a link to the required Statement of Copyright & Originality. If you prefer not to write, we do offer optional Ghost Writing services. Send us a request or ask your dedicated team member for details. Thank you for your interest!
Submission Information - Business Edition
SAMPLE STORY
"B"ing The Best
By Ricky Wade
Growing up in Jamaica I was no stranger to poverty. I was directly exposed to it but knew that hard work and positive energy would yield success. I also knew that giving was just as important—no matter what life handed me. Giving was actually a lifestyle for our family. You may think you are lacking but there is always someone who is worse off than you. By giving back you are not only giving others a chance, you are demonstrating your appreciation for what you have and the opportunities that were presented to you. Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s, said it the best, “You have to give back to the community that supports you.”
This book, Contagious Optimism, discusses “positive forward thinking;” the practice of recognizing a positive future and using that to endure the difficulties of today. I always believed that working hard would yield a great future for me, hence my positive forward thinking. For example, my first job was working in a clothing factory as a young child and I never looked back!
My ultimate goal was to be a commercial pilot and I started a career in aviation. I dreamed of being a captain that took people all over the world. I was on course for this dream but my life took a sharp turn when my father died in a plane crash. It forced me to readjust but I believe a key part of life is being able to readjust when necessary. Don’t be scared to alter a long-term plan when things don’t work out. A key trait that I believe all humans have is their resiliency. I found mine and it led me to a mentorship program in the largest food service chain in the world—McDonald’s.
I came to the United States as an immigrant. I felt that this McDonald’s opportunity was my segue to the American dream. At the time, my uncle gave me a piece of advice that was one of the most valuable assets I took with me. He said, “Be true to yourself, be disciplined, and stay focused. You will go through challenging moments but never take your eyes off the vision of where you want to go.” That advice led me to an assistant manager position in Miami, Florida, and then I worked my way up through McDonald’s corporate over twenty years.
In April of 2001 I achieved the unimaginable for a McDonald’s corporate employee—I purchased seven stores and became a franchisee in Palm Beach County, Florida. The risk and expense was not without stress but I believe in passion, patience, and perseverance. Together with my wife Lissette, we then grew to eleven stores and a staff of five hundred people. Today, I am achieving my goal of approaching twenty-five stores within the next ten years. I think goals should be challenging and this is a challenging goal! I chose the corporate name of “B”ing the Best because this name reflects the philosophy my wife and I instill in our McDonald’s team, our family, and the community.
My life’s lessons of hard work, achievement, and giving back are the cornerstones of my community involvement. Our family takes great pride in helping inner city kids focus on the positive and molding them into good citizens. Making a difference may be a lifelong journey but providing opportunities for low-income youth yields a positive environment and a brighter future for everyone.
Contagious Insight (takeaway sample)
An altruistic value system is defined by two key principles that can be applied to any corner of the world: 1) Creating independent young adults is far more productive than fostering an environment of dependency; and 2) If you are doing business in a community, you should be involved in the community as well and help shape its future.
About Ricky Wade (bio sample)
After leaving Jamaica and a career in aviation, Ricky took a corporate position with McDonald’s in 1981 and became a franchisee in 2001 along with his wife Lissette. While operating high-performing restaurants, the Wades are extremely involved in regional and national McDonald’s leadership and as role models in their community.
Ricky is known as a business leader and as a mentor for youth throughout his community. He has devoted his talents to fifteen community boards, from the Urban League and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to United Way, The Arc of Palm Beach County, and Ronald McDonald House Charities. He is a frequent speaker at youth-oriented events and was honored to meet George W. Bush at the White House in 2007 as a McDonald’s representative for Black History Month.
The Wades have three children and live in West Palm Beach, FL. The couple recently received the coveted McDonald’s Golden Arch Award, an honor bestowed on less than one percent of franchisees.
Also accepting stories for these upcoming editions:
