Chances are you've not heard of Robert D. Smith. And that's a problem. Because everyone who's ever met Robert agrees he's a well-kept secret. And today, we're going to hear from him and why he numbers each and every day of his life.
In this interview, I talk with Robert about his first book, 20,000 Days and Counting, and why we all need to be more aware of how many days we've lived. (Keep reading to find out how you can win a free copy of Robert's book.)
Listen to the interview
[audio https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/goinswriter/Robert%20D.%20Smith%20on%202012-12-07%20at%2013.08.mp3]Click here to download the MP3.
About THE Robert D.
Several months ago, Robert invited me to come visit him at his “office.” When I pulled into a residential driveway and entered a house full of people, I wondered if I was in the right place. There were candy jars in every room.
As we got to talking, I was immediately struck by the way Robert lives his life. He's someone who soaks up every moment and inspires those around him to do the same.
The reason you don't know this man is because for the past 30 years, he's been the guy behind the success of best-selling authors and speakers like Andy Andrews. And that anonymity was just fine by him, until recently when he felt compelled to write a book.
The book, as you'll hear in the interview, came about when Robert realized he was about to live his 20,000th day — and almost missed it. This was a sobering realization, and what he did next changed the way he approached every day after.
What we talk about in the interview
In this interview, Robert, and I discuss:
- How many days you've lived and why it matters
- The reason you should always eat dessert first
- How Robert helped Andy Andrews become a New York Times best-selling author and sought-after public speaker
- Why failure isn't as bad as you fear
- How everyone has a brand (even writers)
- What rejection tastes like (since Robert eats it for breakfast every day)
Number your days (and win a free book!)
Realizing our lives are comprised of actual days helps us understand how real change happens — slowly and intentionally — and how every day is an opportunity to do something extraordinary.
If you've never counted the days you've been alive, doing so just might change your life, like it did for Robert.
If you want to learn to number your days and are interested in winning a free copy of Robert's book, here's what you need to do:
- Go here to calculate how many days you've been alive. (Example: I've been alive for 10,889 days.)
- Leave a comment here with the answer, along with an answer to the question below.
- Share this article on Twitter, Facebook, or the social network of your choice.
- Wait patiently while I pick five random winners in the next 24 hours (winners will be chosen by 9am, Jan. 22, 2013 and contacted via email).
How many days have you been alive, and how are you going to make today extraordinary? Share in the comments.
Disclosure: Some of the above links are affiliate links.