CHARLOTTE, NC, June 22, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ -- How far will some people go to pursue their dreams? For Joel Bryant it meant leaving jobs that interfered with his desire to become a writer. A former corporate trainer, Joel ended up homeless and discouraged when he quit his job in October of 2000 with the Dun and Bradstreet Corporation to pursue this dream. That was eight years ago. Today, he has recovered and has since published an impressive seventeen books. His latest, For Dreamers Only, is also the name of an event he is sponsoring at Spirit Square Friday August 28th at 7pm. The event is free and open to the public.
Joel says that the event is designed to be "an antidote to the anti-hope" that haunts many today. "We must be reminded occasionally that opportunity is still available despite the economy." Animated and articulate, Joel's thoughts are layered and illuminating. His tone betrays that of the typical self-help author. It is obvious that he is after something deeper, which he believes each of us possesses. When asked about this something Joel says, "Each of us is wired to succeed and excel. Unfortunately, however, we let problems prevent our pursuit of our dreams."
Joel speaks with a conviction that can only be gained through adversity. Were it not for his experiences it would be easy to dismiss him as idealistic and unrealistic. Yet his scars are visible and his words are credible. Recalling his experiences, Joel's voice deepens and his speech accelerates, saying, '"I just wanted to do what was in my heart no matter what it cost."
While he was homeless, Joel decided that he would pursue a master's degree, four years after graduating from Guilford College with a degree in English at thirty-five in 2000.
So, he enrolled in UNC-Charlotte in 2002 as a fulltime student in the MA program. Two years later he graduated with honors and a 4.0 average. It was during this period that he moved in with his brother and found part time work. Meanwhile his wife Debra took a job at a local mall to help them manage the transition, which Joel says was traumatic occasionally. "I discovered, "he declares, "the contours of despair." Joel also credits this episode with deepening his respect of and desire for knowledge, grad school especially. "School really opened my mind and broadened my world."
Thanks to a former professor, Bill Gay, who later became a mentor, Joel spent four years lecturing in UNC-Charlotte's philosophy department. "That," he declares, "was the best job I've ever had." Joel says that these experiences inspire his desire to open a school once he completes his doctoral studies in educational leadership at UNC-Charlotte. Meanwhile he serves on the board of Crossroads Charter High School where he says he is gaining invaluable experience in school management.
In listening, Joel's passion for knowledge is evident and his commitment to education is authentic. When asked about his educational philosophy, Joel summarizes it in one of the many witticisms that waft effortlessly from his tongue: "Good teachers," he asserts, "love teaching. But great teachers love students."
The human element augments everything Joel says. In fact he believes that unless people are the center education will continue to suffer, even as resources (and resourcefulness) dwindles. Joel's conception of teaching transcends traditional models. In fact, he frames school as "one of the greatest people-making institutions in the modern world. I think we forget, "he adds, "that we're not just teaching students, we're making citizens." A philosopher by nature, Joel's perspective is refreshing and perhaps reflective of a contemporary need to reject the cynicism of economic and educational despair.
In addition to For Dreamers Only, Joel has also authored sixteen other books, including Journey Toward Greatness, his first, which was written in 1999. Since then he has written two books a year the last eight years. When asked how he finds inspiration, he utters, "I don't find it or even seek it because it's an ineradicable part of life whether we acknowledge it or not. We just have to be sensitive, responsive and vulnerable." He says that vulnerability is also a prerequisite for success.
"People" he explains, "have been deceived by what I call postpartum perspectives. In being so, they don't get to see the anatomy of greatness or to understand its nuances." Joel portrays postpartum perspectives as success stories that minimize the demands of success, and thus exploit our innate desire to succeed. He advocates transparency as an antidote. In fact six of his seventeen books comprise the Diary of a Dreamer series, which is appropriately subtitled, The Anatomy of Greatness."
In these Joel's transparency almost transgresses. For example, he says things about he and his wife of eleven years, Debra, in Marriage, Why? Diary of a Dreamer that would inspire divorce in most marriages. Joel readily acknowledges that his wife is also his strongest supporter despite the invectives the book embellishes.
Vulnerable in print, Joel is shy in person. In fact he is more comfortable discussing his work than he is himself, though the two seem inseparable occasionally. In many ways, Joel is hard to categorize despite his moniker, "The voice of greatness." He says that this label was lent by others because of his love of greatness. "People have always told me that greatness is their way of remembering me because that's all I talk about. So, I just adopted the phrase as a way of branding myself artistically."
Author, speaker, philosopher, educator, and husband, are just some of the ways Joel strives to express himself. "I believe," he bellows, "in our capacity to transform our reality, maybe not magically but certainly methodically when we commit to the process. For more information on For Dreamers Only, you may visit Joel at http://fordreamersonly-joel.blogspot.com or http://www.joelbryant1.com.
About Word in Season Publications
Word in Season Publications publishes books (nonfiction) uniquely designed to speak to your potential. As such, we strive to maintain the highest level of literary integrity. For more information, you may contact us at http://www.joelbryant1.com
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