How To Beat The Goodreads Bullies

Through my stance against online bullying, one of the biggest questions asked is, "How can you beat the bullies?"

Well, it's simple. Be successful. 

You see, one of the reasons why bullies do what they do is to try and hurt your success. Their goal is to get people to not want to read your books. This is one of the goals the bullies have on their personal hate agenda. The best way to beat them is to keep working your butt off to be successful. Nothing hurts them more than for you to go on and accomplish your goals / dreams after all of their efforts to try and stop you. 

I made it a point to not let that happen. Their attacks on me, as relentless as they were, and still are, merely pushed me even harder to accomplish my goals. I turned their hatred and attacks into something else. DETERMINATION! 

I stood up to them and went toe to toe with them. This blog is a perfect example of it. But it's like I have always said, accomplishing your goals and dreams isn't going to be easy. You have to fight for it with everything you got. It's not going to happen overnight. And, "anything worth fighting for is everything worth having". (You can quote me on that.)

You have to believe in yourself and trust that what you're doing, and what you're trying to do is something you are worthy of having. Even if that means fighting against hateful people on the internet. You have to call out their lies and never back down from what is true inside of yourself. 

I say all of this because, recently, I got a chance to meet an amazing person. Someone who has experienced success, and continues to be successful. Someone who has taken a liking to my work. His name is Pat Vegas. He is the bass player for the 70's hit band, "Redbone". Their biggest hit was a song called, "Come and Get your Love". 

It's no secret, by now, that that song inspired my first published book, "Children of the Flower Power". 

Mr. Vegas has a weekly radio show on KCLA 99.3 FM Los Angeles and he has requested that I send him my songs to be played on his show. 

Needless to say, I am extremely excited about this wonderful opportunity. I don't think I have to say how awesome it is for a songwriter to have their songs played on a national radio show such as this. It's everything that dreams are made of. 

He and I also discussed other writing projects together. Projects that include film. One topic of interest that came up was turning "Flower Power" into a movie. 

I wasn't planning on going back to California this year after having gone a couple of times last year, but now it would seem more trips could be in the works. I can hardly wait. 

2014 is turning out to be a landmark year for me. I have many irons in the fire. My plate is slowly, but surely, getting full. I am gaining ground in getting my songs out to the public. (And my books).

Word is spreading. 

But this is what artists do. You focus on the task at hand, be yourself, be true to yourself, stand up for yourself all in an effort to let your voice be heard. Let your work stand on its own merits. Believe in what you're doing and do it to the best of your ability. That's all any of us can do really. You never know who is watching. You never know who is behind that page view. If you continue pushing through all the mud and the muck, you never know when your opportunity will present itself. You just have to keep taking that "one more step" towards whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. Never give up. 

If you do this, then you will be ready to take on whatever life throws at you. Especially if you were targeted by the Goodreads bullies. It really isn't the end of the world. Even if it seems like everything is against you, you have to stand and claim your dreams. You just have to keep on believing in yourself. 

In honor of this opportunity presented to me by Mr. Vegas, I am posting a video performance by "Redbone" on the 70's hit show, "The Midnight Special", a program that featured all the top performers and artists of that time. Meanwhile, I will continue to keep everyone posted on the evolving events taking place, and continue to hopefully inspire others to keep chasing your goals and dreams. More importantly, to always remember that even if you were attacked by the bullies, there's still hope. Only you can destroy your hopes and dreams, not some anonymous troll (or trolls) on the internet. Don't give them that kind of power. Keep that power for yourself. Do this, and you'll reach those goals, and at the same time, you'll beat the bullies. Trust me on this one.  Turn their hate into your motivation. Each step you take to accomplishing your dreams, is another step closer for you to reaching that dream. Just take it one step at a time.