10 points in 10 mintues: John David Graham - From homeless, to business owner, to published author. A second-chance journey

In John Graham's words:
I have always been a curious person. Try taking a new road, a different direction, another adventure—or maybe failure. As a result, I have gone from homelessness to a business owner to a published author. Along the way I was a door-to-door salesman, children’s home counselor, substitute school teacher, truck driver, fireman, building contractor, minister and journalist.
Eventually I hit my stride at 53 when I started GOOD SAMARITAN HOME, a non-profit agency helping people restart their lives after prison.
 But there was a lot of resistance to our program, requiring years of legal conflict, community networking, and just plain hard work. Initially our budget was $5,000 with just one program house. Now we have 19 houses, a staff of 10 people, and a $2 million budget by constantly asking the question: “What is the need in the community, and how can we help meet that need?”
Then at 61, I finished my doctorate to better help me live our motto in the street where it was needed most.
 At 75, I published my debut novel called RUNNING AS FAST AS I CAN, a fictionalized story of one man’s journey to overcome an abusive background to find forgiveness and love. But even publishing was no easy journey. My novel was rejected nearly 200 times. But now it has garnered 23 awards, including the prestigious 2024 StoryTrade Book Award for debut novel of the year.
Finally, at 76, on a lark, I saw an advertisement for extras in the television series “1923” being filmed nearby, and submitted my name and was hired. Now I can add “actor” to my resume—although I don’t plan on moving to Hollywood anytime soon!
So I am very familiar with second, third and fourth chances that many of us need to reach our goals. It is in developing what I call "calloused hands and a tender heart" along the journey.

3 Top Tips:
If I were to offer advice to someone just starting his/her journey, I would say to remember that success NEVER comes overnight. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Above all, keep your eyes on your goal, AND ALWAYS PICTURE YOURSELF GETTING THERE.
Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Always keep running.
 Life is written in pencil. We get lots of second chances.
 It is our failures that develop the calloused hands and tender heart needed for success.

Social Media
https://johndavidgraham.com
 https://www.amazon.com/Running-As-Fast-Can-ebook/dp/B0CKK418FB/
 www.goodsamaritanhome.org
 https://johndavidgraham.substack.com/
 https://www.facebook.com/JGrahamAuthor
 https://www.instagram.com/JGrahamAuthor
 https://www.tiktok.com/@jgrahamauthor
If a reader is the leader of a book club, I would be willing to offer a free copy of my novel RUNNING AS FAST AS I CAN to him / her to encourage discussion of the "second chance journey" that is the focus of the book and my life. And based on the reader reactions thus far, it is the focus of the lives of many people as well.
Life is written in pencil. We get lots of second, third and fourth chances.