Episode 20: When One Connection Matters More Than a Hundred Sales

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A powerful hotel encounter reminds Pam that success isn't measured in book sales but in meaningful connections. When a hotel employee named Tyra wondered how Pam maintained joy despite past hardships, it became the highlight of her trip—far outweighing the modest sales at the Texas Country Reporter Festival.

• The Plus One Theory focuses on taking small, intentional steps beyond your perceived limits
• Sometimes success isn't measured by sales or followers but by one meaningful connection
• Sharing your story matters because it can be someone else's survival guide
• Sympathy gives you care, but belief gives you energy and purpose
• Even at 58, Pam realized she should have been sharing her story all along
• Journaling heals and could be the beginning of a book that helps others

Hop over to PamDwyerSpeaker.com to sign up for my newsletter, get book announcements, and grab incredible monthly giveaways. Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that they are enough exactly as they are.

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Are you someone who believes in the power of kindness, resilience, and intentional growth? Do you have a story about how small, meaningful steps have made a difference in your life or career?

I’d love to invite you to share your journey on The Plus One Theory Podcast!

This podcast is all about exploring how we can apply the Plus One Theory to create ripples of positivity and purpose in our personal and professional lives. I’m especially excited to feature guests who work in heart-centered careers—nurses, teachers, counselors, nonprofit leaders, caregivers, or anyone who dedicates their energy to helping others.

Your story could inspire listeners who are navigating their own challenges and looking for ways to take that next small step forward. Whether you’ve used kindness to overcome adversity, found strength in vulnerability, or applied intentional action to make an impact in your community, I want to hear from you!

Interested? Here’s How to Reach Out:

• Email me with a brief introduction about yourself and your story.
• Let me know how the Plus One Theory has played a role in your life or career.

Let’s work together to inspire others and create a ripple effect of kindness and resilience. I can’t wait to hear your story!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Hey friends, welcome back to the Plus One Theory
podcast.
I'm your host, pam Dwyer, andif you're new here, welcome.
I'm so happy you're here.
Here's the quick rundown fortoday.
The Plus One Theory is allabout taking one small,
intentional step beyond what youthink you can do in kindness,
in healing, in energy and ingrowth.

(00:36):
And quick disclaimer I'm not adoctor or a therapist.
I'm just a real person who'slived a lot of life, learned a
lot of lessons, sometimes thehard way, and I'm passionate
about sharing what's helped mewith you.
If you're listening todaybecause someone sent you this
episode, you're in the rightplace.

(00:57):
Today I want to talk about howone small moment, one unexpected
connection, reminded me whysharing your story matters more
than you think.
We were in town for the TexasCountry Reporter Festival, tim
and I, where I was set up tosell my book from the Piney
Woods.
We were at the hotel and Iasked the front manager if they

(01:22):
ever hosted author signingswhich I typically do, especially
if they're super kind like hewas and he said that they did
book fairs once a year.
And the young lady working withhim, tyra, asked for the name
of my book.
Right there, she pulled it upon Amazon.
And, yes, I told her to makesure that she ordered the second

(01:44):
edition because, well, my firstattempt was not as good.
Tyra looked at me and said Iwish I could come to your booth,
but I'm working tomorrow.
Y'all her excitement andencouragement meant so much to
me I couldn't leave it there.
So I ran upstairs to our roomand grabbed a signed copy of my

(02:04):
book and gave it to herpersonally.
She looked me in the eyes andshe asked how are you so full of
joy when all that has happenedto you is so terrible?
And right there I told herabout the plus one theory, about
using pain as fuel and takingsmall steps towards healing and
purpose pain as fuel and takingsmall steps towards healing and

(02:29):
purpose.
She had the most amazing lookin her eyes, like she had hope
for something I didn't even knowabout.
Her manager took a picture ofus together to share on their
social media and it just lit myheart up.
One simple moment, one smallkindness, and it changed my
entire trip.
Now let's be real.
The festival itself, I solddrum roll, please.

(02:51):
Seven books and I made poor Timhaul a hundred of them to our
booth.
He really does love me All day.
I told my story, though I toldmy story and I met amazing
people and I shared kindness,and still the sales table was

(03:11):
pretty quiet.
But you know what?
That wasn't the point.
I had family and friends showup to visit and support me.
They lived in the area there,so they came by to support me.
That mattered more than thesales, and the highlight was at
the end of the day.
We packed up about an hour earlyand I saw a man walking a pet

(03:34):
turtle on a leash right past mybooth.
I'm talking like a full-sizedturtle, not a tiny one.
It was faster than you'd thinktoo.
Who knew turtles could hustlelike that?
And all these people weregathering around.
They were so amazed at thisturtle walking around like a dog
on a leash and I thought tomyself man, I should just put
one of my books right up on ashelf.

(03:54):
And I thought to myself Ishould just put one of my books
right up on a shelf and I mightsell maybe, maybe, one more book
.
Sometimes your success isn't.
You know.
When I finally left thefestival sweaty, tired, a little
, sun fried I kept thinking wasthis even worth it?

(04:17):
We drove five hours, hauled 100books and only sold seven.
And then it hit me it was worthit.
Because sometimes success isn'tmeasured by book sales or
followers or crowds.
Sometimes it's measured in onemoment.
One moment you make someonesmile, we become a vessel.

(04:40):
Sometimes we're the vessel Goduses to tell someone get up, and
sometimes someone else is thevessel reminding us to keep
going when you're feeling likeyou're failing or it's all for
nothing.
Stop and ask yourself am Iexpecting sympathy when what I
really need is a belief?

(05:00):
Sympathy gives you care, andthat's beautiful, don't get me
wrong.
It's beautiful, but beliefgives you energy and purpose.
You don't just need someone topat you on the back.
You need someone, or maybe youneed to be someone who says I
believe you're not done yet.
I believe there's still amission in you.

(05:22):
I believe the story isn't over.
Even when we can't see theoutcome, our faith, our kindness
and our perseverance placesseeds that God is watering in us
and through us.
You don't have to change theworld today, but you can change
one moment for someone else oreven for yourself.

(05:42):
Remember that the plus onetheory is just one small act of
kindness, one small word ofencouragement and one step of
faith in the messy middle.
Your story is someone else'ssurvival guide.
Your resilience is the lightsomeone else needs to see.
Keep showing up, even if itfeels small, even if it feels

(06:06):
unseen, because what you'redoing matters.
I can't tell you how many timesI was speaking to and it was
younger people and they said howdid you ever figure out you
wanted to write a book?
You know, I have a prettyincredible story, but I would
never write a book.
And I look at them and I askthem why, why wouldn't you share

(06:28):
your story?
Even if it just helps oneperson today or tomorrow sharing
your story, it matters.
And of course, they would lookat me in disbelief and I would
remind them that I am 58 yearsold and I finally realized that
I should have been doing thisall along.

(06:48):
And I encourage them to do itnow, while they're young, so
they can enjoy the benefits ofhelping people, the benefits of
the plus one theory.
So get out there, tell yourstory, whether you are speaking
it or writing it.
Or my favorite suggestion is toget a journal and just put your

(07:12):
thoughts and your feelings downon paper.
Who knows, it could be thebeginning of an amazing book
that you publish one day and itwill heal you Journaling heals.
If today's episode touched youor if you're ready to live your
own plus one life, please hopover to Pam Dwyer speakercom,

(07:35):
sign up for my newsletter, checkout my new book announcements
and grab some incrediblegiveaways we have going on every
single month.
And, hey, share this episodewith a friend who might need a
little reminder today that theyare enough exactly as they are.
Your next plus one could changea life, starting with your own.

(07:56):
So stay strong, stay kind andkeep your heart open and always
remember, add a little more love, a little more belief and a
little more light everywhere yougo.
See you next time, friends.