Not A Fire Exit - A Novel

I originally planned to do a different blog post today, but I felt this one was too important to delay.

I first heard of Steve Churchill when I was 14 - I was a painfully awkward freshman at Great Valley High School, and Steve was a senior.  My friend Scott had a class with him, and swore up and down he was the funniest guy he'd ever met.  I didn't know anything else about him - I'd see him in the smoking lounge now and again (yes, we had a smoking lounge back then), and eventually ended up in a health (CPR?) class with him.  Scott's observation proved to be accurate - he was a riot, although I'm sure the teacher he was giving grief too all semester surely disagreed.

Regardless, I didn't hear or think of him again until late last year, when we met shortly after the launch of this book.  I learned that Steve was doing extremely well for himself, having a trio of successful businesses he ran, along with having a wonderful wife and two young children. 

We first chatted at length after he ordered several copies of my book and hand delivered one of his wonderful Stove Top Covers right to my house.  For twenty minutes, I listened as Steve covered a myriad of topics, from how he started his own business with literally nothing more than a small loan and an idea, to how he first thought of the Stove Top Cover product, and how he couldn't imagine having to deal with SMA as a father of two small children, and would do whatever it took to make that disease history.

Over the past several months, Steve has done just that, and his financial contributions and generosity are well-known among the SMA community.  And seeing how passionately he spoke about his commitment to that goal in December, I never doubted that'd he do anything less.  But what I didn't know is how much of a positive influence he would have on me, both personally and professionally. 

This man, who I barely knew 6 months ago, has shown me how it's okay to try many ideas that fail, because you only need one that doesn't.  To make time for my family, for they should always be my number one priority.  To never pass up an opportunity to give of yourself and make others feel important.  And that if being successful in life was easy, everyone would be.  Almost every day, he'll send an e-mail that range from stock tips to wondering about different folks he sees me connecting with on Facebook in the SMA community, just looking at ways he can help as many people as possible in anyway he can think of.

One of the best things this book has allowed me to do is meet and reconnect with so many wonderful people.  It's never too late to make new friends, and I'm honored to call him one of them. 

Thanks, Steve.  You've made a difference in many people's lives, including mine, with your generosity, thoughtfulness, and inspiring all of us to always think of new ways to help someone in need.

Chris