I only say that because I’m not a great self-promoter.
But telling my story in a film is one of the best things I’ve done.
Like many boys - hopefully girls too but I’m not sure how it was received - when I saw Robin Williams exhort the young men of Welton Academy in 1989’s Dead Poet’s Society to go fertilize daffodils and suck the marrow out of life, I was all in.
1000%
“That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” What will your verse be?
Well.
That was the best question anyone could have asked me at that age. At that stage.
I was just about to hit Southern California for college, planning my supposed life around a degree in graphic design and already picking out the 3/2 home I’d buy somewhere in greater L.A.
Small town kids often make that mistake - thinking that the big city they see on TV will be as cool to live in as it is on screen.
Rarely true.
Regardless, I was at a pivotal moment in life - I had an image of what I thought I could get out of life - but I wasn’t thinking instead of what I might give.
It turns out I’ve been far better at giving back than getting anything for myself.
In fact I’m a millionaire on the first, thanks be to God.
I could tell you the story
But it’s better you watch it for yourself.
It’s called 30 Bikes, The Story of Homestead Bicycles and it’s on Prime Video.
It’s about a determined 19 year old kid who dropped out of college to start a BMX bike company.
He orders 50 bikes but only receives 30.
Then 27 years later he decides to find out what happened to the bikes - who bought the ones he did receive, and what happened to the remaining bikes he paid for.
Yep that kid was me.
And the movie is really good.
Watch it if you’d like — then tell me what you think.
And Happy Birthday - To all the September 14ers out there.
