Air Force veteran and former Victorville candidate Michael Stevens pens book on 'How to change the world'
Air Force veteran and former Victorville Council candidate Michael Stevens has released his second book, a literary piece he hopes will inspire readers to pursue their dreams.
The book by Stevens, a former broadcast journalist and city council candidate, is dubbed “A Simple Recipe for How to Change the World (And how I have tried to do so).”
Stevens said his book carries the message for readers to act upon their goals while also inspiring them to be creative and to submit their ideas.
The book also demonstrates how ordinary people can speak out while accepting fear, rejection, criticism and ridicule, said Stevens, who came up short during the 2020 election race for three open seats on the Victorville City Council.
“The book describes a simple recipe for how you can change the world even if your world is just your home, community or your workplace,” Stevens said. “If there ever was a time where innovation and new ideas were needed to improve our world, that time is now.”
The book chronicles many—although not all—of the suggestions Stevens has submitted throughout the years in his quest to “change the world” and leave a positive legacy, he said.
Stevens asks rhetorically, “How many times have you had an idea or suggestion, but didn’t offer it because you were too afraid that it might be rejected, or that someone might criticize you, ridicule you or even make fun of you for making such a suggestion and you, therefore, withheld doing so?”
“Think about it. All the advancements made by mankind over the past 100 years, even longer, have come about because someone had an idea, someone had a suggestion and acted upon it,” said Stevens. “I am convinced that there are many folks who are smart, innovative and creative but don’t
use their time and talent to make a positive difference in our world.”
For those who have been or are hesitant and reticent about offering new ideas, he describes four stages for an idea to happen, three of which must occur for an idea to have a chance of succeeding or failing.
The three stages that must occur are inspiration, creation and implementation. The fourth stage of evaluation will happen by default because in time it will ultimately be revealed whether the idea is successful or not, Stevens said.
“Make Sure Your Shirt Has Buttons”
His first book, “Make Sure Your Shirt Has Buttons” was published in 2006 and is a self-help piece that teaches strategies to improve a person’s success potential.
“If there ever was a time where innovation, new ideas were needed to improve our world, that time is now,” said Stevens. “We are faced with an ever-changing world, with ever-changing circumstances that test our patience, our confidence, our courage.”
Stevens, who first arrived in the High Desert in 1975 at the former George Air Force Base in Victorville, said his second book chronicles some—although not all—of the suggestions he has made throughout the years in his quest to live up to a personal slogan he developed and had it enshrined on a plaque in July 1979:
“Let me do what good I can, while I can, And though I will die, my living will not have been in vain.”
Inspired by his Christian faith to write the book, Stevens said, “I have been blessed and gifted in many ways; for me to advance new ideas and suggestions is my way to use my gifts to give back, to make a positive difference, in essence—to do good!”
With the book, Stevens has developed a companion PowerPoint presentation that he intends to “take on the road” to encourage others to “be creative” and discover his eight-step “Suggestions Made Easy” process.
Stevens’ background
Stevens served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years and then began working full-time as a substance abuse counselor.
More than a decade ago, Stevens wrote an advice column for teens and parents in the Daily Press. He also created, wrote and hosted a cable TV public affairs program for the City of Hesperia and a live radio talk show on AM Talk 960.
He previously worked as a public information officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, High Desert Association of Realtors and the city of Adelanto.
Stevens was the first person hired for several newly created positions, including a project supervisor on the San Bernardino Countywide Gangs & Drugs Task Force, he said.
Stevens has served on several governing boards, including the Victorville Planning Commission and the Victor Valley Chamber of Commerce.
During the 2020 election, Stevens was one of 22 Victorville Council. In the end, the winners were newcomers Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Irving and Councilwoman Elizabeth “Liz” Becerra, and also Councilwoman and incumbent Blanca Gomez.
The hardcopy or e-edition of Stevens’ books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, at iuniverse.com/en/bookstore and by email at stevensconsultingservices@gmail.com.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Air Force veteran from Victorville pens second motivational book
