Entrepreneurial-Memoir Author PJ Ohashi: If I Could Change My Life, So Could Anyone
We periodically feature guest input from impactful authors we’ve worked with. Please enjoy this Q&A about the writing process with entrepreneurial-memoir author PJ Ohashi.
SPIRITUS BOOKS: Tell us a little about your book and why you wrote it.
OHASH: Rage to Riches is a business memoir, sharing the story of a company I helped found, grow, and eventually sell. But beyond business anecdotes is a common thread of how I use anger as an effective motivational tool. Throughout the book, you will find various experiences, along with some fabricated scenarios, that provide fuel for change and positivity.
I wrote Rage to Riches for a few reasons, some of which I didn’t discover till well into the process. Initially, I wanted to share the story of Society [the company] as a tribute to my business partners and friends who will always be a special part of my life. Second, I took on the challenge as part of my creative journey, given my analytical nature. I never thought I could write a book, so I considered it a major challenge to conquer. As I continued the process, I was presented with a very cathartic experience which only pushed me to write more. Connecting dots of my past to who I am today was extremely gratifying, despite it not being an initial motive.
Last, I wrote the book with the simple ideas of entertaining first and inspiring second. If I could change my life, so could anyone else.
How has writing a book helped you personally or professionally?
I didn’t write the book for any financial or professional gain. I wasn’t trying to build a brand or gain any level of attention. In fact, quite the contrary, as I’m content that I will never recoup the costs associated with writing and publishing.
That said, the writing process has opened my eyes to the power of writing down memories, researching facts, introducing perspective, and sharing with the world. Personally, I was able to connect various dots in my life, explaining why I am wired a particular way. This, for me, was therapy in the most effective of methods.
I now encourage everyone to share their story. Even if they never publish it, the personal rewards are worth it.
What was the best or easiest part of the process for you?
The easiest part for me was the homage I pay to my parents and business partners. Sharing my gratitude for everything my mother and father did to shape my views, establish my values and principles, and support for success was simple to tell. Further, my business partners were well-deserving recipients of acknowledgments given the hard work, sacrifices, and obstacles overcome during our eight-year journey together.
What did you find the most challenging?
The most challenging aspect of the writing process was ensuring I did my very best to tell the story as raw as could be but also with a level of sensitivity and compassion for all those involved. Essentially, I wanted to share the truth, but without necessarily throwing any under the bus or disparaging them. This was a delicate tightrope to walk given the scenarios painted some pretty ugly pictures at times—making it extremely difficult to share the magnitude of the moment without creating feelings of absolute judgement.
What surprised you, or what do you wish you had known ahead of time or done differently?
Despite being told that the story would evolve over time, I was still very surprised at the final product and exactly how different it was from the initial draft. First, the book was pared down quite a bit. I originally wrote over 135,000 words, so cutting out substantial pieces was a surprise. Also, finding a theme and weaving it in and out of the book was also a nice surprise at the end.
What advice would you give to first-time authors?
First, get a writing coach. If it wasn’t for Marcia, I don’t know if I ever would have finished the first draft. She pushed me to think differently and made me very uncomfortable at times—effort that ultimately brought out hidden creativity inside of me. Her methodical approach helped me in various aspects from the title, thesis, and structure.
Next, hire a good team to support you. I was lucky to get introduced to a few folks that undoubtedly made the process easier. Jocelyn Carbonara supported me through multiple rounds of editing, fine-tuning the content to a finished product. Jenny Lisk was my project manager who helped coordinate the myriad of moving pieces for publishing. And George Stevens was dialed in on designing my book cover—one that I am very proud of.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?
The journey post-publishing has been fun: listening to the positive feedback, what they individually walked away with, and what parts of the story resonated. But these are folks that know me to some degree. I am curious what the perfect stranger thinks. I am attempting to write a second book, so any feedback is appreciated to help me along this journey.
PJ Ohashi is a retired (for the time being) entrepreneur, active investor, forever student of life, and travel adventure-seeker. Previously, he was a cofounder and senior vice president of revenue at Society Consulting, a data and analytics professional services firm, where he helped lead sales operations, marketing, and partnerships. PJ helped grow Society to multiple offices across the country and more than 250 employees before selling it to a global consulting firm.
