HOLLYWOOD—HELLO AMERICA!  It is great when you can pick up a book and suddenly it fills you with energy and hope for the better. Terrance Bell's book, "Empowering You in Pursuit of Personal Success and Fulfillment," is affecting the lives of thousands of people, especially the young who are trying to figure out where they are in this economically-troubled world.  Bell is very young but extremely wise.

Terrance Bell

Q: When you were growing up in the South, what kind of dreams did you have about the future?

A: “I had all sorts of wild and crazy dreams when I was growing up. One of my dreams was to become a professional baseball player. The rest of my dreams, and there were many, all had something to do with being a major platform. I had dreams of politics and participated in debates and other showdowns against other schools. My American government teacher, Mrs. Merriweather, used to boast that when I become a great American politician, she would be proud to say she taught me. She was extremely encouraging throughout my mid-school and high school years.”

Q: Who were some of your idols as a youngster? And how did they impact your life?

A: “I don't know if I actually had any idols. If I did they were characters instead. For instance, I thought Superman was very cool. Batman was kind of cool to me too.”

Q: Was there someone in your family who impacted your life more than anyone else and how?

A: “Impacted my life in what way? I have an aunt who was a televangelist and a Mary Kay queen. As the oldest nephew, I used to hang out with her a lot and I learned quite a bit as a teenager about television, business and people.”

Q: You were once seriously involved in the recording business. What were some of the important lessons learned from that experience?

A: “Hahaha, I spent more time trying to break into the business than I did actually working in the business. I learned patience, perseverance and an abundance of forgiveness because people will always do something that will require you to forgive them in that business, as well in life too, of course.”

Q: Most people have ups and downs when attempting to realize their dreams. How have you managed to survive those times so well? Did rejection make you want to give up and simply go back home?

A: “Rejection is a very uncomfortable feeling because, to some degree, it makes you feel unworthy. Despite that uncomfortable feeling, though, you must go deep within your soul in order to produce the will to continue on your journey with your head high in confidence. Just as important is having an abundance of faith and positive energy to fuel your pursuit toward your ultimate goals in life.”

Q: What really drove you to write "Empowering You in Pursuit of Personal Success and Fulfillment"?

A: “Simply put, I was tired of listening to people whine about life issues and circumstances which, incidentally, does nothing for resolve. In fact, the more you whine and harp about the ills of life – all you're doing is digging yourself a shallow grave with your own tongue. So, I was moved to share my life struggles, twists and turns that all eventually led me to the place I am today. Whether I liked some of those events or not, they were purposeful.”

Q: In writing the book, what did you learn about yourself?

A: “Oh God, I learned so much in that there was a sense of purging in writing my book. I realized how deeply connected I was to many of those events that occurred. When talking about my mother, it re-opened a very sensitive wound that apparently hadn't healed since she passed away a long time ago. But even beyond that, it brought back certain memories of tough times growing up with a single mother of four at the time. And as you may well know, nobody likes to recall the tough times. I would prefer not but while writing, I did shed a few tears here and there.”

Q: What is your greatest fear today? Is it success, love or the new life you’re leading because of all your success?

A: “That's a great question! I wouldn't say that these were great fears but with success came many different things, both good and bad unfortunately. Love comes with great risks depending on how much emotional stock you invest. Those risks can lead to great rewards or great disasters. And if you're living a successful life, defined by spiritual terms and not monetary terms, fear should not and will not exist.”

Q: When you are alone and you look in the mirror, what do you see?

A: “This is a trick question right? I see that I'm still under construction.”

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