A Journey to Paradise - My Story

by Susan Hayward

"What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve" 

Napoleon Hill

Chapter 1 - In the beginning

27th April 2006

I have wanted to write a novel for many years but it was something that I always felt I would do "one day" until the day I met Denis on the 27th April.  After hearing some of my stories, he asked me why I didn't write my book now?  I just looked at him and said "Why not?".  He made me choose a date to have the first draft manuscript finished - I thought I was being reasonable saying December 31st 2006.   He said I should aim for sooner - so, September 30th became the deadline.

I went home and started writing.  As I wrote, the words poured out and my characters came to life but I felt as if I was living the story.  As I wrote, my imagination took over and I kept thinking of my characters in a film and me at the premier of it. I had always read in my self-help books to "Think Big" so I did.

I pictured the famous actors and actresses in the different roles.  My hero was made up of from the characters of two men I had met - they were very good looking but one looked a little like George Clooney so my dream was to have George Clooney in the starring role of my film.  After a bit of research I found the details of GC's Production Company and rang them.  They said they would be pleased to see the book but wouldn't give me details of their Agents.

I carried on writing and even started working on the website that would go with the novel and film.  Then Denis invited me to be his guest at the Millionaire Mind Event being held at the Docklands.  We went there and I found the answers to many questions I had about how to generate an income from my websites. 

I managed to talk to two Millionaires at the event - one was Alan Forrest Smith (www.orangebeetle.com) and the other Morgan Westerman (www.getinspirednow.com).  Both said they were interested in my projects.    

Chapter 2 - The Exodus

I remembered that my friend, Ray Frensham, a journalist and that he had written a book on Screenwriting so I contacted him and told him about my idea of having a film of my novel.  We met up and he gave me lots of tips but it all went a bit over my head.

One night shortly afterwards I went to an event held by one of my girlfriend's, Ayshe,  She wanted to help people invest in the US and was teaching people about Foreclosures, Tax Liens & Deeds (www.investinthestates.com). 

Another of our girlfriends who was also there, Angie, said to me "Come with me to Los Angeles, Sue - to the MillionaireMindIntensive Seminar!"

Well, Ayshe had given me a book called the Secret Psychology of Wealth by Harv E. Ecker several months previously and although the seminar was free to attend, I felt unable to afford the fares and accommodation although I desperately wanted to go to it.

I looked at Angie and though "Why not?".  Having read "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert T Kiyosaki I thought, "How can I afford it?" instead of "I can't afford it!".  I then said "Yes! I will go".

The next thing I did was get back to Ray and tell him I was going to Los Angeles in a couple of weeks and wanted to take the script with me.  He advised me that I would need a one page Synopsis and 10 pages of script, so we spend the next fortnight writing and re-writing the script and I also wrote six chapters of the novel.  Ray also told me I would need to find myself a Media Attorney to safeguard my interests.

I phoned the US to speak to the George Clooney's Production Company again to tell them I was going to LA and that I'd like to give them my script but they still wouldn't give me their agent's details.  Still I wasn't daunted and continued making my plans.

I had two elderly parents to look after, my 15year old daughter and my four year old granddaughter so getting a 9-5 job was out of the question.   All I had were my numerous ideas and five websites.

I had borrowed the money to pay my fare and accommodation in L.A. as well as my spending money.  Crazy?  I suppose but I really felt that I needed to go and find out what had been preventing me from being successful in the past. 

I was, by this time, thoroughly fed up with being poor and living on benefits as a single parent.  Still, by the time I had arrived at Heathrow Airport, I had enough money to see me through the following week.

Chapter 3 - Los Angeles

12th - 19th June 2006

I left the UK that evening and it was a long journey to Los Angeles Airport as we stopped at Chicago en route but it was so interesting as I had chatted to several people (as I usually do).

The view from the aeroplane was just "awesome" as I saw below me the Grand Canyon and surrounding mountains.  The view of Los Angeles itself was incredible as I saw what looked like a motherboard from a computer below me - the greens and browns with straight lines dividing up the areas.  Beautiful!  This was so exciting.

I took the Shuttle Bus to my hotel where I met up with Ellen and Lynda who were sharing a room below mine.  I went into my "single" room with its two double beds - great, I could sleep in both on alternate nights and grinned to myself!

We all met up in Reception at 7.30am the next morning (Thursday 14th).  We had to get to Registration at the Pasadena Conference Centre before the Seminar started at 9am. 

Thursday was a bit of an adventure too - for Ellen, Lynda and I had split up for lunch and I had joined another group of people as we were all wanting to have lunch and the local restaurants found it difficult catering for nearly 4,000 people!

I joined up with three people and as we were sitting waiting for our meal I asked the man sitting opposite me what he did for a living.  He turned out to be an attorney. 

"Great!" I said. " I need to find a good media attorney, do you know any?"

He replied, smiling, "I am one!" - wow ...4,000 people and I am sitting opposite a Media Attorney.  I took his card. 

The rest of the day went splendidly but I cannot share any of the Seminar with you as it would spoil it for you if you went to it yourself.  I did meet a lovely lady called Diana though and we became friends.

She had recently found herself with cancer but had someone got through everything and was on the mend.  (I will write her story soon).

On Friday I found myself sitting next to a lady who was reading what looked like a script.  She turned out to be a scriptwriter and reader. 

I said "Great - I am writing a script and want to have George Clooney star in the film but am not sure how to get it to him yet."

She just looked at me and told me her husband was an actor and attended the same acting classes as George Clooney.  Well, I sat down - my heart was thumping so hard!  Of course I asked for her contact details.  4,000 people and I end up sitting next to someone who's husband knew George Clooney - a coincidence - by now I was beginning to think something strange was happening to me.

The rest of the Seminar was again "awesome" - what a wonderful word....and we were all reluctant to leave at the end of the Saturday session.

On Sunday Diana took me to meet Colin, the actor brother of one of Ray's friends.  Colin lived in Pasadena too.  Well, as soon as I saw him I thought he'd be brilliant for the part of my heroine's son.  He liked the script too and gave me lots of tips but then he told me that I needed the book,  xxxxxxxxx .  He told us to follow him home and he would give me his copy. 

Chapter 4 - Homeward Bound

18th June 2006

That night (Sunday) as I looked through this precious book I found that in its pages was everything I would need to know if I wanted to survive Hollywood. 

On page 120, it said:

"Don't share the xxxxxx (the book)  instead, do

the world a real favor; make good movies." 

So I have left the title out as you can see.  On page 123 it said:

 "......Write yourself a new career scenario. 

And give yourself a happy ending. 

In this town, dreams do come true."   

So my old dream of having a publishing and production company rose to the surface from where I had buried it eight years previously, that is my ultimate goal.  To have such a company and produce brilliant and inspiring films and publications. 

Colin had also photocopied something for me - I had told him that I not succeeded in my previous ventures, simply because of all my hang-ups about being rich and successful and feeling I did not deserve to be such.  Harv T. Ecker quotes the same piece in his book (P.76) - it's from Marianne Williamson's book "A Return to Love":

'You are a child of God.  Your playing small

does not serve the world.  There is nothing

enlightened about shrinking so that other people

won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to

shine, as children do. 

We were born to make manifest the glory of God

that is within us.  It is not just in some of us; it is

in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we

unconsciously give other people permission to

do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.'

He is a very special young man and will do well in his career.

19th June 2006

The next day I contacted George Clooney's production company.  This time I was determined to get the details of his Agent.  I explained that I was returning to the UK that night and wanted to get my script to GC's agent before I left.  I was finally given the contact details and phone the Agent .......who was out of the office.  I managed to speak with someone eventually who told me that I couldn't send them the script as they wouldn't receive it by post!

I spent the next few hours with Diana and met her friend Jodie too and Diana's father.  It was such a lovely day and I felt so sad to leave them but I knew I would return.

So, I left my script with Diana who promised to hand deliver it to the Agent and so she took me to LAX for my flight home, via New York where I almost missed my connection having got lost at the New York Airport.

I was on a brilliant "high" and full of wonder at was was going to happen to me next.

Chapter 5 - Back Home

25th June 2006

I had tried not to think about my script all week.  I'd spent the weekend with Ayshe helping her with her Invest in The States Seminar and was very impressed with her Workshop - she had over 40 people in attendance.  I will always be grateful to her for giving me the book, 'Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.'  That evening I found an email from Diana.  She said she had tried to get the script to George Clooney's Agent but he had told her that he wouldn't even consider it without funding.

I phoned my friend Ray and asked him how much I would need to raise.  The book had mentioned a figure of $120million.  He told me £30million should be enough!  Well, I now had a "multi-millionaire mind" and had raised £30,000 in the 90s.  What was a few more noughts!  £30million ....okay. 

I phoned one of my girlfriends who mixes with millionaires.  She told me that she could get about ten people together but that I would need a good business plan first.   This group who had been considering funding the "Da Vinci Code" - cool - now I needed to finish my novel, the script and now a Business Plan - asap. 

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I can only say, Friends, that things just get better and the next part of my story will cover from 26th June to date - 26th April 2007 - I can't believe how quickly a year has gone......

Update:  Today is the 3rd November 2007 and I have yet to write about my journey to date.  I did feel a little embarrassed to think of things I have started and have yet to finish but I've come to realise that I am doing everything I need to do at this time and that these stories will get finished when the time is right.

The routes that have taken me to learn about the Universal Laws and the Law of Attraction have been truly exciting and enlightening for I have come to understand that the only way to physical perfection is through becoming spiritually perfect first.  It is only then that our hearts, minds and bodies will heal and become what our Creator intended them to be - perfect in every way. 

There are many who have already discovered this "truth" and I will be meeting or reading about them in time and added these experiences to my story of this journey. 

I've just finished reading the book Mohammad Ali - The Soul of a Butterfly (Reflections on life's journey) and found it extremely inspiring so have added a link to the Muhammad Ali Centre on our Inspiring People page.

I've also inserted a Book List page.  I love books and have several on the go at one time so you will find this list growing rapidly.  Do let me know of any you'd like to recommend.  Email: booklist@phoenix-can.org.uk

PS.  I still have this strong feeling that I will be meeting George C. one of these days!

To be continued

Meanwhile - instead of all the bad news we hear every day,

 here's a site full of good news:

 www.happynews.com