For every single person the path leading to fulfillment and success looks different. Some prefer small consistent goals, some crave the big marathon push, and then there’s Jared Quan. Known around the Utah writing community as the guy who gets stuff done (and never sleeps), he often shares his favorite quote:
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Jared is the champion of volunteering. Every year he donates countless hours, well into the hundreds, giving his time, his ideas, and his drive to the organizations he loves. Today, he shares his story with us.
I Rolled a Life Changing 20 and You Can Too.
By: Jared Quan
Four years ago, my second book “Changing Wax” was published. I had accomplished my lifelong dream, and no one had any idea who I was. Getting published was a massive struggle that took nine years to happen, and I was exhausted. Antsy to do something, but not ready to take on another book, I had an epiphany. I would use my knowledge and experience to make it my mission to help people achieve their dreams. I had no idea what that single decision would lead to.
After talking it through with my wife and we figured out that I could volunteer a couple hours a week. I went out looking for ways to get involved. Which was not nearly as easy as it sounded. I stumbled into my first opportunity after taking a shot in the dark and emailing the Mayor of West Jordan. Mayor Rolfe recommend that I join the West Jordan Arts Council. Shortly after I was appointed to the West Jordan Arts Council by the West Jordan city council. Serving on the Literary Committee under an amazing Literary Arts Chair John Pulver, I started to learn the ropes on how to do more in the community.
At the exact same time this was happening I met Johnny Worthen who recommend that I check out the League of Utah Writers. During my very first meeting with the Oquirrh Chapter it was announced by Chapter President Eliza Crosby that they needed a new Vice President, after a massive internal debate (and texts from my wife encouraging me to volunteer), I volunteered. Under Eliza, I was starting to learn about how the League worked and what things I could do to help.
I worked on a few projects with the Arts Council and the League which embolden me to find some additional small projects. I volunteered to help author David Armstrong at the Davis County Fair, volunteered to help acclaimed artist Roger Whiting at the DIY Festival, helped staff the League table at LTUE and Storymakers. I started to figure out how much time I could spend on projects and started to figure out how to better utilize the resources I have access to.
Fast forward to today, after dozens and dozens of projects, and events, I am now on five non-profit boards (League of Utah Writers, Storymakers, Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan, Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance, and Big World Network), I work four jobs (VLCM, Lyft, Real Salt Lake, and being an author), and spend time with my wife and five kids. My mission transformed into a passion, and then into a dream. I get to help people every day reach their dreams.
As you can see, I didn’t get into volunteering to gain position or rewards other than seeing people succeed. However, I discovered that volunteering selflessly was like rolling a 20-sided dice over and over. The number would randomly throw unexpected rewards. The key being that the service had to be selfless.
Like a waking dream I found myself sitting in front of hundreds of people at the LTUE conference 2019. I was sitting off to the side waiting for my turn to be a special guest with the Writing Excuses Podcast. I had rolled a 20, and I was being honored with a tremendous opportunity. I knew however, that even in this moment, it wasn’t about me, it was an opportunity to help others find ways to figure out what I had found out.
I watch as special guest Natasha Ence and Rosalyn Collings Eves, do an amazing job on the podcast. Then it was my turn to sit with the amazing team of Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, and Howard Tayler. We talked about volunteering and ways to find opportunities to volunteer. It was amazing.
When people had found out that I had selected to be on Writing Excuses, everyone asked how I had accomplished such a thing. I told people that I wasn’t sure, but I was honored to have such an opportunity, and talk about selflessly volunteering.
Everyday I wake up and live my dream of helping people. If you add the goal, mission or passion of helping people by volunteering (not just in the writing community), you will be rolling a 20 side dice that will change your life. It will help you accomplish amazing things and give you opportunities beyond your imagination. I have to thank all the amazing people for giving me the chance to volunteer and taking a chance on me. You just have to take a chance on yourself and volunteer. I would love to see you out there.
Jared Quan
About today’s guest –
Jared Quan is a video game addict and writer published in genres from Spy-Thriller to Horror/Supernatural, to Fantasy-Comedy. His work includes Ezekial’s Gun, Changing Wax, Classified, Pathological Passion, (Futuristic/Romance/Steampunk, which he co-wrote with his wife), Unclassified, and Prepped (a story in the Apocalypse Utah anthology).
He has extensively served the community in roles from the President for the League of Utah Writers, Board Member of the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan, Grants Director of the Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance, Executive Director of Big World Network, Chair of the West Jordan Arts Council, serving on the Utah Poet Laureate Selection Committee, Recruiting Chair of the Association of IT Professional Utah Chapter, as well as serving as a general volunteer for countless events and organizations.
Jared was given the Gold Volunteer Service Award by the President of the United States for his over 1,500 hours of service to the writing community from 2015 to 2017. He has also received recognition and awards from the Governor and Lt. Governor of Utah for his volunteering.
He lives in Eagle Mountain with his supportive wife and five children.
Want to connect? It’s easy!
Find Jared at the following places:
About Jared’s Book, Changing Wax
Changing Wax is an action adventure comedy, taking place in the fantasy world of Wax, which resides just seven hundred sixty-two thousand, five hundred twenty-two million and five light years from Earth (give or take half a light year depending on Earth’s rotation). Wax revolves around rules established in the ancient Master Book of Magic, rules that don’t always follow basic logic or sanity. The story follows three adventurers: Gorath the misfortunate monk who can’t seem to get anything right, Odd Drip the Imp who is too smart for his own good, and Thomas Twostead, a teenage girl born on the wrong side of Wax’s never-ending war between Light and Dark. In the end, their teaming up might decide the fate of the world, while seemingly defying the will of the Master Book of Magic. Or are they…?
***
New Anthology Release!
Tales of wise, ancient dragons hoarding treasure, terrorizing villages, and doing battle with noble heroes have long fascinated us. But dragons were not born old and wise, nor were heroes born brave and noble.Wings of Change gathers tales of young dragons growing into their scales and claws, and human youths making choices that shape their destinies – destinies that will be forever changed by their interaction with the dragons that share their world.
My story “Saffron Dragon” is about a blind Bangladeshi girl who discovers a dragon lives in her dreams. She must learn to both trust herself and the dragon to find her place in the world.
Wings of Change is available in both print and ebook on Amazon.
***
You can also find updates and post notifications on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – chose the one you like the most!
Jodi L. Milner, Author 