Frequently Asked Questions

The title of your book is STEPS: A Daily Journey to a Better Life. What exactly are the “STEPS”?

This book presents five steps to improve your life one day at a time. These steps provide practical guidance to help you bring more peace, joy, and purpose into your life.

Where did these steps come from?

The foundation is the Twelve Steps, originally made famous by Alcoholics Anonymous, now used by many organizations around the world to help people improve their lives.

Twelve steps sounds like a lot to remember; does the book help with that?

This approach simplifies concepts from the Twelve Steps into an easy-to-understand process which provides clear, down-to-earth techniques and examples for effective living.

The book cover says: “How Anyone Can Use the World’s Most Famous (and Misunderstood) Life Improvement Program.”
How famous are the Twelve Steps?

They have been used successfully by millions of people all over the world and are embraced by over 200 different groups. Just in one large city, they can be utilized in hundreds of meetings every week, benefiting many thousands of people.

What do you mean when you say they are “misunderstood”?

This book brings to light a secret the rest of the world does not fully understand, that these steps apply to all us and provide the best tool ever developed for living in a healthy and satisfying manner. You can ask anyone at any recovery meeting if they are useful for everyday living, and they will agree that they are. But most people outside the world of recovery do not understand the power behind these steps.

How did you learn about the Twelve Steps?

Our family’s journey over the last decade included a series of deep trials. Family members faced battles with depression, alcoholism, and drug abuse. My wife and I dealt with financial problems and marriage issues along the way. In spite of those challenging experiences, we now feel our lives have been deeply blessed. Through these traumatic events, I acquired in-depth experience with the life improvement concepts outlined in this book, and I have seen those principles work in my own life and the lives of my family.

The Twelve Steps are based on spiritual principles; can you talk about that?

The founders created the Twelve Steps around solid spiritual concepts. Much later, Rick Warren, the pastor at Saddleback Church in California and author of The Purpose Driven Life, wrote a sermon series linking the Twelve Steps to the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Today, the Twelve Steps are used around the world as a relevant and useful source of spiritual wisdom.

What areas of daily life do the STEPS apply to?

Practical application of these principles is demonstrated in key areas including:

Finding peace and purpose day-to-day.
Establishing an effective life plan.
Managing money wisely.
Navigating marriage and parenting.
Achieving success and satisfaction at work.
Dealing with tough times and
Charting a personal path for spiritual growth.

What benefits can somebody achieve by using the STEPS?

They can achieve greater peace, joy, and purpose and:

Live more effectively.
Find greater happiness.
Experience better relationships.
Develop a stronger sense of purpose.

What’s different about this book compared to other books out there?

In my research, I did not find a book that presented the wisdom of the Twelve Steps in a way that was truly applicable for everyone. There are many books on recovery, but most do not address normal day-to-day challenges beyond addiction. Thousands of books cover various aspects of spirituality, but few show how to take practical steps to grow closer to God. Books on personal motivation and self-help are everywhere, but many seem to be more flash than substance, aimed at the latest fad or new idea.

Who does the book apply to?

Basically, it applies to anybody. The people who instantly gravitate toward this approach are those familiar with recovery (conservatively 10% of the population, but much higher including families and friends). Also, anyone who wants to live a life based on spiritual principles will love the STEPS. In addition, many people just want to use self-improvement techniques to make their lives better, and they will get great benefit from the book as well.

I understand there is a study guide to go with the book; can you talk about that?

The Life Application Guide can be used in a small or large group setting or by an individual. A group can cover the material in a six-week study or a longer curriculum. An individual can use the guide as a work book as they read STEPS the first time, or they can use the guide afterwards to help them put the STEPS into action in their lives.