Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Blanchard

Hi Dan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

I’m a high school teacher, and my journey as an author began with a simple, yet powerful moment. One day, a student approached me and said I was the most inspirational teacher she’d ever had. She told me I should write books to share the lessons I give in class with others. While I appreciated her words, I initially dismissed the idea, thinking it was kind but unrealistic. I didn’t believe I could write a book.

However, over the next ten years, many students echoed the same sentiment. Year after year, different students encouraged me to write. After a decade of hearing this, I realized they were seeing something in me that I hadn’t recognized in myself. It made me think that maybe I should trust in them the way I ask them to trust in me. So, I decided to write a book—thinking it would never be published, but at least I’d have something to show the students who kept suggesting it.

Then I wondered what I’d tell my students if they asked whether I had taken a risk and submitted my manuscript to a publisher. So, despite my doubts, I decided to swing for the fences and sent it off. To my surprise, a publisher accepted it, and that first book was published.

The faith my students had in me sparked something greater. One book turned into a second, then a third, and now I’ve written 42 books. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of speaking on countless stages, delivering a TEDx talk, and making more media and social media appearances than I can count.

Through it all, I’m still teaching high school. But now, I’m also a bestselling and award-winning author, speaker, educator, TV host, and philanthropist. It’s incredible how a single conversation with a student ignited a journey I never imagined.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

It has definitely not been a smooth road. There were countless times when I wanted to quit and questioned whether it was all worth it. I was working full-time teaching and coaching sports, while spending my nights, weekends, and early mornings writing books, blogs, newspaper and magazine articles, columns, and social media posts—all while being extremely sleep-deprived. Despite the hard work, I wasn’t making much money, and I occasionally received negative feedback and mean-spirited comments on social media.

I came close to quitting more times than I can remember. But just when I was on the brink of giving up, something unexpected would happen: someone would reach out to tell me that my words had changed their life for the better. Sometimes, this encouragement would come in person; other times, it would arrive through social media, email, or even a letter sent to my home or school.

There were moments when older people told me I reminded them of their son, or shared that they had clipped one of my newspaper columns and sent it across the country to their kids or grandkids. It always seemed like, just when I had been stuck in a funk and was getting close to giving up, someone would appear out of the blue to remind me that I was making a difference.

These people have helped me just as much—if not more—than I have helped them.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I am a high school special education teacher, responsible for teaching all of the social studies classes at my school. When I started in this profession, I never saw myself as an artist or a creative. But over time, I’ve realized that’s exactly what I’ve become. Teaching social studies to struggling special education students has pushed me to think outside the box, and it has been an incredibly fun and rewarding journey. I approach teaching in a very different way than what my students were used to before entering my classroom, especially in an inner-city alternative high school setting where creativity and adaptability are key.

As I mentioned earlier, my students were the ones who inspired me to become an author, which ultimately led to a career as a speaker, media personality, and much more. Now, I find myself constantly thinking about how to be more creative and wondering what exciting project or opportunity is next. I also try to pass along this mindset of fun-loving success to everyone around me.

I truly believe that variety is the spice of life. Earlier in my life, I was a sports star, winning state championships in football, becoming a two-time state champion and Junior Olympian wrestler, and later coaching both football and wrestling. I’m also a two-time military veteran, having served in both the Army and the Air Force. Over the years, I’ve completed 14 years of college and earned seven degrees. I’ve written 42 books, delivered a TEDx Talk, hosted my own TV show, jumped out of an airplane, swam with sharks, free-swam the underwater tunnels in Hawaii, ran a marathon, broke the Connecticut bench press record, and raised five children of my own.

I’m always looking for what’s next, because I truly believe that variety keeps life exciting. I also believe that everyone can find joy in being successful while exploring different aspects of life. Success doesn’t have to be a straight line—it can be full of fun and discovery, no matter what path you choose.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?

I was always the runt of the litter—my parents had seven children, and I grew up in a very dysfunctional and abusive home. This environment fostered a deep sense of empathy in me, as I constantly felt pain, and saw others in pain. It also drove me to start lifting weights and learning how to fight, in an attempt to protect my family from the chaos of my abusive, alcoholic household. Because of that, I became known as the “little big guy”—the small guy with big muscles who broke the Connecticut state bench press record and became a two-time state wrestling champion. Despite my tough exterior, I was always known for being kind. Later in life, people often described me as the nicest alpha dog they had ever met.

My interests still include hitting the gym and watching high school wrestling and football. Over the years, I’ve also developed a love for reading books, listening to podcasts, and watching the History Channel. Most importantly, I now spend a lot of time watching my own five children play sports. Whether their teams win or lose doesn’t matter to me—I just enjoy seeing them have fun, running around with their teammates, and hopefully making friendships that will last a lifetime.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://granddaddyssecrets.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blanchard_dan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.blanchard.186
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielblanchard2757
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dan-Blanchard/author/B00KEO611E?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Image Credits

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