Jane Porges wrote a review of The Next Act for Amazon that reminded me, in a fresh way, why this work matters. Not because of the five stars—though I’m grateful—but because she understood something essential: this book isn’t about career tactics. It’s about “navigating your inner landscape.”

She writes about “sifting through countless thoughts, ambitions, and disappointments to identify the one or two things worth acting on.” That’s exactly it. That’s the work.

We spend so much time accumulating—experiences, credentials, regrets, possibilities. Somewhere in all that collection, we lose track of what’s actually calling us forward. The Next Act is about the discipline of listening beneath all that noise to find what’s actually true for you. What actually matters. What’s worth your precious time.

Jane calls it “a weave of inspiration and truth.” I love that. Because you need both. Together, they create something you can actually build a life on. Something worth acting on.

Here’s what Jane wrote:

5 stars – Inspiration and clarity for what actually matters

“The Next Act is a weave of inspiration and truth. The best dang stuff you need: the clarity to cut through noise and focus on what actually matters. This work isn’t limited to career success. It reveals how to navigate your inner landscape, sifting through countless thoughts, ambitions, and disappointments to identify the one or two things worth acting on. This is about making the most of your precious life. You have the opportunity to keep this vitality going. Subscribing to Michael’s posts reminds you to practice daily and find your truth in every experience.”

As we begin this new year, I’m thinking about her final observation: that this work requires daily practice. She’s right. Finding your truth “in every experience” isn’t a destination. It’s how you live. It’s the commitment to keep asking yourself: What’s real here? What actually matters? What deserves my energy today?

This isn’t easy work. It would be simpler to follow someone else’s template, to chase what looks successful from the outside, to keep busy enough that you don’t have to face the deeper questions. But that path leads to a life that feels like it belongs to someone else.

To everyone who has read The Next Act, left a review, or shared how it’s affected your thinking—thank you. You remind me why this work matters. We’re not done yet. None of us are.

We’re just getting clearer about what comes next.

And that clarity? That’s everything.

I extend my enormous gratitude to editor Ann Sheybani and Summit Press Publishers for their unwavering support throughout the creative writing process. They believed in this vision of empowering people to create work that truly matters.

The Next Act is available at Amazon. Please purchase a copy or a few as gifts for friends, and then leave a review. It helps.

Thank you!

Michael

This is also important: 4 Impressive Book Reviews – The Next Act