Be a Work in Progress

And Other Things I'd Like to Tell My Younger Self

Author John Cena
Illustrated by Valeria Petrone
$4.99 US
Ballantine Group | Ballantine Books
On sale Apr 06, 2021 | 9780593356425
Sales rights: US, Canada, Open Mkt
A beautifully illustrated book of encouragement from the beloved entertainer and #1 New York Times bestselling author John Cena

“Each day, try to become a little less perfect and a little more brave.”

For years, John Cena has been using his popular Twitter feed to uplift his followers with his unique brand of positivity. Now, he collects his favorite words of wisdom on the benefits of being bold and open-minded, embracing discomfort, and making the most of every opportunity.

Heartfelt and hopeful, Be a Work in Progress is the pick-me-up readers will turn to again and again.
Introduction

I’m grateful to have a public platform; I consider it a privilege, so a couple of years ago I decided that I would try to use Twitter to connect directly with people. . . . I know that social media is often a difficult, argumentative, and negative place. It’s easy to be critical and pessimistic when there is a low sense of accountability. There’s not much that any of us can do about that. But what I can do is send out good stuff, be honest with everybody, and then follow people who relate to the good stuff. I hope to provoke conversation about important things we might shy away from talking about. That’s who I strive to be as a human: I generate these thoughts from self-reflection and self-exploration. If the experiment fails, so be it. I’m just trying to use my presence to tip the balance toward the positive. We all have a lot on our minds, especially now, given the current state of the world. My hope is that words of encouragement can help us stay motivated and focused on what’s really important: being authentic and open-minded, constantly challenging ourselves to be better, embracing discomfort, making the most of the opportunities we’re presented with, and never, never giving up.

John Cena, January 2021

About

A beautifully illustrated book of encouragement from the beloved entertainer and #1 New York Times bestselling author John Cena

“Each day, try to become a little less perfect and a little more brave.”

For years, John Cena has been using his popular Twitter feed to uplift his followers with his unique brand of positivity. Now, he collects his favorite words of wisdom on the benefits of being bold and open-minded, embracing discomfort, and making the most of every opportunity.

Heartfelt and hopeful, Be a Work in Progress is the pick-me-up readers will turn to again and again.

Excerpt

Introduction

I’m grateful to have a public platform; I consider it a privilege, so a couple of years ago I decided that I would try to use Twitter to connect directly with people. . . . I know that social media is often a difficult, argumentative, and negative place. It’s easy to be critical and pessimistic when there is a low sense of accountability. There’s not much that any of us can do about that. But what I can do is send out good stuff, be honest with everybody, and then follow people who relate to the good stuff. I hope to provoke conversation about important things we might shy away from talking about. That’s who I strive to be as a human: I generate these thoughts from self-reflection and self-exploration. If the experiment fails, so be it. I’m just trying to use my presence to tip the balance toward the positive. We all have a lot on our minds, especially now, given the current state of the world. My hope is that words of encouragement can help us stay motivated and focused on what’s really important: being authentic and open-minded, constantly challenging ourselves to be better, embracing discomfort, making the most of the opportunities we’re presented with, and never, never giving up.

John Cena, January 2021