I’m having a personal “Def Leppard moment.”

Yes, this is the landing page for my new book. One month ago, it was filled with the book cover, descriptions, and all you might expect in a promotional page. The release date was set for June 2025. On the day I was to deliver my book to the designer, I had a breakthrough: This is not expressing what I truly want to say. 

I started to freak out, then remembered I could follow my own guidance: downregulate my fight/flight/freeze nervous system, trust myself, and keep going. We often teach what we most need to learn. Then, as I often do, I looked to the creative process of being a musician and thought of one of my favorite bands for inspiration.

In 1984, Def Leppard set out to follow up their mega-hit Pyromania (1983), which sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone. Their intention became to create something even bigger: their “rock version of Thriller,” with every track a potential single. Then they suffered a series of serious setbacks that would have crushed most bands:

Setback #1: Drummer, Rick Allen, lost his arm in an auto accident. 

Setback #2: Producer Mutt Lange (Pyromania) dropped out due to exhaustion and burnout. 

Setback #3: With a string of delays piling up, band members began internally fighting. At one point, lead singer Joe Elliott said it felt like “digging our own graves with golden shovels.”

Setback #4: By the time the album was finished, Hysteria cost over $4.5 million to make (around $11 million today). They were massively in debt, and Pyromania royalties were being used just to stay afloat. 

Setback #5: When Hysteria finally came out in 1987 (over 4 years after Pyromania), it initially underperformed. Despite years of effort and massive production costs, the album looked like it might stall out.

Then in April of 1988, nearly 12 months after the album dropped, “Pour Some Sugar On Me” entered America’s second chakra in full force. Over the next two years, they released seven singles, and slowly, the album caught fire. It went on to become a raging inferno, selling over 20 million copies, and is enshrined as one of the best-selling rock albums of all time. Word!

The entire story is remarkable in every way, highlighting true grit, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to a vision. I mean, the setbacks would have crushed many, but not the Leps.

So here I am, in the middle of my series of creative challenges with my new book. One that has been in the ideation stage for 15 years. Once I decided to commit to writing, the process seemed to go smoothly. 18 months in, my editor and I were psyched to celebrate the delivery of the book on time—woo hoo!  And then, I had a 5-minute conversation that changed everything. I believe in angels, and in that moment, Derek was playing the part.

Derek asked me some tough questions about the positioning of my book and what my real message is. He asked what was on my head and in my heart and what would best serve the people I want to touch. And after a few minutes, I realized I was going to take a major detour. One that might lead through some hills, valleys, and construction sites, but ultimately, land me back on my feet.

So here I am, breathing, and committing once again to moving forward despite any obstacles. Thank you for your patience and for going on this long, winding road with me. I can promise you one thing: although this is a setback from my original plan, I am determined and committed to delivering the best possible book for you. And me.

Onward and Upward!

-Eric

PS: Below is a picture of me at 16 in all my permed hair and teenage Rock & Roll glory. I’ve even got my Def Leppard Pyromania t-shirt on.