At 18, Marlo Thomas, a budding actress, faced immense pressure as journalists questioned whether she could ever match the fame of her father, TV star Danny Thomas. Overwhelmed, she considered changing her name. In tears, she approached her father, seeking guidance.
Danny Thomas responded with simple yet profound advice: “I raised you to be a thoroughbred. They wear blinders and run their own race. That’s what you have to do: run your own race.”
This single piece of advice ignited the concept for Thomas’s bestselling book, “The Right Words at the Right Time” (2002), which featured personal anecdotes about the impact of words from influential figures like Paul McCartney and Oprah Winfrey. The book’s success led to an outpouring of personal stories from readers, inspiring her latest work.
Her new book, “The Right Words at the Right Time, Vol. 2: Your Turn!,” presents 101 compelling stories from everyday individuals who experienced life-altering moments triggered by specific words. These include stories such as a Gulf War veteran whose life was turned around by a chance encounter at a Burger King, a mechanic who found purpose through a job advertisement, and a woman who found solace after losing her fiancé in the 9/11 attacks from a heartfelt note. Proceeds from the book will support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an organization founded by Danny Thomas.