People in Places
List for Santa, List for Life: Broomall Author T.E. Corner’s Books Teach Life-Learned Lessons Written by Holly Stupak / Photos courtesy of Tom Corner
W
hat if when you wrote your first Christmas list, you also realized that list could include goals for your hopes and dreams, too? That is the idea Tom (“T.E.”) Corner, a father of three young girls, had when he wrote his first book, List for Santa, List for Life. In that book, the main character, Kylie, is a child writing her first list for Santa. Like most children, Kylie knows just what she wants for herself and for others. But instead of just listing what she wants for Christmas, she decides to list her goals as well. The book illustrates how Kylie’s Christmas became much more meaningful when she wrote a list for not only what she hoped for but a whole lot more. A new softball bat would mean a winning homerun for the team. And a new oven mitt for her mom would be fun times they would share in the kitchen, baking cookies. If you ask Tom how long it took to write List for Santa, List for Life, he’ll tell you “about 45 years.” In reality, the writing and publishing process only took about two years. But for Tom, it was a long time in the making. Tom said the idea came to him when his 1st-grade daughter was working on her Christmas list. It was around the same time that he was doing his annual business plan for his job as a sales representative. “I thought to myself, how many times have I set goals or made a plan, but not followed through?” explained Tom. “Many times, business plans sit in a drawer until the following year, and the goals are not met.”
Author T.E. Corner
While sitting at a Starbucks, getting work done, Tom said he realized his idea would make a great children’s book. “I really wanted to teach children the importance of writing down and maintaining their own set of goals and desires, to help them receive the wonderful things this life has to offer,” said Tom. Tom followed up his first book with two others that feature the same character, Kylie: Positive Thoughts, Positive Life! and Life Is Fine, When You’re Aligned. Continuing the goal-setting theme, Positive Thoughts, Positive Life! encourages children to keep a List for Life! Journal, to keep track of what they want and to live by the motto: Always give it your best. Think thoughts of happiness, abundance, and success. When you keep your positive thoughts and desires in front of you, good things happen, and your dreams come true. The third book in the Kylie series, Life Is Fine, When You’re Aligned, teaches children how to remove self-doubt and negative self-talk, a habit that helps anyone achieve their dreams and goals, leading to a life of happiness. “As a kid, I did a lot of self-sabotaging,” said Tom. “Now that I’m a parent, I want to set an example for my children and teach them that by removing self-doubt and fear, we can accomplish anything we desire.” Tom grew up in Springfield and graduated from Springfield High School in 1985. After working in the restaurant and hospitality industry, he shifted to a 20-year career in the financial services Industry and currently works as a Financial Advisor for
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