As I edged closer to the big 6-0, I dug through my old keepsakes and stumbled upon a note I scribbled back in ’97. It was a list of principles I’d written, a roadmap I wanted to guide me through the years. Reading it again, I thought, “What better time than now to start documenting the lessons I’ve learned to share with my kids?” Initially, my plan was to write a book just for them, sharing principles like these in a collection of lessons and stories from their dad. 

But over the months that followed, and after reading countless picture books with our new granddaughter, the vision for what was to become my first children’s story, “Macie and the Magic Veggies,” began to take root based on these guiding principles: 

● Care About Others 

● Act Like a Kid 

● Have Knowledge and Perspective 

● Be Dedicated to Health 

● Want to Make a Difference 

● Experience Joy Through Children 

● Value Family and Friends 

● Make an Impact on Others 

I never would have imagined that I’d be expressing these principles through a children’s picture book… especially one that rhymes! 

That’s not to say I won’t eventually write a book for my adult children, but for now, I seem to have been called to express these principles to a broader audience through the adventures of Macie. While I’m busy creating my “Macie-verse,” I will continue documenting the principles and lessons I want to share. In fact, I’ve already created a logline for that “companion” book: 

A unique exploration of leadership growth through the enchanting journey of 5-year-old Macie discovering where her veggies come from, blending real-world leadership wisdom with the imaginative world of a children’s story to inspire leaders at every stage of their development. 

Stay tuned for Leadership Seeds—Harvesting the Transformative Lessons of Macie and the Magic Veggies launching in 2025! 

Peter Contardo