The Question I Never Had To Answer

Early in my career, I was a partner in a mannequin company.

For eight years, I loved it.

I worked with talented people, collaborated with some of the best fashion designers in the industry, and had the opportunity to do some pretty amazing things.

Then something unexpected happened.

I couldn’t stop thinking about writing children’s books.
Or creating a children’s television series.

No matter how hard I tried to push those thoughts aside, they kept finding their way back.

For more than a year, I wrestled with them.

My wife finally said, “You’ve lost your sense of humor.”
She was right.

One day I realized what was really bothering me.

I didn’t want to wake up at 70 years old and ask myself one question:

“Could I have done it?”

Once I knew the question, I knew the answer.

Over the next few months, I hired and trained my replacement, packed up our young family, and moved to Woodstock, New York.

That’s where I began writing children’s books and creating the first of three children’s educational television series.

Looking back, I’m grateful I never had to answer that question.

Shane DeRolf

Founder, The Thought Farm

Shane DeRolf is the founder of The Thought Farm, a storytelling studio that helps organizations bring important ideas to life for children through stories and experiences they’ll remember.

He is the bestselling author of The Crayon Box That Talked, an 11-time Regional Emmy® Award-winning writer, producer, and director, and former President of Random House Entertainment. Over the past three decades, Shane has created three educational children’s television series, including Big Green Rabbit, developed Big Word Club, an evidence-based literacy platform, and led national behavior change campaigns that have helped millions of children connect with ideas that matter.