Dreams Within Reach – Exclusive Interview With Javier Rhoden

Javier Rhoden is a writer focused on personal development and mental health. Drawing from lived experience and literary influence, he writes reflective narratives that explore resilience, perspective, and hope. Living with chronic pain, Javier continues to write with the intention of showing that growth and purpose are still possible, even under difficult circumstances.

Javier Rhoden, Literary Writer & Author

Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.

I’m a writer, poet, and independent creator focused on truth, healing, and personal growth. I’ve spent years turning lived experience into books, music, and reflections meant to help people feel seen and understood.

How do you believe literary writing and poetry contribute to personal development and mental health, and what specific aspects should individuals focus on for maximum impact?

Literary writing and poetry contribute to personal development and mental health by allowing individuals to process lived experience through honest self-expression. By translating thoughts, emotions, and observations into language, writing becomes a form of record-keeping and self-understanding. I focused on making my work abstract yet emotionally resonant, so readers could reflect their own meaning into it. I call this resonance.

This process supported my own growth by helping me reframe difficult experiences with layered insight and intention, even when the source material was painful. That practice strengthened my emotional well-being and allowed others to feel understood through the work, even without shared experiences. For writing to have impact, individuals should prioritize emotional truth and resonance over technical perfection, without feeling, the work lacks depth.

This is especially important in the context of chronic pain. Seeing someone continue to create, adapt, and pursue purpose despite limitations can reduce isolation and offer motivation. Words alone can shift mindset, encouraging others to seek their own paths forward rather than remaining stuck in distress.

In the realm of self-publishing, what advice do you have for aspiring writers looking to navigate the complexities of the publishing industry and bring their work to a wider audience independently?

Independence requires persistence. Learn as you go, stay committed, and measure success by growth rather than comparison.

From your experience, how can small businesses and entrepreneurs effectively leverage e-commerce platforms to reach a broader audience, and what unique challenges or opportunities do you see in this digital landscape?

E-commerce should be viewed as an extension of a business, not a replacement. It allows for targeted outreach, broader visibility, and scalability beyond physical limits. With the right strategy, businesses can reach specific audiences while building long-term credibility.

The opportunity lies in accessibility and reach. A digital presence creates continuous exposure and removes many traditional barriers, allowing growth that isn’t confined by location or scale.

Reflecting on your own entrepreneurial journey, what key lessons have you learned about overcoming challenges and sustaining a successful small business, particularly in the context of the literary or creative industry?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that fear of failure often prevents people from trying at all. In entrepreneurship, growth matters more than outcomes. If something doesn’t work, it isn’t failure, it’s information. Each attempt either leads to progress or shows you a better direction.

This mindset carries into both business and personal life. You learn to adjust how you communicate, how you engage others, and how you present your work. In the creative industry, that awareness shapes everything from how writing is shared to how audiences are reached.

Challenges are inevitable, especially as an independent author. Low sales don’t mean failure; they signal the need to adapt. My journey required learning every aspect of the process, from formatting and marketing to networking and funding, often under pressure. The key lesson is persistence paired with flexibility. Growth comes from continuing to try, learn, and evolve rather than giving up.

How do you see the intersection between personal development practices and entrepreneurial success? Are there specific habits or mindsets you believe contribute significantly to the growth and sustainability of a small business?

Personal development and entrepreneurship are deeply connected. Being a student of life, learning from experience, exposure, and observation, builds adaptability and problem-solving skills.

Sustainability comes from resourcefulness: knowing how to research, refine, and apply what you learn. Even small gaps in understanding can hold growth back, which is why continuous learning is essential.

I’ve learned that community forms naturally through shared work and authenticity. Even without actively cultivating it, the support and resonance from readers and peers have still shaped and strengthened my creative journey.

Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far.

My greatest achievement is writing and publishing my own manuscripts. Everything else, marketing, formatting, networking, has been part of the process, but the core accomplishment is creating work that is entirely my own. No award or recognition compares to the satisfaction of building something meaningful independently.

If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?

I would make the industry more accessible and fair for independent creators. High startup costs, complex marketing demands, and restrictive traditional publishing contracts often overshadow the art itself. I’d like to see a system where creators can focus on their work and purpose, rather than navigating barriers that limit ownership, control, and creative freedom.

Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.

A pivotal moment in my life was learning to persist through chronic pain while continuing to pursue my writing. Facing these challenges taught me resilience, self-reliance, and the importance of focusing on what I can control, lessons that continue to shape both my personal and creative journey.

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