the book
The Smallest Assumptions Often Create Life's Biggest Consequences.
What began as an ordinary trip to the bathroom became an unexpected lesson about responsibility, awareness, communication, and the quiet assumptions that shape our lives every single day.
Available in Hardcover • Paperback • 5 Book Bundle
It Was Never About the Toilet Paper.
One afternoon, I sat down in a public restroom without checking for toilet paper. For a moment, I laughed at myself. Then I asked a question that wouldn’t leave me alone. Why didn’t I check? The obvious answer was simple. I assumed it would be there.
But the longer I thought about it, the more I realized that this wasn’t just a bathroom story. It was a life story.
Take responsibility for what you can control
We assume tomorrow is guaranteed.
We assume we'll have another chance to apologize.
We assume our relationships will always be there.
We assume we'll notice what's important before it's gone.
Most of life’s biggest regrets don’t begin with dramatic decisions. They begin with ordinary assumptions. That realization became the foundation for this book.
This Isn't a Book About Bathrooms.
It’s a book about paying attention. Through personal stories, psychology, communication, leadership, humor, and everyday experiences, Don’t Assume There’s Toilet Paper explores the quiet assumptions that shape the way we think, communicate, and move through life.
This isn’t a collection of motivational clichés or quick fixes. It’s an invitation to slow down. To notice. To question the things you’ve accepted without ever stopping to think about them. Not because questioning everything makes life better. But because some assumptions deserve another look.
PAYING ATTENTION
Notice what you've stopped seeing.
RESPONSIBILITY
Ownership creates options.
COMMUNICATION
The conversations we avoid matter.
AWARENESS
Question what you've stopped questioning.
- Wondered where the years went.
- Put off an important conversation because there would always be tomorrow.
- Realized you were so focused on what came next that you missed what was happening now.
- Looked back and wished you had paid more attention.
- Found yourself reacting instead of responding.
- Wondered how small decisions ended up creating big consequences.
Then I think you'll find something in these pages.
Inside the Pages
You’ll find…
Stories
that are honest, funny, and sometimes uncomfortable.
Lessons
from psychology and behavioral science.
Observations
about leadership, relationships, and communication.
Real Life Examples
that challenge the way we think.
Ideas
you may find yourself talking about long after you've finished the book.
Before You Read...
Take just a minute. Don’t think about the book. Think about your life.
When was the last time you assumed you’d have more time?
- More time to make the phone call.
- More time to repair a relationship.
- More time to take the trip.
- More time to start the project.
Most of us don’t decide to overlook what matters. It happens gradually. One assumption at a time.
We assume there will always be another opportunity. Another birthday. Another conversation. Another tomorrow. Until one day… there isn’t.
Maybe the most important assumption you’ll ever challenge… is one you didn’t even realize you were making.
Before you turn the first page, ask yourself…
- What assumptions have quietly become part of the way I see the world?
- What conversations have I been putting off because I assumed there would be another chance?
- Where have I confused routine with permanence?
- What have I stopped noticing?
Before You Turn the Page...
Sometimes changing your life doesn’t begin with finding a better answer. Sometimes it begins with asking a better question.
Don't Assume There's Toilet Paper
You can’t prepare for everything. But you can become more aware of the assumptions shaping your decisions, your relationships, and the way you experience your life. That’s where this book begins.
Five Book Bundle - (Hardcover)
$99.95
Buying for your team, book club, friends, or family? Save with our five book bundle.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
"Richard uses humor and insight to turn an everyday conundrum into a metaphor for life's assumptions and personal responsibility."
— Vince Poscente
New York Times Bestselling Author and Hall of Fame Speaker
"This book will make you THINK and LAUGH. A transformative journey to a more mindful and accountable lifestyle."
— Ryan Leak
Speaker, Author
"A fun roller coaster of a read! Richard's book connects all of life's dots and reminds us to play the hand we're dealt with grace and grit."
— Jason McCann
Founder & CEO, Vari