ESSAY SUBMISSIONS JANUARY THROUGH FEBRUARY 2026 | AWARDS ANNOUNCED MARCH 13, 2026

“Special Somebodies” Essay Awards

This is an opportunity to share a personal essay inspired by the themes of Ian Ziskin’s Lives Lost and Leadership Found: Lessons from Special Somebodies (Routledge, October 2025). Whether you’re honoring a family member, friend, colleague, or someone else who shaped your life and leadership—or you’re exploring legacy and connection—your voice adds meaning to our growing community.

Why Write an Essay

Writing your essay is more than storytelling—it’s a chance to reflect, honor, heal, and explore.

Many of the essay authors who contributed their stories to Lives Lost and Leadership Found described the experience as unexpectedly emotional and deeply meaningful—marked by moments of catharsis, joy, sorrow, tears, pain, smiles, laughter, memories, and release. Their reflections revealed just how powerful it can be to put feelings into words and revisit the people who shaped them.

By sharing the impact your special somebody had on your life, you too can uncover lessons about life, leadership, and legacy from that person who may have shaped you in ways you may not have fully realized. This isn’t just about remembering someone—it’s about discovering what that person taught you, how that individual influenced your values, and how the presence of your special somebody continues to guide you.

How to Write Your Essay

To write your essay, we encourage you to follow the same simple guidelines used by the contributors to Lives Lost and Leadership Found. No prior writing experience is required—just honesty, heart, and a desire to celebrate someone who made a difference. You’re welcome to follow these suggestions closely or adapt them to reflect your own voice and experience.

1. Choose Your Special Somebody—Write about someone who had a meaningful impact on your life—a parent, partner, sibling, friend, mentor, colleague, or anyone else who shaped who you are.
2. Structure & Length—Aim for about 1,500 words. Start freely, then add a title and subheadings to organize your thoughts. These help highlight key themes and make your essay easier to read.
3. Attribution—If you plan to share your essay publicly, include your name (and title, if relevant) at the top. If it’s just for you, that’s optional (though for awards purposes, we do need your name).
4. Opening Paragraph—Introduce your special somebody by name and describe your relationship. Help readers understand who this person was and why this person mattered to you.
5. Suggested Sections—You can write in any order, but here’s a helpful flow:

• • Who your special somebody was: personality, passions, strengths, quirks, and what made this person special to you.
  • Accomplishments: career, hobbies, volunteer work, and how the person’s life influenced yours.
  • Passing: share the circumstances of your special somebody’s death and how it affected you emotionally and personally.
  • Lessons learned: what you learned about leadership, values, and yourself—both in the moment and upon reflection—from your special somebody’s life and death.
  • Final section-“Three Things I Learned About Life and Leadership”: Use this heading and list your top three takeaways—just a word, phrase, or sentence for each.

6. Focus on What Matters—Try to distill 4 to 6 core lessons or values that continue to shape you. These might be things you admire, emulate, or even reject.
7. Be Honest and Emotional—Share as much emotion and vulnerability as feels right for you. Your story is yours to tell, and your honesty is what makes your essay powerful. Write in a way that honors your special somebody—and yourself.

Thank You!

Your participation helps this book reach a wider audience. Proceeds from the sale of our book will be donated to The National Academy of Human Resources, a 501(c)(3) organization on whose board Ian Ziskin serves (www.nationalacademyhr.org).