Jonathan Stanley was seated at a table in his local Barnes & Noble in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., showcasing his book “Purposeful Performance: The Secret Mix of Connecting, Leading, and Succeeding.” Despite having books displayed in front of him, only a few visitors had engaged with him to discuss, purchase a book, and have it signed.
As Stanley, who penned his book following a job loss, sat there, Taylor Dinelli, a mother of three and content creator, visited the store with her 4-year-old daughter, Ella. Observing the author sitting alone, she felt compelled to capture the moment on her phone. The video was later shared on TikTok and has garnered over 75 million views.
Dinelli explained to Ella that the man at the table had authored the books on display and was present to promote his work. Intrigued, Ella expressed her desire to interact with him, lauding his bravery. This prompted them to approach Stanley, with Ella expressing her admiration for his writing and eagerness to be an author herself one day.
Following this encounter, Dinelli posted the video on TikTok, hoping to inspire others to engage with authors or individuals promoting their work. The video quickly gained traction, accumulating millions of views and catapulting Stanley’s book to bestseller status on Amazon.
The overwhelming response from viewers left Dinelli and Stanley astonished, as they witnessed an outpouring of kindness and inspiration from the online community. This heartwarming turn of events underscores the power of a simple act of kindness and connection.
In the midst of the whirlwind success, she found herself pondering what the future held. “I thought, wow, he’s going to wake up tomorrow and wonder what’s happening,” she recalls. “He was already completely sold out online and climbing the charts. I was thrilled to finally reach out to him and establish a connection after all that excitement.”
Taylor reached out to me on Sunday and again on Monday morning, just checking in, ‘How are you holding up?’ ” Stanley reminisces in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE. “She acknowledged, ‘This must be overwhelming for you.’ She admitted, ‘I never expected this to go viral, but I wanted to make sure you’re okay.’ ”
Reflecting on the moment at the bookstore, Stanley shares with PEOPLE how the heartfelt conversation with Ella and Dinelli left a lasting impact, even though he didn’t fully grasp the influence he would have on them and countless others worldwide at that time. He recalls sharing with his wife his simple dream of reaching just one person through his writing. Thanks to the mother-daughter duo, he has exceeded that goal by far.
In gratitude to Dinelli, Stanley invited the family for a meal and proposed shooting another video together for their followers. “I’m taking a moment to pause and contemplate my next steps,” he says. “I aim to engage with the TikTok community and continue spreading the message of bringing kindness back to the forefront in workplaces.”
“Moreover, I want to continue giving back,” he emphasizes. “As leaders, it’s crucial to shift our focus from personal gains to what we can contribute.” Dinelli mentions that since going viral, she and Ella have been tracking the global reach of the overwhelming response, using a globe to pinpoint the locations of the supportive comments.
“I explained to Ella how our actions have helped him and can transform his life,” Dinelli shares. “Her immediate response was, ‘Mommy, we can help everyone.’ So, we’re launching ‘Sunday Spotlight,’ where we’ll showcase a different person each week.”
“If the TikTok community can rally behind someone even a fraction of what we did for Mr. Stanley, it could be life-changing for anyone, no matter the scale,” she adds. “Ella is all about spreading happiness and assisting others. She’s truly remarkable. So, our next mission is to maintain this momentum.”
