Author Description

What events, concerns and circumstances were dominating your life when you were young? Take a minute, close your eyes and think back and visualize yourself as that young child or teenager. What is the first thing you see yourself doing? Playing sports? Having fun on a family vacation? Not having fun on a family vacation? Are you with friends or alone? Laughing? Crying? Is this first thought positive or is it negative? This is an interesting exercise. If you could go back in time and if you had an opportunity to go back to this 'first-thought' place, what would you say to yourself? What advice would you give to yourself knowing what you know now that you are older? I remember completing this exercise when I was in my early 30's. At that time I saw myself sitting in my sterile bedroom isolated and alone. Not a positive situation or circumstance. The advice I gave to the young me? Good luck bud, you are going to need it! I did not give my young self advise. Instead, it was a short and stern warning of things to come. Things I would experience in life. Hurdles i would have to jump as a result of a dreamer and self absorbed father who abandoned me when I was 5. Obstacles I would have to face from being raised by an over emotional mother who married an overbearing and over controlling step father. Mountains I would have to climb while working the majority of my life for self absorbed and abusive managers and a company fueled by greed and globalism. This book is a history of how I was able to overcome these obstacles and to earn two college degrees, be a very successful manager and leader. Own and operate my own successful business. Most important of all however, is how I was able to overcome and to be a better father, a better husband and a better me. Now that I am older and thinking back to this unique little exercise, I would not say anything. Instead, I would walk into that room and hand my young self this book that I have written over 40 years later.