Book Excerpt From My Upcoming Book: Winning The Game of Business: The Entreprenuer's Quest For Ultimate Success

Introduction

This book began long before I actually sat down to write. It began the morning I decided to change the direction of my life. I call this my defining moment.

Back then; I was 22 years old and going nowhere fast. I had no money, no place to live, no car, and no job. I had alienated my family and friends. My dad was a successful businessman, but I had spent years separating myself from him. He did not know how to emotionally connect with many people, especially me, and my wild ways did nothing to endear me to him.

I will never forget waking up in a jail cell one morning trying to remember how I had managed to end up in this situation—yet again. But that morning was different somehow. That morning I experienced a massive shift in how I saw myself and what I was willing to accept as my life. That morning I decided that the life I was leading was no longer acceptable.

Right then and there, I began my journey. I was determined to walk a different path. But I had no experiences, no sense of direction and certainly no resources, except one: my dad.

It took a while for me to recover my health, but when I was ready to begin working, my dad was right there to support my efforts. Hard work was something my dad understood. My budding interest in entrepreneurialism allowed him to begin to appreciate and encourage my efforts. My dad knew a lot about business and I was eager to learn from him and to gain his approval. My need to bond with my father proved to be a powerful motivator for me.

As I began trying to “make something of myself,” I patterned my efforts after my dad and his brand of success. I knew he valued business accomplishments, making lots of money, and earning prestige and status. I also knew my dad wanted me to get married to a great woman, have a loving family, and create an upscale home life in the suburbs, complete with a dog and the white picket fence.

All my life, I'd been taught that achieving goals like these guaranteed good feelings. So, with these beliefs solidly in place, I worked very hard to set and reach goal after goal. I kept thinking, As soon as I get all these things in my life, I'll feel great.

For two busy decades I was all about attainment and achievement. I was very determined. I'd meet just about any challenge if I thought it would help me attain and feel good. I became a good goal-getter. In time, I managed to:

• Create a 5-million dollar company with 50 employees • Attract and marry a beautiful wife, and become the father of two healthy, wonderful children • Build my own dream house (complete with white picket fence and family dog) • Amass plenty of money • Enjoy new cars in the driveway • Become an elected town official • Establish a flourishing retail business in my home town • Receive awards and trophies for public service and sports

. . . and so much more!