Unstoppable: 45 Powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph from People Just Like You

344 Pages·1998·27.834 MB·English

by  Cynthia Kersey

f you're ready to be pennanently
Unstoppable, read, absorb and use the
inspiring uisdom in this brilhant book!
—
Mark Victor Hansen. Co-author.
New York Times #1 Best-selling
Chicken Soupfor the Soul series
KERSEY
^
yi
Powerful
^M.^3
Stories of
Perseveronce ond
Triumph from
People Just Like You
—
^^Unstoppable is a must-readfor anyone who Quincy Jones
wants to lire a life whereyou grow untilyou go.
What's Stopping You???
mo
you crave more out of life, but are
unsure abt)ut how to get it? Do vou
secretly fear you don't have what it takes to
achieve yoin- true heart's desire? Or ifyou
think vou do. is evervone telhng vou to forget
about it and be reahstic?
L iistuppable is the first step to creating
the hfe you've always wanted to live. This
ultimate personal motivator introduces you
to -+5 people from all walks of life who will
not only inspire you but show you how to
overcome any obstacle between you and
your goals. These current, real-life role models
will show you possibilities for your hfe and give
you the coiu-age and inspiration to triumph!
Along with its heartwarming and inspiring
stories, Lnstoppable gives you a seven-step
action plan that features the tools you'll need
to create the life you deser\'e.
You'll Learn:
How to discover your own imique calling
and purpose in life
The biggest hes that may be stopping you
from getting what you want
The best strategies for turning self-doubt
mto unstoppable self-confidence
Seven proven steps to becoming
unstoppable in every area oflife
Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive
2010
in
http://www.archive.org/details/unstoppable45pow00kers

45 Powerful Stories
of Perseverance
and Triumph
from People
Just Like You

45 Powerful Stories
of Perseverance
and Triumph
from People
Just Like You
Cynthia Kersey
C^) Sourcebooks, Inc.
V* Naperville, IL
Copyright© 1998byCynthiaKersey
Covercopyright© 1998bySourcebooks, Inc.
AHrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybe reproduced inanyfor—morbyanyelectronicor
mechanicalmeansincludinginformationstorageandre—trievalsystems except inthecaseof
briefquotationsembodied incriticalarticlesorreviews withoutpermission inwritingfromits
publisher,Sourcebooks.
Thispublication isdesignedtoprovideaccurateandauthoritative information inregardtothe
subjectmattercovered. It issoldwiththe understandingthatthepublisherisnotengaged inren-
deringlegal,accounting,orotherprofessionalservice. Iflegaladviceorotherexpertassistance is
required, theservicesofacompetentprofessionalpersonshouldbesought.
FromaDeclarationofPrinciplesJointlyAdoptedbyaCommitteeofthe
AmericanBarAssociationandaCommitteeofPublishersandAssociations
ISBN 1-57071-338-3
Permissions
Theauthorandpublishergratefullyacknowledgethefollowingartistsandwritersfortheirper-
missiontoreprinttheirworkinthispublication.Thanksalsogotothe individualsprofiled
throughoutthebookforallowingustoshare theirtremendousstories.
"Climb'TilYourDreamComesTrue,"byHelenSteinerRice, usedwithpermissionofTheHelen
SteinerRice—Foundation,Cincinnati,Ohio.Copyright© 1964The HelenSteinerRice
Foundation AllRightsReserved.
Pages 151 and 198excerptedwithpermissionfromtheAmericanAcademyofAchievementat
www.achievement.org.
Page 19cartoon© 1991, 1994HenryMartin.
Page40,63, 76, 190, 237, 242, 263, 283, 288cartoons©GeorgeCrenshaw.
Page 109cartoon© 1996byRandyGlasbergen.
Page 115, 168, 271 cartoons©AndrewToos.
Page 122cartoonbyRobertMankoff© 1987fromTheNewYorkerMagazine, Inc. AllRights
Reserved.
©
Page 203 cartoon 1994H.L. Scwadron/Cartoonists&.WritersSyndicate.
Page 278PEANUTSreprintedbypermissionfromUnited FeatureSyndicate, Inc.
Publishedby
Sourcebooks, Inc.
PO. Box372
Naperville, Illinois60566
Phone:[phone]
Fax: [phone]
Printedandbound intheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
This book is dedicated to the unstoppable people who have made a
commitment topursuing theirpassion and unique callingwithcourage
anddetemiination. 1 admireyourefforts andhope thisbookwill provide
encouragement and be a tool that will make your journey easier.
Acknowledgments
Unstoppable has taken more than two years to complete, including endless hours of
research, interviews, writing,editing,andcompilinginformation. Ithasbeenatrue labor
of love and the result of the combined efforts of many people. 1 especially wish to
acknowledge the following:
To my husband, Dave, and son, Benjamin. Words cannot adequately express my apprecia-
tionforgivingmethefreedomtopursuemydreamandforprovidingtheemotionalsupport
toperseverethroughwhatseemedlikeanever-endingtask.Yourloveandbeliefinme ismy
strength. Withoutyoursupport and unselfishness, thisbookwould not have beenpossible.
To the people who granted interviews and graciously agreed to participate in the book.
Manyofyou have become special friendsand all serve as aconstant reminderofwhat is
possibleforanyone who is committed to being unstoppable. Thankyou forsharingyour
life stories and for youroutstandingexamples ofpassion and commitment.
TomyMom<StDadwhoprovided me witha lifelongexampleofloveandsupport.
To my dear friends who believed in me and this book from the start. Thanks for your
continualencouragementand insight.
To Denise Koepke, my dearest friend, who read and reread these stories countless times,
providedinvaluablefeedbackandendlesssupportandenthusiasmfortheproject.Thanks
foryour love, support, andfriendship.
To Jeffrey Reiss and Michael Gerber, for your enthusiastic support of my book and the
commitment tobringingthesecompellingstoriestotelevision.
To Barbara Extract whoprovided valuable editingexpertise and SharonGoldingerwho is
an unstoppable copyeditor. To Karen Erbach, my research assistant, who enthusiastically
embraced this project and helped identify numerous unstoppable individuals. To A.T
Birmingham-YoungfromtheGiraffe Projectwhoprovidedmewithseveralpotentialsto-
ries includingLaura-Beth Moore and Rocky Robinson whohavebothbeencommended
for sticking their necks out for the common good. To Doreen Neser, the best librarian
around, forprovidingassistance when I agonized overselecting the righttitle.
To Paul Orfalea, Founder ofKinko's Inc., for your friendship and willingness to make a
call, write a letterorextend support to me onbehalfofthis project in numerous ways.
To Dominique Raccah, my publisher, and the entire team at Sourcebooks. Thanks for
believinginmybookandforyourhardworkandcommitmenttomake itasuccess.
My deepest appreciation and thanks to the people who read the first orsecond drafts of
the manuscript offering comments on how to improve the book. Your contribution was
invaluable. Robin Anthony, Kathleen Breining, Susan Bregman, Kenny Binnnings, Rob
Cain, Pam Cox, Randy Doyle, Dorothy Forbes, Millard Fuller, Terie Hall, Christopher
Hegarty, Phyllis and Jim Hughett, Pam Jones, Denise Koepke, Barry Lou, Marianna
Murane, Linda and Josiah Neff, Rick Normington, Meg O'Brien, Sherry Phelan, Dan
Poynter, Anita Shaw, Blaise Simqu, Maureen Slater, Bob &. Therese Wootton, Pam
Ward, and to my niece and nephews, James David, Leslie and Stephen Hughett for
enthusiastically listening to my stories.
Andfinally, tomydearfriend, Millard Fuller. Youare myrolemodelandmentorand my
life is forever changed as a result ofknowing you. Your life's work is exemplary oftrue
Christianityand I ameternallygratefulforyoursupport, encouragement, andfriendship.
"Some people come into our lives and quietly go;
others stay for a wtiile and leave footprints on our hiearts
and we are never thie same."
—Anonymous