Adversity to Success!

About the Book

Adversity to Success!: 25 Optimistic People Who Overcame is a must read book for those who want to learn more about how a positive outlook can make a tremendous difference in life.

By reading this book, you will discover how some well known and some not so well known people confronted overwhelming adversity. During this process, they learned not only how to survive, but to achieve greatness in their lives.

All of the twenty five people profiled are different. They vary by age, race, cultural background, socioeconomic status, adversity faced, and in many other ways. All share, however, the basic success story of overcoming a challenge through sheer determination, hard work, and a positive attitude. They played the cards they were dealt--all losing hands--yet managed to reshuffle these cards to become winners.

The book is divided into five sections. We describe people who have overcome physical disabilities in Section I, losses in Section II, the aging process in section III, disadvantaged backgrounds in Section IV, and personal/family tragedies in Section V.

The book consists of a brief biography of a selected individual, a short description of the specific challenge faced, and an explanation of exactly what she or he did to overcome the challenge. After each story, the reader is given an opportunity to reflect on the story. We also include a number of inspiring quotes on the power of optimism and the authors include personal commentary on the person profiled.

In addition, at the end of each section, we give tips for developing and maintaining the optimistic attitude necessary to succeed in life. Finally, we include space for the reader to make specific commitments to change his or her thoughts and behavior.

We hope you enjoy reading this book as much as we enjoyed writing it!

Ron & Ron

About the Author

Ron Graves has been a proven business, military and non-profit volunteer community leader for over 40 years. He is a highly demanded motivational speaker on the topic of how you can successfully confront and negotiate the inevitable adversities in life through a positive outlook. Ron believes anyone can be ordinary in life but to be extraordinary one needs only to add the EXTRA. Ron has served as president of many organizations and in 2007-2008 will serve as the Optimist International Foundation President, which, along with more than 3,500 local Optimist International clubs, touches the lives of more than a million kids each year by providing HOPE and a POSITIVE VISION.

Ron Palermo is a freelance writer in the San Antonio area, frequently writing on communication issues, a subject he studied as an undergraduate and graduate student.

Presently, he is the San Antonio Marketing Coordinator for Toastmasters International, an organization dedicated to improved public listening, thinking, and speaking.

Ron is also a member of Optimists International and helps conduct the annual oratorical competition, an event which awards scholarships to the top youth competitors.