A Gift of Motivation

Back when I just graduated from college, I was depressed. I was very unhappy with many of the decisions and interactions I was having with people at the time. I didn’t have a job, was basically living on my own in my grandmother’s trailer in California (she was living with my mom in Hawaii), and reached a point where I knew that I needed to change. Flipping around in informercials one night, I ran across one for a motivational speaker-type person by the name of Marshall Sylver. I don’t remember much about the particular program, but I do remember a couple of days later, I ran across his book Passion, Profit, and Power in the mall. I wasn’t up for the “whole motivational program” with lots of tapes and workbooks (I’ve always been suspicious of those, especially if they’re advertised on an infomercial), but I could handle a simple, hardcover book. It wasn’t any more expensive than any other book, I think it was even in the bargain bin, so it was a low-risk purchase.

This book turned my life around, at least at that point in time. It didn’t make me ultra-successful and ultra-rich, but it succeeded in making me a lot happier about who I was. I became a lot more accepting of other people and situations. I became, in effect, a better person. I didn’t stick with the program over time, but I did learn quite a lot from the experience. I wish I had kept that book because I could have used some of the material recently.

One of my readers decided that I needed a copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People on CD and bought it for me using the “Wish List” function on amazon.com. I am very touched at the gesture. I hope to receive it soon and will make good use of it.