Becoming the parent of a ‘’special child” can be a devastating event. It can also open doors you had never wished to enter, bring deeper friendships than you ever imagined, and give you love and joy you did not know exists. While encountering many challenges, the journey with Jeff has been one of unexpected environments, people and blessings. “Every mother faces unexpected obstacles on her parenting journey. But what seems like an obstacle at first glance can actually be an unforeseen blessing. Such is the case for Linda Farris when her son, Jeff, was born. Linda shares her experience raising a child with disabilities and offers an honest and hopeful perspective that can benefit every family.” —Karyn Tunks, Ph.D. is an author and professor emeritus at University of South Alabama “Jeff’s words are his own but he speaks a language all can understand. He speaks of joy and passion before our Lord. None can understand better than his mother.” —Bryant Evans, Minister, —Eastern Shore Church of Christ, Daphne, Alabama “Linda Farris addresses her greatest life challenges and how she turns difficulty into positive life lessons. Fortunately for us, she possesses a charming writing style for which to share he life’s challenges in a way we can enjoy.” —Bob Zeanah, author of the Sugar Bear series. “Jeffrey’s enthusiasm and heart is a gift to us all. It is a joy to know him and his family. I am honored to be his physician. —Dr. Andrew Dukes

A true entrepreneur always looks to the future, no matter what is bearing down--9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the Great Recession, or the BP oil spill. With wit, hard work, guts, and a few cold beers, Jeff O'Hara and his businesses battled, bounced back, and survived these disasters, and we are the beneficiaries of the lessons learned along the way. But O'Hara's lessons are no dry list of rules on entrepreneurism: This first-time author is a gifted storyteller with an edgy, one-of-a-kind sense of humor who informs and entertains with tales of the tragic, the triumphant, and the places and people only New Orleans can produce. Accounts of O'Hara's life as he earned his place in the hospitality industry deliver colorful, honest insights into just what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur. It's clear he loves what he does and that his successes are a result of his love for his trade, his independent spirit, and, of course, a commitment to overcoming anything that gets in his way. O'Hara's wisdom will inspire entrepreneurs and anyone who appreciates a great story--from New Orleans natives to the rest of us who are fascinated by the life of this great city.

This is the story of a farm kid who grew up on a small dairy farm with the dream of playing baseball for the Tennessee Volunteers. There was no Little League, nor did his high school have a baseball program. He was left to develop his skills through creative techniques in preparation for his time to come. He became a “rock hitter”, pitching up rocks and smacking them with old axe handles. The book details how he dealt with Loser’s Balls and how he worked through his losses by not giving up, but “giving out” with his determined work ethic to “pocket” the negatives and climb out of the loser’s bracket as he turned his Loser’s Balls into “Opportunity Balls”, winning many championships along the way. You will learn that losses are often disguised as foundations for upcoming victories greater than your expectations, not only in sports, but in the extra innings of the game of life. Philippians 4:13.

Looking to discover who you are, why you're here, and how to find and fulfill your life's purpose? Learn the powerful, practical, and paradigm-shifting wisdom of 2,500 Near-Death Experiencers as they reveal and share the profound insights and life-changing lessons they received on their death-defying visits to Heaven. Don't wait to die to learn how you're called to live!

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICING: Enjoy first-week pricing of $18.95 on paperback books! Regular retail pricing of $23.95 becomes effective on July 22nd. It all began with the initial chance meeting of this book's author, Katie Anderson, and the book's subject, Isao Yoshino. She was an American leadership coach and consultant in her mid-career, with a newfound love of Japanese culture. He was an accomplished Japanese people-centered leader at the end of his corporate career, with a lifelong love for American culture and 40 years of inside experience with the Toyota Way. During the next five years, Anderson and Yoshino spent countless hours learning from each other, reflecting on the past, and envisioning the future. The resulting book - written by Anderson and focused on the profound lessons offered by her mentor Yoshino -- is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind tapestry. Much like the weaving of fabric -- where the beginning work is but a glimpse of the final pattern -- this book was created from many layers of intertwined conversations and reflections. If you've ever been mentored -- in business or in life -- by someone whose words, experiences, and perspectives changed you for the better, you know that an entire book of such selfless generosity and deep wisdom could change the world. For today's business professionals -- dedicated to continuous learning and people-centered leadership -- this is that book. Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn is a leadership book that defies generational or cultural divides, offering a refreshing, proven perspective for all those who dare to lead. The Best Leaders Never Lose the Humility for Learning Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn is much more than a collection of Isao Yoshino's personal stories and insights. It's a memorable, entertaining, and poignant way to highlight important leadership lessons, to record pivotal moments in Toyota's history, and to create something to help veteran and aspiring leaders reflect and learn about themselves. Yoshino's experiences help us understand how Toyota intentionally developed the culture of excellence for which it is renowned today, and how one person "learned to lead" so that he could lead with an intention to learn ... every day and in every way. "The only secret to Toyota is its attitude toward learning." -- Isao Yoshino Let the Past Inform the Future: The Role of Reflection in Leadership By looking back at the past, we can learn and therefore shape our future. Through each story in this unique and inspiring book, Anderson shares Yoshino's experiences with leadership and learning, and his efforts at self-improvement while empowering others. Through those stories, you'll hear his reflections on what he learned then ... and what he is re-learning now with a different perspective as he looks back at the totality of his career. A must-read for those who: -- Want to become more people-centered leaders -- Currently practice lean or continuous improvement methods -- Serve in leadership, coaching, or operational management roles -- Want to learn more about Toyota's history and culture -- Are inspired by heartwarming stories of personal discovery and leadership With a foreword by John Shook, Chairman of the Lean Global Network.

Every Dad in America wants to raise a resilient kid. "Four Lessons From My Three Sons" explains how it's done. Written by a good-natured but unyielding father, this slim volume describes how his off-beat and yet powerful forms of encouragement helped his sons obtain the confidence, character and resilience needed to achieve personal success and satisfaction. This book isn't 300 pages of popular child psychology or a fatherhood "journey" filled with meaningless jargon and whining equivocation. It's tough and hard and fast.Nelligan used the everyday word of Dads and sons to punctuate virtuous - and appalling - behavior with comic and sometimes grimly ironic exhortations. "Dad's sayings" - as his sons called them - became a pounding soundtrack in the boys' lives, shaping their fundamental perspectives and behaviors. The result? Their bios are inside. In 60 minutes, this book will give Dads a new look at family relationships, parenting boys, and most of all, a new way of interacting with their sons. Contained here are the fundamental steps you can take to raise a confident, alert, and ambitious son. That's because success in anything follows the resilient kid.

They say life isn’t a walk in the park, but what if your life restarts that way? It turns out that simply pushing a little girl on a swing can change so many things, like your beliefs, your mood, and even your future. For divorced Jeff, this comes as quite the surprise, as does his reaction to Cassie and her daughter Kyra. Cassie is white, while Kyra is black, and due to his upbringing, Jeff is at first conflicted by his attraction. Everyone in his small town is racist, and his grandmother taught him to be the same—but he might just be willing to change to have Cassie and Kyra in his life like rays of sunshine breaking through the dark. Previously, Jeff would never have seen someone like Cassie as “the one,” but that viewpoint soon changes as he gets to know her. Despite economic and racial confusion, their relationship grows. Jeff learns things he never expected. He especially learns that just hearing a special someone’s voice makes his day better and that loss can not only break a heart but also break a smile.

An established and successful chief marketing officer and entrepreneur, once upon a time Jeff Sass spent seven years making low-budget action/horror films for legendary independent movie studio Troma, home of THE TOXIC AVENGER. It turns out there are a lot of similarities between filmmaking and starting companies, and the lessons Jeff learned making B-movies have served him well in the C-Suite. "Everything I Know about Business and Marketing, I Learned from The Toxic Avenger (One Man's Journey to Hell's Kitchen and Back)" is full of practical business and marketing insight and inspiration drawn from the often comical trials and tribulations of creating cult-classic independent films. Sass shares lessons learned from his experiences ranging from RABID GRANNIES to READING RAINBOW (yes, at one time Troma actually represented licensing rights to the Emmy Award-Winning PBS TV series!), and he cleverly turns his tales of moviemaking mayhem into useful nuggets of business and marketing wisdom applicable to any industry, including yours.

James L. Capra, the former chief of operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration, captures the essence of leadership as he shares his personal story about a lifetime serving the public. Filled with real-life examples of leadership in action as well as lighthearted humor, he explores how some employees can love their profession but hate their respective organizations. He also delivers tips and strategies so you can: transform your organization from good to great; make a difference in the lives of others; get the best out of your people; maintain focus and accountability. There are no magical steps to take to become a great leader, only a genuine concern from the heart for the development and welfare of those you're entrusted to lead. While many books about leadership focus on theory, there is no substitute for learning from a warrior who placed himself in danger and earned everything he had by demonstrating Leadership at the Front Line.

Sickness, an accident, financial pressure, a suffering child, the unknown, harmful habits, cancer, failure Can you truly enjoy blessing in the midst of suffering and find the strength to overcome numerous obstacles in order to serve God and others? Lydia shares how God did indeed bless her and her family through pain and enabled them to triumph over various challenges, reaping the benefits of sacrifice. May your heart be encouraged through the testimony of their experiences to face whatever pain and challenges are placed in your path.