Every Christian knows that life can be tough at the best of times! Just as the running of a race takes extreme effort-so it is that the Christian life is often a struggle-but one well worth the effort. The reality of life's journey can present major challenges! Like a runner, we need proper training and encouragement to make it to the finish line. Dr. Don Wilton uses the Book of Hebrews, while drawing on his personal journey, as a training manual for the race God has called us to run. As we maneuver the course and cross the finish line, we show others that living the Christian life really does make a difference.

The courageous autobiography of the first legally blind athlete to compete in the Olympic Games. Millions watched in awe as Marla Runyan ran the 1500 meter event in Sydney. But few know the real story of the woman who was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease at nine years old—and became compelled to achieve what was thought beyond her reach, in the world of athletics as well as in life. With endearing self-deprecation and surprising wit, Marla Runyan reveals what it’s like to see the world through her eyes, and what it means to compete at the world-class level, despite the fact that—quite literally for her—there is no finish line. “[Runyan] presents her story with acuity and grace, rising above expectations and prejudice . . . [her] story is well-paced and finishes strong; readers will hope she keeps going and going.”—Publishers Weekly “An amazingly personal account of how she has dealt with the various highs and lows in her life.”—Ventura County Star

Thinkers50 Management Thinker of 2015 Whitney Johnson wants you to consider this simple, yet powerful, idea: disruptive companies and ideas upend markets by doing something truly different--they see a need, an empty space waiting to be filled, and they dare to create something for which a market may not yet exist. As president and cofounder of Rose Park Advisors' Disruptive Innovation Fund with Clayton Christensen, Johnson used the theory of disruptive innovation to invest in publicly traded stocks and private early-stage companies. In Disrupt Yourself, she helps you understand how the frameworks of disruptive innovation can apply to your particular path, whether you are: a self-starter ready to make a disruptive pivot in your business a high-potential individual charting your career trajectory a manager looking to instill innovative thinking amongst your team a leader facing industry changes that make for an uncertain future We are living in an era of accelerating disruption; no one is immune. Johnson makes the compelling case that managing the S-curve waves of learning and mastery is a requisite skill for the future. If you want to be successful in unexpected ways, follow your own disruptive path. Dare to innovate. Do something astonishing. Disrupt yourself.

Chrissie Wellington, the world's number one female Ironman athlete and four-time World Ironman Champion, presents her struggles, wisdom, and experiences gained from her hard-won career as a triathlete. With close to 2 million core participants, triathlons of various distances and challenges are attracting more participants than ever before. In TO THE FINISH LINE, one of the sports' greatest legends brings triathlon to life, with guidance for newbies or experienced athletes, to achieve their best triathlons-no matter their ability. Filled with training tips, practical advice and inside information from a champion, triathletes of all levels can benefit from Wellington's experience and insight. Her book will guide readers on their own journey, whether that be a sprint or an Ironman, and encourage them to rise to every new challenge.

In the 1880s photographers and sports enthusiasts confidently declared the end of dead heats in sporting competition. Reflecting a broader social belief in technology, proponents of the camera stressed that the device could provide definitive proof of who won and who lost. Yet despite this remedy for the inadequate human eye, competitive races between horses, boats, and bicycles ended too close to call a sole champion. More than a century later, when cameras can subdivide the second into ten-thousandths and beyond, athletes continue to cross the finish line in ties. In this fascinating journey through the history of the photo-finish in sports, Jonathan Finn shows how innovation was animated by a drive for ever more precise tools and a quest for perfect measurement. As he traces the technological developments inspired by this crusade - from the evolution of the still camera to movie cameras, ultimately leading to complex contemporary photo-finish systems - Finn uncovers the social implications of adopting and contesting the photograph as evidence in sport. At every turn empirical obsession intersects with the unpredictability of sports, creating a paradox wherein the precision offered by photo-finish technology far exceeds the realities of human performance and its measurement. Separating athletes by the hundredth, thousandth, or ten-thousandth of a second is often a fiction that comes with significant material and cultural implications. A lively biography of a critical technology, Beyond the Finish Line illuminates the cultural role of the photo-finish in win-at-all-costs culture and warn that in our pursuit for precision we may threaten the human element of sport that galvanizes mere spectators into fans.

"Maybe you are one of those people that have been led down a trail of bad luck. You are frustrated but realize that it won't help to continue to feel that way. isn't it time that you start reaching the finish line? In 'Reaching the finish line,' you will learn how to: land a great career without a HS diploma; land a great career without a college degree; graduate with a bachelor's degree in 1 year; change careers without going back to school; work from home for the rest of your life, and much more."--Back cove

Why so many of America's public university students are not graduating—and what to do about it The United States has long been a model for accessible, affordable education, as exemplified by the country's public universities. And yet less than 60 percent of the students entering American universities today are graduating. Why is this happening, and what can be done? Crossing the Finish Line provides the most detailed exploration ever of college completion at America's public universities. This groundbreaking book sheds light on such serious issues as dropout rates linked to race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Probing graduation rates at twenty-one flagship public universities and four statewide systems of public higher education, the authors focus on the progress of students in the entering class of 1999—from entry to graduation, transfer, or withdrawal. They examine the effects of parental education, family income, race and gender, high school grades, test scores, financial aid, and characteristics of universities attended (especially their selectivity). The conclusions are compelling: minority students and students from poor families have markedly lower graduation rates—and take longer to earn degrees—even when other variables are taken into account. Noting the strong performance of transfer students and the effects of financial constraints on student retention, the authors call for improved transfer and financial aid policies, and suggest ways of improving the sorting processes that match students to institutions. An outstanding combination of evidence and analysis, Crossing the Finish Line should be read by everyone who cares about the nation's higher education system.

Do you have a finish line in your life? A goal that you want to achieve--a dream that you want to live--but you know the road to get there will be long and hard? There are obstacles in your way and you fear that you might fail, and failure intimidates us all, but you still dream of that moment--your finish line moment. How do you get there? FINISH LINE VISION(R) is the motivation that comes from visualizing your success, imagining yourself experiencing that moment. Jay Hewitt will take you on a journey, telling you his remarkable story of overcoming type 1 diabetes to qualify and race on the US national triathlon team, balancing grueling physical training with work as an attorney, diabetes, and life as a husband and father. He provides research on the neuropsychology of achievement with examples of high achievers in history. You will learn lessons on: -setting and reaching goals -overcoming obstacles and doubt -achieving work-life balance -fitness and diet for a healthy lifestyle -handling change and failure Many people have already been inspired by Jay Hewitt's powerful message on stage. If you apply these principles, learn from these successes and failures, work hard, and persevere . . . you will reach your finish line. "In FINISH LINE VISION, Jay shows his passion for helping others overcome any obstacle-- whether it's diabetes, a tough business decision, or any other challenge. This book is a great guide for anyone wanting to do that!" --Charlie Kimball, IndyCar Series driver "A great story . . . truly inspirational . . . I'm going to take what I learned back home as a sales executive and a father!" --Kurt Auleta, VP Sales, Security Benefit, inc.

You have a lot to offer family, friends, business colleagues, bosses and clients, but sometimes it seems they just don't appreciate what you've done or what you can do for them. In Prism of Value, Liz Wainger will help you reframe the way you communicate to make your messages clear and help others see the value you can bring into their lives. Through personal stories and real-world examples of both good and bad communication styles, she will help you see how the message you think you're sending is not necessarily the message that's being received. Prism of Value takes you step-by-step through the process of discovering your value and building a strong message to convey that value to others. You will learn about the power of clarity, how to choose words that communicate value, what makes a good message "bite," how to find your own "shtick," and ways to weave a powerful story to deposit in your personal story bank. This book will show you ways to grab the attention of those around you and ways to work successfully with those drawn into your orbit. Learn how to battle the "word mongers," those who seek to demonstrate their power by pulling out their red pen and then slow your progress. You'll see how to keep your ego in check, prevent "communication crashes," and take the extra step that will set you apart from the pack. Whether you're trying to improve communications with your spouse or kids, apply for a new job, sign that big client, or get the promotion you deserve, you'll find tips for success in Prism of Value.