Dare to Succeed: How to Survive and Thrive in the Game of Life [Hardcover]

Mark Burnett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 2001

The man who has lived a classic rags-to-riches life story turns his passion for daring and challenge into life lessons on personal and professional achievement. The genius behind the wildly popular Survivor series, Mark Burnett is now the hottest producer in television. What most people dont know, however, is that Burnett has his own survival story to tell, and its every bit as riveting as the show. A decade ago, he was selling t-shirts on the beach in Southern California. But through a combination of inspiration, determination, and sheer nerve, he transformed his life, went on to produce an Emmy-winning extreme sports program, and, of course, created the most popular series on the air today. A former paratrooper and an open-water certified SCUBA diver, Mark Burnett has used his life of daring experiences as a jumping-off point, and now shows readers how to chase their dreams, ignore their fears, and follow the road less traveled to personal and business success. His book unfolds like a real-life adventure story, offering valuable lessons, inspirational vignettes, and hard-hitting advice. Burnetts recipe for success encourages people to bend the rules, embrace risk, lead with compassion, learn through failure, revel in pain, and focus like a laser on their goals. By following this blend of heart and chutzpah, youll not only survive, but go on to succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The creator of reality TV, Burnett reveals the secrets to success he developed over his checkered career as a soldier, nanny/errand boy, professional adventure-tour operator and now producer of the now oft-imitated Survivor, an enormous financial triumph. His simple principles are familiar self-help truisms "only results count," "have the courage to fail," "be right or be wrong, but make a decision." He catalogues his professional ups and downs, including having to master mountain climbing when his partner/ guide left him, and mishandling his team for a major eco-challenge competition, and he undertakes a brief self-examination for each experience. For example, he concludes that the disappointing eco-challenge "was a blessing in disguise.... Through the devastating act of quitting I gained an incentive to persevere, if only so I would never know that awful sensation.... Babe Ruth failed 70% of the time when he stepped to the plate. That never stopped him from swinging for fences." After several such platitudes and unoriginal insights delivered in a cocksure manner, readers may have had enough. On the other hand, his unflagging, unabashed insistence on banal principles and his resulting physical and material successes may keep readers soldiering on in spite of themselves, not unlike his TV audience. (Sept. 12)Forecast: This unremarkable addition to motivational literature may garner an early sales spike due to Burnett's visibility and the fall debut of Survivor III.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

About the Author

Mark Burnett is an Emmy-winning producer and founder of the Eco-Challenge -- a series of extreme sports events that have aired on MTV, ESPN, Discovery Channel, and the USA Network. His CBS series Survivor and Survivor II are among the most popular in television history. In addition to producing, Burnett is an avid extreme sportsman who also speaks frequently on leadership and team-building for corporations worldwide. A former member of the famed British Army Parachute Regiment, certified skydiver, and white water guide, he lives in Los Angeles, but is known from Pulau Tiga to the Australian Outback.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; First Edition edition (September 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078686849X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786868490
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,265,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Man Whose Life Parallels His Shows, September 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Dare to Succeed: How to Survive and Thrive in the Game of Life (Hardcover)

It's easy to slam Mark Burnett. He's freaking rich, he's changed the way television does business, and he doesn't seem to make a wrong move careerwise. But unlike other self-help authors who use adventure anecdotes without having any experience of their own, Burnett has put himself out there. I was surprised to see that he was on the front lines in the Falklands War, finished ninth in the Raid Gauloises, and personally scouts each Survivor location and pre-runs each Eco-Challenge course. The guy's not a wanna-be, he's the real deal. His words on success are worth reading.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It worked for Mark Burnett!, September 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Dare to Succeed: How to Survive and Thrive in the Game of Life (Hardcover)

I'm wondering if "Mooresville, NC" even read this book. It sounds to me like he has a personal issue with Mr. Burnett. I might have taken heed in his/her review if it actually said something about the content of the book. I'm on chapter four, and I personally see Burnett's life-view refreshing. Unlike other self-help/success stories I've witnessed, so far I see no signs of self-pity or "martyrism". Burnett seems to sincerely appreciate whatever opportunities he's had in life. Obviously, he's doing something right to have created/produced Eco-Challenge and produced "Survivor". So far, I find his success strategies enlightening. They may not be profound, but at least we know for sure that they worked for him!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, September 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Dare to Succeed: How to Survive and Thrive in the Game of Life (Hardcover)

This book is a quick read and very entertaining. Mark Burnett is the Producer of "Survivor" and "Eco-Challenge" and he draws from these shows in his example of how to succeed (at least how he succeeded). The book is structured like a self-help book, and it is (from the standpoint that Burnett's stories motivate you to put your dreams into action). However, I appreciated it as a story of someone struggling to establish oneself in life - not so different from you or I, but with results that most of us will only dream about. I was rooting for Burnett to succeed as soon as I read the first chapter where he moves to the United States from Great Britain and lands a job as a nanny. I will wholeheartedly recommend this book to friends and family.