Before purchasing this book, I was lucky enough to hear Bill Strickland speak at a conference luncheon in Chicago. Prior to the speech I had never heard of the guy, and therefore didn't know what to expect. I certainly didn't imagine I'd witness possibly the best, most uplifting speech I've ever heard in my life. When Strickland mentioned in his talk that he had a book being released, and that he wanted his book to zoom to No. 1 on the best-sellers list, I sat in my chair with the immediate thought that I'd be more than obliged to help him out with his goal. Frankly, the more people who know about this man and his message, the better off the world will be.
Like his speaking style, Strickland's words on paper are fairly plainspoken and to the point. He's accomplished some amazing things and is a beacon of inspiration, but onstage and in book form, Strickland won't necessarily wow you with dazzling buzz words or an excitable manner. Thankfully, he steers clear of religion and the clichéd "10 Steps" a person needs to follow in order to become an overnight sensation. Instead of rehashing the usual banter, Strickland tells the story of his life. He believes people need to follow success on their own terms, using their heart and mind as a guide. In this world of high-strung, fake, successful know-it-all types who believe they have all the answers, I frankly find Strickland's laid-back persona very refreshing and appealing. To be honest, while watching him talk and after reading his book, I couldn't help but wish that more people like Strickland would get into politics or even run for president.
So what is Strickland's main message? Basically that EVERYONE should have a shot at a good life and a chance to display his or her potential, no matter what that person's race or socioeconomic status is. In Strickland's own words within the book: "Every human being, despite the circumstances of his or her birth, is born full of potential, and the way to unlock that potential is to place individuals in a nurturing environment and expose them to the kind of stimulating and empowering creative experiences that feed the human spirit." Strickland's method of feeding the human spirit is not through social programs or feel-good seminar sessions that define what it means to be poor. His vision is much more ambitious but also much more helpful: change social policy and the educational system by creating inner-city schools that look less like prisons and more like his uplifting Manchester Bidwell facility.
Strickland came from very humble beginnings in Pittsburgh, where he watched his once proud and diverse neighborhood turn to shambles by the time he hit high school. Though Strickland himself went through a period of intense self-doubt and aimlessness as a young man, due to the ghetto he grew up in that so fiercely attempted to inhibit ambition, his ability to rise above negative habits and make something of himself is both impressive and endearing. Sure, Strickland doubted himself early on, but you get the feeling it wasn't for very long. This is a guy, after all, who made great things happen for himself -- and, more importantly, for others -- during his teenage years.
I've often heard it said that when you're living in poverty and surrounded by countless negative elements, it's extremely difficult to bust out of those circumstances and move on to a more hopeful way of life. Well, though it wasn't an easy journey by any means, Bill Strickland is an example of a guy who sprung out of his harsh hometown circumstances without ever even leaving town. Unlike so many others who "make it" in this world and move away to greener pastures, Strickland decided to remain in his own corner of the world; he immediately began saving the world there, which he has done in a major way. Strickland did so by starting an art center that grew by leaps and bounds after a sluggish beginning. His gravitation toward pottery and great art is itself charming to read about, and it's always impressive to discover someone whose own passions spread outward to help or inspire others.
As is expected from a man who has worked so hard to make his world a better place, Strickland experienced numerous roadblocks in the pursuit of his varied dreams. (One of his dreams included becoming an airline pilot.) He writes about both his setbacks and his accomplishments, making sure to relate how both the positive and negative occurrences in his life can help his readers during their journey. This is a great story about a genuinely nice, well-rounded, passionate, altruistic person who does pretty much everything he does for the betterment of his own soul -- which just happens to enhance other people's lives.
