This fun and fast-moving book is a collection of the truly remarkable experiences - highs, lows, and most embarrassing - of Stephen Hopson, with each story revealing its own life lesson. Some are hilarious while others are profound enough to change your life. Whether your passion is career and business, home and family, or finding yourself spiritually, the power in Obstacle Illusions will inspire you to get up and give your cherished dreams a chance to succeed instead of giving up and wondering "what could have been." Stephen J. Hopson was born deaf but quickly learned to speak and began attending public school. At five years old, he told his parents he would become a pilot and was dismissed as being foolish, but as an adult he made aviation history by becoming the world's first deaf instrument-rated pilot. He also became an award-winning Wall Street stockbroker. He is now a transformational speaker, inspiring thousands of people worldwide to believe in themselves and achieve the impossible.
Stephen has been profoundly deaf since birth but that hasn't stopped him! He is a former Wall Street stockbroker where he won numerous sales awards and recognition in the coveted Executive Club three years in a row. In less than 4 years, he increased personal sales 1,700%. While in this position, he built and managed multi-million dollar investment portfolios for wealthy clients.
Stephen has been featured in a cover story for Careers and the Disabled, and interviewed on CNN, Detroit Fox 2 News and Buffalo News 4, to name a few. He has been profiled in numerous newspapers including The New York Times, The Detroit Free Press, The Oakland Press, Macomb Daily and has appeared on the national LEEZA talk show (Paramount), several cable television programs and countless radio shows including The Mitch Albom Show (author of best-selling "Tuesdays with Morrie").
Stephen is a man of intense passion who is known as a risk-taker with a capital R. In 1996, he stunned his family, friends and colleagues by giving up a lucrative six-figure Wall Street career to follow his divine calling of becoming an inspirational speaker and author. At that time, he had not spoken to a live audience since graduating from college 15 years earlier nor did he have any writing credentials.
In the mid-1990's, Stephen got his start in public speaking by speaking at Kiwanis, Rotary, Lion's and many other service organizations. Along the way, he's won numerous humorous speech contests while a member of Toastmasters.
Today, he speaks around the country and is contributing author of three books including best-selling Chicken Soup for the College Soul (July 1999), Heartwarmers (April 2000) and Magical Souvenirs: True Spiritual Adventures from Around the World (March 2002).
in 2011, he released his first book Obstacle Illusions: Transforming Adversity Into Success.
