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5.0 out of 5 stars
This book & the success secrets it contains should be your constant companion on the road to success!, May 19, 2007
This review is from: Success Secrets of Super Achievers (Paperback)
Success Secrets of Super Achievers by Jim Stovall
Unlike most books that touch on the 'success secrets' or 'the ultimate success formula' (USF), this book takes a seemingly broad-based & light-hearted approach to the subject. Best of all, it doesn't pin down to a specific formula but rather chooses to give readers an opportunity to explore diverse perspectives.
To cap his clever approach, the author even draws on the candid viewpoints of a relatively disparate sampling of ordinary people who have lived or are living great lives, with goals, vision & passion - 82 of them to be exact, widely known & admired in movie entertainment, music, politics & law, business, sports & even religion. A lot of these people, to my surprise, are not the traditionally rich & famous but, as the author puts it, these people have been "to the mountaintop" in their respective field.
As an award-winning broadcaster, the author has abundant access to these successful people - or super-achievers - in the real world. To his many personal & frank interviews with these people, he has asked two compelling questions:
- How do you define success; and
- What does it take to be happy?
This inspiring book certainly captures the 'strategic heartbeat' of most of the interviewees' inspiring responses. Their advice is very simple, straight-forward, & effective, with no ulterior motive other than to help those who seriously want to join them on the mountaintop.
The author is in fact a super-achiever himself & despite his failing eyesight & eventual blindness, he has been an Entrepreneur of the Year, a national champion Olympic weightlifter, a successful investment broker, an accomplished musician/songwriter, a marketing consultant, & a professional speaker, an author & president/co-founder/host of a television network.
As a matter of fact, I understand that one of his best-selling books, "The Ultimate Gift" is now a 20th Century Fox major motion picture, starring James Garner.
In a nutshell, & collectively for readers, I am very confident readers can find numerous startling answers as well as unusual perspectives in your continuing quest for:
- Becoming the best you can be;
- Changing your life;
- Turning your dreams into reality;
- Taking action starting today;
- Finding & fulfilling your destiny regardless of your circumstances;
Many of the super achievers whom the author had interviewed, especially those from movie entertainment, also brought forth many sweet memories of my childhood times in the late fifties & throughout the sixties, during which I had spent much of my spare time going to the movies & watching the black box.
Here are some of my unforgettable movie/TV characters with their winning insights in the book:
- Eddie Albert (played a big city attorney - who long desired to become a farmer - opposite Eva Gabor in 'Green Acres' TV series): "I really don't care how I am remembered as long as I bring happiness & joy to people";
- Joseph Barbera (creator/producer of 'Tom & Jerry', 'The Flintstones' cartoon series for TV, among many others): "Without persistence, it is impossible to experience success."
- Ralph Bellamy ('Frontier Justice', 'The Eleventh Hour", 'The Survivors', but I remember him best as the rich Texan J W Grant in 'The Professionals'): "Never back down on your dreams!";
- Pat Boone (for me, his original rendition of 'Speedy Gonzales' is the best!): "I define success as somehow having a positive effect on the lives of others."
- Chuck Connors (as rancher Lucas McCain - with his modified Winchester - in `The Rifleman' TV series): "Concentrate on the fun-damentals!"
- Jack Elam (memorable supporting roles in 'High Noon' & "Gunfight at OK Corral'): "Never say die! You can make it by just trying & trying & trying...& taking chances!"
- Douglas Fairbanks (often played the debonair character in slapstick comedies or adventure yarns e.g. 'The Legend of Robin Hood'; best remembered from his role in 'The Prisoner of Zenda'): "Only when we rise above our current circumstances & escape from the day to day can we really explore the possibilities."
- Peter Graves (as Jim Phelps in 'Mission: Impossible' TV series): "Success in life means...a goal that you have an eye on...that goal...something you must do & persevere until you got it done or got a start at it...then you stay on top of it, & keep punching & pushing & striving all the time to go in the directions that you want..."
- Katharine Hepburn ('The Philadelphia Story', 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner & `The African Queen' are three of her most memorable films): "All of us need to find that passion in our work, or find work where we can experience the passion."
- Charlton Heston ('Benhur', The Ten Commandments, 'The Omega Man', & `Solyent Green'): "Spend your time wisely!"
- Shirley Jones ('Oklahoma', 'Elmer Gantry', and `The Partridge Family'): "If you know how to get along with people, you are a lot more likely to succeed in all the areas of your life."
- Deborah Kerr (a captivating portrayal opposite Burt Lancaster in 'From Here to Eternity'): "...There are some limitations that simply cannot be overcome. But instead of giving up on all your dreams just because your first dream can't be true, transfer your enthusiasm to a new endeavour."
- Dorothy Lamour (I will always remember her roles in 'The Road to...' pictures, a series of movies with Bob Hope & Bing Crosby): "The world takes itself far too seriously; laughter is something there's far too little of. Whatever one does, they should always remember to laugh."
- Jack Lemon ('Mister Roberts', 'Some Like It Hot', 'Days of Wine & Roses' but his role of Jack Codell in 'The China Syndrome' in the late seventies was the most memorable): "Achieving success can be thrilling, but it is a lot more satisfying if you can make a worthwhile difference in someone's life on your way up."
- Robert Young ('Father Knows Best', 'Marcus Welby' TV series): "You have to have enthusiasm."
- Joseph Wambaugh (creator of the classic anthology series for TV under 'Police Story' in the seventies): "The only thing I have learned about success is that if one is willing to listen, really listen, to things that are said, as well as to things that are not said, that person will be miles ahead of the competition."
Other successful people interviewed in the book include: The Dalai Lama, Alexander Haig, Robert Schuller, Charles Schwab, Robert Shapiro (remember O J Simpson?), Ted Turner, Denis Waitley, Art Linkletter & Gary Player.
To conclude my review, I would like to paraphrase what the author wrote in the Introduction, which I thought really accentuates the essence of his book: "...I have now read the biographies of more than 1,500 great & famous people. One of the traits they have in common is a sense of expectation & destiny. They always believed that they were destined for greatness. I trust that you believe that you are destined for greatness, & that this book will be a launching pad for all that is yet to come...This book & the success secrets it contains should be your constant companion on the road to success. Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Simply follow the trail that has already been blazed, & you will find that your success is not a mystery, but a certainty."
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