Unstoppable: 45 Powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph from People Just Like You [Paperback]

Cynthia Kersey (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 1, 1998

Do you crave more out of life, but are unsure about how to get it? Do you secretly fear you don't have what it takes to achieve your true heart's desire? Or if you think you do, is everyone telling you to forget about it and be realistic?

Unstoppable is the first step to creating the life you've always wanted to live. This ultimate personal motivator introduces you to 45 people from all walks of life who will not only inspire you but show you how to overcome any obstacle between you and your goals. These current, real-life role models will show you possibilities for your life and give you the courage and inspiration to triumph!

Along with its heartwarming and inspiring stories, Unstoppable gives you a seven-step action plan that features the tools you'll need to create the life you deserve.

You'll learn:
--How to discover your own unique calling and purpose in life
--The biggest lies that may be stopping you from getting what you want
--The best strategies for turning self-doubt into unstoppable self-confidence
--Seven proven steps to becoming unstoppable in every area of life

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cynthia Kersey touches thousands of people's hearts nationally by delivering keynote presentations on how to identify and get what you really want in life. She has fourteen years experience in sales and marketing, including selling a multi-million dollar account for a Fortune 500 company. She has helped launch a number of successful entrepreneurial companies and is an active volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

from the Introduction

Benefits of an Unstoppable Spirit
Progress is not the only benefit of the unstoppable spirit. People's dreams have come true, communities have united and individuals have been inspired to try one more time.

From the greatest global achievement to the most personal accomplishment in our daily lives, the unstoppable spirit is the driving force for positive change and growth. This spirit is the force that breaks through countless personal barriers--barriers of self-doubt, negativity, and our own perceived limitations. It compels us to persist in striving toward our goals.

But how does one develop an unstoppable spirit? Is it only for those with superhuman abilities? Must one be born with a special gift? This book was born out of my own search for the answers to those questions. After reviewing and thoroughly researching the stories of hundreds of candidates for Unstoppable, I found the answer to be a resounding No. These individuals are not "superheroes." Most of them are just like you and me, experiencing their share of disappointments and frustrations. However, even in those moments, these people exhibit a few distinguishing characteristics that separate them from all others. These characteristics enable them to keep going when others would throw in the towel.

Seven Characteristics of Unstoppable People
Seven characteristics surfaced over and over. Unstoppable people:
1. Devote themselves to their true purpose
2. Follow their heart's passion
3. Believe in themselves and their ideas
4. Prepare for challenges
5. Ask for help and build a support team
6. Seek creative solutions
7. Persevere, no matter what the challenges
Fortunately, anyone who has the will to do so can develop these characteristics. To assist you in that process, this book devotes an entire chapter to each trait. The chapters are clearly illustrated with short profiles of people who have exhibited that characteristic. Most of the people in this book possess more than one of these attributes; however, I have placed each story in the chapter where it best demonstrates a specific characteristic.

In addition to the profiles of unstoppable individuals, each chapter includes a special feature called "In Their Own Words," an assortment of quotes, little-known facts, poems, and cartoons that support each chapter's theme. In various formats, you will meet dozens of individuals who transformed their dreams into reality. Each one has a different story to tell, and yet each experienced unstoppable results....

Creating the Unstoppable You!
At the end of each chapter, you will find "Your Personal Action Plan" with exercises and a step-by-step guide that will enable you to further develop each characteristic in your own life.

Maybe your goal is not to end world hunger, run a multibillion-dollar company, or make the cover of Time. Maybe your aspirations and desires focus on starting a new business, making a career change or doing volunteer work in your community. Perhaps you've been wanting to run for a school board position, complete a 5K race or pursue the passion for music that you abandoned for more practical pursuits. The size of the goal is not what constitutes an unstoppable spirit. It is personified in anyone who identifies a goal--something that really matters to that person--and refuses to give up until that goal is achieved.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks; 1 edition (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570713383
• ISBN-13: 978-1570713385
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary....even after my third reading! July 9, 2000

By C. Cunningham VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

For the record, I picked up this book about two years ago for the first time, and I have read it in its entirety twice since then. This is a masterpiece. You will never forget these stories.

Through the stories of ordinary people who have accomplished extraordinary things, Cynthia Kersey gives you insight into your own potential for greatness. This is not just another "come on, you can do it"-type of book. The people highlighted in this book are real. They are just like you and me, but they live with "purpose that ignites the spirit". They probably never thought of themselves as "great", and perhaps they never set out to be highlighted in a book like this, but they are...and for good reasons Kersey painstakingly outlines at the end of each chapter (Your Personal Action Plan). Her writing is taunt and flawless. A companion workbook is also available and I would advise anyone to make good use of it. Let Cynthia show you how and WHY you should!

This is definitely a book that you will refer to again and again, as I have. It can give you the renewed faith and conviction you need to get up every day and follow your dreams. You'll never think of yourself as ordinary again!

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars From one "unstoppable" person to another, "Get this book!" June 30, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I am a voracious reader of personal development and spiritual growth books, and I must say that Cynthia has written one of the best self-help books I have ever read (even better than the classic Think & Grow Rich). She not only tells you the triumphant stories of "ordinary people," she gives you the action plan for becoming extraordinary yourself. The book is 300+ pages long, and I finished it in two days. I couldn't put it down, and now, neither can my friends. Thanks Cynthia for a priceless gift.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The right kind of inspiration. December 11, 1999

By Adam Khan VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

This is not just another collection of true stories because the KIND of stories collected here make all the difference. These are not just stories of people making a million dollars by making a cheaper product and beating the competition. These are the kind of stories that encourage people to succeed by doing good works in the world. They are the kind of stories you will want to read to your children. If you have a goal that is difficult but you feel really needs to be done, this is the book for you. I'm the author of the book, Self-Help Stuff That Works, and I know what works. This book will inspire you to action.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't judge a book by it's cover January 9, 2007

By CraigDN

Format:Paperback

I was disappointed by this book.

It does offer stories of people who overcame diversity to become successful in their chosen field.

However, there is a lot of 'self-help' stuff in here... 'Your personal action plan' etc... NOT what I was expecting nor what I am interested in.

I found myself getting frustrated and skipping all of the self-help sections.

I also found that some of the stories lacked important information. For example, in the story about Kemmons Wilson (the founder of Holiday Inn), the story jumps from him leaving school and never wanting to be poor again, to having 'varying levels of business success', to buying 150 hotels...

If you can buy 150 hotels, you must have made a pretty big success out of something - but the book makes no mention of what he did to go from poverty to 150 hotels. For me, that would more than likely be a more motivating and interesting story than the one in the book, where he goes from rich to richer.

This book still has good stories and is probably still worth buying, but I just didn't expect to be bombarded with self-help stuff, I was more interested in reading business stories than reading a self improvement seminar handbook.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars probably deserve 5 stars June 12, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I actually stumbled across this book by accident looking for another book.As many years as I have been reading self help books this is the best read I have so far encountered. This book is sacred for me.The stories are unbelievably inspirational and once you get inspired there's an action plan that the author herself used to follow her dream.The authors story is the most motovational for me. I gave this book 4 stars because I dont think the action plan towards the end isnt for people starting from scratch (bottom of the barrel), nevertheless if you ignore whats not useful this book could be a lifsaver.I encourage everyone to keep this book as a reference. Very highly reccommended.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Success unlimited July 13, 2000

By Derrick Reid ([e-mail])

Format:Paperback

Praises for Cynhia Kersey's masterpiece of the human spirit! I just bought the book two days ago and couldn't put it down. As a matter of fact, I'm shopping for something else to read because I've just completed Unstoppable. Just when you think you're going to put the book down to get some sleep, you realize you're half done reading it and want to read some more. I read dozens of motivational books while in undergrade preparing to enter Dental School, and this ranks up there with the best... the Zig ziglars, Og Mandino's, Norman Vincent Peales,etc. If you've ever thought there was something in life you wanted to do, but never accomplished because of FEAR or that negative CAN"T, or was told that you COULDN"T, these negatives will be banished from your vocabulary FOREVER! Unstoppable gives countless examples of the depths from which the human spirit can raise anyone and everyone. I would encourage people of all ages to read and re-read this masterpiece. I will!