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When I first started seriously thinking about writing the story of my life, I asked a group of colleagues for their advice. I wanted to know what the people whose professional opinions and insights I so respect thought.

Many of these people are professional writers, others are high level marketers. All of them are business people who are at the top of their game, and who know what they are talking about, so I really wanted their opinion as to whether they thought it made sense for me to pursue this project.

Here, below, and with each of their permission, is what some of them had to say:

I find this ridiculously inspiring. It is also simply a good story. Which is one of two of the best reasons for writing. The other is because you have something to say, which is not mutually exclusive from the aforementioned, but not always inclusive, either. This is certainly a case of both.

– Jim Meskauskas

 

This should be a book, it could even be a movie. Incredibly inspiring story. I want to also personally thank you for representing fathers

– William Volk, CEO, PlayScreen

 

Love the story. Yes, write the book.

– John Engler, President, Pipeline Success

 

Tell your story, please. Do it soon.

A few decades back, American culture killed off the Horatio Alger “myth” that no matter how humble your background, you can find success through luck, pluck and virtue. Instead we replaced it with a narrative that we are all “victims” and “survivors”.

The hardest I’ve laughed in a long time was watching an episode of “Real Housewives of NY”. A group of hopelessly spoiled Manhattan ladies were lounging at a six-bedroom suite at St. John’s luxury vacation villas in the gated Peter Bay community. The women nodded solemnly as one of them said something like “I think we’re all survivors in a way, that’s what we all have in common.”

Our culture has lost our bearings in a very meaningful way when the powerful embrace victimhood to gain more power.

Wall Street banker “victims” howled that their bonuses might go away after they crashed the economy.

BP’s CEO, after his company essentially wrecked the Gulf ecosystem, said “There’s no one who wants this over more than I do. I would like my life back.”

We need to reboot the idea that responsibility matters. We also need to make it clear to young people that declaring yourself a victim (even if that’s an objective and undeniable truth) won’t improve your situation.

Your story is proof that taking responsibility — especially when your situation is lousy and the work ahead is daunting — can and will pay off. And it’s also important for people to see that making a difference is also a responsibility.

Tell your story, please. Do it soon.

– Tom Cunniff, Founder, iCPG

 

Go for it…if all you do is inspire one person on this planet, you will have done something worthwhile.

– Andy Cleff, Founder, Ampersand Design

 

Fantastic. I am particularly curious to read about the early years and how, an 11 year old manages to “make it” on her own in such a situation. I know I will enjoy the rest of the story too and there are other parts that I am eager to “fill in the blanks” on too – but the fact that you were essentially on you own in NYC at the age of 11 is truly amazing.

I have an 11 year old daughter. It brings tears to my eyes – literally as I write this email – to think that my precious daughter would have to face such a scary and frankly incomprehensible task. Like you – she is a fighter and she would probably somehow do it – but it is simply impossible for me to imagine it. So you see I have an even more personal reason to want to read your story and learn how your persevered. I look forward to your book and sharing it with her one day.

– Steve Sarner

 

Bravo Anne – and you’ve inspired me to get on with what I keep saying I’m going to do – which is start simple, with a blog, on www.itsonlyanumber.net – a celebration of the fact that aging has lots of pluses, in our times of a seeming obsession with being young.

– Jane Wilson, Founder, ItsOnlyANumber.net

 

So many others would gain from your strength and drive and conviction and be inspired. Especially in this economy with such little hope for so many good people.

Write on, Anne!

– Eric Sanders

 

2 Responses to “What People are Saying about The Story of Anne’s Life”

  1. "gunner" says:

    anne,
    yes, please do write the book, i’d like my grand daughter to read it. she’s 17 and about to strike out on her own and i think your story might help her along the way. she has a tendency to think she knows it all already, but i’ve kicked enough rocks along the road to know better.

  2. "gunner" says:

    add: looking back over three quarters of a century, i find tom cunniff’s comments particularly relevant

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