Becoming Invaluable Virtual Book Tour

Becoming Invaluable banner

Becoming Invaluable cover

Develop the Willitude to Navigotiate Success

 

Nonfiction / Self-Help

Date Published: November 7, 2023

 

 

The stories you will find laced throughout this book are from many
different individuals and perspectives. These stories of our interviewees
are from their real-life experiences including both failures and
successes.

Our desire for this book is to inspire, motivate, educate, and support
anyone in whatever your walk of life. Regardless of your vocation, career,
or path in life, you can enhance your outcomes and the experiences along the
way through the application of the methods you will find throughout this
book.

 

Becoming Invaluable tablet

EXCERPT

Introduction

We have a simple question to ask. Here it is:

“What do you think is the highest calling in life you can have?”

One answer could be to become a successful CEO of a big, influential company. 

That’s a good response.

Or you may aspire to be an esteemed doctor and save countless lives.

That would be admirable. 

How about a famous actor or musician, and entertain millions of people?

Not bad at all!

One more choice …. What if you made the life of just one other person brighter and more beautiful?

Wait—really? Just one other person?

Yes. If you believe that human life is priceless, then wouldn’t impacting one other person be meaningful? That person could be a child, or a sick neighbor, or someone facing difficult circumstances.

Yes, that would be a high calling in life.

Assuming your intent is positive, all of these choices, and many more, have one thing in common.

This one commonality is that you have made yourself invaluable to the people or person you serve. You provide a service or support that no one else could. Without you and your direct involvement, the people you serve would not be the same. They would be relatively impoverished—physically, emotionally, spiritually. Because you are invaluable to them, their lives are better, and they can reach their human potential.

To become invaluable to a person, a family, a community, or even a nation is one of the most satisfying things you can do in life. It’s true that you do it for yourself, but you cannot do it without serving other people and making their lives better. In that regard, it’s a win-win situation. You win because they win.

But there’s one catch.

Being invaluable and making a positive difference to one person or an entire community, requires certain personal attributes. Unless you have those attributes, you may not be able to make your goal a reality. You may have the best of intentions, but good intentions must be translated into action. Being invaluable takes work—it may be pleasant and rewarding work, but the effort must be expended, usually every day.

To do the work and become invaluable requires five personal attributes. They are knowledge, skills, attitude, health, and strength.

This book will show you how to develop those five key personal attributes so that you can become invaluable. The development of those attributes takes commitment and effort, but the good news is the payback: You’ll feel better and better every day. Your sense of self-worth and well-being will increase. You’ll be more engaged with life and derive more enjoyment from everything you do.

In addition to the five key personal attributes, to become truly invaluable you’ll also need four others: a set of values to guide you in the right direction, a purpose in life, a sense of willitude, and the ability to navigotiate.

You may not recognize those last two words—willitude and navigotiate. That’s okay because they’re new words created just for this book. Basically, willitude is a combination of willpower and fortitude. And navigotiate is a combination of navigate and negotiate. We’ve put them together to form new words that relate directly to your ability to become invaluable. 

Throughout the book you’ll find plenty of inspiring real-life stories (as well as a few cautionary tales!), including some from our own lives. In addition, the Invaluable Spotlight Profiles you will find laced throughout are from many different individuals and perspectives. These stories of our interviewees are from their real-life experiences including both failures and successes, and they have one thing in common: they trace the individual’s personal journey to becoming invaluable in the way that fit their personal goals. Perhaps in a future edition of Becoming Invaluable we’ll be able to include your story as well!

In addition, after each chapter you’ll find a set of Action Steps. These are handy reminders of the highlights of the chapter and the positive actions you can take to support your journey to becoming invaluable.

Our desire for this book is to inspire, motivate, educate, and support you in whatever your walk of life. Regardless of your vocation, career, or path in life, you can enhance your outcomes and the experiences along the way through the application of the methods you will find throughout this book. You can find through our web site and social media pages a variety of tools and ways to enhance your learning and journey (put in web site address)

Ready? Let’s get started!

About the Authors

Steven J Bowen

Steven J Bowen

Steve is a decisive executive leader with over 30 years’ P&L
experience delivering turnarounds and high-growth results for businesses,
both public and private equity owned, in multiple industries across the
world. Success has been achieved through bold, collaborative leadership to
quickly transform organization vision and mission into exceptional team and
delivery performance.

In 2017 Steve published his first Book, “Total Value Optimization:
Transforming Your Global Supply Chain into a Competitive Weapon”. The
book describes the pressure today’s corporate leaders are under to
deliver differentiated, lasting performance – fast. “Total Value
Optimization” and the TVO Framework, resting on a foundation of data
analytics, was recognized by the Global Supply Chain Institute as the best
methodology they have seen to achieve integrated supply chain excellence in
logistics, operations, and procurement. Since the sale of Maine Pointe,
LLC., he is actively serving on the Board of Directors for two companies and
another advisory board. He is actively involved in several seed investments
as well as co-authoring a second book to be published in 2023. Steve
currently resides in Duxbury, Massachusetts where he and his wife of
thirty-seven years, Deb, raised their family. Their son Grant is a partner
at Kirkland & Ellis, married with two children, and lives in Norwell,
MA. Their daughter Natalie, who founded, with her husband, a real estate
development firm, lives in Duxbury and they are expecting their first child
in May 2023. In his personal time, Steve enjoys golfing, boating and loves
to spend quality time with his family and friends. Steve is active in
numerous community endeavors.

 

Dr. Terry Lyles

Dr. Terry Lyles

Dr. Terry Lyles holds a Ph.D. in psychology and is recognized as a
national/international educator, author and speaker to universities,
schools, Fortune 500 Companies, world-class athletes, and public audiences.
He teaches groups of all ages how to Navigate Life Storms through life
balance training. Dr. Lyles has trained hundreds of individuals including
Fire Rescue workers in and around Ground Zero, International Forensic
Medical teams in the Asian torn Tsunami area and the United States Air Force
Space Command, sharing his time-tested, scientifically measured approach to
stress utilization.

Major corporations have also benefited from this training technology such
as DaimlerChrysler, Banana Republic, Macy’s West, Pfizer, Universal
Studios and Tommy Hilfiger, Maine Pointe, to name just a few. Dr. Lyles has
appeared on NBC, ABC, USA Today, CNN, Headlines News, The Big Idea with
Donny Deutsch and FOX NEWS, and in U.S. News & World Report as a
Corporate Performance Enhancement and Life-Balance Specialist, and hosted a
premiere talk show sponsored by Success Magazine, and was heard as the
“Stress Doctor” while living with his family Marsha and Brayden
in South Florida.

 

Contact Link

Website

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

 

RABT Book Tours & PR

Comments Off on Becoming Invaluable Virtual Book Tour

Filed under BOOKS

Ivy Hill Blitz

Ivy Hill banner

 

Ivy Hill cover

A Novel inspired by True Events

 

Coming of Age / Fiction

Date Published: November 28, 2023

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group

 

 

What happens when a loving family man dies suddenly and a stranger takes
his place?

IVY HILL is a thoroughly American coming-of-age story set in the mid-20th
century. Earthy, realistic, and mordantly funny, it is rich with details of
that iconic era. It is also a timeless, universal tale of redemption,
morality and conquering adversity, with nearly-mythic elements anyone from
any century and virtually any culture would recognize: there’s a wicked
giant, a good grandmother and a bad one, a “ghost” or two, and
even, in a manner of speaking, a dark potion.

And at the center of the story, an innocent child.

Love, death, danger and fate intertwine in this novel, which was inspired
by author Arthur Ruben’s actual life. It takes place in Brooklyn from
1952-1957, then Newark from 1958-1970. Ruben’s protagonist, five-year-old
“Eddie,” is devastated following the death of his beloved
34-year-old father. He waits in vain and with a slowly breaking heart for
Daddy to return. His mother’s disastrous remarriage, plus the family’s
wrenching move from Brooklyn, NY, to the Ivy Hill section of Newark, NJ,
turns Eddie’s life inside out. Over the next thirteen years, he is
transformed from helpless brokenhearted child into an entirely different
creature. The post-war society he was born into is also transformed: the
repercussions of that potent and turbulent time, still in living memory-Viet
Nam, Woodstock, the Mansons, and especially now, civil rights-are with us to
this day, and will resonate with millions of readers.

 

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

 

 

RABT Book Tours & PR

Comments Off on Ivy Hill Blitz

Filed under BOOKS

The Diary of Katy Yehonala Blitz

The Diary of Katy Yehonala banner

 

The Diary of Katy Yehonala cover

Literary Fiction

Date Published: 01-11-2021

Publisher: Shawline Publishing Group P/L

 

 

A SWEEPING SAGA OF THREE GENERATIONS OF EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN WHO LIFTED
THEIR GAZE BEYOND THEIR TURBULENT HISTORY, EACH TO FULFIL UNIQUE
DESTINIES.

 

The first is a proud matriarch who believes honouring family is worth any
sacrifice.

The second is born into a revolution and travels the world, still scarred
by her childhood demons.

The third soars to breathtaking heights on the world stage, a mother’s
selfless love beneath her wings.

 

The Diary of Katy Yehonala brilliantly evokes another time and place,
laying bare its drama and beauty in haunting landscapes and vivid portraits
of unforgettable women, so exquisitely narrated that they resonate long
after the final page is turned.

 

“… an immersive and gripping book that resonates deeply with the
reader. Throughout, the characterisation is strong, memorable and nuanced
suited to the intricate, powerful, compelling narrative.” Rebecca
Black, AM

 

About the Author

Robert Barclay

Robert grew up in a small English village, the repository of 1000 years of
history engraved on the tombstones of its Norman Church. Without mobile
phones, TV or the Internet, he made up stories.

Later in life, he found himself a clearance diver in the labyrinthine,
murky waterways of the Mekong Delta, dismantling booby traps during the
Vietnam War and receiving two bravery awards. He spent much time in Asia,
and his storytelling is inspired by his life experiences living around the
world and from random meetings with strangers.

Robert’s writing paints pictures of remarkable, headstrong women set
against backstories of the significant issues of our times. His vivid
storytelling combines sharp-witted dialogue and meticulous research to bring
our human struggles to life. A citizen of the world, his love of exotic
places, their people and their love stories brings readers an evocative
sense of time and place.

 

Contact Link

Website

Facebook

Blog

Goodreads

Instagram

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Publisher

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RABT Book Tours & PR

1 Comment

Filed under BOOKS

The Legend of Rachel Petersen Virtual Book Tour

The Legend of Rachel Petersen banner

The Legend of Rachel Petersen cover

Supernatural

Date Published: 06-10-2023

Publisher: Sky Publishing

 

 

Outraged when The Post Gazette overlooks him for a promotion, 43-year-old
Sportswriter Christian Kane quits the Paper and moves to the country to
write fiction. Inspiration flows from a grave he stumbles upon in the woods.
He pens The Legend of Rachel Petersen, a fascinating story revolving around
the dead twelve-year-old girl who was laid to rest beneath the weathered
tombstone in 1863. His book climbs the Best Seller lists; then Hollywood
adapts it into a blockbuster movie. Kane becomes rich and famous; but then!
Does an enraged Rachel become more than a figment of the writer’s
imagination and rise from her grave, seeking revenge on him for slandering
her name?

 

The Legend of Rachel Petersen tablet

 EXCERPT

 

He popped his head out of the hole and looked beyond the heaping piles of freshly dug dirt, making certain there were no intruders hiding in the bushes, waiting to rob him of his find. Satisfied there weren’t any, he reached down and grabbed the lid. Rusted solid, the tiny hinges creaked loudly as he tugged. He yanked harder and harder until they snapped. 

Then… Wooosh! A gigantic gale force wind blasted up and out from the coffin, violently ripping the lid from his hand. The plank door pinned his legs against the earthen side of the grave. Using his arms, he shielded his face as the tornado strength winds blew straight up past him. His hair was blown straight on end. The tree limbs above him thrashed and whipped wildly as the colossal, continuous gust of wind ripped through the leaves. Dust, dirt, and stones, tore at his arms and face as they were hurled from the hole. The rush of the air howled loudly with an eerie, awful sound, as though a thousand people were screaming at once. Thaddeus grimaced as the forceful wind would not allow him to catch his breath.

As fast as the howling wind had erupted from the coffin, it abruptly stopped. Then the lid slammed shut with a loud whack. The branches bounced and swayed to a peaceful rest as Thaddeus, trembling, cautiously began to wipe the dirt from his face and arms. 

Being more cautious on his second attempt, he slowly lifted the lid while peeking over it through squinted eyes. No howling gust of wind greeted him as the mummified remains of the once very pretty and young Rachel Petersen, laid to rest in a plain floral print dress, came into view. A thin layer of dust covered her and everything else inside the tiny coffin. 

But how could that be? After that violent windstorm, which just moments ago blasted forth from the coffin, no dust would have remained. That was just another curiosity that never crossed Thaddeus’s mind.

Staring back at him were two large empty eye sockets in a tiny skull, which rested on a satin pillow. Her facial skin, once having a flawless peaches and cream complexion, was now brown, deeply gouged with wrinkles, and drawn tight, exposing her baby teeth. Her nose was reduced to two narrow slits. Red hair, parted in the middle, covered her forehead before coming to rest in curls on her shoulders. 

The bones and joints in her hands and arms were clearly visible. Her skin-tight hands lay folded on her chest, clutching a rosary. An artifact!

She looks like a dried-out prune with red hair,” Thaddeus thought to himself. Then his pulse pounded faster and louder in his ears when he spotted the holy prayer beads. 

He stared wide-eyed at the white beaded rosary that had a tiny silver crucifix attached, then the corners of his lips curled into a sly smile as he congratulated himself on the find, “I knew there would be something of value buried with her.”

Slowly he reached down for the treasure. “One more inch and it’s mine.” 

Then he quickly jerked his hand back when Seth’s warning echoed through his mind, “Do you want someone like her to haunt you for the rest of your life?” 

“Nonsense,” he reasoned to himself with a chuckle. “Ha! What does Seth know?” 

Then his subconscious haunted him, “What about your dream? The curse in hieroglyphics?”

He answered himself out loud! “That’s nonsense too! Take the treasure and cover her back up!”

Nervously, he wiped the beads of sweat running down his brow; again, he reached for the holy rosary very slowly while staring at her ghastly, withered face. And those two empty eye sockets staring back! He was expecting her to move, or worse yet, holler, “Grave robber,” and grab at him with her boney hands. Nevertheless, he desired that rosary so badly, he was willing to take that risk.

Thaddeus delicately grasped the tiny cross. Firmly, but with a gentle touch, the young archaeologist raised it two inches until all the slack was out of the chain. Now taut, it would not come away from the corpse any further; the remaining beads of the rosary had been intertwined around those hideous looking hands. 

Keeping a vigilant watch on her hollow eyes, he tugged a bit harder on the rosary. He did not see when the army of huge, dark orange centipedes scurried out from under her hands. Quickly, one after another, thousands of the ugly bugs crawled out from their hiding spot and ran up the chain. They raced across his hand and up his arm. “Oh!” Thaddeus hollered as he let go of the cross and flung his hand back. 

Thousands more continued to pour out from their hiding spot, climbing over his shoes, up his pants, up his legs, under his shirt. “Oh! Oh! Oh!” 

Moreover, they stunk. Like battery acid mixed with used motor oil and ammonia.

A part of his dream flashed through his mind, “Within these walls lie the remains of Rachel Petersen. Cursed will be all those who dare enter.”

In one bound, he jumped the four feet out of the grave. The hideous bugs poured out of the hole and chased him down. Chills ran the entire length of his spine as he danced about, flailing his arms, trying to shake the repulsive insects off as more and more covered him. 

He ripped his shirt off and used it to swat the creepy crawlers off his back, chest, shoulders, and stomach. They were in his hair; he shook his head. One was halfway in his ear when he pulled it out. He kicked his feet into the air while grabbing and shaking his pant legs; he stomped on the vile and relentless hunnerd leggers that did fall to the ground. The ones he missed, turned and came after him again. 

For ten awfully long minutes, they kept up their never-ending assault. 

While jumping up and down, he tripped over the shovel’s handle and fell face first over the freshly dug dirt pile back into the grave, landing three inches from Rachel’s mummified face; he swore he saw Rachel smile at him! …

J.T. Baroni

(J.T. Baroni, pictured with the tombstone that inspired the story)

Living in Western Pennsylvania all my life, I’ve been an avid
Whitetail hunter since old enough to tote a rifle, which is also about as
long as I’ve had a fondness for word games and literature.

While hunting one year, I actually did stumble upon a weathered tombstone
in the middle of the woods.

While waiting patiently for that big buck to cross my path, I had plenty of
time to ponder the dead girl’s fate, which I was then driven to write.

Eerily enough, this is the premise of The Legend of Rachel Petersen, my
first novel published in 2012, which I recently revised.

A newly retired transformer repairman, I refer to Johnstown, Pennsylvania,
a small town outside of Pittsburgh, as home.

My wife Becky and I share our abode with two retrievers – Piper, and
Remmy.

 

two dogs

 

Contact Links

Facebook

Goodreads

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Smashwords

Books2Read

Audiobook available at Apple Books

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RABT Book Tours & PR

Comments Off on The Legend of Rachel Petersen Virtual Book Tour

Filed under BOOKS

Sun Tzu’s Café Blitz

Sun Tzu's Café banner

 

Sun Tzu's Café cover

Historical Fiction / Medical Thriller/ Espionage

Date Published: January 1, 2024

 

In the era of legalized marijuana in the United States, the Chinese
government has nefarious plans to exploit America’s best and brightest
graduate students using synthetic Hallucinogens and THC compounds. To
accomplish their goal, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has partnered with
a disaffected American CIA agent who was instrumental in the CIA’s domestic
hallucinogen experiments on American citizens known as Project MKULTRA
during the Korean and Vietnam wars. The CCP have surreptitiously funded
upscale cafés in each American city where marijuana has been
legalized and there is an American university within walking distance of
their café.

In each café, the CCP secretly adds a designer hallucinogen to the
coffee. This drug opens the graduate student’s minds to the power of
suggestion and allows the baristas (Chinese security agents) to easily
question the students for technical information concerning their graduate
studies and labs. The methods used are similar to what the disaffected CIA
agent learned during his MKULTRA project missions in the 1950s and 1960s.
This allows the  Communist Chinese to gain a head start on America’s
most crucial security and technological innovations.

But there is a problem. The synthetic hallucinogen is beginning to have
strange effects on some students, and these effects are being noticed. A
bright Israeli E.R. doctor and his wife (an addiction counselor) living and
working in Burlington, Vermont, have encountered some of these students
suffering from bizarre psychotic symptoms. They suspect that there is more
than meets the eye in these Chinese cafés and have started
investigating. If the Chinese plan is discovered, it will open the CCP up to
significant charges of international terrorism against the United States.
With current congressional committee hearings focused on banning Tik Tok and
other Chinese technologies, the CCP will stop at nothing to prevent this
from happening.

 

About the Author

Eric Bornstein

 

 

Contact Link

LinkedIn

 

 

RABT Book Tours & PR

Comments Off on Sun Tzu’s Café Blitz

Filed under BOOKS