Full disclosure:  For several years I had the privilege of working with Rob Severson. Connecting Peace, Purpose & Prosperity is “A Survival Guide” for everyone who works.  If your life has always been the heights of success, in other words if you were an A student, driven to achieve, went to an Ivy League school, and landed a high-powered, good paying job immediately upon graduation, this book may not be for you, unless you can admit that a twist of fate beyond your control can change your direction dramatically (Google “Wall Street layoffs of 2008″).  If you’re like most of us with average struggles in our lives, ups and downs, and uncertainty at times, Rob’s story gives hope when times are bad and insight into the world when times are good. Written as a guide for his children, it is filled with the wise, fatherly advice that only someone who’s been there and done that can give.  As well as career and financial advice, it is a faith journey.  It reminds us that only our internal values will serve us at all times. Rob worked for a large regional bank for many years and few of us will develop his marketing and people skills.  “Selling is about relationships and dealing with people.  It is important to continuously work on your relationship skills and develop a contact database,” Rob advises.  That is just one of the gems of wisdom packed into his book. The book isn’t long.  It’s easy reading.  It’s one I would buy for my children while they are in high school, college or early in their careers.  It raises issues parents can discuss around the dinner table, so their children develop a realistic vision of life and problem solving.  It teaches us all that we will experience highs and lows in our careers.  Rob uses his own journey to smooth the path for the rest of us. Rob’s story reminds me of a cartoon I keep at my desk.  An egret is swallowing a frog.  But the frog has his paws firmly around the neck of the egret, choking him.  The caption is “Never give up.”  That’s the message I get from Rob’s book.  No matter what life throws at you, you can develop the skills needed to survive.  Connecting Peace, Purpose & Prosperity is a survival manual perhaps even more relevant in the 21st century than at any other time.  It is sold on my site: www.robseverson.com and Amazon

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