Never Take No for an Answer

Embarking on a new business venture can be a daunting and unpredictable journey, much like rolling the dice in a game of chance. In 1967, two bold young men, Les Marino and Kenny Anderson, fearlessly stepped into the world of Heavy Construction, boldly declaring that they would one day become the largest contracting firm in the world. Oblivious to the challenges that lay ahead, they hung their shingle on the door of a modest one-room office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, unaware that their audacious prediction might actually come true in the not-too-distant future. The path to success was far from a smooth highway; instead, it resembled a treacherous, winding trail through a dark and perilous jungle. Armed with perseverance, dedication, hard work, and humility, Les and Kenny navigated the obstacles, eventually finding their way to the proverbial yellow brick road and the success they had envisioned.

This book takes you on a captivating journey, detailing the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that shaped their remarkable story. Join them on this thrilling ride, but be sure to fasten your seatbelt securely, as the road ahead is filled with unexpected twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Discover how two determined individuals transformed their dream into reality, and learn valuable lessons that can be applied to your own entrepreneurial endeavors.

Quiet Before the Storm

In The Quiet Before the Storm, witness the aftermath of nature’s fury and the resilience of the human spirit. This powerful visual and emotional journey explores the catastrophic aftermaths of hurricanes Ike and Michael, the devastating tornadoes in Garland, Texas (2016), Dallas, Texas (2019), and Mayfield, Kentucky (2021), and the record-breaking flash flood in Wimberley, Texas (2015).

As an Austin firefighter and Texas Licensed Public Insurance Adjuster, I’ve captured the wreckage, miracles, and profound moments of despair and hope through my camera lens. This book is more than just photographs; it reflects on the interconnectedness of our lives and the forces of nature that shape them.

Each photograph, short story, and poem testifies to the enduring impact these events have had on me and the communities I serve. Amidst the devastation, there is beauty and resilience in the faces of those who rebuild their lives and the moments of kindness that emerge in the darkest times.

As you turn these pages, ponder the questions at the heart of our changing world. Is the increasing frequency and intensity of these disasters a result of global warming, human intervention, weather weapons, or ‘Acts of God’? While I may not have all the answers, I hope to spark conversations and inspire action to understand, prepare for, and mitigate the impact of the next rounds of storms.

Join me on this journey and find strength in the quiet before the storm, as we brace ourselves for the storms of weather and the chaos we face in our government.

Soul-Making

Have you ever met someone and felt an instant sense of attraction or repulsion even though you do not know the person? In Depth Psychology this is an unconscious as well as alchemical reaction that is understood as part of psychic projective phenomena of affinity, where a constellated chemistry between two individuals is ignited. This phenomenon was understood by Jung mythically as the unio Mystica, or the union of opposites.

This presentation will share how Jung illustrated this psychological understanding of the transference phenomena in alchemical symbolism and illustrations taken from the 16th-century alchemical text, Rosarium Philosophorum. He utilized these illustrations to show the connections that exist between the transformative process shared by alchemy and an analogous transformative process that he discovered in the psychic growth of an individual.

The Education of a Musician's Daughter

Attending college in the late 60s and early 70s was a challenge, but for Susan (now known as Sonya), it was also a blessing. Despite suffering an identity crisis during her sophomore year and navigating the pitfalls of the drug culture, Susan ultimately benefited from the open-minded spirit of the era.

This book, however, starts at the beginning of Susan’s education, during her kindergarten year, where she flourished in a magical world shared with her best friend. This idyllic time abruptly ended when her father uprooted the family from their Queens apartment to Schenectady for a job teaching music in public schools. The transition was difficult, and it took years for Susan to thrive in her new environment. Her awkward growth spurt alienated her from peers, and an encounter with a bully left her traumatized. Yet, the most challenging relationship was with her mother.

Fortunately, Susan was guided by a series of role models. Her father, a soulful musician, remained devoted and his love shone through the darkest times. Her Hebrew School principal, a Holocaust survivor, inspired her with his faith and New Age vision of the future. Two public school teachers believed in her, fostering her self-confidence. Under the wings of her Aunt Sonia, a disabled woman with an infectious positive attitude, Susan thrived. Aunt Sonia’s captivating stories also illuminated their fascinating family history.

The Enemies of Excellence

Excellence is the ultimate human power and the source of our greatest inventions, most successful businesses, deepest insights, furthest explorations, best performances, and most profound art.

Yet some people and companies fear, hate, or are otherwise opposed to excellence. Why?

In this book George Adams answers the question based on his many years of experience as a CPA, MBA, small business owner, and survivor of countless difficult life experiences.

The Gift of Hope

Life as a survivor is far more than just cancer and treatment, life or death.

It is a battle for your sanity, a search for power, a dedication to hope, and an attempt to live whatever time ends up being allotted without succumbing to fear.

The Gift of Hope is the intersection of that survival with what it means to be a mother and doctor in these challenging and ever-changing times.

Within that journey lies the meaning of perseverance, the worthiness of the fight, and the difference that love makes.

The Golden Hour

How did the old Chinese restaurants become so ubiquitous in American culture? Prior to the 1980s, over 40,000 Chinese-American restaurants supplied the USA with dishes like Egg Foo Young, Sweet and Sour Pork, Chicken Chow Mein, and Moo Goo Gai Pan. All these iconic dishes were Americanized versions of Cantonese foods. This book describes how this phenomenon took place and contains over 150 recipes so that you can replicate the dishes of The Golden Hour Restaurant.

The Golden Hour is representative of these historic restaurants which not only prospered in large cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Dallas, but also in small towns like Turlock, where The Golden Hour was located in California’s agricultural Central Valley. These old Americanized Chinese restaurants have largely been replaced by more authentic Chinese cuisines. These older dishes and restaurants are on the verge of extinction as the subsequent generations growing up in these restaurants sought other professions. This book presents the culture, stories, and the recipes of this phenomenon.

The Grocer

Ever pondered the art of acquiring a business, or the knack of seamlessly accumulating rental properties? Delve into this riveting narrative that not only educates but also captivates.

Journey with Antoine ‘Tony’ Ferducci as he steps into the bustling world of a local grocery store half a century ago. Starting as a humble 16-year-old employee under the mentorship of three Italian entrepreneurs, Tony’s ambition quickly becomes evident. Even before his high school graduation, he is determined to immerse himself full-time in the grocery trade.

Witness Tony’s business acumen in action as he transforms from a young shop boy to a business magnate. His empire expands to include not just the original grocery store, but three more, alongside six ‘Gas & Goes’, a major construction company, twin liquor stores, a pair of used car outlets, multiple hair salons, duo of restaurants, a bustling shopping center, a dedicated dry cleaner, and an impressive portfolio of nearly 200 rental units.

Dive into The Grocer and discover the exhilarating world of enterprise, growth, and the relentless spirit of ambition.

The Human Mind

Delve into a transformative read that offers more than just words: it offers a path to understanding. This book provides invaluable guidance on achieving health and longevity while also exploring the deep-seated roots of our environmental dilemmas. Venture on a journey of self-discovery and grasp a more profound understanding of your essence. Beyond the personal, uncover the core reasons behind humanity's persistent divisions and the recurring battles they incite. A must-read, this work is a compass for anyone seeking clarity in our complex world.

The Judas Kiss

Embark on an epic journey that defies genre, seamlessly blending elements of dystopian and historical fiction while traversing time, from Eden’s ancient gardens to the enduring enclaves of the USSR, and even further, to celestial chambers scattered among the stars.

The Judas Kiss offers you a spellbinding odyssey that navigates through epochs and landscapes, unified by the presence of a mysterious child. Could he be an Armenian boy orphaned by the Spitak earthquake, a Yazidi warrior lost in a maze of time, or even an angel on a divine mission?

Witness the biblical wanderings of Moses and the poignant tribulations of a Soviet émigré. Explore clandestine labs and remote Central Asian villages suspended in the mountains. Meet a cast of eccentric scientists and cryptic sorcerers, each wielding enigmatic powers. As the narrative unfolds, humanity faces existential threats: a virulent virus and cosmic rifts that could annihilate the world.

Set against a backdrop that is both hauntingly recognizable and captivatingly otherworldly, The Judas Kiss invites you to confront the boundaries of loyalty and betrayal in a cosmos as awe-inspiring as it is perilous.

The Sexpert

If your intimacy has stalled, this book offers passionate possibilities. Gain insight into techniques that attract partners as you discover adventurous positions for deeper satisfaction.

Delve into the keys to compatibility and learn how to better understand and communicate attraction with a lover. Whether you want to boost a committed bond or relay interest to someone new, these tips help bring relationships to thrilling new heights.

Enjoy exercising erotic expertise as you and your special someone read together. Let steamy stories and scenarios richly illustrated within these pages stimulate excitement and inspires exploration between the sheets.

Give your sex life a boost while getting in sync with a partner like never before. The Sexpert has the passion and power to transform lulls into lust.

They Died on My Watch

Who was the actress who died just before Christmas? She was the voice of …..... in …......
Did Hitler commit suicide, or was he shot by Russian troops?
Do you remember what year Princess Diana died in that car crash in Paris?
How many husbands did Elizabeth Taylor divorce in her lifetime?
What was that well known British actor who passed away right after David Bowie died?

Questions you might hear at the next table of your favourite eatery. Questions you may or may not know the answer to. They Died on My Watch can answer these and many more. It is a comprehensive reference work that should prove itself indispensable to any household. Most certainly a book to sustain interest when cruising at 35,000 feet between London and New York. It might be seen as the ultimate ‘umpire’ to settle any argument that may arise within a discussion involving a deceased celebrity, recent or not.