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EXTRAORDINARY COMEBACKS
201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph, and Success

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Ranking #36 among Amazon Top 100 Motivational titles, October, 2007
NEWS: First foreign rights sale logged Wednesday, January 02, 2008.

“EXTRAORDINARY COMEBACKS is chock full of inspirational stories. For anyone facing life’s adversities, and let’s face it, at some point everyone faces some setback, this is a great book to dip into and regain hope and a reminder that others have faced that adversity before you and made it through to the other side. John Sarkett profiles a wonderful variety of people, from every walk of life, facing almost every imaginable setback, and each anecdote contains that essential message of hope.”

Andrew Ward, co-author best-selling Firing Back: How great leaders rebound after career disasters (Harvard Business School Press, 2007)

"An empowering and electrifying cumulative effect, these 201 stories of individuals from every walk of life, famous or unknown, who have been knocked down hard, and found a way to get back up and triumph. An amazing compilation. It is a must read for anyone who is making a comeback from a setback of any kind."

Ken Dychtwald, PhD, Best-selling Author, The Power Years, and President & CEO, Age Wave

"Given the right nutritional factors for healing, the human body has a remarkable ability to repair damage and recover from diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, high cholesterol, heart disease, chronic headaches and many others. As a physician utilizing nutritional excellence as a therapeutic modality, The first step: attitude. This book will help shape your attitude, whatever kind of comeback needs to be undertaken, and show you how much more you are capable of."

Joel Fuhrman, M.D., author of the best-selling Eat to Live

"This liberates one's spirit -- this set of so many accomplished people who have suffered great setbacks and rebounded. Failure is lonely and horribly isolating, but this book proves you are not alone. Everyone has setbacks. When you think you’ve got it bad, read some of these stories for inspiration.”

Dean Karnazes, Ultramarathoner, Best-selling Author of Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner

"Instructive, inspirational and just flat-out fascinating. John Sarkett presents a collection of stories that will interest anyone who has ever felt like giving up or had doubts about accomplishing anything worthwhile in life. This book embodies the spirit of, "It isn't over until it's over."

Len Kasper, Chicago Cubs TV broadcaster

"These stories astonish -- one amazing chapter after another; one story more unbelievable than the last. Yet all true. The author allows them to speak for themselves. No preaching -- yet the life lessons and inspirations come through without bashing you over the head. If we indeed learn by example...then these are the lives to live by. This should be required reading for young people about to get "smacked upside the head" a few times by life. This book will give them 201 reasons to get up off the canvas and keep on keeping on. Older readers will be nodding in agreement -- wishing they had read this book forty years ago."

Tim Kazurinsky, screenwriter, actor, former cast member, "Saturday Night Live"

"Many people spend the bulk of their lives on the cusp of courage, often looking for a model or mentor who can help them take a leap. Though not all of us will find the mentor we need, courageous models are everywhere and this book tells us about 201 of them. These stories reflect the positive psychology of people we admire and they map out the paths to success across important life domains. The book is hard to put down."
Shane J. Lopez, Ph.D., assoc. professor, psychology, University of Kansas, academic specialties: positive psychology, hope, character education, psychosocial factors associated with academic achievement

"This book creates a can-do attitude. Buying one for each of my children, and recommending it to others. Everyone should read this book, but especially young people -- life is a long road, and you may need to know how to pick yourself up sometime."
Jim Mooney, president, Infinity Brokerage, Chicago

"Competition tennis, like life, has an ebb and flow to it. You're on the offense, then you're on the defense, you're up a break, you're down a break, up a set, down a set, whatever the case you've got to get back up again. Moment by moment, and across the entire match. And so it is with life itself. That's why I love these 201 short stories of how people "got back up" vs. different setbacks, at different times, in different places. It illustrates their motivations, mental toughness, creativity, and ultimately, it all comes down to real hard work. Some of these vignettes are just plain unforgettable, and the effect builds up, and pretty soon you're believing anything is possible. Very instructive while being a terrific read, goes down real easy. Bet you can't read just one...."

Chip Brooks, director of tennis, Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, IMG Academies, Bradenton, FL

"John Sarkett's book, Extraordinary Comebacks, is a fascinating collection of human stories that chronicle the ways people deal with adversity. It shows that people are able to think and write about personal upheavals in a variety of ways. In this book, one marvels at the human capacity for optimism and perseverance."

James W. Pennebaker, author, Opening Up: The healing power of confiding in others and Writing to Heal: A Guided Journal for Recovering from Trauma and Emotional Upheaval

PRINT REVIEWERS ---

"A quick, inspiring read and easy to digest in small doses . . . " --- SFO, October, 2007 issue

". . . surprising...inspiring . . . " --- Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities, August 2007 issue

--- AND BLOGGERS SAY:

A review of Extraordinary Comebacks by John A. Sarkett: In one of Neil Gaiman’s stories, a young woman meets the fates, the three sisters who spin the thread of your life, measure it and then cut it off. The young woman asks, “Are you going to hurt me?” The fates answer, “Hurt you? Of course we are going to hurt you. Everyone gets hurt.” John A. Sarkett’s new book, “Extraordinary Comebacks” tells the stories of hundreds of people who came back from defeat and tragedy and pain because they had the courage to try one more time. The stories are short, but that may be an advantage. You will probably reach for this volume more than once. ---- Read the entire, thoughtful review at fredgehm.com

"A fantastic collection, one that I know I’ll be referring to again and again for a long time. Glad I read it. Thank you, Mr. Sarkett, for putting this together..." Reviewer Lyman Dale Reed, Jr., writing in the "Creating a Better Life" blog. Read the entire review...

"Write the book, I say. Start a band and play the gig. Borrow money, start a business. Adopt a child. Get vocational counseling. Charge more for what you're doing. Go back to college. Paint. Travel. Consult. Sell your work.

"You shrug and tell me you could never do that, you're too old. Or you're too tired.

"But I have to tell you. When we do hit on that talent, that latent aspiration? Even though you poo poo me and say you could never do it, even though you dismiss it all as pie in the sky and maybe, indeed, that is all it is --

"You really do look up for a minute.

"You get that glint in the eye, that tiny glimmer of, Well, it's true, I am a good. . .

"You KNOW you've got it. I mean, maybe, just maybe, we're not all that different than the 201 people in John Sarkett's book. Maybe with just a little bit of luck. . .

"That's why, I for one, LIKE anecdotal data..." Reviewer therapydoc, writing in the breezy, streetsmart "Everyone Needs Therapy" blog. Highly recommended. Read her entire review...

"Whatever your background, at least one of these stories will speak to you and encourage you to keep going." Reviewer Dana Huff.

"The world needs more Rocky Balboa's"......says DiseaseProof.com's Gerald Pugliese.

"John Sarkett has compiled 201 inspiring stories that is a “must read”. Pastors and Sunday School teachers can draw some interesting analogies from many of these powerful stories that will help connect Biblical truths to real life situations in the lives of famous and not-so-famous people. The book is an excellent source of inspiration and insight, and a great way to introduce the greatest story in the world, the story of Jesus Christ. John’s book ranked #48 among Amazon’s Top 100 Motivational titles (December 2007). Five-star rated on Amazon."........John Terry, revelationfiles.com

TV INTERVIEW
Fox TV Chicago, Noon News,June 28, 2007 (left to right, anchors Patrick Elwood, Nancy Loo, and your author). Click for replay on Fox or YouTube.

RADIO HOSTS SAY:

"Extraordinary Comebacks is uplifting, amazing, a must-read. What an incredible guest and person you are! I felt like I was talking to an old friend! Your book and message are vital for people and you are a stellar communicator! Plus, your loving nature pours through and heals everyone who listens to you! I am so thrilled we've connected!" Jill Spiegel, FM 107, Minneapolis

"After you and Tommy B. finished, I listened to the whole interview again. That means I lifted off TWICE and feel even better! Hurry with the next book....Tommy loved reading this one. Thanks for the lift! We'll keep you around alright! Couldn't get rid of us if you tried :)" Bell, KBUL, Billings, Montana

"It was a joy to have you on. You were outstanding! And I will keep promoting the book. You are an example of someone who walks your talk." Willie Jolley, XM Satellite Radio, Channel 169, THE POWER, CSP, CPAE, America's Leading Motivational Speaker- Singer- Author!, www.williejolley.com

RADIO LOG (hit boldface link for radio interview podcast):

Cathy Taylor WOLZ "McGee in the Morning" Ft. Myers, FL 33966

Lou-Anne Lenzie WLPO Oglesby, IL 61348-9539

Rolonda Watts National syndication N. Hollywood, CA 91602

Patty Kovacevich Health and Beauty Revolution Show Del Mar, CA 92014

Claude "Hoot" Hooten KINF 1440 Santa Maria, CA 93456

Michael Dresser Greenman Productions, syndication Mequon, WI 53002

Father Paul Keenan Sirius Satellite Radio New York, New York 10020

Mark Gordon KXLU El Segundo, CA 90245

Carl Lazenby WAPF McComb, MS 39648

Jesse Dylan Sirius Satellite Radio: The Good Life Canada

Dr. Alvin Augustus Jones The Paradise Radio Network 1 Broadcast Center

Brian Greenberg WNJC 1360 Philadelphia, PA

Peter Seward KXYL-AM Abilene, TX

Jill Spiegel WFMP Minneapolis, MN

Jack Indigo WMXB Richmond, VA

Nancy Martin KEZW Denver, CO

Bell Braaten KBUL-AM Billings, MT

Louie Free National syndication Cleveland, OHIO

Dr. Alvin Augustus Jones The Paradise Radio Network 1 Broadcast Center

Willie Jolley XM Satellite 169 THE POWER Washington, D.C.

Craig Weil Chicago

FEATURE

And an author feature (Ohio State U. alumni publication)

Introduction:

A few words from your author on why he wrote this book . . .

I had a setback a few years ago. I needed to make a comeback. The great bull market of the late 1990s broke in 2000, collapsed in 2001, and took a lot of my (and a lot of other people’s) hard-won profits with it. Some health problems brought me down, too, the commonplace ailments, high cholesterol, high blood pressure. Around that time I found myself in a large bookstore and wandered over to the section with self-help, inspirational, and motivational psychology titles. I knew what I wanted: a compilation of simple stories, human stories, of people who had made a comeback against the odds. There was no such compilation, even on Amazon. That surprised me. So I would have to find my own. I started looking for stories about individuals who had made a comeback from some kind of adversity, adding them, one-by-one, to a small and informal collection that I had cut and torn from magazines and newspapers over the years. That compilation became this book.

If you made your way to this page, chances are pretty good that you are looking to make a comeback, too, or you know someone who is. I believe this book will help. We all know from life experience that life has an uncanny way of knocking us down. The great question: how do we get back up?

There’s good news—people do get back up. The human spirit is more resilient than hardened steel. It can take the blow, bend, reshape, re-form, come back, transcend. What is human spirit? We know where ideas come from—gray matter—and we have thousands of them each day. But human spirit? No scientist has ever found it, yet we are certain that it exists. It is a “God thing,” a faith thing. Spirit can endure, hope, imagine, fight back, overcome. This book tells the stories of more than two hundred individuals who refused to let formidable obstacles stop them. They found a way. No matter what.

You will, too.

When I tell people about this set of stories, they ask me, “What do they have in common? What is the secret to making a comeback?” Two things: First, the people in this book have never quit, not for good. Some might have given in to the sentiment expressed in the blues line, “I’m not going to quit you, but I’ve got to put you down for a while.” But they always picked it back up, whatever “it” was. Georgia O’Keeffe quit painting—for a while. Quincy Jones had to quit playing the trumpet, but became a top music producer. After being fired from Apple, Steve Jobs took a sabbatical, then started a new computer company. Col. Sanders retired at sixty-five from his restaurant business—but, unhappy with his meager pension, came back to found Kentucky Fried Chicken. The list goes on and on and on, proving that nothing can stop you, if you yourself don’t stop.

Second, they have worked, very hard. When Food Network star Paula Deen was starting her restaurant business, she worked a day job, a night job, and barbequed all night for her sandwich business. Emmanual Yeboah pedaled his bike across his native Ghana—370 miles—with one leg. Ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes competed in a 226-mile race, running for seventy-five hours straight. Every story is unique, but each individual was making some sort of comeback.

F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “There are no second acts in American life.” But these stories prove that statement is not true. A better, truer statement about setback is, “This too shall pass.” A setback can pass into a comeback. If you make it happen.

To be human is to be knocked down, and every single one of us is knocked down at one time or another. Some early on, some midway, some late. Small ways, big ways. The thing is to get up, to come back. Work. Have patience. As you’ll see, many comebacks take years.

So here are 201 Great Comebacks for you. Motivational speakers are great, and we need them, but these real stories are more eloquent and motivating still. Start reading—anywhere you like. Somewhere in this book you will find at least one story, quote, or image that speaks directly to you, and you’ll likely find more than one. It will stick in your mind. Stuck there, it will build your hope, and hope—a real biochemical in your brain—is powerful stuff. It will make you believe. It will give you ideas. Then, it will provide fuel, energy. The memory of your favorite comeback will drive you on when you are feeling too tired, low, or depressed to continue.

It is possible. You can make a comeback. You can make the darkness illuminate the light, as one of our subjects put it. That’s why I left the 201st story empty. It’s for you to write with your own life. And it starts right now. I wish you great success and a great comeback.

—John A. Sarkett
Chicago, Illinois (the city destroyed in the fire of 1871, only to come back greater than ever in the years that followed…)

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Fall seven times, stand up eight.    Japanese Proverb

“When the morning’s freshness has been replaced by the weariness of midday, when the leg muscles give under the strain, the climb seems endless, and suddenly nothing will go quite as you wish—it is then that you must not hesitate.” Dag Hammarskjöld

“Where there is no hope, one must invent hope.”   Albert Camus

Amazing facts from Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph, and Success

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school varsity basketball team as a 10th grader.

J. S. Bach was not even considered a “good” musician by some in his day, and got passed over for a position he sought by musicians you’ve never even heard of.

Author Tom Clancy, military writer extraordinaire, was rejected for military service.

Rocky Marciano became a boxer after he couldn’t make it in his first love: baseball. He was cut from the Chicago Cubs.

George Foreman won back his heavyweight boxing crown -- at 45.

Muhammed Ali almost quit during his first big fight.

Colonel Sanders started KFC at 65 because his pension was so small; after two full years, he had sold just five franchises.

The IRS started proceedings to take Tony Bennett’s home at 55.

Frank Sinatra was considered a “has-been” at 34: fired from radio, concerts a flop, dropped by his agent, lost his voice, divorced. Some say he tried suicide.

J.K. Rowling was a welfare mom, living with her sister, while writing “Harry Potter.”

VP Dick Cheney flunked out of Yale.

Albert Einstein was considered a poor student; he failed to gain admittance to engineering school, and lamented his “lack of imagination” in a letter to a friend.

High school coach and former pro Jim Morris fulfilled an obligation to his high school team, showed up for an open call major league tryout with no expectations whatsoever, and made it all the way to the bigs, shocking himself and the whole world.

Sprinter Wilma Rudolph won Olympic gold – just 10 years after being in leg braces from polio.

Cyclist Lance Armstrong was stricken with cancer which spread through his body. He was given scant chance to live. He beat the cancer and won the grueling Tour de France – 7 years in a row. (see below)

Olympic decathlon champion Bruce Jenner tore knee ligaments in college football, and thought his sports career was over.

Kurt Warner was cut from several NFL teams along the way, and at one point, was stocking shelves in the Hy-Vee supermarket in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for $5.50 an hour (1994). He kept coming back though. In 1999, he would lead the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl victory, and earn a six-year, $47.5 million contract.

Wiped out by the stock market crash of the Great Depression, Winston Churchill, 64, put his estate up for sale in 1938.

These are just a few of the stories featured in Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph, and Success.

And more from candidates being considered for volume II (target publication date: 2009)

Home Depot was founded by two individuals who were fired from California retailer Handy Dan.

The founder of Federal Express wrote a college paper on the need for a new transportation system; it got a C, the story goes, but the idea proved to be worth $40 billion.

Superstar author John Grisham purchased 1,000 copies of his first book himself, peddling them out of his car trunk at garden-club meetings and libraries and giving many of them away to family and friends.

Evander Holyfield won the heavyweight crown three times, (once while in a state of heart failure), and $200 million, but was too small to play high school football.

Founder of the Motown Sound Berry Gordy Jr. got into music production because his jazz record store went bust.

A star in Jamaica, but earning just $10 per week in record royalties, reggae superstar-to-be Bob Marley quit performing for a time to come to the U.S. and work as a janitor in the Dupont Hotel, Wilmington, Delaware.

Willie Nelson was more than broke at 57, owing the IRS $13 million. He agreed to work it off over five years, but paid his debt in just three.

After splitting with Ike, Tina Turner subsisted on food stamps.

Jim Abbott pitched 10 years in the major leagues – with no right hand.

These and many, many other stories prove it's not what happens, it's the attitude the makes the difference.

Excerpt: Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph, and Success

Lance Armstrong

Cancer survivor, 7 time Tour de France cycling champion

"I’ve never been addicted to being on the podium and getting the applause. For me, the rush was the work that went into it and the outcome. That was enough for me."

Lance Armstrong was very nearly on top of the world in the autumn of 1996. He was the No. 7 ranked cyclist in the world. He signed a $600,000 contract with France’s Team Cofidis. There was only one problem — a soreness in his groin that wouldn’t go away. Finally, he saw a doctor. Diagnosis: testicular cancer.

Armstrong had surgery to remove a testicle the very next day, but the situation drastically worsened. Tumors spread to his abdomen, lungs, and lymph nodes. So Armstrong started an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, with the odds in his favor: He was told he had a 65 percent to 85 percent chance to beat the cancer and live. But when doctors found tumors on his brain, the odds of his survival fell to 2 percent. To keep Armstrong positive, the doctors didn’t share this number with him. After brain surgery and more chemotherapy, Armstrong beat the 98 percent odds against him. He was declared cancer-free in February 1997.

Now would begin another battle — winning back his place in cycling. Throughout his struggle with cancer, Armstrong had always said he would compete again, but no one in the racing world believed him. Team Cofidis canceled his contract, but Armstrong replaced it with a $200,000 deal from the U.S. Postal Service team. Back in competitive shape in 1998, Armstrong took fourth place at the World Road Race Championship and won several other big races.

In the summer of 1999, amazingly, he achieved his dream: Armstrong won the 2,274-mile Tour de France by more than seven minutes under his closest rival. Averaging a record-breaking twenty-five miles per hour, he became only the second American to win the Tour de France (the first was Greg LeMond in 1986, 1989, and 1990.) Even more amazing, Armstrong won again in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005—seven consecutive victories in all. It was arguably the greatest comeback in sports history.

The 201:
EXTRAORDINARY COMEBACKS
201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph, and Success

illustrated

NOTES ON THE COVER DESIGN:
"No matter what target we aim for, we seldom hit the bull's eye on the very first try. The key is persistence and courage in the face of all those early misses. Learn from your mistakes, and chances are good that eventually you will be hitting the bull's eye." Zig Ziglar

Finis! Thanks for visiting. Wishing you an Extraordinary Comeback! JS

Our Blog | Subscribe | Buy | Send your story | Tell friends

Cathy Taylor	WOLZ "McGee in the Morning"	Ft. Myers, FL 33966
Lou-Anne Lenzie	WLPO	Oglesby, IL 61348-9539
Rolonda Watts	National syndication	N. Hollywood, CA 91602
Patty Kovacevich	Health and Beauty Revolution Show	Del Mar, CA 92014
Claude "Hoot" Hooten	KINF 1440	Santa Maria, CA 93456
Michael Dresser	Greenman Productions, syndication	Mequon, WI 53002
Father Paul Keenan	Sirius Satellite Radio	New York, New York 10020
Mark Gordon	KXLU	El Segundo, CA 90245
Carl Lazenby	WAPF	McComb, MS 39648
Jesse Dylan	Sirius Satellite Radio: The Good Life	Canada
Dr. Alvin Augustus Jones	The Paradise Radio Network	1 Broadcast Center
Brian Greenberg	WNJC 1360	Philadelphia, PA
Peter Seward	KXYL-AM	Abilene, TX
Jill Spiegel	WFMP	Minneapolis, MN
Jack Indigo	WMXB	Richmond, VA
Nancy Martin	KEZW	Denver, CO
Bell Braaten	KBUL-AM	Billings, MT
Louie Free	National syndication	Cleveland, OHIO
Dr. Alvin Augustus Jones	The Paradise Radio Network	1 Broadcast Center
Willie Jolley	XM Satellite 169 THE POWER	Washington, D.C.
Craig Weil		Chicago

Here's what they're saying about:

Introduction:

A few words from your author on why he wrote this book . . .

Excerpt: Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph, and Success

Lance Armstrong

Cancer survivor, 7 time Tour de France cycling champion