Reflections of a Successful Dropout is a biographical account of events that delivered the “good life” to a fellow once immersed in failure. Val enjoys excellent health—he celebrated his 70th birthday by running the Boston Marathon. He and his wife Julie adore and understand each other. While once he endured poverty, he has savored financial independence for decades. Julie and Val live exactly how and where they choose and know they can afford whatever they wish. Among their greatest joys is being quietly of help to those they love.    Val, a high school dropout who married at age eighteen with no marketable skills, was the father of three children by the age of twenty-two. The son of an alcoholic father, Val had experienced economic deprivation for most—or all—of his life up to that point. Even though he didn’t understand, somehow he knew a power existed within him that could turn his life around. Once he truly made up his mind to succeed, success began to find him.   It sure wasn’t easy or painless, and though he experienced some heartbreak on his journey toward the achievement of his cherished goals, the end result was inevitable. By the time he reached the age of thirty-seven, Val acquired sufficient wealth such that he had the ability to comfortably retire if he so chose—which he didn’t. Val is keenly aware that money isn’t everything, but it definitely helps smooth out life’s rough edges.   Although Val’s story is basically an interesting memoir, it is also somewhat of a “how to” manual, replete with fascinating intricate psychological business transactions. Many of the unique motivational and surprising techniques utilized by Val in the course of his career might serve to ignite the energy and enlighten the path of young and old entrepreneurs.    

A prize winning article written by Val Barry, a pseudonym, was published in the 2009 Arizona Literary Magazine which comprises chapter 115 of Reflections of a Successful Dropout. On June 3, 2001 at the 18th Annual Lake Chabot Trail Challenge Half Marathon, Val Barry, a pseudonym, set a course record in his age group that lasted approximately seven years. Val Barry is currently writing a fictional novel relating to life in the hereafter.