The story and formula of how a troubled high school dropout achieved extraordinary success in all facets of his life.
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.
Excerpt
As far back as I'm able to remember, sometime in 1938, Dad drank to excess. His boozing surely contributed to my mom's continual angry frustration...As a young child, I didn't mind that Dad drank so much and Mom yelled at me a lot. At that age, I thought living in a war zone was prefectly normal. It occurs to me now that events that happned long, long ago are as fresh in my memory as if I experienced them just today...I suffered from debilitating migraine headaches from childhood. I dropped out of high school to take on the responsibilities of a married man. By the time I reached my 22nd birthday, I struggled to support a wife and three children...I got sick and tired of being broke. As I stated herein previously, "I was broke, but never poor." Paradoxically, some financially wealthy people are poor in mind and heart. I read multiple self-help books, determined to escape from the wretched existence of economic deprivation. They all helped tremendously, but the most valualbe asset I owned and still do own is an overwhelming desire to live a victorious life. Everything successful follows desire...if Deep Desire is possessed by an individual, every decision he or she makes is consciously and subconsciously directed toward the inevitable achievement of one's own cherished goals.
Professional Reviews
Reflections on a Successful book!
This book clearly demonstrates how anyone, no matter how humble their beginnings, can achieve whatever they want in life, if they're willing to put in the time and effort required. It also reinforces the importance of attitude in achieving life's goals.
Val Barry had much to overcome in his younger life; an alcoholic, often absent father, divorce of his parents, poverty, and early fatherhood. Yet he never gave in to the struggles, but looked for ways to overcome them ... and overcome he did!
The other lesson to be gained from his book is that life doesn't end with retirement. While others may be taking up their rocking chairs, Val Barry runs marathons, travels, writes books and more! His determination to live every moment is truly inspiring!
Read this book for pleasure, read it for knowledge, or read it for inspiration - but read it!
An Epic Autobiography of a Remarkable Life
Val Barry's book reminds me of the 1940s best-seller, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." While he writes in the slower-paced style of that era, he effectively encompasses a variety of tales, emotions, laughs and thrills. The autobiography relates a life filled with danger, sorrow and joy. It awakens the reader to the extraordinary beauty of plain old, ordinary existence. Although the title may imply a dry, self-help book, it is more a reminder that even in the humblest circumstances, one can live a successful and rewarding life.
This memoir stirred a wide range of emotions within me. I shuddered when I read the part about Sharon and realized that the author had also come within inches of losing his life. I sympathized when a young boy was forced to marry a girl he no longer dated, merely due to the constraints and morals of the era. I gained insight into how easily one can go from good to bad, in the story of Patrick. My heart broke for the elders who lost their homes. Without revealing too much of the story, I list these only to point out that there are many tales here, each with a new insight into the uniqueness, tragedy and inspiration of human experience.
I would recommend the book to anyone who appreciates the writing style popular during the era of Gone With The Wind, Atlas Shrugged and others. While the author might have cut it to 350 pages if he were writing in today's style, there are many of us who appreciate the extra time it takes to absorb a good book. You will very likely walk away with the sense that you understand this author and that he has changed you, at least in a small way.
While this memoir will not teach you how to acquire wealth and power, it will show you that, at this moment, you are more successful and own more assets than you realize. Your mind, abilities and resources, however limited, are incredible assets that can be parlayed into a successful life. This is the message that Val Barry instills in his readers, and it is a valuable lesson for entrepreneurs and anyone else seeking to climb the success ladder. I am very happy that I came across this book; I will add it to my shelf to read again and again, whenever I have a quiet hour to slow down, relax, reflect and count my blessings.
Not only a great story but tremendous information on the journey to success
As I read this book I was fascinated by the detail that was provided in each area of the story. I have been a business person for 30 plus years and I find that it is always great to read stories that inspire me to be a better person but also a better business person. This book did both! I have had the good fortune of writing a best seller and I would consider this book to be equally as compelling of a story. Great Job!
The experience of a young adult trying to figure out what they want to do for employment or education can be overwhelming. My book will give them insight to what it means to be a carpenter. And the progress unions have made in discrimination.
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This book has been eight years in the making. It is mostly a jumble of thoughts written down in old spiral notebooks and hidden in the bottom drawer underneath various manuals for software packages and hardware long since turned obsolete.
Destiny's Daughter by Frances Altman highlights events in the life of Mary Edwards Walker, maverick suffragist, Civil War doctor and only woman Medal of Honor recipient.
