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This piece was originally published on January 6, 2008, on Amazon.
Make the Impossible Possible: One Man’s Crusade to Inspire Others to Dream Bigger and Achieve the Extraordinary
Before purchasing this book, I was lucky enough to hear Bill Strickland speak at a conference luncheon in Chicago. Prior to the speech I had never heard of Strickland, and therefore didn’t know what to expect. I certainly didn’t imagine I’d witness possibly the best, most uplifting speech I’ve ever heard in my life.
When Strickland mentioned at some point in his talk that he had a book being released, and that he wanted it to zoom to No. 1 on the best-sellers list, I immediately thought I’d be obliged to help with that goal. Frankly, the more people who know about this man and his message, the better off the world will be.
Like his speaking style, Strickland’s words on paper are plainspoken and direct. He’s accomplished amazing things and is a beacon of inspiration, but onstage and on paper, Strickland won’t necessarily wow you with dazzling buzz words or an excitable manner. He steers clear of the clichéd 10 steps a person needs to follow in order to become a sensation.
Strickland tells his life story. He believes people should follow success on their own terms, using their heart and mind as a guide. His laid-back persona is refreshing in a world of successful know-it-all types. While watching him talk and after reading his book, I couldn’t help but wish more people like Strickland would get into politics or even run for president.
Strickland’s main message is that everyone should have a shot at a good life and a chance to live up to his or her potential, no matter what that person’s race or socioeconomic status is. He writes in the book:
“Every human being, despite the circumstances of his or her birth, is born full of potential, and the way to unlock that potential is to place individuals in a nurturing environment and expose them to the kind of stimulating and empowering creative experiences that feed the human spirit.”
Strickland’s method of feeding the human spirit is not through social programs or feel-good seminar sessions. His vision is more ambitious: change social policy and the educational system by creating inner-city schools that look less like prisons and more like his uplifting Manchester Bidwell facility.
Strickland came from humble beginnings in Pittsburgh, where he watched his once proud and diverse neighborhood turn to shambles by the time he was in high school. Though he went through a period of intense self-doubt and aimlessness as a young man, due to the poor region he grew up in that so fiercely attempted to inhibit ambition, Strickland’s ability to rise above negative habits and make something of himself is impressive. Sure, Strickland doubted himself early on, but you get the feeling it wasn’t for long. This is a guy, after all, who made great things happen for himself – and, more importantly, for others – during his teenage years.
I’ve often heard it said that when you’re living in poverty and surrounded by countless negative elements, it’s difficult to bust out of those circumstances and move on to a place of more hope. Though it wasn’t an easy journey, Bill Strickland is an example of a person who emerged and eventually stood out in his hometown, without ever leaving town. Unlike so many who “make it” and move away to supposedly greener pastures, Strickland decided to remain in his corner of the world, where he immediately began changing things for the better by starting an art center that grew by leaps and bounds after a sluggish beginning. His gravitation toward pottery and good art is charming to read about, and it’s always impressive to discover someone whose passions spread to inspire others.
As is expected from a man who has worked so hard to make the world a better place, Strickland experienced numerous roadblocks in the pursuit of his varied dreams, one of which, believe it or not, was to become an airline pilot. He writes about both his setbacks and his accomplishments, relating how his positive and negative occurrences can help readers in their journey.
This is a great story about a nice, well-rounded, passionate, and altruistic person who does pretty much everything for the betterment of his own soul. And that just happens to enhance other people’s lives.
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