On January 15, 2014, LT Kegan SMURF Gill nearly lost his life in the fastest survived ejection in naval aviation history. He's spent every day since fighting to reclaim his mental, physical, and spiritual health-and now, he's encouraging other veterans to join the fight alongside him.
Engaged in a dogfight while flying an F/A-18E Super Hornet, US Navy fighter pilot Lieutenant Kegan Gill can do nothing but hold tight as his jet succumbs to an out-of-control dive, forcing him to eject at the staggering speed of 695 miles per hour mere seconds before crashing into the shark-infested, icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean. When he regains consciousness in a hospital and realizes he is paralyzed by catastrophic injuries and his flying career is seemingly over, he is fueled by a new mission: to defy the odds.
A grueling, multi-year journey of over a dozen surgeries, a struggle with prescription drug addiction, and emotional abuse culminates in his triumphant return to the cockpit of the F/A-18. However, due to a lack of understanding of brain injuries and PTSD within the medical community and the dysfunctional VA healthcare system, he is subjected to a harmful regimen of psychotropic medications, exacerbating his cognitive struggles and leading him into the depths of paranoia and psychosis.
With the support of family, friends, and a network of nonprofit organizations, Lieutenant Gill embarks on a new path to recovery. Embracing a healthier lifestyle and finding new hope through alternative treatment methods, including groundbreaking psychedelic therapy, he transforms into an ultra-endurance athlete, writer, and motivational speaker. His is an epic journey to hell and back, offering inspiration to anyone facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. Phoenix Revival is more than a memoir-it's a testament to the human spirit's unyielding determination to rise from the ashes.
On January 15, 2014, LT Kegan SMURF Gill nearly lost his life in the fastest survived ejection in naval aviation history. He's spent every day since fighting to reclaim his mental, physical, and spiritual health-and now, he's encouraging other veterans to join the fight alongside him.
Engaged in a dogfight while flying an F/A-18E Super Hornet, US Navy fighter pilot Lieutenant Kegan Gill can do nothing but hold tight as his jet succumbs to an out-of-control dive, forcing him to eject at the staggering speed of 695 miles per hour mere seconds before crashing into the shark-infested, icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean. When he regains consciousness in a hospital and realizes he is paralyzed by catastrophic injuries and his flying career is seemingly over, he is fueled by a new mission: to defy the odds.
A grueling, multi-year journey of over a dozen surgeries, a struggle with prescription drug addiction, and emotional abuse culminates in his triumphant return to the cockpit of the F/A-18. However, due to a lack of understanding of brain injuries and PTSD within the medical community and the dysfunctional VA healthcare system, he is subjected to a harmful regimen of psychotropic medications, exacerbating his cognitive struggles and leading him into the depths of paranoia and psychosis.
With the support of family, friends, and a network of nonprofit organizations, Lieutenant Gill embarks on a new path to recovery. Embracing a healthier lifestyle and finding new hope through alternative treatment methods, including groundbreaking psychedelic therapy, he transforms into an ultra-endurance athlete, writer, and motivational speaker. His is an epic journey to hell and back, offering inspiration to anyone facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. Phoenix Revival is more than a memoir-it's a testament to the human spirit's unyielding determination to rise from the ashes.
In this action-packed, post-apocalyptic story, a retired Marine risks everything to defend life as we know it.
It's a day like any other for Andy Lemon and his family before the world changes forever. Technology stops working. Natural disasters rock the earth. Cars start exploding. Shaken by an unknown event, America-the land of the free-turns apocalyptic overnight, and all hell breaks loose. While Andy, a retired Marine, knows how to protect his family from the chaos, other citizens are tricked into government camps with horrid living conditions. Confronted with the plight of his people and plagued by visions of loss and defeat, Andy decides he must act before it's too late to save his family and his freedom.
At the White House, President Keller, blackmailed by the mysterious Mr. X, knew all about this deadly event-and did nothing to stop it and guard his people. With the other top government officials locked in the Capitol Building, Mr. X has the president under his thumb, right where he wants him, and the American people are paying the price.
On his fateful journey to the capital to save his country, Andy reunites with his band of brothers and forges surprising alliances. Together, they recruit other freedom fighters to their cause and begin to uncover the truth of what the government has been hiding. When it matters most, they must risk everything on the battlefield to liberate their people and reclaim their livelihood. In A Day Like Any Other, join our hero on a riveting fight for freedom from tyranny and consider your own destiny.
Step into the hidden world of elite warriors--Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Air Force PJs, Marine Raiders, etc.--who are haunted by a unique constellation of injuries, born out of years, even decades, of fighting the Global War on Terror. Operator Syndrome identifies and describes the profound impact that years of extreme sacrifice have had on our military special operators and their loved ones.
Drawing upon his thirty years of experience with clinical trials, historical epidemiology, and neuroscience research--as well as a decade of applied efforts with special operators across all branches of the U.S. military--acclaimed clinical psychologist Chris Frueh, Ph.D., uncovers a pattern of interrelated afflictions: traumatic brain injury, hormonal dysregulation, sleep apnea, chronic pain, depression, anger, insomnia, addiction, existential angst, and more.
Dr. Frueh guides us through the harrowing terrain of Operator Syndrome. He provides a roadmap to understand its multifaceted origins and complex effects on every biological system in the body--as well as the social systems of family, work, and the indifferent society these warriors return to. He explains how modern healthcare systems, especially Veterans Affairs, have too often relied on the PTSD easy button and failed a generation of men and women who have carried the brunt of the fight since 9/11.
Frueh shines a bright and empathic light on the silent struggles of a community with a never quit mindset. Most importantly, he provides real solutions, lifestyle adaptations, and step-by-step treatment strategies that have worked for hundreds of operators, saving lives and giving hope to families.
Drew Dusebout's grandmother-in-law never made the same pie more than once. Her sweet pecan pie was a little different each time, but it was always delicious.
In Sweet Pecan Pie, Drew encourages you to discover the recipe for your best life. His stories will open your heart to experiences, adventures, and people you normally wouldn't consider. From orphanages in Ukraine to the jungles of Honduras to remote villages in Africa, Drew's life became sweeter each time he said yes to the opportunities provided. Instead of clinging to society's recipe for a good life, he found his own recipe.
The best version of your life is like a delicious piece of pecan pie. Shared in a fun, whimsical vignette style with a bit of pop culture thrown in, Drew's writings will inspire you to experiment with your ingredients and have fun finding your perfect slice.
The elite aren't different. If you have the work ethic, you can do the same great things. Stop looking at these doctors, lawyers, CEOs, Navy SEALs, etc., as the only markers of success. We define our own success.
In Tip of the Spear, author and former Navy SEAL and CIA operative Rodney Magallan paints a vivid and meaningful analogy using this deadly weapon. According to Rodney, the tip of the spear comprises the elite members of a group. It's the SEALs; the company executives; the star athletes, famous artists, and other industry leaders. Only a select few make it to the tip of the spear, but as described in this memoir slash leadership guide, anyone is capable of becoming the best of the best. It all comes down to hard work, sacrifice, and choice-making the decision to work your way to the tip and then stay there.
Throughout this riveting and inspirational read, you'll learn what it takes to reach elite status-and you might be surprised by the answer. Furthermore, you'll be empowered to examine your own normal life and recognize the value you add, regardless of the position you hold. Encompassing Rodney's core philosophies that have gotten him to where he is today, Tip of the Spear addresses everything from what holds people back from reaching their fullest potential to the importance of each part-the shaft, the collar, the spearhead, even the hand wielding the weapon-to the utility and effectiveness of the spear.
Ultimately, readers should set aside the book recognizing that the tip of the spear isn't just a place or position-it's a mindset that anyone can and should adopt to make the most significant difference they can.
Would it be crazy to think you could do the same amount of business in less than half the time with zero stress?
It doesn't take any fancy new ideas or secret strategies. In fact, looking for those things is precisely what keeps most real estate agents stuck. They lose sight of the essentials, overcomplicate things, and end up working much harder than necessary.
Real estate is actually a very simple business in which success comes down to one thing: consistent execution of the fundamentals.
With over thirty years of experience coaching real estate agents under his belt, Steve Shull has distilled these fundamentals down to six simple building blocks. They're all you need to transform your work from an exhausting, never-ending chase into a scalable, stress-free business. In this step-by-step playbook, you'll discover these building blocks and-most importantly-develop the mindset to execute them relentlessly.
While returning home might seem like the easy part, for many veterans, the transition back to civilian life after months in a war zone is almost as difficult as the deployment itself.
In Warrior Withdrawal, Varpas de Sa Pereira, PsyD, explores this phenomenon by describing his own experiences with combat and the stories of veterans struggling to adjust to normal life.
When Varpas, a US Marine, returned home after a tour in Iraq, it wasn't the restful break from gunfire and taking orders that he had hoped. He was irritable and angry and itched to return to the battlefield. After his eighth tour to a combat zone, he tried to treasure the precious time he had with his wife and kids, but he couldn't get the clarity of purpose he'd had while deployed out of his mind.
After deploying several more times, searching for some thing he was missing, he finally retired and went back to school to study clinical psychology. It was then that he realized what he had experienced was not abnormal. Many veterans, for whom being a warrior is ingrained in their psyche, struggle to adapt to life outside the military, often leading them to mental health challenges. Varpas coined this as Warrior Withdrawal Syndrome and now works as a psychotherapist to help veterans facing difficulties in their newfound lives.
Whether you're a veteran or a loved one of a veteran, Warrior Withdrawal is a fantastic tool to help you understand the effects of combat on servicemen as well as work to overcome the desire for deployment.
The elite aren't different. If you have the work ethic, you can do the same great things. Stop looking at these doctors, lawyers, CEOs, Navy SEALs, etc., as the only markers of success. We define our own success.
In Tip of the Spear, author and former Navy SEAL and CIA operative Rodney Magallan paints a vivid and meaningful analogy using this deadly weapon. According to Rodney, the tip of the spear comprises the elite members of a group. It's the SEALs; the company executives; the star athletes, famous artists, and other industry leaders. Only a select few make it to the tip of the spear, but as described in this memoir slash leadership guide, anyone is capable of becoming the best of the best. It all comes down to hard work, sacrifice, and choice-making the decision to work your way to the tip and then stay there.
Throughout this riveting and inspirational read, you'll learn what it takes to reach elite status-and you might be surprised by the answer. Furthermore, you'll be empowered to examine your own normal life and recognize the value you add, regardless of the position you hold. Encompassing Rodney's core philosophies that have gotten him to where he is today, Tip of the Spear addresses everything from what holds people back from reaching their fullest potential to the importance of each part-the shaft, the collar, the spearhead, even the hand wielding the weapon-to the utility and effectiveness of the spear.
Ultimately, readers should set aside the book recognizing that the tip of the spear isn't just a place or position-it's a mindset that anyone can and should adopt to make the most significant difference they can.
In this action-packed, post-apocalyptic story, a retired Marine risks everything to defend life as we know it.
It's a day like any other for Andy Lemon and his family before the world changes forever. Technology stops working. Natural disasters rock the earth. Cars start exploding. Shaken by an unknown event, America-the land of the free-turns apocalyptic overnight, and all hell breaks loose. While Andy, a retired Marine, knows how to protect his family from the chaos, other citizens are tricked into government camps with horrid living conditions. Confronted with the plight of his people and plagued by visions of loss and defeat, Andy decides he must act before it's too late to save his family and his freedom.
At the White House, President Keller, blackmailed by the mysterious Mr. X, knew all about this deadly event-and did nothing to stop it and guard his people. With the other top government officials locked in the Capitol Building, Mr. X has the president under his thumb, right where he wants him, and the American people are paying the price.
On his fateful journey to the capital to save his country, Andy reunites with his band of brothers and forges surprising alliances. Together, they recruit other freedom fighters to their cause and begin to uncover the truth of what the government has been hiding. When it matters most, they must risk everything on the battlefield to liberate their people and reclaim their livelihood. In A Day Like Any Other, join our hero on a riveting fight for freedom from tyranny and consider your own destiny.
If you're a real estate agent, you know that teams are the future of the business. Soon, you'll either be leading a team, working on a team, or competing against a team. This is inescapable.
The old model of lone agents is going by the wayside for a simple reason: one person can't get it all done anymore. In the modern real estate industry, selling a home takes more work than anyone can handle by themselves. A single agent simply can't compete against a high-functioning team.
Unfortunately, most teams are teams in name only. Instead of building a high-functioning team, most team leaders end up working harder, making less, and experiencing more stress. This is what happens when you don't understand the fundamental principles of team dynamics. Constructing and operating a cohesive and successful real estate team is a very different challenge than being a rainmaker agent who lists and sells property in high volume.
This book is your step-by-step guide to doing real estate teams right. Whether you're a team leader, a team member, or just thinking of starting or joining a team, The Real Estate Team Playbook will show you how to band together and succeed in real estate through synergistic collaboration.
Are you aspiring to create a legendary culture, become an exceptional leader, and lead a fulfilling life?
In his debut book, Beyond the Sea, Robert Roncska offers insights into the transformation of positive cultures that turned sour and negative cultures that became renowned.
When Roncska assumed command of the USS Texas, the ship ranked at the bottom of its squadron and faced recurring safety issues. Through innovative strategies, he successfully transformed the culture, propelling his submarine's ranking and retention from last place to first place in the Pacific Fleet within a remarkable two-year period. Starting with a loving and people-centric approach, Roncska laid the groundwork of trust, standards, and purpose. In this book, he presents a roadmap that leaders can adapt to any industry, empowering readers to create high-quality relationships and elevate their organization's performance beyond expectations.
When lifelong artist and World War II (WWII) B-17 pilot Ben Smotherman was shot down over Holland in July 1943, he was soon captured and interrogated by the Luftwaffe at Dulag Luft. Upon being transferred to Luftwaffe camp Stalag Luft III, he found himself a prisoner of war (POW), held captive with countless other men who ached for a connection to home and freedom.
During his time in captivity, Ben kept his Wartime Log to chronicle his daily life--with the unique inclusion of beautiful watercolor paintings and pencil drawings. In addition, he applied his talents to create PENNY, an engaging and well-loved comic strip following a female war correspondent of the same name. This comic strip not only entertained and enthralled his audience with each new issue--it gave them hope.
Ben Smotherman's experiences and artistic renderings are masterfully captured in Jan Davis's Air Born: Artistic Musings of a WWII Pilot and POW. In this companion piece to Air Born: Two Generations in Flight, readers will get an inside look at what it felt like to be a POW during WWII. Although Ben couldn't freely describe what he and his fellow POWs endured while in captivity due to censoring, this book paints a comprehensive picture with his Wartime Log paired with Jan's contextual explanations. Further, it depicts each of the ninety-seven PENNY comic strips that Ben developed and illustrated himself. Without a doubt, this second Air Born volume is a don't-miss read for anyone interested in the history of WWII.
Winner of Finance at the 2024 Book Excellence Awards
Nonfiction Book Awards Silver Medal Recipient 2024
Winner of Best Business Book at the Los Angeles Book Festival 2023
Winner of Best Business Book at the New England Book Festival 2023
Winner of Best Business/Technology Book at the Southern California Book Festival 2023
A no-nonsense guide to disciplined investing, full of deep insights framed in compelling ways.
--Kirkus Reviews
What happens after death?
Flit has no idea who she is. She doesn't remember her name, how she got here, or where here is. When she encounters the Grim Reaper who tells her that she has died and is now in Purgatory-unlike other souls who pass on to Heaven or Hell-her only real option is to leave with him. He gives her a name and takes her with him to an abandoned cabin, where she tries to recover her memories. As she helps him retrieve the souls of the dead, she starts to wonder what really happened to her: Was she supposed to die? What happened to her family? Did someone kill her?
As they reap more passing souls and face new creatures, she has more questions than answers. There is a war brewing, and Flit finds herself caught in the threads of a battle between angels and demons, descending into the depths of Hell to save someone she thought was a myth. Will she help the angels and prevail? Or will she learn that the secrets of death are darker than she could've imagined?