Make the Impossible Possible

One Man's Crusade to Inspire Others to Dream Bigger and Achieve the Extraordinary

By: Bill Strickland

Narrated by: Bill Strickland

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

According to MacArthur Fellowship "genius" award winner Bill Strickland, a successful life is not something you simply pursue, it is something that you create, moment by moment. It is a realization Strickland first came to when, as a poor kid growing up in a rough neighborhood of Pittsburgh, he encountered a high-school ceramics teacher who took him under his wing and went on to transform his life.

Over the past 30 years, Bill Strickland has been transforming the lives of thousands of people through the creation of Manchester Bidwell, a jobs training center and community arts program. Working with corporations, community leaders, and schools, he and his staff strive to give disadvantaged kids and adults the opportunities and tools they need to envision and build a better, brighter future.

Strickland believes that every one of us has the potential for remarkable achievement. Every one of us can accomplish the impossible in our lives if given the right inspiration and motivation to do so. We all make ourselves "poor" in one way or another when we accept that we are not smart enough, experienced enough, or talented enough to accomplish something. Bill Strickland works with the least advantaged among us, and if he can help them achieve the impossible in their lives, think what each of us can do.

Through lessons from his own life experiences, and those of countless others who have overcome their circumstances and turned their lives around, Make the Impossible Possible shows how all of us can build on our passions and strengths, dream bigger and set the bar higher, achieve meaningful success and help mentor and inspire the lives of others.

©2007 Alister, LLC; 2007 John Boswell Management, Inc. (P)2007 Random House, Inc.

powerful! read entire book in one day. loved it!

Powerful! Read the entire book in one day. I feel more driven now than ever to continue to follow my dreams and make them reality. I hope to one day have a center in WA.

Inspiring

I read this book as a part of an assignment for the school I am attending. I have to say.. I am so glad this crossed my path in life. Very inspiring and brought me back to a sense of what my purpose is in life… loved the audible and to be read by the author made it even more special. I felt like I could feel his story in my soul. Absolutely amazing!!

Most Amazing Book!

I have never heard such an inspiring story! I hope to recreate a place like this on my town!

Ultimate inspiration

The only other book I've rated 5 stars is Steven Covey's 7 Habits for Highly Effective People. That got five stars because of the way it helped me shift my paradigm on life. This gets five stars because Bill Stickland's tale is the ultimate in inspiration. It's not preachy, it's not unrealistic even though at times you find yourself saying "Unbelievable!"

The story that sums up Bill's can-do message is a tiny one in the book: He wanted to get his pilot's license but couldn't afford the flight time. So, he found a plane for sale, offered to lease it to the flight school, got a loan from the bank based on that agreement and then used the hours the plane wasn't in use to log the hours to get his commercial license.

Simple but oh so effective. There are even better stories in his book and they all show you how YOU can make the impossible possible.

I'm going to end this review and go out to start achieving some dreams I've been keeping in the back of my mind now. Enjoy the read!

Loved it!

I really liked that Bill Strickland read the book himself & I found his approach to life to be refreshing. The world could use a few more Bill Stricklands!

Beautifully Inspirational

This is one of the most inspirational, motivational, & completely easy to listen book.
Truly proves anyone can acheive their goals and so much more....and that there are good people with warm hearts still left in this world.
Left me feeling inspired, happy, motivated, & appreciative of the things I have.

Great Influencing Book

I read this book as part of a class on leadership. I really enjoyed it. Bill Strickland's life story is inspiring and he tells it eloquently.