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Copyright 2011 by Adrian Shepherd All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems without the written permission of the author. ISBN 978-1461158516 Printed in the United States of America

iSucceed
secrets for the average joe and jane

Adrian Shepherd

To my friend: _____________________________ May this book guide you on your path to success. From: _____________________________ Date: _____________________________

THIS BOOK Pages: 177 Reading Time: 10 hours Price: Affordable Value: Unlimited
Copyright 2011 Adrian Shepherd

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface.........................................................................vii Chapter 1 Gratitude .................................................. 3 Chapter 2 People ..................................................... 19 Chapter 3 The Mind ................................................ 37 Chapter 4 Language................................................ 55 Chapter 5 SelfDevelopment................................. 67 Chapter 6 Laws of Life ........................................... 91 Chapter 7 Human Nature .................................... 109 Chapter 8 Conquering Challenges ..................... 119 Chapter 9 Time ...................................................... 137 Chapter 10 Preparing to Fly ................................ 149 Acknowledgements ................................................ 165

PREFACE
A book pages bound together with hundreds of words on them. How could something so simple be so powerful? The answer is in the words themselves. Words have the power to create any human emotion imaginable; from happiness to fear, from love to abandonment, and from delight to disgust. Throughout time all the great leaders of our world have understood the true power of words; well chosen words to capture and keep our attention. Telling us stories of the past to enlighten, and of the future to imagine. Books are vaults of knowledge waiting to be opened and learned from by anyone willing to take the time. They are blueprints that can be read and reread, making them an unlimited source of power. Given todays technologies, many people look first to videos or DVDs to improve their skills. But video is passive learning, while reading is active; the reader must interpret what is written on the page and then envision what it means with his or her own mind. In other words, we must think to uncover the secrets found in books. All books serve a purpose; some make us laugh, some make us cry; some inspire and some educate. This book was written to plant seeds of thought, and to act as a guide on your journey through life. No matter where you find yourself at this moment rich or poor, in America or overseas your journey has begun. The question is where will that journey take you?
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Every journey has a destination. Some people choose security while others set out for fame and fortune. And there are those who havent decided where theyre heading; some are stuck in the old ways of the world where if you worked hard, you would be employed for life and enjoy a generous retirement plan at the end of it. Those days have come and gone. Now we have been put in control of our own futures, and because there are fewer and fewer guarantees in life, it is up to us to determine where were going and just how were going to get there. If you find yourself in this situation dont worry, youre not alone. I was there. Were all there at some point in our lives. I have no doubt that some of you have set sail and are well on your way to your destination but most people are still stuck in port or maybe just heading out the door on the way to the marina, I know that just a few years ago theres where I was. No matter where we find ourselves at any particular moment, its important that we prepare ourselves for the journey ahead, which will bring troubles as well as triumphs. For some this might be your first book dealing with success; admitting you dont have all the answers and that youre willing to seek them out says a lot about you. It tells me that you want more out of life and are willing to search for it. It tells me that youre dedicated. I believe you will find this book eyeopening and thoughtprovoking, if not life changing. For those of you already on your way I hope that the ideas contained here reinforce what
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you already know and give you a few new ways of looking at things. So where to begin? No one element contained within this book has the power to change your life; it is the combination of them that unlocks the vault. I have chosen to start with gratitude simply because having an appreciation for life itself will give you motivation to accomplish all the goals you ever set for yourself. Understanding just how lucky we are allows us to free our minds from the negativity that often surrounds us. You could start this book with any chapter that appeals to you or best fits your life right now, but I think youll eventually want and need to apply all of them in order to truly begin to live a successful life.

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Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others. ~Cicero~

CHAPTER 1: GRATITUDE
Life is interesting, to say the least. For most of our adult lives we wake up each morning to head to a job that we dont really like, work eight hours, and then come home and enjoy a few hours to ourselves before going to sleep. All the while we secretly await the weekend so that we can be free to do as we please. On average, people living in a free country devote 40 years of their lives to making a living while never being financially free and therefore have to work, rather than wanting to work. We must remember that the past is over. We cannot change what has been, but we do have the power to change what will be. Today could be the first day of your new life, if you make it so. Even if you find yourself struggling to pay the bills, stressed out from work or unable to find work you are living in a world full of opportunity and abundance compared to the past. Kings and queens of yesteryear had to battle incurable diseases, famine and war. People lived shorter, harder and more dangerous lives. However, with advances in technology and medicine we have been able to give ourselves a more comfortable life than ever before. Too many of us take this for granted; our world, our health, and our freedom. I must say I did until... THE DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED It was just another day. A tranquil beach on the edge of the Indian Ocean, thats where my wife and I found ourselves on Dec. 26th, 2004, not realizing
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just what awaited us. But Im getting ahead of myself; I suppose I should introduce myself first. My names Adrian Shepherd and, although I was born in England, I left when I was eight. My family and I spent six years in The Philippines where I attended the International School and then moved to Thailand, where I spent my high school years, also in an International School. I attended Pitzer College in California and then after graduating, I decided to teach English in Japan where I still find myself today. But as my parents chose to retire in Thailand we travel there whenever time allows. In 2004 my wife Kyoko and I decided to reward ourselves for our hard work by taking a romantic trip to the town of Khao Lak, located about an hours drive from Phuket, arguably the most popular beach resort area in Thailand, before spending the New Year with my family at their home in Pattaya, another tourist spot just two hours from the countrys capital. Khao Lak is a sleepy town that caters mostly to tourists hoping to take advantage of the fabulous diving promised by the Similan Islands. We checked into the Similana Resort on December 23rd. Our bungalow, although classified as "Jungle View," was located just behind the swimming pool, which overlooked the beautiful, tranquil Andaman Sea. Once settled in we took a walk along the unspoiled white sand beach. After living amid the hustle and bustle of an industrial city, this was another world; one where time seemed to have stood still. Except
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for the sound of the waves and the occasional bird or passerby, there was no other sound to be heard. White sand stretched as far as the eye could see, and the water was a shimmering turquoise. No day was complete without a walk along the beach or a swim in the ocean. We felt in harmony with the natural simplicity of the environment. It was idyllic. On Dec. 26th my wife and I sat in our bungalow and looked out into another pristine day. A pleasant breeze was blowing and we lay back on our pillows looking up at the fan suspended some 12 feet above us. The gentle rhythmic movement was strangely hypnotic. Suddenly the power went off and the fan slowed to a stop, leaving an eerie silence. A noise made me sit up. I saw a man running across the pool area, just ahead of a large wave. When it hit him and he disappeared below the surface and out of my view, I laughed. It reminded me of games played at the seaside as a child, and I drew my wifes attention to it. I remembered how I would sit at the waters edge, back to the water, shrieking in delight as the incoming waves broke across my back, spraying a myriad of tiny droplets around me. Then as the tide began to come in, and the waves became stronger, I would get up, shake my head to get rid of excess water and head on up towards safer ground still smiling. I figured this was a freak wave. Any water heading our way would pass under our bungalow, which was raised five feet above the ground on strong metal supports. My camera was around my neck and I thought Id try to capture this unusual phenomenon. I raised
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the camera to my eye, but all I could see through the viewfinder was a mass of brown. I lowered the camera and simply watched the water rise much faster than Id thought possible. I stood, transfixed, as within seconds it reached our balcony, but I still felt no reason to worry. Then the balcony just vanished; lost beneath a torrent of murky water. I told Kyoko to get onto the bed, and I did the same. I could see the water through the floorboards so I still retained the hope that we would be safe - that everything would simply pass under and back, ebbing away as a tide should. Once the water began seeping into our room with no sign of abating, I was forced to re-think our position. I shouted to Kyoko to stay where she was and with the water already six inches high and rising rapidly, I ventured into the bathroom to see if that window would make an emergency exit. I still had hope, but it was diminishing with each second. Worse, at that moment the room began to shake. The vibration was so strong I could barely stand, much less move; then an earsplitting sound. It was the sound of metal slowly contorting under pressure the supports of our cabin buckling under the immense weight of the water and within moments our cabin was swaying back and forth at the mercy of this immeasurable force. Then, the unthinkable happened as the weight of the water increased against the fatigued metal, the building began to tilt and our world was suddenly, irrevocably, out of equilibrium. Although the water was still only knee high inside, from the corner of my eye I saw water
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outside rush by our window. I turned back only to see the water coming right towards me. I opened my mouth to scream, but it was too late, and instead of sound coming out, water went in. I coughed, and found myself completely under the dark, muddy, swirling waters, my foot caught in the door of the bathroom. Until that moment I had held my brand new digital camera in my hand to protect it from water damage. But then it hit me; THIS COULD BE IT. The words exploded in my brain, and all I could think then was Give me air! With air I would have a chance; a chance to live; a chance to save my wife; a chance to escape. As I battled to free myself, all I could think was I must save Kyoko. Shes my wife; I vowed to take care of her. I must get her out. Nothing else mattered. Instinct took over. I swam up and when I broke the surface I saw that 85 percent of our temporary home was submerged. I shouted frantically for Kyoko. I saw her eyes barely above water level and yelled for her to grab the now floating mattress. We had to get out of there but how? A frantic glance took in a shaft of light where the roof and the wall met. If we could break that wall down, we could easily swim out of our steadily imploding room to safety. I pushed and hammered with all my might, but although it gave slightly, it was obvious it would take some time, time we didnt have. Our last choice was a small, half opened, bedroom window. As I waded towards it, I grabbed a plank of wood that was drifting through the now disgustingly dirty
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water, and Kyoko and I were able to knock it open wide enough for a body to fit through. I pulled her towards me and guided her through. As she got out, a Thai man holding onto a sea kayak reached the bungalow. I took one last, quick, look at our dream cabin and pulled myself through. As I did so, the water began rushing in. I didnt dare look back. It was unbelievably heartbreaking. I managed to climb onto the kayak, and a wave carried us to the side of the cliff where the spa, a much sturdier structure, still stood. We climbed over a rail onto the balcony, breathing a sigh of relief. We were safe! But the water just kept coming. Another Thai man appeared and shouted for us to follow him through the jungle. We heaved ourselves over the railing, dropped down onto the ground and scrambled out after him until we found ourselves on the road at the front of our hotel. At that point I remember thinking Were OK, were OK! The hotel was built into the side of a cliff so slowly we dragged ourselves towards the hotel lobby, a good 60 feet above sea level. Exhausted but relieved, we had barely taken two steps towards it when an open truck peeled down from the top of the hill. The Thai driver shouted something as he slammed on the brakes. We had no idea what he was saying, but there was no mistaking the fear in his voice. He pointed down the road and as I turned my head I saw the water coming towards us again. Kyoko and I, with others standing nearby, scrambled into the back of the truck and we took off. Speeding along the dirt road two things crossed my mind either we were now far away enough to be
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safe or, if the wave reached us, there was no hope; it had already wiped out everything for miles inland. We reached the main road and after 10 to 15 minutes we arrived at a twostorey building which proved to be the Emergency Center. We were among the first to arrive. I washed the dirt out of my eyes and looked in wonder at how few bruises and scrapes wed suffered. Considering the walls of our bungalow had collapsed in on us and the amount of debris we had battled through, it was nothing short of a miracle. Soon other people started arriving; most had not been as lucky. Until that point I had imagined it to be an isolated local incident. Watching the number of injured stagger in, hearing snippets of news in the general hubbub, I began to realize the severity of the situation and how farreaching it was. Most people had cuts, bruises or broken bones, and as each truckload arrived the most serious were taken directly to the medical room, while others had to sit and wait until someone could get to them. Kyoko and I dealt with those waiting, checking their wounds and cleaning them with water or alcohol. One thing that surprised me was that most of the wounds were not bleeding. The sand had caked over exposed skin. This made cleaning cuts almost impossible, but that wasnt important; people just needed to have someone reach out to them. They needed to have someone tend to their wounds, no matter how superficially; they needed to have someone beside them; they needed someone to tell them theyd be OK. There were husbands without wives, wives without
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children, and children without parents. All were in shock; some just sat silently, others said they wished they hadnt survived. In my case, when I was under the water, wondering if we would make it, I remember thinking that no matter what happened, I wanted my wife to live. Im sure that many who lost loved ones that day must have been thinking the same thing. As the day wore on, fear crept in the fear of a second wave was very real to everyone. One man talked of fleeing to the mountains which caused some panic initially, but ultimately common sense prevailed and the mood changed for the better. Two Dutch children (12 and 14 years old), who lived in Kobe, Japan, had lost both their parents; one Belgian boy (15 years old) believed he had lost his entire family. None of them ever complained nor cried, not even once. We were all in shock, but they were the ones who kept it together the most. When Kyoko and I finally left that evening, I was proud to shake their hands. They were some of the bravest young people I had ever met. It was almost 5pm when we were told to go back to the reception area of our hotel, as it had remained undamaged. There we were generously given warm food and more than enough to drink. I found it interesting how differently people reacted to the enormity of our situation. Its difficult to put into words just how emotional the whole experience was for every one of us. In front of the reception area the staff had assembled
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bags and suitcases, now caked with thick sand, which they had managed to recover from the bungalows below. I wandered around wondering where our stuff was. The answer came next morning after the 24foot tsunami wave had receded; in place of our cabin all that remained was a hollow twisted shell. Amazingly I could see our jackets still in the closets, on their hangers. It was too dangerous to climb in, but with the aid of a broken pipe I was able to retrieve my jacket, unwearable, but thankfully with my house keys still in the pocket. I also came across one of our six bags which contained Christmas gifts for my family some of which were not entirely ruined. My wife asked why I bothered to take any of it back, to which I responded I have to try to save something. It suddenly became imperative to retain something of our precious life. The Thais did a masterful job of dealing with such an unexpected disaster, and worked tirelessly to help everyone they could, regardless of race, creed or color. Thais, no matter how poor, welcomed strangers into their homes, offering them food and shelter. This gave me hope for the future. Despite the inhumanity, greed and violence we read about in the newspapers every day, people are still basically good. Afterwards, when my father told me he was proud of what Id been able to do, I felt humbled. I had only saved Kyoko and myself. I hadnt rescued anyone else; I hadnt shown the courage that our militaries show every day defending our countries. I was no hero we were fortunate, others were not. There
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are hundreds of stories of survivors who managed to grab onto a tree, or find an air pocket and others of despair. Some left with everything, others left with nothing. Some, like Kyoko and I, left with an appreciation for life we would not previously have believed, while others left with great pain and the remorse of survivors guilt. We are among the people who were able to leave the day after the tsunami hit with air tickets, some cash and our passports all secured in the safety deposit box at our hotel and retrieved intact. It is my hope that none of you reading this ever has to go through what we did, nor see the things we saw. Words alone can never express the color and depth of our emotions, nor the love and gratitude we still feel for all those who worked and shared their resources and asked for nothing in return. It is now seven years since that fateful day. Time has passed and looking back I find it difficult to believe it really happened to us. We have no scars, physical or emotional now, to remind us. It was hard at first to get back to the discipline and routine of daily life, but as the saying goes Time heals all wounds, and it is absolutely right. Sometimes it feels as if it was all a horrible nightmare. Was I really there that day? Did I really help all those people? I only know that when faced with great adversity, each one of us is capable of incredible strength and compassion which enable us to do things we never dreamed we could. Many areas suffered and each has its own survivor
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stories. I thank God I can be one of them. Each night I wonder why we lived when some 230,000 others lost their lives. Now I know how precious life really is and how much joy there is in things we so often taken for granted fresh air, clean water, gentle breezes, a warm smile. This is life, its no rehearsal. I ask you to embrace it, appreciate it, enjoy it, share it. Live every day as if it is your last, and treat others as you would have them treat you. There is no greater gift. A NEW DAY Today may seem much like yesterday but each morning brings with it the opportunity to do great things, to right the wrongs of the past and to prepare for the future. No one knows just what today will bring. Each and every experience that we have should be enjoyed to its fullest because we never know just when it might be our last. We are all given just a short stay on this planet and so shouldnt we give it our all? Theres nothing worse than looking back on your life and thinking about what might have been, what we didnt try. Instead I hope we all look back at what we have accomplished. At how much we have given. At how much we have shared. Life gives us these opportunities. Sadly they often go unappreciated. We tend to take existence for granted. Just listen; you will hear complaints, arguments, and stories of misery, and yet anyone who has faced death will tell you that they would have given anything to live just that little bit longer. To do what they always dreamed of. To tell their loved ones that they love them one last time. Life is full of twists and turns. It is full of joy and
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happiness but also, pain and suffering. People dream of a world without negatives but the negative is what makes us appreciate the gift of life that much more. Failure and pain may not be easy to live with but they both play a part in shaping our character. If we live in a free country we have not only been given the skills to achieve greatness but also the power of choice to do as we see fit. Understanding the gifts we have been given is just the first step in living the life you always dreamed of. TRULY GRATEFUL Jim Stovall, President of the Awardwinning Narrative Television Network, author of The Ultimate Gift and an internationally acclaimed speaker truly understands the power of gratitude and despite his busy schedule kindly offered these words for this book. Every time I walk onstage in a corporate or arena event to share for an hour or so about some things in life I believe to be important, Im always reminded of that time 20 years ago when I woke up and realized I had lost the remainder of my sight. The despair and devastation I felt would be impossible to describe, but the only plan I had for my life was to move into a little ninebytwelvefoot room at the back of my house that I fully intended to never leave again. The thought of traveling millions of miles and speaking to countless people from the stage, the thought of running a television network with over 1,000 affiliates, the thought of writing over a dozen books and having several of them made into major
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movies, or the thought of living a life beyond my wildest expectations seemed beyond the realm of possibility. Today, as a blind person, I feel grateful for the life I live and honestly dont know anyone I would trade places with.

ACTION STEPS
Appreciate the people in your life. Appreciate the things you have. Appreciate the opportunities that exist. Write down everything you are grateful for and realize how lucky you are.

REMEMBER: Air, food and freedom are blessings few of us can truly appreciate the importance of until

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