Make the Impossible Possible: One Man's Crusade to Inspire Others to Dream Bigger and Achieve the Extraordinary

I don't remember how I found out about Bill Strickland's book but I think it was a recommendation by one of my favorite bloggers. Well, let me tell you - this guy truly turned the tables around and gave new meaning to achieving the impossible. The book made me laugh, smile and cry at unexpected times. Bill is a legend in his own right and I highly recommend his book. It's a joy to read and in fact, I liked it so much I read it twice in one week. A strong buy recommendation.

If you have found yourself far enough down a path of curiosity to be reading a review of this book, waste no more time, and buy it or borrow it now. Bill Strickland is an artist extraordinaire, and his medium is life. Yes, Frank Ross, a high school ceramics teacher, turned a desperate street kid into an inspired and aspiring student by introducing him to pottery, which gave him direction and a dream. But the unrelenting pursuit of his passions, and the commitment and creative energy he has used to fuel that dream have woven a moving story of such power, emotion, and soaring success as to place him in the rarified air of any of the great artists of our time. He shows how focusing on a life based on responsibility and passion can bring real purpose and help "understand what genuine success really means". And if this guy is anything, he is successful. Wow. The list of accolades he has compiled is stunning. How about honorary doctorates from ten separate universities? When you read the story of the creation and history of his Manchester Bidwell Corp., you start to see why. Youth and adults with little to hope for, denied their dreams, often unemployed and financially desperate are finding hope here, growing award-winning orchids in the inner-city, discovering possibilities in a world-class arts center and learning the soul of jazz through the Grammy Award winning MCG jazz program, to mention just a few of his accomplishments. Bill's recipe for a gourmet life is on display daily in the classrooms of Pittsburgh's Manchester Craftsmen's Guild and in the centers he is starting to replicate around the country and the world. He is showing people how to build meaningful lives, and it works. This is anything but your garden-variety "however-many-steps-to-success" book which litter library shelves in countless business and self-help sections. Nor does Strickland ever assume the posture of spiritual teacher here, instead steadfastly remaining the most down-to-earth soul, humbly questioning how it is that he would end up being honored in the same venue as the Dalai Lama, for instance. Still, without him ever mentioning it, Spirit flows throughout this book, and the scope of truth and revelation contained within is considerable. I wept several times while reading Bill's story. I could barely put it down. I haven't reviewed a book since high school, but I had to write something about this one. Get a copy, put on some jazz, sit back and let Bill show you how "the simplest experiences can add richness to our lives and open the door to outrageous possibilities". You owe it yourself (and your world).

If you haven't heard Bill speak this is the next best thing. His book chronicles his journey as a young man without much hope to a man that has impacts 1000s of people for the better. The book is a must read for anyone thinking about starting a center of their own or doing an community work. He presents a model for creating sustainable and scalable community driven efforts. The most amazing aspect of this book is that he doesn't ask for handouts, but finds ways to have synergistic benefits.

Bill Strickland first got my attention when I read an article where he said he saw no difference between artists and entrepreneurs. My thoughts exactly. It wasn't until someone alerted me to this amazing autobiography, that I learned the story that led him to that wise observation. Strickland's turning point began the moment he followed his teenaged curiosity into Frank Ross's art classroom and was invited to try his hand at throwing a pot. In this calm and inspiring classroom, Strickland realized that life had much to teach and he became an enthusiastic learner. Like a true creative student, he was influenced by a wide array of people and things. Frank Lloyd Wright, jazz and orchids all become part of this story. Happily, he passes on what he learned along with this fascinating story of starting small and dreaming big. This is the best kind of story...the kind that shows what can happen when we refuse to give up on our wildest dreams. Unlike many success manuals, there's nothing sappy about Strickland's path from ghetto kid to community force for good. He won't tell you how to make a million dollars, but he will show you how to find your own path and purpose. In our information-drenched world, it's also wonderful to read a story that shows us that inspiration matters every bit as much as information. Bill Strickland is a man worth knowing.

I had seen Bill Strickland speak and was absolutely blown away. This book hits me the same way. Here is a man who, through hard work and an unbridled passion, has empowered thousands of people to create better lives for themselves, many of whom were the discarded and disenfranchised of our poorest neighborhoods. I can just imagine what our leaders in companies, government and schools if they could harness just a fraction of Strickland's beliefs and leadership practices. And it is my belief that, by reading this book, you will change your life, and in the process, change others along the way.