Motivation

Everyone ponders the question, "What does it take to be successful?"  In the memoir, The Secret To Success, Eric Thomas answers this question.  Today, Eric Thomas uses his skills to motivate and inspire others through his speeches.  He travels all around talking to athletes, students, and many other types of people about how to achieve success.  He strives to motivate others to put in the effort to become successful.  "It's one thing to talk about your destiny but it is another thing to make the decisions necessary to actualize that destiny."

Phil Jackson, a former NBA basketball player and coach, wrote Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success.  His memoir is truly inspirational.  He won a total of eleven NBA titles as coach, two NBA titles as a player, coached the USA Olympic basketball team, and is considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of NBA. In 2011 he was diagnosed with cancer.  Despite this devastation, he continued to be there for his team, coaching them to success.  Phil Jackson is never short of wise words, "Wisdom is always an over match for strength."  Another wise quote from Phil Jackson is, "Always keep an open mind and a compassionate heart."  Phil Jackson loved coaching basketball.  He instilled hard work in his players, but also character.

The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother is a memoir written by James McBride.  James McBride was one of twelve kids.  He explains his struggle of finding his identity as a black boy with a white mother.  Growing up he would ask his mother questions about the differences in their skin color, yet each time she would tell him not to worry about it.  In his memoir, there are many things that are truly inspiring.  First of all, he says that from failure, it is important to learn lessons.  He also explains that people will always have something you think is better than what you have.  Finally, he also says, "No one can be you better than you."  Throughout his memoir, he truly explores what it is like to live life as you and nobody other than you.