Robert Irvine

Do you look someone in the eyes as you walk down the street, or do you simply pass them without making any verbal or nonverbal contact? If you choose to avoid contact, you are simply choosing not to share any of your Superpowers: The abilities of uninvited kindness and unconditional love. These abilities can manifest as a simple hello, a nod of the head while looking someone in the eyes, a smile as you pass them, or even a hug. While it may not seem like much to you, it could literally mean the difference between life and death for someone who is feeling hopeless, alone, depressed, or in deep emotional pain. The stories in this book will show you how powerful and possibly life-changing love and kindness can be. Every person you meet gives you the chance to use your superpowers, and possibly, become someone's superhero!

"The Ride of Our Lives, Lessons on Life, Leadership, and Love" is an inspirational story about a man and his family on a transformational journey as they bicycled across the United States. It is a powerful story about the resiliency required to overcome challenges. In 1983 John and Berti Gronski and their 15-month-old son Stephen set off on a bicycle tour across America. There were no ubiquitous mobile phones, no internet, no email, Google, or social media sites. The closest thing to connectivity was a payphone along a dusty road. John pulled Stephen in a bicycle trailer that resembled a pioneer's covered wagon. They traveled over 4,000 miles from Washington state to Pennsylvania. The trip was filled with adventures and enduring leadership lessons. "From Homer's Odyssey to Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, tales of travel, adventure, and self-discovery have always fascinated people. Likewise, John Gronski's The Ride of Our Lives regales readers with an inspirational and engaging story of a young family's cross-country bicycle trip that results in a life-long formation of character, family values, patriotic service and citizenship, and unshakable faith. Gronski skillfully weaves into his captivating story a wide range of military leadership principles, faith-based truths, and life lessons that serve as guideposts for the reader's own moral development. This book is a must read for all people interested in learning how one family's experience shaped their notion of character-based leadership through their encounters with and embracing of the best life has to offer." --John J. Sosik, Ph.D., Professor of Management and Organization, Penn State University, Great Valley School of Graduate and Professional Studies, Malvern, PA. John L. Gronski, Major General, USA (Ret.) is founder and CEO of Leader Grove Consulting, LLC (www.LeaderGrove.com). John is a much sought-after speaker and leadership seminar facilitator.