Not only one of my favorite actors, but also one of my biggest inspirations, Will Smith is one of the most successful people on the planet. Listen in as he shares his thoughts about life and success.

A fable about overcoming adversity and fear from the bestselling author of The Energy Bus and Training Camp

Now more than ever fear and uncertainty are becoming staples of daily life. During changing times, it’s easy to worry, give up, and let fear paralyze you. However, you have more control than you think you do, and how you handle adversity is your choice—the only choice that matters.

Many successful people and businesses have grown to prominence during even the worst recessions and downturns. These successful people and organizations all shared similar characteristics and took similar actions to thrive while others merely tried to survive. You can do the same.

In The Shark and The Goldfish, bestselling author Jon Gordon shares an inspiring fable about a goldfish who has always been fed, a nice shark who teaches him to find food and a wave of change that brings them together. In the process of finding food the Shark teaches the Goldfish the ultimate lesson—that the difference between a full belly and an empty stomach depends solely on your faith, beliefs, and actions.

In the face of adversity, this is a simple fable that reinforces a proven truth—you can’t control the events in your life. But you can control how you respond to them. You can allow the waves of change to crush you or you can learn to ride them to a successful future. Delightfully illustrated and packed with tips and strategies for thriving during tough times, The Shark and The Goldfish is a quick read that will have a life-long impact.

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Jon Gordon is a speaker, consultant and author of the international best seller The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy, The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work, and Training Camp: What the Best do Better than Everyone Else. Jon’s latest book, The Shark and The Goldfish: Positive Ways to Thrive During Waves of Change, is now available.

The message in Jon’s books and speaking presentations is such that NFL coaches such as Jack Del Rio, Mike Smith, the PGA Tour and the FBI have called on Jon to inspire and benefit their teams. Jon and his books have been featured on CNN, NBC’s Today Show and in Forbes, Fast Company, O Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Clients such as The Atlanta Falcons, Campbell Soup, Northwestern Mutual, Publix Super Markets and JP Morgan Chase also call on Jon to bring out the best in their leaders and teams.

In the spirit of his international bestseller The Energy Bus, Jon Gordon returns with another inspirational fable filled with invaluable lessons and insights on bringing out the best in yourself and your team.

Training Camp follows the story of Martin Jones, an un-drafted rookie trying to make it to the bright lights and big money of the NFL. He’s spent his whole life proving to the critics that a small guy with a big heart can succeed against all odds. After spraining his ankle in the preseason, Martin thinks his dream is lost when he happens to meet a very special coach who shares eleven life-changing lessons that keep Martin’s dream alive-and might even make him the best of the best.

Whether you play sports or the piano or work with numbers, a computer or a scalpel, these lessons apply to everyone who must climb the mountain before reaching its peak.

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