Burt Prelutsky - Portraits of Success: Candid Conversations with 60 Over-Achievers

PORTRAITS OF SUCCESS

BURT PRELUTSKY

Portraits of Success

WND Books

Published by WorldNetDaily

Washington, D.C.

Copyright 2010

WND Books

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, scanning, or otherwise, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

Written by Burt Prelutsky

Jacket design by Mark Karis

Interior design by Neuwirth & Associates, Inc.

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First Edition

ISBN 13 Digit: 978-1-935071-20-4

Library of Congress information available

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

This book, once again,
is dedicated
to Yvonne,
who proves
that the third time
truly is the charm.

This is my second collection of interviews. As with the first, The Secret of Their Success, my primary motive was the opportunity to meet people I had long admired.

But I also wanted to know what made them tick. What separated them from those people who failed to make their mark? Were they a breed apart? Were they simply more ambitious, more focused, more driven, than the rest of us?

Were they motivated by words of encouragement or were they, instead, spurred on by the desire to make those who insisted theyd never make it eat their words?

When I started out, I assumed that they were seeking fame and/or fortune. But I was confusing the end results with the process.

I think youll find, as I discovered, that the one thing that all 61 of these high-achievers shared was a dedication to pursuing their dream.

Personally, I am grateful that they made time for me in their busy, successful lives. I found them all to be as fascinating as Id expected and I hope you will, too.

PORTRAITS OF SUCCESS

CONGRESSWOMAN

APRIL 6, 1956

Representative Bachmann is the third woman, but only the first Republican, to represent Minnesota in Congress. She first garnered national attention when, during the 2008 Campaign, she suggested that the media should investigate members of Congress and presidential candidate Barack Obama for anti-American bias. She gained my own personal admiration when she introduced the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act, which would repeal the nationwide phase-out of conventional light bulbs. Only brain-dead liberals along with Al Gore and his ilk, who are cleaning up on the global warming hoax, would promote anything as stupid as bulbs containing mercury. The same people who worry themselves sick that a single strip of asbestos might exist somewhere in the world are all for introducing mercury into every home, school, and business in America. As Rep. Bachmann said at the time, If the Democrats can hose up a light bulb, dont trust them with the country.

Q. What did your parents do for a living?

A. Father was an engineer, and mother was a homemaker, secretary, and bank teller.

Q. Did you ever consider following in their footsteps?

A. No.

Q. In that case, what did you start out thinking you wanted to do with your life?

A. I first wanted to be a ballerina. Before college, I was interested in business. During college, I discovered my real passion, law. Once I obtained my law degree, my husband encouraged me to pursue a specialty, so I obtained my post doctorate in federal tax law.

Q. Did your parents encourage your pursuit?

A. They were indifferent.

Q. What is your educational background?

A. I attended undergrad at Winona State University, law school at Regent University, and I went to William and Mary to earn my post doctorate.

Q. What is the best advice you ever received, and did you take it?

A. In seventh grade, my mother told me to work hard in school. She always said, Education is something that can never be taken away from you. The advice came at a critical time. Throughout junior high and high school, I started a lifelong discipline of reading a variety of books, magazines, and newspapers. I was thirsty for knowledge and information.

Q. What is the worst advice you ever got, and did you take it?

A. Despite my hesitance and better judgment, I took bad investment advice.

Q. What book has had the greatest influence on you?

A. The Bible. My life verse is 2 Corinthians 3:17, which says, Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Q. On the chance that its not the same book, which one is your all-time favorite?

A. The Bible is my handbook for life.

Q. Have you any hobbies?

A. I enjoy walking and reading. I particularly enjoy refurbishing and remodeling homes, artwork, furniture, and landscaping. I am a problem-solver. If I see a problem, I want to solve it. It is a running joke in my family that my husband should print business cards that say, If you have a problem, just ask Michele. This passion led me to bring twenty-three foster children into my home and also to open the first charter school in the United States.

Q. What is the best thing about being in Congress?

A. The people I get to meet, whether it be the residents of the 6th District or the people who are solving problems in Washington. I love learning from all those individuals with innovative ideas.

Q. What is the worst thing?

A. Its the time I spend away from my family during the week.

Q. Do you dread going to work knowing you will have to spend hours listening to people like Nancy Pelosi and Charles Rangel?

A. No. It is a clear opportunity to beat their arguments.

Q. Were you always a conservative?

A. In my heart, yes. While I was raised in a Democrat family, I realized our lifestyle and our values were based on conservative philosophies. I converted to the Republican party because it was a better representation of my lifestyle and current values.

Q. What is your all-time favorite movie or movies, and what makes them resonate with you?

A.Saving Private Ryan and Braveheart because they both demonstrate the high cost of freedom. We cannot afford to lose our freedom, because the cost to retrieve it is too high.

Q. Who or what makes you laugh?

A. Mark Levin, Ann Coulter, my kids, our dog, and my husband.

Q. Is there anyone you envy? If so, who and why?

A. I admire Phyllis Schlafly. She is a bold, modern American woman who broke through barriers and never received the credit she deserved for working tirelessly to preserve freedom. And she single-handedly brought down the Equal Rights Amendment.