Vanessa Bucklin - The Penultimate Step

PRAISE FOR THE PENULTIMATE STEP

Extraordinary accomplishments may be achieved by ordinary people taking the extra step. Vanessa immerses us in her journey in which those life lessons of the penultimate step prepare us mentally, physically, and emotionally to succeed in the worthiest of goals: our own!

Randy Pierce

President, 2020 Vision Quest

Author, See You at the Summit

Its not every day you meet someone who reminds you that you can accomplish anything you set your mind on. Vanesa Bucklin is just that person. This book is the inspirational story of a woman who has overcome obstacles to find her own victories time after time. Her story is one of perseverance, determination, heart, and true grit.

Juli McNeely , LUTCF, CFP, CLU

Past NAIFA National President

Vanessa shows us that strength and vulnerability are not mutually exclusive. She reveals her most challenging times and the insights and triumphs, both big and small, that come from possessing the right perspective. She proves the power a positive attitude has in the making of a complete life. This book strings lessons through stories and will leave you feeling that you can totally do it, so go for it!

Michaela F. Scott, MSFS, CFP, AIF, RICP, CHFC, CHSA, CLU Investment Advisor Representative, Series 6, Series 63, and Series 7 Strategic Benefits Consultant

I look at Vanessa and think, Wow, she has everything going for her. And then I read her book and really see the determined, candid, brave, and caring person that she is. She has always appeared to know when to dive off the high dive or when to first get a team of advisors before taking a big leap. But now after reading her extraordinary story, I see the strength of her partnering unrelenting discipline with her unyielding belief that we create our own future. This is a remarkable sharing that allows each of us to rethink how we can use Vanessas insight to enhance our own journey.

Micki Hoesly

Past President, MDRT

A successful leader is someone you would follow even if you didnt have to. Vanessa leads with a positive attitude, strong athletic prowess, and unshakable confidence. This book highlights her remarkable story and valuable lessons learned in navigating lifes journey of endless twists and turns.

Jennifer Borislow

CEO, Borislow Insurance

2012 MDRT President

Acknowledgements

First, I would like to thank my loving and supportive husband, Tyler. You are an inspiration each and every day, and I am so proud to be your wife. Thank you for always encouraging me and for supporting my dreams. You are the best partner I could ever have in this game of life, and I am so proud of the children we are raising. I love you.

Thank you to my kids, Claire, Nick, and Colette. This book is dedicated to you three beautiful faces. You are the light of my life, and I want you to never ever give up on your dreams. You are my daily inspiration and joy. You are my shining stars!

To my mother and father thank you for the foundation and opportunity you have given me. Shane, Callie, and I had the greatest childhood a kid could have, and I hope to provide even a sliver of what you gave us to my children. Your courage, strength, and grace shine every day as an example to us all.

Thank you to my beautiful sister, Callie. From the moment you were born, I thought of you as mine. You are my best friend, and I am so proud to call you my sister. I am braver because of you!

To my business partners and friends, Jake and Dick, thank you so much for your belief in me. It was a daunting task, but you were always up to the challenge. I have learned so much from you. You both have a gift for seeing peoples best qualities, and you always give your best self. I am honored to be your partner and friend.

To my beautiful staff, Kiley, Kenzie, and Lacey you have supported my dreams and ambition each and every day. Thank you for covering for me, protecting me, and reading all my rough drafts. I can hear your reassuring words, Ive got you, over and over, and my heart melts. I am blessed to have each of you in my life.

To my dear friends and former employees, Sondra, Christy, and Connie I thank you for believing in me and dedication so much of yourself. You have taught me much about living your dreams.

Thank you to Mark and Monty. Your encouragement kept me on the trail to finish this book. I admire you as authors, and I am proud to call you friends. Monty, you were so instrumental in my initial editing, and I cherish our time together.

To my newfound hero, Randy Pierce. Thanks to our recent introduction, you inspire me daily. I will never enjoy the scent of lilacs without thinking of you and your champion journey through adversity, pain, and challenges, where you came out a star. You continue to inspire so many people daily with your winning attitude and by seeing no obstacles. Thank you for helping me with this dream. I look forward to meeting you in person as I pursue other dreams.

Michaela, Micki, Jennifer, Juli, and Diannethank you for your daily inspiration in the business. You are truly remarkable, and it has been such an honor to work with you. You are all heroes to me.

Irene, we were kismet! In editing the book, I feel you have been hand in hand with me through my entire lifes journey. You were exactly what I needed to push harder and dive deeper. You were the perfect penultimate step in my dream of publishing a book. Thank you, my friend!

Kelli Weist, my dearest friend, thank you for always being my hero. You are the best friend, the best mother, and the best girl I have ever known. With your enthusiasm and drive, you have lifted me up to new heights.

To Phyllis P., although not always a direct influence, your spirit is always an underlying and unwavering factor in my daily life. There isnt a mile I run, where I dont think of you, and it inspires me to do more and be more. You make this world a better place.

To Kyriakos, my dear friend and colleague from GreeceI cant thank you enough. You believed in me more than I did. You have given me the opportunity to spread my wings and fly higher than I imagined. You taught me philotimo and changed my life. Without your support and vision, and printing My First Book , I dont think I would have ever pursued this dream. You were the one who made me believe I had a story to tell.

Finally, I want to thank my baby brother, Shane. I wish so much that you were here to read this book. I can picture your Cheshire cat grin and hear your praise. You taught me so much about living life, cherishing those you love, and proudly being yourself. Every day I wish I could have one more minute with you. I hope I make you proud. I love you. I miss you.

FOREWORD

Why do any of us choose to set our focus into the pages of a book? Why do we take the steps into someone elses story? The reasons are, of course, as varied as the steps we take leading into this anticipated path of exploration, and yet they have at least that detail in common. We are all taking metaphorical steps in an assortment of journeys. We are literary adventurers, each with as personal an approach and destination as the myriad circumstances of our lives develop. At times we may seek entertainment. Sometimes a theme of interest or point of learning is our motivation to begin reading. The Penultimate Step gifted me with a host of learning, from the simplicity of new terms like philotimo to new concepts such as being motivationally gifted. My mind was engaged throughout and better still days after the first of several readings.

The thoroughness of my enjoyment is evident in the rapt attention garnered in my first reading, which I completed in a single nonstop plunge. I felt the emotional surges of laughter, enthusiasm, hope, discouragement, grief, and triumph along the way. I was so engrossed by the tale that I felt a kindred spirit beside her as she built her business, built her family, and faced the daunting challenges life has in various forms for most of us. We labored together through losses and the deepest grief. We stumbled and surged through these tragedies and triumphs. I celebrated the penultimate and ultimate journey with her and came away better for it.