Susan Strong - The Boldness of Boys: Famous Men Talk about Growing Up

O THER BOOKS BY S USAN S TRONG

The Greatness of Girls

The Boldness of Boys copyright 2003 by Susan Strong. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews.

Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC
an Andrews McMeel Universal company
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106

www.andrewsmcmeel.com

APPR

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Strong, Susan, Mrs.

The boldness of boys : famous men talk about growing up / Susan Strong.

p. cm.

E-ISBN 978-1-4494-1960-8

1. Teenage boys. 2. Adolescence. 3. MenBiography. I. Title.

HQ797.S75 2003

305.235dc21 2003052153

Book design by Lisa Martin

Jacket design by Michelle Farinella

Cover photo by Getty Images/Gandee Vasan

Author photo by Rebecca Swift

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F OR MY BIGGEST FANMY FATHER, J ACK S TRONG

Read This First!

ADRENALINE

HIGH

Unleashing Your Talents

PARENTAL

UNITS

Can You Relate?

DEFINING

TIMES

Experiences That Shape the Man

CHALLENGED

TO THE MAX

Overcoming Tough Stuff

DEEP

BENCH

Mentors Who Matter

YOUVE GOT

THE POWER

to Persevere

FINAL

WORDS

Some Wise Advice

The Boldness of Boys is my leap of faith. Encouraged by mothers raising sons, I was propelled to see that boys get their book, too. My deepest gratitude to the extraordinary men who cared enough to share their experiences with this new generation of soon-to-be heroes. It was an honor to read and hear your stories, and I only wish the conversations could have continued.

This book was enhanced by the wisdom and insight of my nephews. They each set examples of how character rules, how competition is healthy, and how being the nice guy wins. By watching them teach others how its done, I witnessed compassion, courage, and fearless energy. By listening to them burp the alphabet and watching them melt chocolate in their armpits, I saw twisted yet impressive talent. This is for you, Dylan Strong; Pete Pohl; Jeff Lacko; Sam Pohl; Jimmy, John, and Robby Leonis; and Marcello Martinoli. You each make the world a better place and a great deal funnier.

Love to you, Marla Miller, my muse, my mentor, my editor extraordinaire. To my sisters and brothers, Tracy, Amy, Jeff, and Sid, thank you for encouraging me to trust my cape. Thank you Alison Picard and Jean Lucas for believing in book two.

And endless love and appreciation to my dear Bob, Olivia, and Caitlin Pohl. Waking up to the three of you brings me indescribable happiness. Because of you, my dream life is a reality.

Who cares? said my fifteen-year-old nephew, flipping through People magazine. Why does anyone want to read this stuff?! Hes got a point. We have become a celebrity-obsessed societydelving into the lives of the rich and famous, looking for any similarities, wondering what it would be like to be them.

However, you have more in common with these famous men than you think. Every man in these pages started out just like you. They did the daily grind at school, experienced embarrassing moments, had their own family battles, suffered through heart-wrenching crushes, competed fiercely in sports, and learned how to define themselves through trial and error.

Welcome to The Boldness of Boys. Each man in this book will confirm that you are not alone in your journey, that its going to be okay. Reading about how they handled situations when they were your age just might help you approach your adventure with more courage, more confidence, and more desire to take those necessary risks in order to get what you want.

There are times when the world plays like a video game gone bad, malfunctioning with no way to fix it. What I learned interviewing and reading about the men profiled in the pages of The Boldness of Boys is that they all share a common bond: vision. They all found a way to achieve their dreams and live their lives just as they imagined they could. When they needed help, they asked for it. When they saw opportunity, they went for it. When life knocked them down, they dusted themselves off and started over. This book is not about becoming famous; its about listening to the beat of your own drummerto that voice inside thats looking out for your best interest.

Did somebody say this was going to be easy? By now, your parents and teachers have said a zillion times that its never easy. To get what you want requires hard work and practice. I will add only that theyre right. Terminator and Titanic director James Cameron said this: There are no shortcuts. Youre going to work hard. You may look around and see other people who appear to have it easy, but somewhere along the way, theyve paid their dues. And for those few who won the lottery or landed the lead in a hit series at the ripe old age of twelve or so, theyre going to pay their dues later. Everybody has to. In order to realize your dreams, you have to learn that work ethic.

Thats not to say luck doesnt play a role, but more often than not, you need the smartsyou have to trust your instincts and be able to recognize opportunity when it presents itself. Pay attention. Be ready.

Every man in The Boldness of Boys has a story to tell and a dream to share. These guys make great company. If youve had a bad day and think youll never make the varsity team or you just found out that that girl youve had your eye on since third grade is going out with the school jock, join the club. But dont give up. Championship days are ahead of you.

Thats why the friends we keep and the choices we make are so important. Hanging out with the wrong crowd can become a nightmare overnight. Make decisions that work for you. Build on your reputation as someone not afraid to do the right thing. Integrity is a vital ingredient to your future.

Read this book to suit your lifestyle. You might want to leave it on your bedside table and read a few entries before ending your day. Use the Internet and the library to learn more about these men. Hopefully, youll discover new heroes and be inspired by their stories.

Think of The Boldness of Boys as your primer, a sampling of biographies of men whove made a difference in this world just by doing what they love to do. Learn from them. Add your own spin to their ideas. All of these men want to help you figure it out. They were eager for their stories to be profiled here because they want the next generation to benefit from their experiences. Its their own way of paying it forward.