What people say about our founder's book

Your book, entitled, "Self Creation" provides real insight into issues associated with self-development. My wife Jongy bought herself a copy at the BDPA conference in Dallas, Texas (2004-08-04). We were chaperoning kids from the Southern Minnesota BDPA chapter. We live in Rochester, MN. Jongy came up to me and said, "Nat I just bought a neat book and the Author autographed it for me." She let me see the book and I immediately opened it to Chapter 6, entitled, "Initiative - Plant Seeds for Personal Achievements." Why this chapter? I have no idea. I sat down and started reading.

Your inner voice experience was captivating because we travelled similar paths with similar results. As I was reading this chapter I kept thinking gee someone else has gone down this stressed out path and forced their inner self to react with pain and ailment. In my case it was a brain aneurysm which nearly killed me. After reading Chapter 6, I decided that I had to talk to you. Our experiences are so similar. Mine goes something like this. In the 80s I had responsibility for defining a packaging architecture for software. This packaging architecture contained embedded self-describing meta data shipped with the software.

The work provided a great job and career. I did it without looking at the clock. Today when I mentor; I stress that the difference between a job and a vocation is; one looks at the clock when working a job. A vocation borders on the experience of a hobby no clock is involved. Anyway I managed to get the architecture defined and accepted. It was implemented on the IBM, MVS, AIX and OS/400 systems. Life was great because my work group managed to get numerous patents on the architecture and implementation. Some of the patents were:

5,237,688 - Software packaging structure having hierarchical replaceable units

5,287,505 - On-line problem management of remote data processing systems, using local problem determination procedures and a centralized database

5,553,290 - Software packaging structure having hierarchical replaceable units

5,745,766 - PC product registration and tracking

In 1987 the first three patents were incorporated into the IBM AS/400. I designed and coordinated the implementation of the first phase of this effort. So what could go wrong with such a story? Would you believe Bill Gates? Bill took over PC-land. The planned Software PC packaging and registration architecture was never implemented. There is a axiom; sometimes one must learn to let go. Ignoring my inner-self nearly drove me to destruction because I did not want to give up on implementing the architecture on the PC. This experience pushed me to accept and listen to that inner voice provided by a higher Power available to all.

Parallel with my effort at IBM, in 1987 I decided that every time I got a patent within IBM I would get one outside of IBM. In 1989 and 1990 I was not only vocating overtime with Big Blue, I was also vocating full time on personal patents and attempting to bring personal patented products to market. To make matters more interesting, I even attempted to play super dad and spent a lot of time transporting my daughters to and from college. Here's a side note. Caffeine will kill you, especially if your life is stressful. To stay awake while driving I would pop caffeine pills. I did not know these thing were pushing my blood pressure to the outer limit. Besides I only took them when I drove.

My inner voice kept warning me to slow down. No way I was happy, healthy and content. I will never forget May 3rd, 1993. I had an aneurysm in of all places a church that was 5 minutes from the Mayo Clinic. I left church and drove to the clinic with my wife. I checked in and was smart-mouthing the doctor about not changing when I passed out for two days. This was perhaps one of the best blessing that could have happen for it is then that I started to listen to that inner voice you referenced. Our brain never sleeps. Stress generates additional activity on the brain. This results in an overload which eventually manifest itself as an ailment or disorder.

Chapter 6 in your book was personal. That is why I decided to buy my own copy immediately after reading the chapter. Meeting you has been an inspiration. I really cherish the Doctrine of Love you express on page 136 in the section entitled, "Plant a Shade Tree." The section reads:

"While you are working in you self-creation, plant a shade tree that you won't sit under. What I mean by this is help someone without the expectation of being reciprocated."

Yvonne, Thank you so much for writing the book and resulting experience. You have gained a friend for life.

Nat Calvert
Software Engineer, IBM Corporation, Rochester Support Center

Every once in a while, an individual is privileged to read a book that helps them to Re-Ground,Re-balance, and re-focus on those elements that make you the individual that you are. Most importunately (troublesomely urgent), to read a book that focuses on identifying those elements in life that help you become the person you dream of becomeing. Yvonne's application of the principles that she lives by to achieve her dreams, should be used as encouragement; that by understanding, planning, being persistent in your beliefs, and allowing the universe to work with you, Your Dreams Can Come True. This is a must read book for individuals desiring to take responsibility for achievement of their dreams. Once I picked up the book, I found it almost impossible to put it down until the entire book had been read. Read It, Understand It, Apply it's principles, and start your journey towards Self Creation.

Robert Perrin
President and CEO, Magellan Associates LLC

To get your copy of Self Creation visit the Products page.