John Hope Bryant brings hope to all those who aspire to greater circumstances, wealth and success. He also shows through his own story that anything is possible if you are willing to try. And what is most important is to clarify that while these are indeed desirable outcomes and topics addressed in the book, they are fruitful byproducts that come out of authentic and systemic change. Starting with the way we stand up as citizens.

Here’s the true gem. This book was written in 2020 during the pandemic and the social justice movement Black Lives Matter. And because it was crafted in the midst of such overwhelming loss, tragedy and yes, hope for transformative change, it is that much more relevant to contemporary readers. Bryant stresses the most important theme of this book is changing your mindset, in order to achieve success and “winning in your lifetime.” It’s also about the disrepair and the despair of America and how we are finding ourselves more separated than ever before. The end of the decade came with devastation (including that of our environment).

Up From Nothing is a challenge to awaken to the reality of the moment and become a stakeholder for positive change. I love how Bryant continuously reminds us that we are part of a bigger picture here. We have the ability and freedom to come together and focus on winning instead of dissention. We, like those before us, have the ability to rebuild America into a nation where we ALL can win. What a timely reminder.

Bryant is not afraid to stand up and challenge all of us to remember what is really important here. And if we choose to accept it by embracing the grit, freedom, capacity for reinvention, and other characteristics inherent to Americans, we can make a better future for all of us.

I can also imagine someone thinking as they read this, “What’s in it for me?”

Well, for starters, it’s that very mindset that has to change if you indeed want a better life for yourself, your family and your community. But if it is the only impetus for accepting the challenge, I encourage you to remember the byproduct of personal freedom and success that results when you are willing to positively disrupt the dangerous path we’re embarking upon and remember the American Dream. I encourage everyone to read this uplifting book. John Hope Bryant is an icon who we can all learn from and by inspired by. His success as an entrepreneur, motivational speaker and philanthropist is just a snapshot of his global impact. And his story proves, that we, too, all have the opportunity to rise Up From Nothing.

Source: Author

Cover Courtesy of Per Se Media Group