University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
Unstoppable
Book

Unstoppable

The Pathway to Living an Inspired Life

Adrian Gilpin
Capstone, 2004
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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

Studies show that about half of American workers are dissatisfied with their jobs. Workers say they suffer boredom, lack of recognition and poor prospects. Author Adrian Gilpin says nonsense. The problem is not with employers, but with employees who lack focused plans for personal development. Gilpin asserts that ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they focus, reflect, dream and act. He illustrates his ideas with his personal story of facing failure and near bankruptcy, and then regaining success through self-examination and self-development. This is not an easy process, and he does not offer a simplistic plan. Distilling the work of other experts with his own observations, Gilpin describes a powerful approach to utilizing your goals, discipline and experience (the more of a track record you have, the more you will get from this book). His story is compelling and even inspiring. getAbstract.com recommends it to mature, experienced executives and managers, and to those who want to add new meaning to their ambitions and achievements.

Summary

A Great Failure

Author Adrian Gilpin spent five years creating a £5 million tourist attraction showing the history of the British monarchy. When it failed to draw an audience and closed, he lost both his job and £250,000. Within days, his wife, Francesca, told him she was pregnant with their first child. His first response to this wave of emotional news was numbness.

Within a year, Gilpin formed a television production company, even though he had no direct experience in the field. During that time, he developed proposals and networked with TV production executives. But nothing happened. The ideas went flat. No producers responded. Gilpin soon recognized that he was being driven purely by financial concerns. He needed to make money and that desperation outweighed any passionate creative expression.

Gilpin was deeply in debt. While his creditors had accepted a payment plan, he knew he would have to sell his house and his other assets if he ever expected to repay his financial obligations. He also realized that he needed a new career. Breaking into television was difficult, especially since he did not have money to invest in his own projects. Now with two daughters...

About the Author

Adrian Gilpin founded the Institute for Human Development in 1995. He is an international speaker on changing the models of corporate leadership and managing change in business, education and society.

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