playing the game without a coach: how courage, resilience, and forgiveness helped one man seize the american dream  one man’s incredible journey from foster kid to million-dollar entrepreneur <br> <br>at thirteen years old, benjamin raymond made a life-changing decision. the son of a white mother, who often broke down under the strains of her mental illness and drug addiction, and a black father, who had long since disappeared, ben took control of his destiny and put himself in foster care. <br> <br>while he struggled to find a stable home, ben had a gift that could catapult him to a better life. he was a major talent on the basketball court. his natural athleticism and fierce drive won him a college scholarship, but earning a double degree was only the beginning. he was determined to play at a championship level in every area of life. <br> <br>as he mastered the game in corporate america, ben transitioned from award-winning salesperson to thriving business owner. he also became a committed husband and father and a mentor to young men, executives, and entrepreneurs. along the way, he uncovered painful family secrets as he unraveled the truth of his identity as a child of two races, two cultures, and two troubled parents. <br> <br>a raw portrait of growing up in a family burdened with mental illness and domestic violence, building relationships through prison walls, and discovering what living a rich life really means, playing the game without a coach is a story of courage, resilience, and ultimately, forgiveness.