Aspirations of Greatness: Mapping the Mid-Life Leaders Reconnection to Self and Soul
Are You Living the Illusion of Success?Many successful people find themselves rudderless and joyless once they reach midlife.  Their race for success–often defined as the accumulation of wealth and power–has dulled their sense of purpose. It’s undermined their happiness and crippled their relationships with their families.The passion of youth exhausted, many midlife achievers run their lives on a treadmill of activity, haunted by unresolved baggage from their past, constantly trying to outpace their fears. Often having no friends or mentors to guide them, many seek to escape rather than face their issues about money, identity, sexuality, and love. Most are open to spiritual connection, but don’t know how or where to begin. They feel alone and scared.Jim Warner writes with the authority of one who has been there and worked his way through to clarity and a rediscovery of self and purpose. In Aspirations of Greatness, he shares the inspiring life stories of eight high-profile people. These business and professional leaders typify the disillusionment of people in midlife who appear to "have it all," yet yearn for purpose, connection, inner peace–along with a renewed energy and "aliveness." Like many others, they have attained affluence and power, but confess to little sense of mission or meaning in their lives. These eight stories, backed by research conducted by Warner in intimate retreat settings with hundreds of other "successful" midlife leaders, amplify the piercing questions of people in midlife: Who am I outside of my vocation? What is my destiny? What is the role of money in my life? How do I achieve greater intimacy and communion with my spouse, family, friends, and God?Warner introduces several models for navigating the treacherous rapids of midlife, with principles that apply to anyone who feels lost, lonely, or unloved. His book is a blueprint for positive change and offers uplifting, practical guidelines for living out your innate genius with gratitude, wisdom, and serenity."Jim Warner brings together in one volume a treasure of wisdom, guidance, and just helpful information for the contemporary man and woman. He shows a commonsense balance between spirituality, psychology, and the cultural quandary of modern leaders. He knows the traps and he points the way through–because he has been there himself. Let Jim’s own journey and his own greatness rub off on you! It will."–Richard Rohr, OFM, author of Everything Belongs and Quest for the Grail