Book excerpt: Five years ago, lost, paralyzed and terrified of the mess her life was in, award winning writer and business strategist Tina Ferguson found herself deep in the ditch. She had never faced such crisis in her life and was ill-prepared to deal with her feelings of hopelessness and despair. Open to any help to release her from the abyss, she found answers in the most unlikely places. The program in this book emerged as she came to heal her life and assist thousands of others to do the same. Part inspiration, part transformation, part how-to guide, part memoir, Must Be Present to Win is a practical life-activation guide that assures people in the ditch that where they are is the best place to start to create their very best life. Inspired by her own experiences, Ferguson wants others to know that the ditch is an invitation and a gift to claim. The book is divided into four parts: Getting Out of the Ditch, Discovering Passion in the Present, Claiming the Winning Ticket, and Living Life as a Grand Adventure. Filled with nearly 100 practical, road-tested, easy-to-use tools, which are indexed for easy reference, the book provides a self-help road map for people to navigate out of the ditch and back in to their life. Ferguson offers an emergency toolkit for people who want to get out of the ditch fast and real-world client stories to provide steady inspiration and hope. This book is full of heart and inspiration for those who want to know it is possible to live life free of fear, depression and despair.