Book excerpt: Sometimes it takes eight years to commission in the military. Other times it takes six years to admit you were wrong. And then it might take nine years to find your fit at the CIA. These are the definitive stories of the author's life, and these are the types of stories found in this book. The accounts, which span the globe from Baghdad to Afghanistan and from the headquarters of the CIA to the cockpit of an F-16, tell seven inspiring and motivational stories to give readers the drive to keep going in the toughest of times--what the author calls getting after it. Some stories might make you cry, while others may leave you wondering Did that really happen? Each tale contains multiple, concrete, and applicable lessons, enabling the reader to put their newly found inspiration to practical and applicable use in their own lives.This book tells the stories of: -An eight-year quest to achieve a lifelong goal-How confidence and self-belief can change everything-Why real life, not a test, determines how successful you are-How correctly channeling negative energy can yield incredibly positive results-Trusting your instincts and pursuing your passion despite the roadblocks