The Secret of Difficulties

On October 10, 1988 Charles Fleisher was the passenger in the 300ZX, driving over 100 miles an hour, being chased by a New Jersey State Trooper. It ended abruptly when he was thrown from the vehicle over 100 feet breaking his neck and receiving a permanent spinal cord injury. In the Secret of Difficulties Mr. Fleisher shares what he's learned about taking challenging situations and turning them into opportunities. He shares remarkable stories of individuals from different walks of life that found opportunities they wouldn't have had if they had not decided to overcome their challenges. The book outlines a four step process that each remarkable individual used. The awareness Mr. Fleisher has received from living with paralysis has led him to believe that anyone can potentially use difficulties. They can begin by first clearly identifying one or more difficulties, imagining a solution to the challenge, making a plan, and taking consistent action. This book will provide an outline for anyone to get started.

On October 10, 1988 Charles Fleisher was the passenger in the 300ZX, driving over 100 miles an hour, being chased by a New Jersey State Trooper. It ended abruptly when he was thrown from the vehicle over 100 feet breaking his neck and receiving a permanent spinal cord injury. In the Secret of Difficulties Mr. Fleisher shares what he's learned about taking challenging situations and turning them into opportunities. He shares remarkable stories of individuals from different walks of life that found opportunities they wouldn't have had if they had not decided to overcome their challenges. Throughout history individuals, companies and groups have been spurred by difficulties. Sir Winston Churchill, once commented that, "a pessimist sees the difficulties in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Individuals profiled in this book include the actor Michael J. Fox. He turned his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease into an opportunity to raise over $200 million for Parkinson's research and George Foreman, the heavyweight champion of the world, who was knocked out, and was motivated to start a youth Center to serve thousands in his community. The book outlines a four step process that each remarkable individual used. The awareness Mr. Fleisher has received from living with paralysis has led him to believe that anyone can potentially use difficulties. They can begin by first clearly identifying one or more difficulties, imagining a solution to the challenge, making a plan, and taking consistent action. This book will provide an outline for anyone to get started.

Charles Fleisher is an author, inspirational speaker and small business entrepreneur who has spoken to thousands of individuals in hundreds of venues in the US and abroad. Since having a spinal cord injury at 18 in 1988 Mr. Fleisher has continued to use his difficult situations as opportunities. Within the first year of his injury he traveled to Colorado for rehab. While still in the hospital the recreational therapy department helped him to go whitewater rafting, hot air ballooning, and adaptive waterskiing. This experience infused Mr. Fleisher with a high level of confidence that even with a limiting disability, he could continue to engage in a vast array of activities. Upon returning to New Jersey from Colorado, Mr. Fleisher continued his studies and graduated from Rutgers University in 1995. Within a year of graduation, he used the difficulties of his own spinal cord injury care to start a small business which he is still involved with today. In 2000 he was inspired to start a nonprofit organization to help people with disabilities become aware of the vast amount of sports and recreational activities available to them. Understanding that his nonprofit organization would require him to overcome his fear of public speaking, he unknowingly began a new chapter in his career. Since 2004, he has been actively involved in becoming a more effective communicator, speaker and leader through his involvement with Toastmasters International. The confidence he received through this organization led him to begin speaking to youth as a representative of the Think First spinal cord and head trauma injury prevention program as well as other groups. Since then, he has spoken to hundreds of groups and thousands of people. In addition, he now uses his speaking experience to help organizations raise funds and is currently working on writing his second book.