Have you ever wondered, "Is this all there is?" Are you tired of feeling trapped in a stress-filled job that leaves you unhappy and unfulfilled? If so, you are not alone; 86-percent of Americans aren't happy with their jobs. Fortunately, Brian Souza's new book offers a simple solution. Become Who You Were Bom to Be: We All Have a Gift... Have You Discovered Yours? (Pub Date April 11, 2005, hardcover/$19.95) explores the tragedy of an unlived life. It provides straightforward strategies to help people discover their gifts and uncover their purpose in life. This book couldn't have come at a better time.

Simply put, there is an epidemic of discontent in this country. In fact, it is estimated that upwards of 129 million Americans are not happy or fulfilled with life. As Americans, we live in the wealthiest society in the history of the planet. Yet today clinical depression rates are ten times what they were in 1945 during World War II. Living standards in the United States have skyrocketed six-fold in the past century. Yet today a greater percentage of Americans commit suicide than they did in 1900. We work twenty fewer hours a week than our great-grandparents did and enjoy three times as many leisure hours as they had. Yet today upwards of 80 percent of American workers list job stress as a major problem.

In Become Who You Were Born to Be, Souza contends that one of the primary reasons for this epidemic of discontent is that most people have drifted from their "intended path." He goes on to say, "Perhaps our highest need as human beings is not just to survive, but to thrive by using our God-given gifts in pursuit of our life's purpose."

How are you supposed to find your life's purpose? Many religious books declare that it's primarily up to God to show you the way. Most self-help books claim that motivation is the answer. The reality is, they're both missing the mark. In this revolutionary new book, Brian Souza dispels the myths and shares the truth.

This provocative new book goes against the grain of most self-help books, which typically claim that motivation is the key to success. According to Souza, "That couldn't be further from the truth. The key to success is being clear what your mission is here on earth. It's about being clear what your unique purpose is. It's about becoming the person you were bom to be."

Souza goes on to say, "I've never met a person who was on course to becoming who they were bom to be who had a motivational problem. Consider the absurdity of Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Emeril, or Oprah attending a motivational seminar in order to find inspiration. It seems ridiculous, doesn't it? Because it is! All the motivation in the world will leave you hopelessly lost unless you're following your intended path. And if your life is on course, you will generate more motivation in a single day than a thousand motivational speakers could possibly generate in a lifetime."

Brian Souza's expertise comes from both his extensive research, as well as his own personal experience. As a former corporate executive in charge of a $60 million business unit, Souza decided to walk away from it all, including a six-figure salary, after hitting a mid-life crisis—at twenty-seven.

Years later, it wasn't until deciding to pass on such outlandish business ideas as importing Turkish luffas and starting a creperie that Souza decided to use his gift—the ability to influence—to help make a positive difference in people's lives. After more than 10,000 hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars in research, Souza discovered that his life's purpose was to help other people discover theirs. And voila! The concept behind this book was bom.

In Become Who You Were Born to Be, you will learn:

• Why motivation is NOT the answer
• Why you should schedule a periodic mid-life crisis as often as possible
• 5 questions to ask yourself that will indicate if you're in the wrong job
• How to take your dream off life support
• The 4 steps to discovering your gift, uncovering your passion, and unlocking your purpose

Readers will find themselves captivated by the dozens of fascinating stories woven throughout the book, including stories about Sylvester Stallone, Oprah Winfrey, Lance Armstrong, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Garth Brooks, Jim Carey, Mahatma Gandhi, Benjamin Franklin, Helen Keller, and Abraham Lincoln. From modern-day celebrities to historical luminaries to everyday people, this book is sure to have at least one story that will forever alter the course of your life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Souza is the President of Paragon Holdings LLC, an organization that specializes in teaching personal and organizational success worldwide. He is also the founder and chairman of the Seedlings of Success Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children around the world. Souza is recognized as one of the leading experts in the field of success modeling and personal achievement. He is sought after as a professional speaker, consultant, and trainer by corporations and organizations throughout the world. He lives with his family in San Diego, CA.