"Twice Over a Man" is moving, powerful, simultaneously draining, and inspiring. It made me reflect on Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning." No matter the circumstances, any person can decide what will become of them mentally and spiritually. It made me think: what could you have accomplished if you had been born into and surrounded by the opportunities others take for granted or squander? This memoir evoked deep emotions, making me feel that no child should have to endure such pain and turmoil, even if it seeds resilience and drive that fuels future success. It compels me to never let a child give up on themselves and encourages readers to reflect on their own opportunities and resilience.

- Milton J. Little Jr. President & CEO United Way of Greater Atlanta

Writing my first book, Twice Over a Man, took a lot out of me emotionally. I wrote it with the expectation that God placed in my heart many years ago, that the story was no longer simply about me. It is about what we believe is possible and what we do with that possibility. Our thoughts matter, and what we do with those thoughts matters even more. When life slaps us in the face, whether as kids, teens, or adults, we have two options: we can allow it to define us, or we can let it refine us. When life punches us in the gut as parents or professionals, do we stop moving? Does our development become arrested, or do we cry our tears, speak our frustrations, then reframe and ask, “What am I supposed to learn?” And then, do we get up and get moving?

This book took a lot out of me because it was a deeply personal recount of trauma that was supposed to destroy me. But I never wanted people to look at my history, my situation, or my life and say, "It's understandable that he would be living unoptimized." God didn’t call us to live unoptimized, to be ordinary, or to cave to the pressures of the world, we are called to live life more abundantly, to chase a “finer” way of living. Whatever is happening in your life, I believe that God has something great in store for you. You just have to seek the resources you need, reframe what is happening, learn from it, and then get up and get moving. Your life is meant to be sown to make things grow. But you can’t make things grow if you are not growing, whether that’s in your family, your community, or your work.

I was deeply moved by this reflection from Dr. Priscilla, I haven’t seen her in ages. As many of you know, I have been reaching out to my LinkedIn network, encouraging people to buy and read the book. If it moves you in any way, please share it with your network and write reviews on sites where you can. Why? Because this is the only way the book will be read.

How is it going so far? Every day, we make progress with people actually reading the book. It’s not enough just to buy it. I have had several conversations over the past week about the book. The most frequent comments are that it’s "tough and courageous."

The most frequently asked questions so far are:

1. Why did you name it that?
2. What are the three key points you want readers to take away?
3. What’s next for you?

I will answer these and more in the coming weeks. My ask of you is simple: read the book, share it with your networks, and encourage them to read it too. And please sign up for the newsletter at orvinkimbrough.com for more insights.