Connections: Everyone Happens for a Reason - Softcover

Jerry Davich And Dennis Berlien

3.17

6 ratings by Goodreads

9780982085905: Connections: Everyone Happens for a Reason

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0982085907 ISBN 13: 9780982085905

Publisher: First Connections LLC, 2009

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CONNECTIONS is a collection of real-life stories and eye-opening facts illustrating our biological need to connect with each other, from the bedroom to the boardroom, from our first breath to our last wish, from the womb to the tomb. Although our society has never been so seemingly connected through email, text message, instant message, cell phones, Blackberries, cyberspace chat rooms, etc. we re not very connected, not where it matters most. Whether it s to help connect with a new friend, or an old lover, or a distant relative, CONNECTIONS was written to help us better identify key connections in our lives while avoiding missed connections, typically called regrets. The book features dozens of people s key connections, including a boy who turned tragedy into triumph; a middle-aged woman who regrettably wedded a career instead of a mate; a California dreamer who pedaled across the country only to find himself; and a surprising revelation from Dr. Mehmet Oz, of Oprah fame. Several years of research with thousands of people across the country has led to our trademarked "Laws of Connection": - EveryONE happens for a reason in our life. - The quality of our life depends on the quality of our human connections. - Missed connections typically lead to regrets. - It s never too late to create new, meaningful connections. Why do people endlessly seek companionship, togetherness, and a sense of belonging in our society. Or any society, for that matter? The answer: Human connections. This primal need not only timely, but also timeless is our original wireless connection with face to face value and eye to eye contact. No need for Blackberry batteries, a strong cell phone signal, or a laptop computer. The new buzzword of the fast-paced twenty-first century is high-tech interconnectivity. Just look at all the cyber-social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Not to mention the millions of conversations taking place via email, instant messaging, and in the blogosphere at any given moment. But at what cost? From what we can tell, the price is human interconnectivity. What we ve learned first and foremost during our research about missed connections is that they often lead to loneliness in some form. This country is brimming with more than three hundred million people. And although we ve never been as connected to each other, we re firm believers that loneliness has reached epidemic proportions, and we re not really very connected. Not where it matters most. Actually, we re becoming increasingly more socially isolated. More alone. More disconnected. That s right disconnected. The United States Census Bureau has observed thi, too. The federal agency s latest census figures reveal that one-fourth of all American households are comprised of just one person. That s it. One! Compare that with figures of a half-century ago when only one in ten households included just one person. Our point: More people today are living alone; some willingly and happily. Others, not so much. And, clearly, more people today are living lonely lacking human connections. In 2006, the American Sociological Review published a major study showing that the average American gets through life with only two close friends yes, just two friends whom they confide in and with whom they share intimate details about their life. A similar study from twenty years earlier showed we had, on average, three such friends. In other words, we re losing friends. That s right, we re losing intimate connections, too. Connections is designed to remind us of the importance of these key relationships, and how to avoid any more missed connections, with action steps and journal entries. For more info, photos of sources in our book, requests for speaking engagements, or to stock our book for sales, call 219-762-1109.

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About the Author:

Jerry Davich has written thousands of stories, columns and feature projects for various publications across the country, including newspapers, magazines, and health journals. He began his writing career as a political cartoonist before realizing his passion for narrative storytelling from following a high school student with disabilities to her first prom, or chronicling the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, to watching an elderly woman with terminal cancer slowly die in a hospice, and jumping out of a skydiving plane with a microphone in hand. Jerry has covered several news beats including health, environment, features and social issues, to name a few but his emphasis is always the same: To profile ordinary people - their hopes and dreams, joys and pitfalls and the often extraordinary connections in their lives. He never planned on writing this book until experiencing a serendipitous series of his own connections and missed connections. Today, he s the metro columnist for the Post-Tribune Newspaper in Northwest Indiana, as well as a freelance writer for several national publications and book author. Jerry lives in Portage, Indiana, with his wife, Cherie, and has two adult children. Dennis Berlien is a husband, and father of four children who reside in Las Vegas, Nevada. He enjoys spending quality time with his family near Newport Beach, California. He enjoys playing competitive tennis and basketball, studying jiu-jitsu combat training, and he recently completed the Honolulu Marathon with his father in Hawaii. A Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accredited professional, he received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University. With over 15 years of professional experience, Dennis excels in overseeing engineering services including sustainable design and LEED certified buildings. He currently serves as a principal for a Boston, Massachusetts-based engineering firm and manages its West Coast operations. He is also responsible for building and maintaining relationships with developers, owners, and architects. As co-author of Connections, Dennis aspires to offer consulting services based on the theme of this book. He considers his persistence, ability to adapt to change and, just as importantly his personal connections as the keys to his success.

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