4.6 stars – 38 Reviews
Or currently FREE for Amazon Prime Members Via the Kindle Lending Library
Text-to-Speech and Lending: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:
17 Cents and a Dream begins with a candid, gripping account of the Milstein family’s tough life in Kiev, Ukraine under the oppressive government of the former Soviet Union. He recalls how he and his family were affected by the devastating 1986 explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant only 78 miles from their home. A few years later, the family, struggling against poverty, government oppression, and anti-Semitism, made a secret plan to flee to America.
After a narrow escape, the family arrived in Ann Arbor, Michigan with no understanding of English and few belongings. Young Daniel had only seventeen cents in his pocket, given to him by a friend to cover the expense of a postage stamp so that Daniel could send him a letter. In the ensuing years, Daniel endured extreme poverty, endless hunger, relentless bullying from his new classmates, and cruel mistreatment while working long hours mopping floors and cleaning toilets.
“The never-ending sense of hunger in the pit of my stomach,” he writes, “became a part of me and manifested into the drive to do more, to be more, so my family could eat without worry.” That hunger, plus the work ethic instilled in him by his grandfather, fueled Milstein’s determination; after graduating from college, he worked for various financial institutions and was consistently promoted because of his strong work ethic.
But perhaps most inspiring is Milstein’s courage and sheer willpower as he began to build upon his success in the world of finance, working harder and longer than anyone else until eventually opening and growing his own multimillion-dollar company, Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group.
5-Star Reviews From Amazon Readers
Inspiring and motivational
“…the raw, dirty, and heartbreaking journey…while the whole time he continued to see hope and opportunity in America….a motivational book that causes you to wake up to the realities around you, reassessing what is truly an obstacle you cannot overcome….”
A heartfelt wonder
“A timeless take on the rags to riches story is retold in a fascinating…way. Daniel does an excellent job recalling the moments of his childhood that molded him into a model American…. a brilliant and page-turning read that can’t be put down.”
Wow, what a story!!!
“Every so often I run across a book that I love and want to share with everyone I know. This is one of those books….His story is so amazing that I read it in one sitting, without that being my intention when I began. I just couldn’t put it down.”
My favorite Horatio Alger story
“…I am still a sucker for a good…rags to riches story and I found a great one in 17 Cents and a Dream….I loved this story and am sure you will, too. All of us have a dream, but few of us start with only 17 cents.”
About The Author
DANIEL MILSTEIN is founder, president and CEO of Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group. He has been recognized as the #1 loan officer in the United States; has achieved more than $3 billion in personal mortgage originations; and is one of the top 40 finance professionals in the nation, ranked by National Mortgage Professional Magazine. Milstein led the company to the Inc 500 list and one of the fastest growing companies in the United States. Gold Star has over 500 employees in 43 offices across the U.S. and has been named a Top Workplace in Michigan for three years by the Detroit Free Press. Milstein holds an honorary doctorate and BBA in business management from Cleary University, Ann Arbor, from which he graduated with honors. He is the author of The ABC of Sales: Lessons from a Superstar, which in March 2012 sold 10,000 copies and became the #1 sales book on Amazon.com and the thirty-first top seller of all ebook sales.
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