The Power of Your Past

“John Schuster’s latest book evokes in each of us our own complicated and colorful pasts and offers them to us as rich assets to be reveled in, appreciated, and learned from. What a gift, in an age of focusing on the future or living solely for the now, to access our pasts as a rich lode of insight and guidance! Schuster is a master coach and master storyteller; this book should be read by everyone concerned with human change.”
—Doug Silsbee, author of Presence-Based Coaching
 
“A great new way of thinking that will enable our leaders to use their past creatively in order to better live their present and robustly lean into their future.” 
—Carmen M. Allison, Head of Executive Development, Gap Inc.

“Schuster doesn’t stop with observations about how our pasts can be effective tools for creating our desired future. He gives us practical steps to reveal the watershed events of our pasts and then gain new insights into who we are, who and what we can be, and how we can chart our own paths forward.”
—Doug Robinette, CEO, Integros Coaching and Consulting, and former President, Nationwide Insurance Operations

“John helps us to reflect on how we are stuck in the present, focusing on a ruthless and unpredictable future, neglecting our history and our past. It’s amazing how he touches us with the most intriguing question of our lives: Where did I come from, who I am, and where do I go?” 
—José Augusto Figueiredo, COO, DBM Latin America, and President, International Coach Federation Brazil
 
“This book helps look at the sources of the power and imagination that all true leaders possess. Leaders need to know the beginning of their journey to leadership if they hope to help others on theirs.”
—Earl Walker, former Dean, School of Business Administration, The Citadel

“John Schuster brings to light a valuable, introspective insight that will cause you to breathe more deeply and act with greater confidence and clarity. John’s message around acknowledging and embracing the value of our past is powerful.”
—Dave Goebel, CEO, Mr. Goodcents; Merryck Mentor; and former CEO, Applebee’s

“Schuster’s book brilliantly emphasizes the power of coming home to our own very personal history and harvesting what’s essential while recasting the adversities. He challenges the ‘be here now’ mentality and provides a clear road map for adjusting the course and using our history to strengthen life in the present!”
—Pamela McLean, PhD, CEO, The Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara

“A clear and precise guide for working with clients to unearth the things that matter from their history, both the gifts needing to be recalled (performance-enhancing thinking and resources) and lessons from negative experiences recast to enable forward movement (performance- interfering thinking), yet Schuster makes clear these methods are not a replacement for therapy.”
—Terrence E. Maltbia, EdD, Senior Lecturer, Teachers College, Columbia University, and Faculty Director, The Columbia Coaching Certification Program

“John has enabled many leaders to achieve beyond their expectations. This book will lead them to go beyond themselves again. I so recommend this book for all those who wants to align themselves with their best contributions and work, including the meaning of their financial success.”
—Bob Rogers, former Chairman and CEO, The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
 
“Without proper reflection we are prone to repeat mistakes and unable to reach our full potential. In this book, John Schuster gives readers the means to tap into their past and create their future, thereby increasing their odds of success. Spend the time to understand the power of your past—you will be richer for it.”
—Stan Sword, Vice President of Total Rewards, Sprint Nextel Corporation
 
“In a work of uncommon grace and insight, Schuster reminds us of our personal and collective tendencies toward misunderstanding, misinterpreting, and misremembering. He explains what it is that takes place, why this matters, and how we can make use of this knowledge in order to grow as successful human beings.” 
—Larry C. Spears, President, The Spears Center for Servant-Leadership

“A skillful interweaving of depth psychology, leadership development, and care for the soul.” 
—Scott Harrison, Director of Developer and Software Partner Programs, Intel Corporation, and executive coach

“With gentle wisdom and real-world common sense, John Schuster offers a refreshing way to uncover purpose in the only place it truly exists: inside your mind, heart…and, past.”
—Richard Leider, bestselling author of Repacking Your Bags and The Power of Purpose

“This book is brilliant in its practicality—it is an invaluable resource to see our past as a true asset rather than an obstacle or liability.”
—Angeles Arrien, PhD, cultural anthropologist and author of The Second Half of Life

“By highlighting the importance of taking the time to reflect on your past and then viewing your past wins and losses through the lens of all your accumulated experience and seasoning, The Power of Your Past guides leaders on a path toward better understanding and self-awareness.”
—Jim Hays, President, Private Client Group, Wells Fargo Advisors