Released January 4, 2023!

What are some of the greatest books about becoming successful that you have read?  Do you encourage your kids to read these books?

In high school, we were required to read the classics, like: Catcher in the Rye, Animal Farm, The Great Gatsby, and Lord of the Flies.  Honestly, the only book I remember was, Lord of the Flies.

When I was a kid, I devoured fantasy and science fiction.  I remember the Shannara and Forgotten Realms series were big on my list.  Also, I loved all The Hardy Boys books.  I owned nearly every one of the original hardcover releases – collected them in fact

It was not until much later in life that I started to read success-related books.  In fact, I did not read Think and Grow Rich, or How to Win Friends and Influence People until last year.  Both of these books were published 40 years before I was even born.  However, they are still considered classic success books today.

Today, I have well over 300 business and success-related books in my library.  At any given point, I have probably 10 to 20 books waiting to be read.

Have you read these books?

• Think and Grow Rich
• How to Win Friends and Influence People
• The Law of Success
• Rich Dad Poor Dad
• The Total Money Makeover

Well, my parents had not.  Maybe if they had, they would have encouraged me to read those books along with what I was already reading.  How different my life might have been if I read those books when I was in my teens?

Becoming Unbelievably Successful is one of those books that you should read early in life.  It should accompany the classics from high school and the diversions from reality today.  This book provides a step-by-step blueprint of how to become unbelievably successful in your life.  All you need to do is read and apply the principles of this book!

But this is not a book that will simply tell you that you need to do something.  No, there are too many self-help books on the shelves today that will give you theory without step-by-step guidance.  This book will provide specific actions on how to become unbelievably successful.

Robyn Tresnak, Ph.D.
Lifelong Educator, President and Founder of Robyn’s Nest

“As an educator, I am appreciative for the format of this book.  Whether it is read by a high school student or a middle-aged individual seeking to find success, the brief chapters accompanied by thought-provoking questions, create a simple way for the reader to move through the book.  The concepts presented in the reading are critical to building a successful path in life.  Additionally, it is incredibly helpful to see ways to prepare, stay on, and assess the path.  Not only are there suggestions, but there are samples. This allows the reader to implement the concepts with ease.  People who pick up this book are not guaranteed success.  People who pick up this book, spend time focusing on the reflection questions, then execute each step of the process, will definitely take a journey of “becoming unbelievably successful”.  Success is not a hope, it is an intricate journey.” ARC

Sushma and Summer at Legacy Network Mixer, October 2023

Stu Heinecke

Author, Host, Marketer, and Wall Street Journal Cartoonist

“Becoming Unbelievably Successful is a ‘What I Wish I Knew Then’ kind of book.  It is a thorough review of best practices and advice for young adult readers.” ARC

Joe Fisher

President, Hallmark University

"I am very impressed by Becoming Unbelievably Successful. To me, there is nothing more valuable than being transparent about ourselves when we are in leadership positions, particularly our failures. This gives license to others to be vulnerable, self-critical, and realistic about their areas of strength and weakness. I found so much of your experience and advice in complete alignment with the values we hold and promote at Hallmark. I truly appreciate the signed copy, John, but with your permission, I am going to explore the potential of using it as a text within our leadership concentration in the business school."

Selvi Aurora

Founder and President of Youth Engineers

“John Knotts’ book – Becoming Unbelievably Successful is a must-read.  Once I began to read it, I couldn't stop until I finished!  Extremely powerful novel, I highly recommend this to high school and college students, especially because it can change our perspective on life and provide us with the entrepreneurial tools we need to lead the future of tomorrow.  As always, John's extensive business experience has led him to publish an influential book for our generations!  So excited for all that's to come in the future John!” ARC

Gina Riley

Career Coach & Creator of Career Velocity

“Becoming Unbelievably Successful cuts to the heart of where costly organizational breakdowns occur and prescribes methodical ways to circumvent or overcome these challenges with clear foundational concepts, models, and frameworks.  Simultaneously, Knotts breaks down, to the micro-level, practical techniques each person can use to create a plan to become personally and professionally successful.  What makes this book unique is how Knotts intersects the personal, professional, organizational development and planning aspects into one tidy, easy-to-understand guide.  In short, you bring the motivation and Knotts’ brings a plan for you to follow.  This book would make a great addition to an MBA course curriculum.  If you have the drive to become unbelievably successful, this book should be a ready reference in your back pocket.” ARC

Ray Trevino

Owner, Pioneer Texas

"This book is exactly what I have been looking for. The direction needed to take my business to the next level." Amazon

Scott Boddie
Pattern4Building

"John's book breaks down success in a way that removes the abstract. It is a formulaic, lifetime perspective. Leaning toward defining the concept for a new generation that will follow its path." LinkedIn

Gina Riley

Career Coach & Creator of Career Velocity

“The book I've been waiting for.  

Becoming Unbelievably Successful cuts to the heart of where costly organizational breakdowns occur and prescribes methodical ways to circumvent or overcome these challenges with clear foundational concepts, models, and frameworks.

Simultaneously, Knotts breaks down to the micro-level practical techniques each person can use to create a plan to become personally and professionally successful.

This book uniquely intersects the personal, professional, organizational development, and planning aspects into one tidy, easy-to-understand guide. In short, you bring motivation, and Knotts brings a plan to follow. This book would make a great addition to an MBA course curriculum. If you have the drive to become unbelievably successful, this book should be a ready reference in your back pocket.” Amazon

Dean Wiener

Senior Account Executive, National Accounts

"This book might take months to read. I find myself stopping, thinking, and writing short notes on nearly every page. This should be mandatory reading in business classes in college." Text Message

Ray Trevino

CEO, Pioneer Texas

"Becoming Unbelievably Successful sits on my deckl as a go-to-resource every day!"

Cynthia Soares-Harfoush

Life & Career Coach

"A great tool for direction for teens who are about to enter Uni or the workforce." Social Media Comment

Alan Culler (Amazon and LinkedIn)

I bought this book a year ago, scanned it, and put it aside. I was too wrapped up in finishing and self-publishing my own book and my “too cool for the people” cynicism kicked in when I picked it up.

I am not really the target market for this book. I’m 76 and comfortably retired, no longer in the becoming unbelievably successful game. And yet . . .

. . . I got a great deal out of it. I especially liked and am revisiting the description of success defined, ikigai, how to think about and find purpose, and the Universal Laws.

John Knotts’ story is amazing, from not-so-great student to sergeant in the Air Force to many, many letters after his name, certifications and degrees, working on a doctorate. He’s started businesses and charities and does excellent work helping veterans with PTSD using horses, equine therapy. John still doesn’t call himself unbelievably successful, only says he is “on the path.”

I bought this book because I’ve met the author and because I was writing a book on how to be successful in a career (Traveling the Consulting Road: Career wisdom for new consultants, candidates, and their mentors), so John Knotts and I have something in common. We both want to share what we’ve learned to make others’ path easier.

There is a great deal in this book that will help someone become successful and it is clear that it is better if you start earlier rather than later. But I think John believes that if someone is the kind of high school student he describes himself as being (or that I was), that this book would be extraordinarily helpful. It would, but I doubt that I would ever have read it. If a parent or mentor bought it for me, I might have read it, but not in a way that I’d have gotten much out of it.

You see this is a workbook. John Knotts shares some very interesting ideas, some genuinely helpful ones in fact, but first you have to have thought about what success means to you, which probably means experiencing a little success and a little failure, even vicariously. Then you have to sit down to do the work. This book contains a helpful framework for the work.

The two most important chapters are Chapter 4, defining what success means for you, and Chapter 7, creating the plan. John has questions at the end of each chapter, but those questions aren’t all equal. He has recall questions to stimulate your memory, which are important, but “teachy.” The most important questions are the ones that deal with your application of the concepts to your life.

I came to learn (the hard way) that success, whether in business or life, is first about clear direction. Knowing where you are going and what you want to achieve is critical. Then it is about building capability, knowledge, skills, and support system to get you there. And it is about connections, the people who help you on your path. This book covers all that and much more.

But it’s a workbook; it won’t work unless you do the work.