to say about failure, success, and leadership.   Bernie Swain is one of those few very fortunate people.  He quit his job in 1980 to start a lecture agency with his wife and a friend.  By the end of their first rocky year--just as his savings were running out--Swain's first revenues trickled in.  He began signing every speaker with a handshake; this proved to be the hallmark of trust that helped accelerate the company's growth. Years later, his roster of speakers would be the greatest in history since America's first agency represented a host of notables such as Mark Twain, Susan B. Anthony, and Frederick Douglass.  The best of Swain's fortunes turned out to be the speakers themselves because these remarkable leaders had become his personal friends.  What Made Me Who I Am captures the leadership transformations of 34 of those friends--from Doris Kearns Goodwin to Colin Powell, Terry Bradshaw to Tom Brokaw, and Tony Blair to Dave Barry.  This assembly of people defines a generation. What were their most powerful influences?  Defining moments?   Decisions that contributed the most to their character and accomplishments?   Swain captures answers to these questions and more in an inspiring, practical collection of true-life stories for leaders today. What Made Me Who I Am is also a terrific gift book for graduates and others who are just starting out in life.    ABOUT THE AUTHORWashington DC-based BERNIE SWAIN is co-founder of Washington Speakers Bureau and today's foremost authority on the lecture industry.  Over the past 35 years, Swain has represented former US Presidents, cabinet members, business executives, public figures, media leaders, and sports legends.  For more, visit BernieSwain.com.

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