To Do My Best

James E. West and the history of the Boy Scouts of America.

Enjoy a steamy best friends to lovers romance from Lynn Dare, author of The Perfect Man. Number 2: Shave everywhere. Everywhere, everywhere? Well sh**. Guess I’m doing this. Hello, it’s me, the perpetually single and focused woman trying to kick ass at my job and not get lost in a guy. Any guy. Much to the dismay of my two best friends. That’s where the second item comes in. We wrote a list. I blame the desert that is my sex life and the drink-wine-straight-from-the-bottle kind of night. It’s a to-do list of sorts. Or, you know, a get laid list. It’s a bit of a joke while I prepare for a blind date, my first date in ages. My friends think I need practice before trying to find someone I can see myself with long-term. But when the only guy who was never supposed to see those dirty things we wrote picks it up, it doesn’t seem so funny anymore. Sebastian has been my best friend since we were kids. Infuriatingly hot in that nerdy techy kind of way, he’s never wanted me. Never looked at me with such need. So, why does his offer of help feel like so much more than charity? My Best Friend's To-Do List is a full-length steamy romantic comedy standalone with plenty of laughs and swoons.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) includes major life skills that all students need to get along with others and live happy, healthy lives. This book delves into the essential SEL skill of self-discipline, an integral component of the SEL core concept of self-management. Readers learn how they can apply self-discipline in daily life. Accessible text paired with vibrant full-color photographs will allow readers to connect with the concept, and gain a deep understanding of how to apply this skill in daily life. For a comprehensive learning experience, this nonfiction title can be paired with the fiction title Wanda the Walrus Works Hard! (ISBN: 9781725353336). The instructional guide on the inside front and back covers provides vocabulary, reflections, background knowledge, text-dependent questions, whole class activities, and independent activities.

This book traces the real life experiences and adventures of the author, who was raised in several small communities in West Texas. His family came from Germany to America in 1710, some 66 years before the American Revolution and 22 years before George Washington was born. They settled in the Hudson Bay area of New York, migrated to what is now Berks County, Pennsylvania (1723), the St. Louis area of Missouri (1852), the Black Hills of South Dakota (1878) and finally to Texas (1909). His great-grandfather was killed by the Indians on a cattle drive (1880) from Fort Reno, Wyoming to the ranch that he and his two brothers owned on the Belle Fourche River north of Deadwood, and is buried on Johns Avenue in Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood near the grave sites of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. A product of this strong pioneer background, the author recounts his own experiences and lessons learned from life and his colorful multiple careers, including: From birth in Winters, Texas (pop. 1000), being raised in Snyder, Texas (pop. 3000) to retirement in Houston, Texas, the nations fourth largest city. From early negotiations, during depression years at six years of age, of a deal with a rancher to sheer his pet goat and buy its wool for $1 per cutting to becoming a partner and president of a multiple-dealership retail automotive chain selling, for example, more Honda automobiles in Houston, Texas, than any other competitor, and subsequently negotiating the sale of its Houston dealerships to Roger Penske of United Auto Group. From naming his pet goat for his local Methodist minister in Winters to multiple audiences with Pope John Paul II in Rome and at his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, receiving a treasured papal rosary and later a papal appointment as a Knight of The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the only religious order under the protection of the Holy See, and membership therein considered one of the highest papal awards conferred upon clergy and laity alike. From the rank of Bobcat in the Cub Scouts to the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. From salutatorian of the Class of 1948 at Snyder High School to Doctor of Jurisprudence, summa cum laude of the Class of 1958 at the University of Texas School of Law, with a pit-stop at the University of Texas School of Business, graduating in the Class of 1952 with a BBA degree majoring in public accounting. From beginning his legal career as an associate with his law firm in 1958 to obtaining partnership status within three years and then becoming a senior partner--included in the firms name--with membership on its three-person Executive Committee. He was President-Elect of his bar association at the time of his retirement from the active practice of law. From buck private in the USMC, entering OCS in 1952 during the Korean Conflict, to a company commander when separated from acive duty in 1954, obtaining the rank of captain. In addition to sharing the details of the authors adventures in these activities, the reader also has the opportunity to learn the key reasons and elements for success as the author discloses, based upon his experiences, achievements and leadership roles, HOW-TO-DO-IT philosophies, including: How to study law at a major law institution based upon a hands-on and time-tested approach. How to avoid costly legal and business mistakes based upon valuable insights on how juries think, illustrated from actual cases tried by the author--he lost only two of approximately 145 jury decisions during his nineteen-years in the active practice of law. How to acquire an insight into the art of negotiating business deals--acquisitions, mergers and other buy-sell transactions--as related by the author in the context of actual transactions.

This Element is an excerpt from It's About More Than the Money: Investment Wisdom for Building a Better Life (9780137050321) by Saly A. Glassman. Available in print and digital formats. Why the best investment advice you ever get might be what not to do. Shortly after 9/11, a terrible period for all investors and advisors–for all Americans–Edward called to thank his advisor. “Thank me?” the advisor exclaimed. “Why? I feel terrible about our losses over the last year.” Edward said, “No, you don’t understand. You told me not to invest $600,000 in a private equity partnership I was seriously considering. I’ve just learned that investment was a total failure.”

"David Leibow's Book Is Well And Engagingly Written, Speaking Directly To students and, later, to Parents. His Comments are wise and Appropriately Reassuring, and he Normalizes Students' Problems, Gently Confronts shame, and Places their Difficulties in Perspective." ---Paul Grayson, Coeditor Of College Mental Health Practice and Coauthor Of Beating The College Blues --Book Jacket.

Do Your Best is the intimate story of a young man, Herbert W. Ridyard, who shares his life lessons—about love, honesty, and dedication—for the benefit of his greater family, friends, historians, and the general populace, but also in memory of those he fought beside and the 430,000 who gave their lives for the US during WWII. The son of immigrants, his lessons started early with a Depression-era childhood. Although Herb was shy and underweight, his mother encouraged him to always do his best. Taught by his first-grade teacher to pay attention, he discovered he had the ability to remember everything his teachers said, which eventually earned him a top-10-percent berth in high school and college. His stint as a Boy Scout patrol leader taught him that serving others was the ultimate way to be fulfilled. From his gang of boyhood pals, Herb learned about inclusiveness, and his Sunday School teacher taught him about spirituality. All this prepared nineteen-year-old Herb Ridyard to face the terrors of war. In basic infantry training his body was strengthened for overseas combat as a Private in General Patton's Third Army during WWII in the fall and bitter winter of 1944-45. Herb was able to do his duty to the best of his ability, while having to live outdoors in the constant presence of danger, fear, anger, and hate. These wartime experiences gave him great confidence in himself. This memoir aims to inspire anyone born with weakness in body and/or spirit to do their best, no matter the circumstances; to understand that a father and mother are the foundation of love, dedication, honesty and morality; to accept guidance from family, friends, teachers, and mentors; to search for their inherent talents and strengths; to never give up; and to find fulfillment by helping others, including one’s country while trusting that the Holy Spirit will be with them always.