It Didn't Just Happen - Volume 1

Anyone who has ever achieved anything of great value has somewhere, been knocked down...With a distinctive collection of over 150 photos, IT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN, tells of the lives of 44 icons for whom the 'red carpet' didn't just happen. The book is a unique reference to edify and inspire.I was inspired to write this book when, way back in 2006, I felt hopeless and suicidal. I was running an international charity and receiving acclaims yet at the same time I was, privately, badly struggling. The strains of long hours of work, the expectations and stress of never-ending demands on my time and resource and much more, made my personal life a misery. I was depressed and suffering in silence. I could not talk to anyone; I thought no one would understand or believe me. I mean, who in their right mind would have believed that I felt lost inside one minute, when another, I was being featured as 'charity champion' in Daily Express newspaper, next I was winning a Millennium Award and further up, I was being invited to No.10 Downing Street and to Buckingham Palace to meet Her Majesty the Queen. It was an ironic situation, but one which was no fun to find oneself in. I simply could not open up and it felt awful. I was deeply lonely and on many occasions wished I was dead...ReviewThe catalogue of people reviewed in this book reads like a 'Who's Who' of famous names (although there were a couple I had not heard of) and all had an inspirational story to tell. I was unexpectedly touched by Sylvester Stallone's story, if anyone can keep coming back after so many (literal) knock-backs it should inspire the rest of us to keep going. Elsie has chosen carefully and the 44 icons have enough variety - class, colour, nationality, educational background etc - to appeal to everyone. She does not write a biography of each one but gives enough detail to whet the appetite for more and there are references at the end of each individual story. ... By Mrs. J. Jones, Chester - UK It was a real joy to find a book like this. Every page, every story was uplifting. I think one of the best things you can give someone is HOPE which is what this book is about. By Mummibee, Bristol - UK It is sometimes hard to relate to inspiring stories that you find around. It Didn't Just Happen is truly different, for it has something for everyone. What I am taking away from the book is Micky Jagtiani and President Michael Sata of Zambia's stories. I didn't know these two successful men until I read the book; really, if they could go from cleaning & taxi driving in London to becoming one of the richest men in Asia (Jagtiani) and President of a country (Sata), then some of us here in London doing some odds jobs, should stop putting limits to our dream... By Josef Israel, London - UK