PRAISE FOR The Observer “A powerful work with insights that, once applied, will help you lift your life to a completely new level.” —ROBIN SHARMA, #1 bestselling author of THE 5AM CLUB and THE MONK WHO SOLD HIS FERRARI “In The Observer, Todd’s concept of the 180-degree mindset aligns with my theory of every ‘coin’ having three sides— two sides and the edge. The more we see and learn and the more possibilities we explore, the smarter and more power- ful we become. Todd’s new book is, indeed, wisdom for the journey of life.” —ROBERT KIYOSAKI, author of the international bestseller RICH DAD POOR DAD “In between stimulus and response lies The Observer. Todd Stottlemyre has written a poignant tale of success, wealth, and fame being darkened by a lack of purpose and fulfill- ment. Like Todd in real life, the fictional protagonist Kat appears to have it all. However, looks can be deceiving and life has a way of turning in the blink of an eye. With her world turned upside down, Kat discovers clarity through the wisdom and the guidance of her observer. This is a beautifully written book that at times hauntingly mirrors Todd’s life and the challenges he has faced. In today’s trying times, we all can use the wisdom of The Observer 351740EGQ_OBSERVER_CC2019_PC.indd 1 26/10/2020 07:01:04 and in his writing, Todd has provided us with the path of discovery.” —GUY ADAMI, CNBC’s Fast Money “The Observer created a new way for me to see the world. This story of a hard-charging woman running a fashion company clearly illustrates how a simple change to your mindset can achieve untold results.” —HAL ELROD, international keynote speaker and bestselling author of THE MIRACLE MORNING and THE MIRACLE EQUATION “The Observer is a well-written book that embodies the ups and downs and potential roadblocks in one’s pursuit of not only success but happiness. Todd was an amazing teammate, and I was always impressed and intrigued with his desire to want to be more than just a MLB pitcher. He was one of the most insightful, thought-provoking teammates I ever had, and I always enjoyed his company. I am not surprised by his knowledge and ability to instruct and describe what it means to be great and how you comprise a process and mindset to achieve excellence. His all-in and no-nonsense approach to everything he does is refreshing in today’s world.” —AL LEITER, Former MLB pitcher and current MLB Network Analyst “The Observer created a new way for me to see the world. This story clearly illustrates how a simple change to your mindset can achieve untold results.” —DAVE CANALES, Seattle Seahawks Offensive Passing Game Coordinator 351740EGQ_OBSERVER_CC2019_PC.indd 2 26/10/2020 07:01:04 “A major step forward in the study of achievement. Todd knocks the ball out of the park!” —CHRIS WIDENER, NEW YORK TIMES and WALL STREET JOURNAL bestselling author of THE ANGEL INSIDE “Todd has done a masterful job completing the picture of achieving peak performance by taking mindset, mind- fulness, and intentionality and applying it to maximize talent, opportunity, and goals. This book is practical in its application and game changing in revealing a holistic reve- lation of pursuing and achieving peak performance.” —PATRICK VAN DEN BOSSCHE, President, Realty Executives International “Todd Stottlemyre is a rarity of epic proportions as a human, coach, and high-performer. A master of achievement and personal performance who can duplicate it with others. All who work with him out-perform, out-earn, and outlast their competition and even their own limited beliefs. Meeting him early in my entrepreneurial career was the gift that completely changed my trajectory and running with his mentorship com- pressed time for my success. Thank you, Todd, for evolving my human capacities and the world’s. You are the true master, and if it’s written by Todd, it’s a read I will bury my mind in.” —DANELLE DELGADO, Business and Brand Strategist “The Observer is a powerful story about faith, resilience, habits, and mindset. Todd is someone who has been in the heat of the battle on a worldwide stage. He has fought and battled 351740EGQ_OBSERVER_CC2019_PC.indd 3 26/10/2020 07:01:04 from the pitcher’s mound and then reinvented himself as an entrepreneur, speaker, and author using the same powerful principles and habits that helped him have a successful MLB career. Learn from Todd, he has lived what he teaches. Thank you, Todd, for wanting to make us all better!” —KYLE WILSON, Strategist, Marketer, Founder of Jim Rohn International “3-time World-Champion, Entrepreneur, Success Coach, Author and Orator Todd Stottlemyre is impacting lives globally. His success principles are very well-delivered in an easy-to-read story form in The Observer. Todd’s coach- ing through this book will get you to advance your life financially, mentally and emotionally.” —DANNY BAE, GPS Co-Founder and Chairman 351740EGQ_OBSERVER_CC2019_PC.indd 4 26/10/2020 07:01:04 ObserverThe A Modern Fable on Mastering Your Thoughts & Emotions Todd Stottlemyre 351740EGQ_OBSERVER_CC2019_PC.indd 5 26/10/2020 07:01:04 Made for Success Publishing P.O. Box 1775 Issaquah, WA 98027 www.MadeForSuccessPublishing.com Copyright © 2020 Todd Stottlemyre All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitutes unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or publisher. Distributed by Made for Success Publishing First Printing Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data Stottlemyre, Todd The Observer: A Modern Fable on Mastering Your Thoughts & Emotions p. cm. LCCN: 2020947270 ISBN: 978-1-64146-534-2 (Paperback) ISBN: 978-1-64146-555-7 (eBook) ISBN: 978-1-64146-556-4 (Audiobook) For further information contact Made for Success Publishing +14255266480 or email [email protected] Printed in the United States of America 351740EGQ_OBSERVER_CC2019_PC.indd 6 26/10/2020 07:01:04 ONE A SHARP YELL pierced the pre-dawn stillness of the mountain lake, followed by a splash. She knew that a quick out-push of air would counteract the involuntary gasp when her body plunged into frigid water, keeping her from accidentally inhaling water. Nothing like a polar plunge to shock her system into high alert. Kicking hard, she did a round of breaststrokes before her body became too numb, and then scrambled up the ladder onto the pier. Quickly drying her nude body off with the towel she had left there, she slipped into stylish sweats and tennis shoes. The upscale sports clothes were from her own store, Ace-It Athletics. It was a small chain of stores in Toronto she had launched four years previously, with resounding success. As she jogged back uphill to her cabin, plans for opening the next store, the first in Montreal, churned in her mind. Once inside, she finished the morning exercise routine with pushups, sit-ups, weights, and spinning. It was 351740EGQ_OBSERVER_CC2019_PC.indd 1 26/10/2020 07:01:05 2 | Todd Stottlemyre less extensive than the gym routine she did every morning after leaving home at 4:30 a.m., but the cabin was small. The polar plunge, she surmised, made up for the lack. Kat—Katerina Von Slyke—was 38 years old and hitting her peak. Kat was her preferred name, as it was more effi- cient, and efficiency is what drove her business. She kept her lean 5-foot, 8-inch frame toned and muscular through an effective, demanding, and relentless daily workout. She ran her 16-store business of high-end sports clothes and acces- sories in an equally effectual way, expecting consistent top- level performance from her employees. Kat was relentlessly persistent in pursuit of success. Her father, Vince Von Slyke, was her role model in many ways. He had been a star pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team and was now the general manager. She saw him as the master of living a cham- pionship life, one whose teachings had guided her to success. Her demanding morning routine followed her father’s model for “The Championship Hour.” “How you start the day shapes the rest of the day, week, year, and your entire life. In this critical hour, you work on yourself and prepare for winning. It sets the pattern for a peak performance life- style and molds you into a champion,” he had said. Kat was determined to win and attain high-level success, and she believed her persistence would propel her to reach the greatest version of herself. Kat knew that all obstacles to the championship life must be overcome or removed. She was just not sure which category fit her ex-husband Bryce. 351740EGQ_OBSERVER_CC2019_PC.indd 2 26/10/2020 07:01:05 The Observer | 3 He was a nice enough guy but lacked drive or ambi- tion. His values simply didn’t fit with her peak performance lifestyle. When things became conflicted in their relation- ship, he wanted to work on the marriage. He tried several approaches to save it, from couple’s therapy to self-help fix-it remedies.