Illustrations for my book "Your Superpowers"

I wanted to get a shout out to Josh Keele, who was my illustrator.  He did a fantastic job on all 26 illustrations in the book.  His blog is http://joshsimagination.blogspot.com/       Here is a sample of what he did for me:

A boy versus the Tian He-1, the world's fastest supercomputer

The basic premise of the book is that a teenage boy or girl has latent superpowers including the power to be creative, and to attract.  At the beginning of the book I make the case that a human brain is even more impressive than the world's most impressive supercomputer.

scientist studying the brain

Kim Peek memorized over 12,000 books in his life, including phone books

Among other things, Your Superpowers points out that there is still more that scientists don't know about the brain than what they do.  Even the most sophisticated computers are duplicate-able.




















Kim Peek is one example of someone whose brain is simply amazing.





























A teenager's superpowers do not end with his or her mind.  Each person is connected to a greater force.  With our energy, we can all tap into this force, if we learn how to do that.  There are 5 steps to accessing that greater power and using it to create exactly the life we want.

attracting great things

following those simple steps can pull a young person out of a state of victimhood and frustration and into a state of empowerment.

bad day at school

you can take a terrible situation at school, at home, with friends, or any other circumstance, and create what you want.

much better day at school

I've loved every minute of creating this book, I look forward to sharing with everyone who is ready and willing to listen!

discovering his superpowers

success!

Original foreword for "Your Superpowers"

 I'm hoping that I can get most of the story of how Your Superpowers came to be out in bits and pieces.  This is the first foreword that I wrote, which I eventually swapped out for another foreword that was more targeted to the reader.  

Like most of humanity, I didn't discover until long after the fact that Junior High and High School "growing up" does not have to be all pain and no gain.

            Teaching High School and working as a summer councilor for 12-18 year-old's helped me remember the reality of this stage after many of my friends and peers had long forgotten.

            Like countless others who spend time with and care about the youth, I've been able to help several individuals make real changes, but never really created a system that could be duplicated by anyone and everyone. 

            When one of my nephews tuned 13, I felt a strong desire to help him avoid the terrible struggles that I've seen so many before him experience.  So many of the boys and girls at this age feel trapped in their lost self-esteem, and truly don't know where to turn for hope and peace.  Many of them question life and everything that used to give them stability.  This often results in struggles with parents, life-long friendships breaking up, and feeling like a big loser.

            As I thought about some of the young people I care about, I felt lost as well.  How could I help them see that all of the struggle is a mirage?  How could I help them see that if they choose not to, they don't have to play the game and feel like they have to fight their way through the maturation process? 

            About three weeks later I woke up with the impression that I needed to write a book for my nephew.  I put pen to paper and began writing.  In a burst of inspiration, I found myself writing faster and faster, and just barely kept up with the words as they came to my mind.  It was amazing.  It was a gift from God.  Six hours later, completely exhausted, I finally put my pen down and allowed myself to eat as I massaged my right wrist.  I had finished my first book. 

            It wasn't until much later that I realized the actual creation of this book occurred only because I followed each and every step outlined inside.  Today my gratitude and excitement overwhelm me as I realize this gift from God was for my nephew, and for every teen and pre-teen in the world that doesn't want to be a victim.  I'm grateful that I was able to be a part of this teaching process.  The creation of the book itself is proof that the words and messages taught inside are inspired.  As with all truth, these principles can and will inspire you and the youth you care about, as soon as you are ready to receive them.

            Get ready to expect miracles,

                                   

Steve Gardner

"Your Superpowers" is off the press! (kindof)

My first book, "Your Superpowers"

So it's still missing the the subtitle (needs one), I only printed it as a paperback book (will be a hardback when the final copy is printed), has no ISBN number (needs one), and there are still a few things that need to be corrected, but it is REALLY exciting to have a physical copy of Your Superpowers.  It cost a lot less than I anticipated to print 25 copies of the book, and I just picked up the first copies on Thursday.  Friday I attended a "Freedom Fast Track" seminar hosted by Garrett Gunderson (author of Killing Sacred Cows) where I was able to meet a book agent who has been able to put 68 consecutive authors on a best-sellers list.   More on that later.
Last night I was able to present the book to my nephew, Joseph, for whom the book was written.

Joseph interpreting one of the illustrations

Becka and Sarah joining in the fun

reading the back cover

Joseph and his book

It was a fantastic experience and I look forward to getting this book out to millions of other teenagers and pre-teens.
I realize that this is just the beginning, there is much to do, but it is the beginning of something special.

Thoughts at the conclusion of the Joe Vitale competition

For those who may not know.  I sell Miracles Coaching for Joe Vitale (www.mrfire.com).  Six months ago a competition began for all the salesmen on my account.  The top three salesmen over a six month period would be able to go visit Joe for a weekend.
It was very important to me to be able to be one of the top performers and go to Joe's house.  I have deep respect for Joe, and I believe he can do a lot to help me market my book.
The competition just finished yesterday, and miraculously, I have made it into the top three, and will be able to go.

A synopsis of the competition
The chosen three were not decided by total volume over the six months, but by the total number of "puzzle pieces" accumulated by being the top salesman for any given week.


*six months ago we were told about the competition, and the rules.
*first week of the competition:  One other person on the team won the puzzle piece even though half of his sales volume was from the week before.  I was second, and felt like I was cheated out of the piece.
*soon after that, Alina's family arrived from China.  We were responsible for them for over two months.
*we went on a two-week vacation to Zion National Park, Las Vegas, and San Diego
*Alina and I were sealed in San Diego
*we returned from the vacation and I resume selling
*In-laws begin to feel cramped and uncomfortable living at my parents house in Sandy (imagine that), and we abruptly move to Idaho
*I start selling in Idaho
*wrote Your Superpowers
*Alina's family goes back to China
*Alina goes back to school at BYU-I
*I start selling extremely well, but am very, very, very far behind most of the competition.
*by two weeks before the end of the competition, I have only two puzzle pieces, Jared, Ross, and Scott all have 3, Christian has 5 or 6.  I had been working hard and getting deals every week, but usually not enough deals to get any more puzzle pieces.  At that time I prayed and told Heavenly Father that if it was more important for someone else to go, I would accept that.  I got off my knees and put in heavy hours of work.  In total I sold $8,400 worth of coaching, but Jared won the piece for the week.

last week.
*last week.  Monday I received word that the tie-breaker would be total volume sold.  Of the people with 3 or less puzzle pieces, I had the most volume, so if I could win the last piece I would tie with three and I would go.  Monday I work with my Miracles Coach to do some energy exercises.  I work hard all week.  I have several potential sets, none of them turn into sales.  One by one people disqualified themselves and I continue working hard.  Friday I burn out.  Total number of sales: 0.  I have three great potential sales that fall apart on Friday.  I also receive an email from my great potential sale set for Saturday that she has decided not to do the coaching.  I gave up.  I left work early, took a nap, watched some playoff basketball, and told Alina that I was frustrated.
*get a good night's sleep
*Saturday--last day of the week, last week of the month, last month of the competition.  I arrived at work early, and my only potential sale of the day did not answer the phone when I called at our scheduled 8:00 AM appointment.
For some reason I stay focused.  I call a different deal from earlier in the week that had not answered the phone the first time I called.  She was from Uganda.  She had been telling me that she wanted to do the program for over a month.  This time she answered the phone and immediately said "I apologize for not answering yesterday, there were riots in Uganda and and the government shut down the phone service...."
She was ready to go so we closed a $3k deal.  I called about 25 other people, left messages, and went to eat breakfast.  I came back and was on the phone for about another hour.  Then I called a woman in the UK who was thrilled to hear from me.  We spoke for about 90 minutes and she was ready to pay for coaching.  My team leader closed that deal for $8,450.  When I finished that deal I listened to my answering machine again and there was another person who wanted to get started with coaching.  I closed that deal for $2550.  Altogether it was just enough to win the puzzle piece.  Total miracle.


Meanwhile, I've been taking notes that will soon turn into my next book, which will be a sequel to Your Superpowers.
I can't help but think that the "trial of our faith" will be a significant aspect of the second or third book in this series.
So often we think of that trial as something that we have to endure to prove ourselves to God, or something like that.  But I have now realized that there is incredible value in the refining process of going through a "trial."
After the miraculous conclusion to the competition, I can feel a dramatic shift in my energy.  I am SO much more grateful, and so much more trusting than I would have been if the competition had not been so dramatic.
I am confident that my increased gratitude has significantly raised my "vibration."  This elevated energy level is going to make it possible for me to reach some other very aggressive goals that I have set for this year.
Heavenly Father loves me, and He in His infinite wisdom knows that my energy level up until now was not sufficient to create my desires.  However, by creating such a dramatic finish to the competition, He has elevated my gratitude, elevated my faith, and increased my understanding so that I can, with His help, accomplish greater miracles.