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When Not If: A CEO’s Guide to Overcoming Adversity
Jeff Martinovich had a front row seat to adversity. Twenty years after he founded MICG Investment Management, a billion-dollar firm, adversity came knocking at his door in the form of a federal indictment. He rejected three separate plea offers, standing up for what he believed to be the truth, took his chances at trial, and was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. He lost his career, reputation, family, homes, assets, and liberty. All vanished.
While serving seven years of incarceration, Jeff taught himself federal criminal law and twice reversed the trial court’s decisions, two U.S. District Court Judges were removed from his case, and in May 2020 he was released home to begin his journey of rebuilding, turning disadvantages into advantages. When Not If distills the leadership wisdom that grew out of his corporate and legal struggles. True, not every reader will face the kind of adversity Jeff encountered. Circumstances may vary, but Jeff’s tactical and strategic efforts, built upon his 30 years of athletic, military, and entrepreneurial experience, will bear fruit in all critical situations. When Not If gives readers a toolkit of proven practices, behaviors, attitudes, and actionable takeaways that prepare leaders to survive — and thrive over — adversity in whatever form it comes.
A book for turbulent times, When Not If is essential reading for anyone preparing to lead through crisis and change. Through disciplined storytelling, Jeff demonstrates that our greatest adversities do not have to spell the end. Sometimes, they represent a bold beginning.
This is a gripping and inspiring story of resilience and perseverance carefully interwoven with actionable lessons from a CEO who journeyed from zero to a billion only to be reduced back to zero. More powerfully, the CEO’s survival and revival against what he was constantly told were impossible odds provide an inspiring success playbook we all can use when our own black swan event knocks on the front door.
This book is based on a simple value proposition that terrifies every it’s not a matter of if you will get mugged by adversity, it’s when. The crisis could take the form of a pandemic, an accounting scandal, a data breach, or a criminal investigation. How a leader responds has a lasting impact on their job security, reputation, finances, and even their liberty. Most leaders suspect they are ill-prepared. When Not If readies leaders to deal with challenges to their leadership in whatever form adversity arrives.
While serving seven years of incarceration, Jeff taught himself federal criminal law and twice reversed the trial court’s decisions, two U.S. District Court Judges were removed from his case, and in May 2020 he was released home to begin his journey of rebuilding, turning disadvantages into advantages. When Not If distills the leadership wisdom that grew out of his corporate and legal struggles. True, not every reader will face the kind of adversity Jeff encountered. Circumstances may vary, but Jeff’s tactical and strategic efforts, built upon his 30 years of athletic, military, and entrepreneurial experience, will bear fruit in all critical situations. When Not If gives readers a toolkit of proven practices, behaviors, attitudes, and actionable takeaways that prepare leaders to survive — and thrive over — adversity in whatever form it comes.
A book for turbulent times, When Not If is essential reading for anyone preparing to lead through crisis and change. Through disciplined storytelling, Jeff demonstrates that our greatest adversities do not have to spell the end. Sometimes, they represent a bold beginning.
This is a gripping and inspiring story of resilience and perseverance carefully interwoven with actionable lessons from a CEO who journeyed from zero to a billion only to be reduced back to zero. More powerfully, the CEO’s survival and revival against what he was constantly told were impossible odds provide an inspiring success playbook we all can use when our own black swan event knocks on the front door.
This book is based on a simple value proposition that terrifies every it’s not a matter of if you will get mugged by adversity, it’s when. The crisis could take the form of a pandemic, an accounting scandal, a data breach, or a criminal investigation. How a leader responds has a lasting impact on their job security, reputation, finances, and even their liberty. Most leaders suspect they are ill-prepared. When Not If readies leaders to deal with challenges to their leadership in whatever form adversity arrives.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2024
4 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 2, 2024
Jeff Martinovich's account is a story about when the Government comes knocking and as a Loyal Air Force Academy graduate says sure come in and look around because he trust and believes in the USA, there was nothing to hide.
He is Wealthy, Self Confident, Egotistical and running a $B hedge fund and looks and acts like a successful Entrepreneur. A funny quote, "Jeff a Bentley in Norfork".
He does hard time for the "White Collar Crime" and loses everything. He becomes a Jail House Lawyer and realizes the Lawyers he paid let him down.
His Image and Successful Attitude is what the DOJ wanted to bring down, and they did. He chronicles and documents everything and gives many tips and words of management, success, what ifs and humility realizing that his drive passion and success was what they wanted to break.
Just when you think he is turning the corner, his Ankle monitor goes faulty and he is arrested on escape charges and months before they prove he didn't escape. So, When Not If is a fast read.
He is Wealthy, Self Confident, Egotistical and running a $B hedge fund and looks and acts like a successful Entrepreneur. A funny quote, "Jeff a Bentley in Norfork".
He does hard time for the "White Collar Crime" and loses everything. He becomes a Jail House Lawyer and realizes the Lawyers he paid let him down.
His Image and Successful Attitude is what the DOJ wanted to bring down, and they did. He chronicles and documents everything and gives many tips and words of management, success, what ifs and humility realizing that his drive passion and success was what they wanted to break.
Just when you think he is turning the corner, his Ankle monitor goes faulty and he is arrested on escape charges and months before they prove he didn't escape. So, When Not If is a fast read.
January 29, 2024
When Not If is a pretty remarkable book. Frankly, it sounds like the plot of a John Grisham novel, but amazingly, all the events described in it are true. They all center around the experiences of Jeff Martinovich, the author, who was a CEO when a federal indictment was brought against him.
Jeff rejected multiple plea deals and was given a lengthy prison sentence but learned federal criminal law while incarcerated in a bid to free himself. Ultimately, he succeeded and was able to return home.
Jeff’s story is inspiring, and his irrepressible spirit can teach readers a lot. Adversity comes for us all, and we are the only ones who can choose how to deal with it. Jeff chose to fight, and we can do the same. That’s what makes this book the perfect read for anyone who’s staring down the barrel at some serious challenges. Obstacles and difficulties are inevitable in life, but if we face them head on rather than wilting under the pressure, they can often be overcome.
Jeff rejected multiple plea deals and was given a lengthy prison sentence but learned federal criminal law while incarcerated in a bid to free himself. Ultimately, he succeeded and was able to return home.
Jeff’s story is inspiring, and his irrepressible spirit can teach readers a lot. Adversity comes for us all, and we are the only ones who can choose how to deal with it. Jeff chose to fight, and we can do the same. That’s what makes this book the perfect read for anyone who’s staring down the barrel at some serious challenges. Obstacles and difficulties are inevitable in life, but if we face them head on rather than wilting under the pressure, they can often be overcome.
January 29, 2024
A book to be inspired and learn how to overcome adversity.
“When Not If: A CEO’s Guide to Overcoming Adversity” by Jeff Martinovich and John Kador is a book to teach you how to be a leader in any situation or scenario.
This is a book based on the real life of one of the authors, Jeff, who had to face adversity and defend himself against legal accusations against his company for which he ended up in jail.
This is a book that, besides being moving, makes you go from a state of shock to go through with Jeff all the stages he had to go through to become his own defence; it teaches you resilience but also teaches you about strategy. It is a reading that has a lot to contribute to all those who pursue the need to develop their leadership.
It is a book that offers reflection, tools, tips, guidance and above all, it shows you how from the darkness can emerge a great leader. I highly recommend this book.
“When Not If: A CEO’s Guide to Overcoming Adversity” by Jeff Martinovich and John Kador is a book to teach you how to be a leader in any situation or scenario.
This is a book based on the real life of one of the authors, Jeff, who had to face adversity and defend himself against legal accusations against his company for which he ended up in jail.
This is a book that, besides being moving, makes you go from a state of shock to go through with Jeff all the stages he had to go through to become his own defence; it teaches you resilience but also teaches you about strategy. It is a reading that has a lot to contribute to all those who pursue the need to develop their leadership.
It is a book that offers reflection, tools, tips, guidance and above all, it shows you how from the darkness can emerge a great leader. I highly recommend this book.
February 2, 2024
Author Jeff Martinovich’s journey through corporate and legal challenges has culminated in the insightful guide, When Not If, a compelling compilation of leadership wisdom born from personal struggles. Although the writer's experiences have been extremely distressing, I think that the book offers a universal toolkit of proven practices, behaviours, attitudes, and actionable advice and tips that are applicable across a variety of diverse and critical situations.
Personal experiences are blended into the narrative, creating a relatable and engaging read. Readers extract valuable insights from the intersection of these diverse backgrounds, enhancing their understanding of effective leadership in complex situations. The writing style is clear, concise, and accessible, making the book suitable for a broad audience.
Personal experiences are blended into the narrative, creating a relatable and engaging read. Readers extract valuable insights from the intersection of these diverse backgrounds, enhancing their understanding of effective leadership in complex situations. The writing style is clear, concise, and accessible, making the book suitable for a broad audience.
February 2, 2024
“You can live in the past, but there’s no future in it.”
The CEO of MICG Investment Management, Jeff Martinovich, offers wisdom and some strategies on overcoming adversities. It gives me so much encouragement to know that my failures are not the worst thing that can happen to me and that other people have bigger problems but they are still able to overcome them. In this book Jeff shares that Shifting your perspective will make so much difference in your decision making. It does not have to be something big; you can change little things and do not be afraid to fail. The challenges he has encountered are multi million ones compared to my miniscule of a problem but still he was able to move past it and write about it, which is impressive. He is a very resilient man. And thus, starting out from scratch is not that bad.
The CEO of MICG Investment Management, Jeff Martinovich, offers wisdom and some strategies on overcoming adversities. It gives me so much encouragement to know that my failures are not the worst thing that can happen to me and that other people have bigger problems but they are still able to overcome them. In this book Jeff shares that Shifting your perspective will make so much difference in your decision making. It does not have to be something big; you can change little things and do not be afraid to fail. The challenges he has encountered are multi million ones compared to my miniscule of a problem but still he was able to move past it and write about it, which is impressive. He is a very resilient man. And thus, starting out from scratch is not that bad.
February 3, 2024
I’m looking day by day to find functional and helpful reads about business, but this one blow my mind. This inspiring guide is not just focused on the professional path, but takes this subject deeply, giving me the tools to be more resilient and the strategic wisdom required to overcome adversity. I believe this book is so powerful, the author's profound journey from success to federal imprisonment and back, offers actionable insights for leaders facing crises.
I enjoyed all the practical tools, emphasizing the inevitability of adversity and the importance of preparing for it. It helped me a lot to understand all the leadership challenges that I can face making it essential reading for anyone looking to turn their trials into triumphs, with its blend of personal storytelling and leadership strategies that made it so relatable and close.
I enjoyed all the practical tools, emphasizing the inevitability of adversity and the importance of preparing for it. It helped me a lot to understand all the leadership challenges that I can face making it essential reading for anyone looking to turn their trials into triumphs, with its blend of personal storytelling and leadership strategies that made it so relatable and close.
February 5, 2024
When Not If is an outstanding, supreme work from Jeff Martinovich. From beginning to end, I not only got to know his story, but also, I got to respect and highly admire Jeff. In every page, I read about his deeply personal struggles and his strength, resilience, and perseverance. I believe not many people went through the scenarios Jeff had gone through, and less have they made an account of those events and published a book to tell the world about it. For me, the best aspect of this book is that the author shares his own mistakes to show the way, it is not a simple 'how to' book. He gives a toolkit of practices, behaviors, and attitudes that prepare anyone to survive adversity in whatever form it comes. The writing style is a point to highlight as well. The narrative is written in a simple, fresh, yet good quality language. I highly think everyone should read this book.
February 1, 2024
An excellent read
People who own a business already know that crises exist in different shapes, so leaders should be prepared for that. Jeff M. puts into words his own experiences in “When Not If”. He assures that after adversities, there is always a beginning.
With this book, leaders will learn about strategies to implement when a crisis comes up and to cope with it without losing the focus. It's a concise book that helps people face their adversities and gives them an opportunity to refloat.
Everything is told through the author’s life experience in a neat and engaging ay. There are examples of many situations that affect his business but also how he overcomes them and becomes the leader he is now. Without a doubt, I recommend it.
People who own a business already know that crises exist in different shapes, so leaders should be prepared for that. Jeff M. puts into words his own experiences in “When Not If”. He assures that after adversities, there is always a beginning.
With this book, leaders will learn about strategies to implement when a crisis comes up and to cope with it without losing the focus. It's a concise book that helps people face their adversities and gives them an opportunity to refloat.
Everything is told through the author’s life experience in a neat and engaging ay. There are examples of many situations that affect his business but also how he overcomes them and becomes the leader he is now. Without a doubt, I recommend it.
January 30, 2024
When Not If: A CEO’s Guide to Overcoming Adversity is a book written by Jeff Martinovich and John Kador is a motivational guide for learners seeking for the it factor. In this book, the reader will follow Jeff's experiences in overcoming adversity.
This book is pure honesty; it is very refreshing to read all the failures and to see that the author pours his heart out and admits his mistakes in this process too, we often read the "how to" but the difference with this book is that it shows you that mistakes are okay too.
This is an outstanding book to learn and open up to new possibilities with your personal growth but at work too. Highly recommended.
This book is pure honesty; it is very refreshing to read all the failures and to see that the author pours his heart out and admits his mistakes in this process too, we often read the "how to" but the difference with this book is that it shows you that mistakes are okay too.
This is an outstanding book to learn and open up to new possibilities with your personal growth but at work too. Highly recommended.
January 31, 2024
This book was a mind-opener to me. When Not If is a book that brings different feelings, from encouragement to disappointment. The road that Jeff Martinovich took is a hard one to describe, falling from top to bottom and overcoming so many challenges that life threw at him; it's a rollercoaster of emotions.
I think this book is a good one for the reader interested in business, who wants to take risks but doesn´t know what to expect. Being an entrepreneur is hard at times, but reading about it ends up making it easier. It's an autobiography that contains different teachings for everyone who reads it, so definitely a thumbs up and the best of luck for this brave author.
I think this book is a good one for the reader interested in business, who wants to take risks but doesn´t know what to expect. Being an entrepreneur is hard at times, but reading about it ends up making it easier. It's an autobiography that contains different teachings for everyone who reads it, so definitely a thumbs up and the best of luck for this brave author.
February 1, 2024
When Not If: A CEO’s Guide to Overcoming Adversity is a hopeful book about leadership and the world of business, written by Jeff Martinovich and John Kador. In this book, the authors tell readers how Jeff went from having it all, to losing it all, and then reinventing himself again. Things for Jeff were not easy, he had to go through a lot to get to where he is today.
This is truly an inspiring book, where it is demonstrated that all adversities can be overcome, even if it seems that at times it cannot be done.
All in all, When Not If is an essential reading for anyone preparing to lead through crisis and change.
This is truly an inspiring book, where it is demonstrated that all adversities can be overcome, even if it seems that at times it cannot be done.
All in all, When Not If is an essential reading for anyone preparing to lead through crisis and change.
February 3, 2024
A great story of resilience.
It is not a matter of if you will get mugged by adversity, it is when. This phrase had a profound impact on me because although it might seem "negative", I think it focuses on being active and looking for solutions.
When Not If: A CEO’s Guide to Overcoming Adversity by Jeff Martinovich and John Kador is a personal story that tells the ups and downs of Martinovich's life. The story tells how he went from nothing to being an important CEO and later lost everything.
The author offers, through his experiences, advice and tools to rise from the ashes. It is a moving and inspiring story and can be very useful for other CEOs and businessmen.
It is not a matter of if you will get mugged by adversity, it is when. This phrase had a profound impact on me because although it might seem "negative", I think it focuses on being active and looking for solutions.
When Not If: A CEO’s Guide to Overcoming Adversity by Jeff Martinovich and John Kador is a personal story that tells the ups and downs of Martinovich's life. The story tells how he went from nothing to being an important CEO and later lost everything.
The author offers, through his experiences, advice and tools to rise from the ashes. It is a moving and inspiring story and can be very useful for other CEOs and businessmen.
February 10, 2024
The book's strength lies in its blend of gripping storytelling and practical advice, making it essential reading for leaders across industries. By distilling complex leadership principles into actionable strategies, When Not If equips readers with the mindset and skills necessary to weather storms and emerge stronger on the other side.
Overall, this book shows the power of resilience and strategic thinking in overcoming adversity. Whether facing personal setbacks or navigating organizational crises, this book serves as a valuable resource for leaders seeking to thrive in the face of uncertainty.
Overall, this book shows the power of resilience and strategic thinking in overcoming adversity. Whether facing personal setbacks or navigating organizational crises, this book serves as a valuable resource for leaders seeking to thrive in the face of uncertainty.
February 3, 2024
Wow! What a ride, it makes the reader go through a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. The book tells the story of Jeff Martinocih who had a billion-dollar firm but everything went south and he ended up in prison. I think it is a fantastic book for anyone really, although it may seem young readers could learn and have more tools to face their future, but I think the book aims to reach anyone, to teach about resilience, and to keep fighting even when the odds are not in your favor.
To conclude, I think it is a very valuable book to be more prepared to face change.
To conclude, I think it is a very valuable book to be more prepared to face change.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews