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Unlikely to Unstoppable: Stories from Everyday Entrepreneurs
Everyone’s heard the advice to study hard in high school. Take a standardized test revealing how to match your strengths with a future career. Pick the college that is known for raising up the very best in that chosen field. Graduate and get a job. That’s how to make it. That’s how to succeed in life.
Maybe not! Millions of people do no such thing. They’re bored in public schools, or higher education is not affordable or accessible. Guess they’re doomed.
On the contrary, there’s another story to be told, another path to take. Plenty of people support their families, live a full life, find contentment and success without following that common wisdom. These people are trailblazers, opportunity-makers, everyday people with entrepreneurial mindsets. Women and men who don’t accept a prescribed approach. Instead, they follow an internal compass that, in spite of twists, turns, and even road blocks, leads them through an entirely different sequence of choices.
Collins and Clark, experienced researchers, set out to learn how these people found their way, what drove them to keep going despite being advised differently. If you are someone whose journey resembles the folks above, this book delivers inspiration from thirteen transformational perspectives. If you are a parent, friend, or guidance counselor for someone driven to march to their own drum, Unlikely to Unstoppable provides the encouragement needed to persevere. Humorous, poignant, even startling firsthand stories from individuals who have “made it” build a platform for meaningful conversation and contemplation. These “everyday entrepreneurs” demonstrate the way to develop the unstoppable mindset that helped them keep moving, one way or another.
Maybe not! Millions of people do no such thing. They’re bored in public schools, or higher education is not affordable or accessible. Guess they’re doomed.
On the contrary, there’s another story to be told, another path to take. Plenty of people support their families, live a full life, find contentment and success without following that common wisdom. These people are trailblazers, opportunity-makers, everyday people with entrepreneurial mindsets. Women and men who don’t accept a prescribed approach. Instead, they follow an internal compass that, in spite of twists, turns, and even road blocks, leads them through an entirely different sequence of choices.
Collins and Clark, experienced researchers, set out to learn how these people found their way, what drove them to keep going despite being advised differently. If you are someone whose journey resembles the folks above, this book delivers inspiration from thirteen transformational perspectives. If you are a parent, friend, or guidance counselor for someone driven to march to their own drum, Unlikely to Unstoppable provides the encouragement needed to persevere. Humorous, poignant, even startling firsthand stories from individuals who have “made it” build a platform for meaningful conversation and contemplation. These “everyday entrepreneurs” demonstrate the way to develop the unstoppable mindset that helped them keep moving, one way or another.
222 pages, Hardcover
Published May 13, 2025
4 people are currently reading
1701 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Collins
82 books23 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 13, 2025
“Unlikely to Unstoppable: Success Stories from Everyday Entrepreneurs” by Jennifer Collins and Elizabeth Clark is an enlightening collection of the real-life stories of thirteen individuals who achieved success by taking roads less travelled. Fundamental principles of steadfast determination, perseverance, and flexibility are highlighted.
Ted, Jennifer’s father, is a central figure in this collection. It is revealed that he had a strong entrepreneurial spirit, enjoyed taking care of the environment, and wished to start his own business where he could be his own boss, which meant putting in odd hours. Grit, resourcefulness, and a strong work ethic would eventually lead him into real estate and ownership of one of the largest home landscaping companies in the area.
The book also discusses Jeremy’s unexpected trajectory in life, a marine who accelerated high school to go serve rather than pursue further education. An injury, however, changed everything two years later, upending his dream career and putting his life on a new, uncertain path. We also follow “wannabe” actress Angie, whose goal was dashed after a lumbar spine injury. Following her surgery, she saw a “want ad” in the newspaper for an upcoming real estate seminar, which led to an unexpected turnaround that brought her great fortune. In a rare twist of fate, she also succeeded in hiring her husband, who held a teaching certificate, a master’s degree, and two bachelor’s degrees, to work for her.
These are just a few of the incredible stories of people who came from dysfunctional households, some who were quickly written off as probable failures, and others who were turned away from male-dominated organizations and dissuaded from pursuing their goals. Their stories mesh smoothly to give readers comfort, motivation, and enlightening tidbits. With their masterful dismissal of the notion that a “straight road” is required for success, they are certain to have a significant influence on everyone who has ever been cut off from the traditional path to success. They also eloquently demonstrate how letting go of the different labels that one may have been given at school, by family, or by society at large is essential to discovering one’s purpose and achieving one’s goals. This is among the lessons that naturally flow from them, and it will greatly inspire readers to reach their next level.
Jennifer Collins and Elizabeth Clark’s “Unlikely to Unstoppable: Success Stories from Everyday Entrepreneurs” is an unrivaled source of motivation. It will be a useful tool for anyone who is unclear of their course or who thinks—or has been told—that their goals are impossible. Its grounded tone and relatable content will appeal to a broader range of people of all ages and educational backgrounds. Its documentary-like storytelling and realistic tone, along with a smooth, analytical, and thoughtful approach, beautifully distinguish it from other self-help books.
Ted, Jennifer’s father, is a central figure in this collection. It is revealed that he had a strong entrepreneurial spirit, enjoyed taking care of the environment, and wished to start his own business where he could be his own boss, which meant putting in odd hours. Grit, resourcefulness, and a strong work ethic would eventually lead him into real estate and ownership of one of the largest home landscaping companies in the area.
The book also discusses Jeremy’s unexpected trajectory in life, a marine who accelerated high school to go serve rather than pursue further education. An injury, however, changed everything two years later, upending his dream career and putting his life on a new, uncertain path. We also follow “wannabe” actress Angie, whose goal was dashed after a lumbar spine injury. Following her surgery, she saw a “want ad” in the newspaper for an upcoming real estate seminar, which led to an unexpected turnaround that brought her great fortune. In a rare twist of fate, she also succeeded in hiring her husband, who held a teaching certificate, a master’s degree, and two bachelor’s degrees, to work for her.
These are just a few of the incredible stories of people who came from dysfunctional households, some who were quickly written off as probable failures, and others who were turned away from male-dominated organizations and dissuaded from pursuing their goals. Their stories mesh smoothly to give readers comfort, motivation, and enlightening tidbits. With their masterful dismissal of the notion that a “straight road” is required for success, they are certain to have a significant influence on everyone who has ever been cut off from the traditional path to success. They also eloquently demonstrate how letting go of the different labels that one may have been given at school, by family, or by society at large is essential to discovering one’s purpose and achieving one’s goals. This is among the lessons that naturally flow from them, and it will greatly inspire readers to reach their next level.
Jennifer Collins and Elizabeth Clark’s “Unlikely to Unstoppable: Success Stories from Everyday Entrepreneurs” is an unrivaled source of motivation. It will be a useful tool for anyone who is unclear of their course or who thinks—or has been told—that their goals are impossible. Its grounded tone and relatable content will appeal to a broader range of people of all ages and educational backgrounds. Its documentary-like storytelling and realistic tone, along with a smooth, analytical, and thoughtful approach, beautifully distinguish it from other self-help books.
May 9, 2025
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
EDITORIAL REVIEW
2025
TITLE: UNLIKELY TO UNSTOPPABLE, Success Stories from Everyday Entrepreneurs
AUTHOR: Jennifer Collins, Elizabeth Clark
Star Rating: 5
‘An accessibly written, compelling insight into the accomplishments of thirteen go-getters. Highly recommended to anybody who wants to get to the top, but needs a few tips on how to get there.’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
I very much enjoyed this self-help book from the pens of Jennifer Collins and Elizabeth Clark . Accessibly written, it offers readers an insight into the life of an ‘everyday entrepreneur’; thirteen of them in fact! Packed full of helpful tips, this book is not only thought-provoking, but it’s inspiring too.
I personally have been self employed most of my life; I did do a short stint as a high school English teacher but after 12 months of working with difficult, incredible annoying teenagers, I (literally) ran out the door. It was the best thing I ever did. After that, I always worked for myself. So I understand why the people in this book do what they do. In fact, it’s very simple. They work hard, they do well, they get the profits. Simple. You never get rich working for another person; only by working for yourself.
So, armed with this knowledge, I dived into UNLIKELY TO UNSTOPPABLE. And, you know what? Even after being self employed for 25 years, I STILL learnt a lot from this book. I particularly enjoyed the story of Chris, a painter. I liked how he battled on, no matter what; that nothing was handed to him on a sliver platter, and that, even though he acted like a goofball in school, he still got there in the end. You see, he had grit, and, in many ways, this is the central message of this book. You need to GO FOR IT, and never, EVER take no for an answer. I like that message a lot.
So, if you want to ‘make it’ as an entrepreneur, and you don’t know where to start, check out this book. It’s not an A – Z of what to do and when to do it, but it is hugely inspirational. Just like the go-getters in this book, you just have to go for it, battle on – trust me, if you do, you’ll get there in the end.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
EDITORIAL REVIEW
2025
TITLE: UNLIKELY TO UNSTOPPABLE, Success Stories from Everyday Entrepreneurs
AUTHOR: Jennifer Collins, Elizabeth Clark
Star Rating: 5
‘An accessibly written, compelling insight into the accomplishments of thirteen go-getters. Highly recommended to anybody who wants to get to the top, but needs a few tips on how to get there.’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
I very much enjoyed this self-help book from the pens of Jennifer Collins and Elizabeth Clark . Accessibly written, it offers readers an insight into the life of an ‘everyday entrepreneur’; thirteen of them in fact! Packed full of helpful tips, this book is not only thought-provoking, but it’s inspiring too.
I personally have been self employed most of my life; I did do a short stint as a high school English teacher but after 12 months of working with difficult, incredible annoying teenagers, I (literally) ran out the door. It was the best thing I ever did. After that, I always worked for myself. So I understand why the people in this book do what they do. In fact, it’s very simple. They work hard, they do well, they get the profits. Simple. You never get rich working for another person; only by working for yourself.
So, armed with this knowledge, I dived into UNLIKELY TO UNSTOPPABLE. And, you know what? Even after being self employed for 25 years, I STILL learnt a lot from this book. I particularly enjoyed the story of Chris, a painter. I liked how he battled on, no matter what; that nothing was handed to him on a sliver platter, and that, even though he acted like a goofball in school, he still got there in the end. You see, he had grit, and, in many ways, this is the central message of this book. You need to GO FOR IT, and never, EVER take no for an answer. I like that message a lot.
So, if you want to ‘make it’ as an entrepreneur, and you don’t know where to start, check out this book. It’s not an A – Z of what to do and when to do it, but it is hugely inspirational. Just like the go-getters in this book, you just have to go for it, battle on – trust me, if you do, you’ll get there in the end.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
June 7, 2025
Only pages into Comfort in the Wings by Jennifer Collins, I was drawn into the characters and the story, but was also captivated by the grace and depth of her writing. I readily admit I am a fiction junkie. So, would Unlikely to Unstoppable: Stories from Everyday Entrepreneurs (co-authored with Elizabeth Clark), be a book for me? It took only two pages into the “Why Ted?” chapter to begin to appreciate and want to learn more about this extraordinary man (Jennifer’s father), his family, his life’s work, and his legacy. This served as a compelling introduction to the other trailblazers whose stories Jennifer and Elizabeth shared with us. I came away with such a profound appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit. These entrepreneurs created their own pathways, which invariably included challenges, both expected and unexpected. These individuals persevered, changed course (often more than once), and stayed true to their desire and commitment to find their own way to success. So, who is the audience for this book? You are!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews