Earned Wisdom: Stories of Overcoming and Resilience

by Dan Weddle

In Earned Stories of Overcoming and Resilience, President & CEO of ProTech Services Group, Inc., Dan Weddle, takes a candid look back on his personal and professional journey towards success. As he does, he shares the lessons he’s learned throughout a life of overcoming adversity and heartbreak.Coming from a broken family, a generational history of addiction and little financial success, the odds were stacked against Dan from the beginning. When he started his career as a nineteen-year-old beat cop specializing in narcotics, Dan never could have imagined he’d one day end up as the President and CEO of an innovative IT company. And yet, through years of hard work, learning on the job, and saying yes when opportunities were offered, that’s where he is now. Dan adopted the same work ethic and openness in his personal life. The situations he was handed demanded it.

As he recounts the many obstacles he’s had to overcome—from juggling three jobs to making a complete career shift and becoming an instant dad to dealing with the sudden loss of a child—Dan proves that with a solid support system of faith and family, a rugged determination and tenacity, and the courage and humility to ask for help when you need it, there truly is no limit to what you can overcome.

As Dan says, "There will almost always, at some point in life, be struggles and hardships. No one can avoid them. What’s important is how we deal with those hardships, and that we get back up every time we’re knocked down."

A self-proclaimed believer in silver linings, Dan shares through Earned Wisdom the importance of being intentional about the life and family you create for yourself, so that when the difficulties come, you have the love and support you need to come out the other side a better person.

Order your copy now.

Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2025

Reviews

[Grace Matilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally don’t gravitate toward inspirational memoirs, but I found myself finishing this in a few sittings. It’s more reflective than tactical, but there’s value in seeing the mindset behind the success rather than just the outcome.

[Larry Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started my career in narcotics too, so the early parts of this book felt familiar. The transition from that world into corporate leadership isn’t something you hear about often. I respect the journey and the discipline behind it.

[Martinez Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chapter about losing a child hit me harder than I expected. I’ve lived through that kind of silence. The way you described continuing forward without pretending the pain disappears felt real. Thank you for not sugarcoating it.

[Amara Layla]

As someone who has led teams for over two decades, I appreciated the honesty in this book. It’s not a business strategy manual, but it reinforces something I’ve learned the hard way leadership is ultimately about character. The sections on asking for help stood out to me.

[Victoria Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reinforces something I teach often: resilience is built through repetition. You get knocked down, you get back up. What makes this book effective is that the author doesn’t claim to have avoided hardship he leaned into it.

[Benjamin Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I found compelling was the through-line: adversity, responsibility, support system, growth. The narrative structure consistently returned to that pattern. It made the lessons feel cohesive rather than scattered.

[Seraphine Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up during a tough season. I didn’t expect it to solve anything, but it reminded me that setbacks don’t disqualify you. They shape you. That perspective helped more than I thought it would.

[Allison Hurd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of leadership books over the years, but what stood out here was the personal foundation behind the leadership. The message that success is built on how you treat people felt authentic rather than theoretical.

[Daniel Melvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The early chapters pulled me in immediately. Transitioning from narcotics work into the corporate world isn’t a path many talk about openly. I respected the discipline and grit it must have taken to make that shift.

[Alfred Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated how faith was woven throughout the story without feeling forced. It felt like a steady undercurrent rather than a spotlight. That made the lessons about perseverance feel grounded and real.

[Florence Switzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I found compelling was the pattern throughout the book: adversity, responsibility, support, growth. The narrative consistently returned to that framework, which made the lessons feel cohesive and intentional rather than scattered reflections.

[Charles Langford · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I found compelling was the pattern throughout the book: adversity, responsibility, support, growth. The narrative consistently returned to that framework, which made the lessons feel cohesive and intentional rather than scattered reflections.

[Ellie Mcleod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important conversation about overcoming, hard work, grief, and men’s mental health! Great job, Uncle Dan!

[Lyra Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

What resonated most for me was the role faith played without it feeling preachy. It felt lived, not performed. The reminder that hardship is unavoidable but growth is a choice was powerful.

[Davis Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone early in my career, I appreciated the honesty about not having everything figured out. The idea of saying ‘yes’ to opportunities and learning on the job felt practical and encouraging.

[Arabella Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The emphasis on building a strong family foundation stood out to me. Success is usually framed as career milestones, but this book kept circling back to relationships. That felt intentional.

[Aurora Margot · Rating 5 out of 5]

The career pivot piece resonated. Reinventing yourself isn’t glamorous, it’s uncomfortable. That part felt authentic. I appreciated the transparency about doubt and risk.

[Frankie Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not someone who leaves reviews often, but parts of this book stayed with me. Especially the reflections on humility. Leadership isn’t loud here. It’s steady

[Jarek Sterling · Rating 4 out of 5]

The emphasis on building a strong family foundation stood out to me. Success is usually framed as career milestones, but this book kept circling back to relationships. That felt intentional.