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Solid Ground: A Foundation for Winning in Work and in Life

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“Tom Lewis has provided a roadmap for a richer, more meaningful, and happier life.Take that road!”– Dennis Prager, author and syndicated talk show hostSOLID GROUND shatters the popular myths in today’s culture about how to create a successful life and career. Tom Lewis offers both a road map and a compass for discovering True North. Following these principles will not only put you on SOLID GROUND, it will significantly improve your chances of finding success and happiness.TOM LEWIS is an award-winning entrepreneur and philanthropist who overcame career setbacks, tough competition, and a life-threatening illness to reach the pinnacle of success – and more importantly – fulfillment. He shares his journey and his advice in this very personal and profound book.Ten years from now you will thank yourself for reading this book.It will change the trajectory of your life.INTRODUCTION FROM SOLID GROUND:To be successful in life, I have learned that you have to put first things first, but today’s popular culture has it backwards.• You can’t find your passion until you develop your work ethic.• You can’t find your purpose until you discover who you are.• You can’t find your happiness until you find your talent and help others.• You can’t find success until you earn it.What we need today, probably more than ever, is a return to the fundamentals of building a good life—one that is full of goodness, success, and even happiness. And it’s not really that complicated. SOLID GROUND presents a model for success that has worked for centuries—and it will work today.If you are willing to put in the time and effort to invest in your future, this book is for you.All proceeds from SOLID GROUND will be donated to T.W. Lewis Foundation which supports higher education, healthcare, youth character education and children and families in need.

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2020

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257 people want to read

About the author

T.W. Lewis

1 book
Tom Lewis is the founder of T.W. Lewis Company, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based real estate investment company known for its outstanding quality and customer service in the homebuilding industry. The company has received numerous national awards, including America's Best Builder and the National Housing Quality Gold Award.

Tom received a Lifetime Achievement recognition from Professional Builder magazine and was named the first inductee into the National Housing Quality Hall of Fame. In 2002, Tom and his wife, Jan, formed T.W. Lewis Foundation to support higher education, children and families in need, youth character education, and a variety of local and national nonprofits that build community and strengthen America's civil society. In 2015, Tom and Jan created the Lewis Honors College at the University of Kentuck

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Grady.
Author 51 books1,820 followers
November 20, 2020
‘More wisdom than a college education’ – Charlie Kirk

Arizona author TW (Tom) Lewis, a profoundly successful entrepreneur and leader, is the founder of T.W. Lewis Company, a highly awarded real estate investment company. With his wife Jan, he formed T.W. Lewis Foundation to support higher education, children and families in need, and youth character education with national nonprofits focused on building community and civil society. This dynamic couple also created the Lewis Honors College at the University of Kentucky.

As stated on his website, Tom shares, ‘I wrote this book because young adults today are getting bad advice about how to succeed, and I want to show them a better way.’ In this eminently successful book he offers his insights that young people, defined as those under thirty years of age, have lost the concepts of how to achieve success – in both career and in life. Using his own history as the substrate, he explains how he learned from his mistakes and grew stronger because of them. And while that may sound irregular, the manner in which he walks the reader through his journey underlines the impact of this game-changing book of advice.

‘Solid Ground shatters the popular myths in today’s culture about how to create a successful life. By reminding us of the time-tested principles that seem to have gotten lost – like personal character, hard work, goal setting, helping others, and faith – Solid Ground explains and celebrates the real building blocks of a successful career and life.’ Attempting to summarize the content is perhaps unfair, as the process of growing with Tom’s presentation of thought is part of the meaningful impact of absorbing this book.

Highlighting some of the phrases and ideas presented hopefully will serve as an incentive to explore SOLID GROUND: ‘Follow your talent, not your passion: passion changes, but your talent is not as flexible. Develop talent, and passion follows.’ ‘To be successful in life, I have learned that you have to put first things first, but today’s popular culture has it backwards. You can’t find your purpose until you discover who you are. You can’t find your happiness until you find your talent and help others. And you can’t find success until you earn it.’ ‘Hard work is imperative: hard work produces more self esteem, and the adversities encountered produce resilience’. ‘Contrary to the opinion of contemporary popular culture, ambition is a positive trait, especially when combined with the moral perspective.’ ‘Leaders have vision, trustworthiness and compassion (caring about your followers).’ The Seven Steps to take before making every decision: clarify your goals, do your research, examine your alternatives, evaluate your alternatives against your goals and your values, make a decision, sleep on it, commit and take action.’ ‘It is good to understand your problems, but put your energy into the solutions.’ ‘Knowledge + Experience + Truth = Wisdom. Wisdom + Action = Judgment.’

These are only a few of the treasurable elements and highlights of a book that is pragmatic, accessible and wise. TW Lewis is an impressive mentor – a guide for securing success and happiness. Highly recommended.
64 reviews1 follower
April 24, 2021
“From the ground up “

In the book Solid Ground by T W Lewis it begins with the forward that spoke of how the author. Had been apart of a “young leaders” group and how he already stood out among all the other “young leaders” because he showed in everything he did or spoke that “success was not by accident . The forward also described the book as a “blue print in how to succeed”in today’s world. Success , purpose and happiness is what the author hopes for each person work reads this book. The author has sever her
Pointed quotes from several very important people such as SteveJobs,and Zigg Ziegler to name a couple. The author Tw Lewis goes through the first pet of the book discussing his personal story and how it taught him. I turn he hoped that the reader could see and understand how he was able to “get “ to and develop several “ key points”. Part 2 “outlines five fundamental requirements for long term success in your life and career. Part 3 was about “Reaching your full potential”,the author explains these key attributes how to achieve them and why they were so important. This book as described in its own pages more than once as a “blueprint for success “ is just that! I really enjoyed. How clear, open and honest the author was throughout and never seemed to hold back. Through our reading it I was struck by the many times I felt the urgency to stop and joy down some point I thought would help me in my personal life. I don’t have the career life any longer that would have genuinely benefited from such sage advise however the points given easily relate to life in general. I am grateful to have read this book. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is in a career and would like to grow or be successful, also anyway (like myself) who may have a challenge in their personal life and this book truly shared insights that can be utilized! Thank you all and may God Bless and keep you all.
Profile Image for John J..
106 reviews7 followers
November 17, 2020
Few books have the capacity to change your life like “Solid Ground” by T.W. Lewis, the distinguished and award-winning author and owner of his own real estate investment company in Scottsdale, Arizona. Lewis has taken a lifetime of experience and wisdom and created a blueprint for achieving success, purpose, meaning and happiness. In this book, one can learn the basic building blocks for creating a truly meaningful and rewarding life. Lewis dismantles many of the popular myths that permeate today’s culture and replaces them with time-tested principals like hard work, character, goal setting, charity and faith.
Lewis begins the book with the story of his own journey and the lessons he has learned along the way. This includes many life experiences that have come to define who he is today, a nationally recognized and frequently lauded real estate developer and philanthropist. Together with his wife, Jan, he created the T.W. Lewis Foundation to support higher education, but also to help children and families in need, youth character education, along with several local and national nonprofits. But, as he writes, creating this great life wasn’t easy and often required sacrifice and hard work. He also details some of the mistakes and other forces that served only as life lessons that formed who he is today. His honesty and humility are remarkable and set the stage for this guide to success and happiness.
At the core of this life affirming and character-building book is the idea that one must start building a life with a strong foundation on solid ground. The author cites his own experience as a builder and goes on to provide a road map to success, happiness, and fulfillment. Lewis outlines the basic building blocks once you’ve created your foundation. These include personal character and hard work at the beginning, plus talent, good decision making, risk taking, drive and execution. And at the top of the pyramid sits all the things we seek in life: success, purpose, meaning, wisdom and happiness. Interspersed. along with his own wisdom. are quotes from a whole host of successful and well-known figures down through the ages. Lewis also provides readers with methods for overcoming obstacles, which are inevitable.
“Solid Ground” is essential reading because it’s designed for anyone, at any point in their life, who desires to acquire happiness and reach their true potential. With the holidays approaching, it makes for an amazing gift for high school or college graduates, as well any anyone who wants to begin again and build a new life on a firm foundation.


Profile Image for Brad Butler.
87 reviews5 followers
December 3, 2020
‘Solid Ground’ Hits All the Bases in Book on Building a Happy, Successful & Fulfilled Life.

Navigating the storm of self-book, how to find success and happiness books can be a daunting process, but I’m glad I stumbled on T.W. Lewis’ effort with ‘Solid Ground: A Foundation for Winning in Work and in Life.’ An extremely successful builder of quality homes, T.W. Lewis provides the reader with a four-part guidebook for navigating life that is honest, forthright and provides a well-organized path of discovery.

In the first section you get the life story of T.W. Lewis with an interesting cast of characters from family members to fellow students; from work associates to role models. One is struck by the clear concise writing and obvious desire to build the book from firm foundation upwards, just like one of the many homes he constructed during his business career.

In the final three sections comes the terrific advice for building a happy, successful life; with the continuous admonition that HARD WORK is the key for everything. I liked that and I decided to do an experiment and read, out loud, various sections to my 10-year son and 12-year daughter. They were intrigued, asked questions, made comments I loved hearing and then asked to take the ‘Indigo personality assessment test the author has set up online. I was astounded and so pleased, plus it was fun reading such material to them. They even wanted many of the charts and quotes printed out for further study.

Lewis combines new research with the wisdom of the ages, with each section headed by a proper quote, to bring the message that finding what YOU want is all about YOU, no one else. Don’t wait, get on with it by constantly assessing and gauging the risk-rewards in your next step in life; be sure to take the time to find and maximize your talents and strengths while shoring up the weaknesses and shortcomings. Don’t be afraid to consult others, but never losing yourself and your desires in the process.

At the end all the quotes are listed in order, which I loved as a nice flip through reference of wisdom.

I will keep this book handy and make sure my kids have their own copies to read and report on to me. Thank you Mr. T.W. Lewis!!!!!

Brad Butler, Author of 'A World Flight Over Russia'
39 reviews2 followers
December 3, 2020
Solid and practical encouragement for anyone interested in personal and professional growth!

Solid Ground is the story of a singular example of achievement on both the personal and professional level. T.W. Lewis, award winning businessman and philanthropist, gives us an insightful look into the factors that played into the founding of his real estate investment and home building company. From his early life in Kentucky, to the hay-fever filled days of his twenties in Dayton, Ohio, to the ownership and flourishing of his own company in Phoenix, Arizona, Lewis traces his roots, growth, and accomplishments, reflecting on the journey and mapping out his personal views of work and life.

Part memoir, part business and leadership philosophy, Solid Ground draws from a variety of sources including historical figures, athletic coaches, other successful business leaders, and social science researchers such as Gladwell and Duckworth. Lewis combines these insights, along with his extensive personal experiences and deep faith to make his own “Achiever’s Model”, composed of three different levels of characteristics that enable a person to set a good foundation, reach their full potential, and attain and enjoy the greatest achievements. With an enjoyable and warm tone, Lewis shares helpful models and imminently practical exercises that will help the reader engage with the concepts and do a certain level of self-assessment while reading.

One of my major takeaways from the book was the example Lewis sets of learning from all of his previous employers and managers. Some were inspirational examples, others were cautionary tales, but no matter what, Lewis was determined to see what he could learn and take away from each situation to enhance his own growth and potential for leadership. Though set against the backdrop of a businessman’s journey, this book casts a holistic and tangible vision for anyone interested in growing as a person and building a solid and good life. Ultimately, this book is yet another expression of Lewis’s philanthropy and determination to give back and bring joy and goodness into the lives of others, by sharing his own journey and struggles as a blueprint that elevates and guides the reader toward their own growth and success.


Profile Image for Adam E..
125 reviews6 followers
April 3, 2021
Solid Ground is an inspiring guide for success in business and personal life.  In the foreward written by Doug Ducey, he describes the book as a "Blueprint for living a good and meaningful life." It begins with some background on T. W. Lewis' life.
     Lewis' parents were from Eastern Kentucky.  They lived through the Great Depression of the 1930's and taught young Lewis good values and a strong work ethic.  The Lewis family moved a lot because his father Thomas served in the U. S. Navy.  Lewis made good grades in high school and was active in sports.  He attributes his sports participation to learning important life lessons.  A team works together for the same goal, much like a business or company. 
     While attending the University of Kentucky's business school, Lewis learned that he had the personality trait of an Achiever.  These are people that write down their goals and give themselves a reasonable timeline to reach those goals.
     After getting his MBA, he got a job with a real estate company.  During this time he took a Dale Carnegie workshop on success.  He was very influenced by the program and applied what he learned to his career and personal life.
     In 1991, he founded his own real estate investment company in Scottsdale, Arizona.  The company was very successful and was well known for its good customer service and for taking care of their employees.
     There is a lot of good advice in this book.  Chapter six has An Achiever's Model for Success that is helpful.  I especially liked Chapter ten which deals with helping others.  Exercises are provided to help readers set goals.  A nice reference book for those who want to improve their business and life.
     
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
107 reviews3 followers
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June 17, 2024
Thanks Dad for sending me this book. ❤️ There’s so much good advice here, and solid principles for success and achievement. I LOVED reading about Tom’s Kentucky roots and education at the University of Kentucky 💙🤍, and could feel the love he has for my home state. He’s had an amazing career - risks fulfilled, empire built, gifts given - and shares his story and strategy for how he did it. I totally agree with his take that hard work is worth it and makes a difference. He cites Meg Jay, who I have a ton of respect for, who writes intelligently about your twenties being a defining decade, and dealing with uncertainty. Natural giftedness is important to discerning a life path, but the power of starting early, preparing, and having grit, perseverance, and tenacity beats raw talent at the end of the day. And, that the important thing is not the fall but that you get back up. Truth.

The thing I didn’t love about this book is that Tom’s tone is self-congratulatory (he even quotes himself) and it doesn’t seem that he’s aware of the role his privilege played in his life and career success. Success and meaning may look different when you are making your way as a person of color, as a single mother, as a family without a stay at home parent, or as any permutation of the traditional “white man with capital” model. What if you care more about your personal margin of sanity than your profit margin? That said, this book reawakened some of my early-career inspiration to get up earlier and work a little later. Gold Star for that!
1 review
April 7, 2021
There are so many self-help books to choose from out there; it is hard not to waste your time searching for one that really resonates. In Tom Lewis’s book, Solid Ground, his real-life story shows you step-by-step answers on how to improve your work and even your life situation. The section on Changing Jobs is very relevant in today’s market. The advice Tom gives on how to leave a job, when to leave a job and why you should leave a position opens up all-new possibilities and improves your overall outlook. This is a must for those new to the workforce or even 5-10 year workforce veterans.
Profile Image for Scott Snedaker.
17 reviews2 followers
November 24, 2020
Great book packed with wisdom and insights

Nicely laid out 3 part structure drawn from real experience, touching on many topics and insights to an impactful and successful way of career and life.
Profile Image for Cheyenne.
12 reviews
August 8, 2024
Required reading for a class and was possibly the worst book I’ve ever read. It was offensively bad and more than likely some of the worst advice I will ever receive. Sacrificing family for work? Pathetic.
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