Kids who think outside the box: helping your unique child thrive in a cookie-cutter world

285 Pages·2005·0.638 MB·English

by  Stephanie Lerner

Kids
who think
outside
box
the
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Kids
who think
outside
box
the
Helping Your Unique Child Thrive
in a Cookie-Cutter World
Stephanie Lerner
AMACOM
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Quotations from Gail McGougan and Deborah Hardy are used with permission.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lerner, Stephanie Freund.
Kids who think outside the box : helping your unique child thrive in a
cookie-cutter world / Stephanie Freund Lerner.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8144-7275-3
1. Exceptional children. 2. Individuality in children. 3. Successful
people—Biography. 4. Exceptional children—Services for—United States—
Directories. I. Title.
HQ773.5.L47 2005
649′.15—dc22 2004024925
© 2005 Stephanie Lerner.
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or trans-
mitted in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission
of AMACOM, a division of American Management Association, 1601 Broadway,
New York, NY 10019.
Printing number
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
I dedicate this book to all those kids who are
unique in thought, spirit, and personality.
The key to your success and personal greatness
is the wisdom and conviction
of knowing who you are . . . and holding the course.
To my three children—
Morgen, Chelsae, and Spencer . . .
You hold the course every day!
I learn from you.
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CONTENTS
Foreword: The Importance of Individuality and
Thinking Differently by Mary Ann Dudko, Ph.D............................xi
Preface................................................................................................xvii
Acknowledgments..............................................................................xix
Introduction: Who Are the Kids Who Think Outside the Box?....xxi
Part One
NURTURING YOUR UNIQUE CHILD..........................................1
Do All Kids Have Out-of-the-Box Potential?
You Bet They Do!...................................................................................3
Part Two
LIVING LEGENDS AND EMINENT ACHIEVERS:
THEIR STORIES.................................................................................11
THE ARTISTS
SPIKE LEE Filmmaker,Actor,Author,Teacher...................................14
A Strong Sense of Self
PAUL McCARTNEY Musician, Composer, Performer,
Writer, Producer.............................................................................20
The Positive Power of Love
PHILIPPE ROUSSELOT Cinematographer,Artist, Filmmaker.......22
Be Proud of Being Different
vii
viii CONTENTS
JOHN NELS HATLEBERG Artist, Designer..................................27
Security, Patience, Perseverance
BARBARA CHASE-RIBOUD Writer, Sculptor.............................32
Never Be Afraid
CHRISTINE CHOY Artist, Filmmaker,Teacher...............................36
Imagination and Creativity
JOHN WESTERMANN Writer.......................................................41
Never Quit
THE LEADERS
ROBERT D.HORMATS Economist, Financier,Ambassador...........44
Run Your Own Race
MICHAEL R.BLOOMBERG Mayor, Entrepreneur........................50
Listen, Question, Test, Think
RICHARD “MIKE” MULLANE Astronaut,Writer........................53
It Always Counts
ELON MUSK Entrepreneur...............................................................57
Innovation, Drive, and Determination
ERIC ANDERSON Entrepreneur......................................................61
Don’t Be Afraid to Take a Chance
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON Astrophysicist.......................................65
Reach for Your Own Star
DOUG MOSS Publisher, Environmentalist........................................70
Ambition and Perseverance
JACK J.CAMBRIA New York Police Department
Hostage Negotiator.........................................................................75
Never Give Up
MARK NORELL Paleontologist.........................................................78
Work Hard, Play Hard, Think Hard, Finish Stuff
CONTENTS ix
JOHN A.HAYS Deputy Chairman, Christie’s,
North and South America...............................................................82
You Can Do Anything If You Set Your Mind to It
JOSEPH DENOFRIO Senior Vice President for
Fashion, Macy’s................................................................................84
Aim High
JOHN R.PASSARINI Educator, Coach............................................88
Limited Only by Our Thoughts
DOUGLAS JACKSON Educator.....................................................93
Make the Connections Between What Could Be and What Is
THE SCIENTISTS
MARIO J.MOLINA Nobel Prize Winning Chemist..........................97
It’s OK to Be Original
ADAM G.RIESS Astrophysicist.......................................................102
Knowledge ...the Great Equalizer
VINTON G.CERF Internet Cofounder and Developer.................105
Conventional Wisdom Is Not Always Right
DOUGLAS C.ENGELBART Computer Scientist.......................109
Imagine All Kinds of Things
MEHMET OZ Surgeon, Naturalist...................................................114
Persistent Curiosity
STEVEN I.PFEIFFER Psychologist, Educator...............................117
Let Your Dreams Evolve
THE ATHLETES
ROD GILBERT Ice Hockey All-Star.................................................120
Go the Extra Mile
BRIAN MARTIN Luge Olympic Medallist.......................................126
Unyielding Devotion and Dedication