Funny stories. Good advice. Josh Martin has learned a lot from his many misadventures – whether it was nearly swallowing a severed human toe, eating dodgy meat in a refugee camp or fighting an aggressive form of leukemia. Drawing on laugh-out-loud true experiences from his past, Josh offers practical advice on overcoming obstacles, growing as a person, building community and making the most out of life.
It’s self-help with a sense of humour, personal development with a punchline.
WHAT YOU'LL FIND INSIDE
Part 1: Resilience
What my so-so odds at beating cancer taught me about asking for help
What a sledgehammer to the thumb taught me about using the right tools
What a Sunday stroll through burning nettle taught me about life’s shortcuts
What the Great Port Albert Toboggan Wars taught me about creative problem solving
What almost giving Shaun a hernia taught me about self-sabotage
What sleeping in a barn taught me about keeping my fires stoked
What Bill Clinton getting in my way taught me about adaptability
What the Dawson City Demon taught me about getting away
What life’s thunderstorms taught me about putting one foot in front of the other
What a man named Frank taught me about luck
Part 2: Growth
What being a muddy torpedo taught me about focussing on the how, not the what
What being blindfolded and left in a farmer’s field taught me about failing my way to success
What the lamest science project ever taught me about putting in the extra effort
What starring as a tree taught me about overcoming public speaking fears
What a rascally rabbit taught me about productivity
What banshee babies and buttered butts taught me about handing over the reins
What sleeping on a woodpile in a snowstorm taught me about knowing when to quit
What my dad getting shot in the eye taught me about owning up to our mistakes
What wearing a clay helmet taught me about bad habits
What nearly swallowing a severed human toe taught me about thinking things through
Part 3: Connection
What five farting men in a yurt taught me about the benefits of camping
What an alarm clock possessed by the devil taught me about relying too much of technology
What digging wells in Ghana taught me about refugee connections
What a life-saving cat taught me about scratching below the surface
What farty furniture and Fish Stick Fridays taught me about cultural sensitivity
What a wolf in the woods taught me about knowledge and responsibility
What a kayak full of leeches taught me about consumerism’s ugly underbelly
What lying in a puddle of puke taught me about tunnel vision
What a bloody refrigerator taught me about ripple effects
What coffee with an Icelandic goat taught me about connecting to care
Part 4: Adventure
What almost dying taught me about life’s everyday awesome
What launching a fireball into the house taught me about nurturing imagination
What blue-blazing the Bruce Trail taught me about taking the road less traveled
What throwing sticks in a river taught me about being young at heart
What being a world crokinole championship contender taught me about backyard adventures
What diving off a cliff taught me about facing my fears
What blood and glue fumes taught me about putting myself out there
What a hay bale to the head taught me about work-life balance
What an angry old man taught me about seizing the day
What a fireworks fight and midnight hike taught me about cherishing memories
It’s self-help with a sense of humour, personal development with a punchline.
WHAT YOU'LL FIND INSIDE
Part 1: Resilience
What my so-so odds at beating cancer taught me about asking for help
What a sledgehammer to the thumb taught me about using the right tools
What a Sunday stroll through burning nettle taught me about life’s shortcuts
What the Great Port Albert Toboggan Wars taught me about creative problem solving
What almost giving Shaun a hernia taught me about self-sabotage
What sleeping in a barn taught me about keeping my fires stoked
What Bill Clinton getting in my way taught me about adaptability
What the Dawson City Demon taught me about getting away
What life’s thunderstorms taught me about putting one foot in front of the other
What a man named Frank taught me about luck
Part 2: Growth
What being a muddy torpedo taught me about focussing on the how, not the what
What being blindfolded and left in a farmer’s field taught me about failing my way to success
What the lamest science project ever taught me about putting in the extra effort
What starring as a tree taught me about overcoming public speaking fears
What a rascally rabbit taught me about productivity
What banshee babies and buttered butts taught me about handing over the reins
What sleeping on a woodpile in a snowstorm taught me about knowing when to quit
What my dad getting shot in the eye taught me about owning up to our mistakes
What wearing a clay helmet taught me about bad habits
What nearly swallowing a severed human toe taught me about thinking things through
Part 3: Connection
What five farting men in a yurt taught me about the benefits of camping
What an alarm clock possessed by the devil taught me about relying too much of technology
What digging wells in Ghana taught me about refugee connections
What a life-saving cat taught me about scratching below the surface
What farty furniture and Fish Stick Fridays taught me about cultural sensitivity
What a wolf in the woods taught me about knowledge and responsibility
What a kayak full of leeches taught me about consumerism’s ugly underbelly
What lying in a puddle of puke taught me about tunnel vision
What a bloody refrigerator taught me about ripple effects
What coffee with an Icelandic goat taught me about connecting to care
Part 4: Adventure
What almost dying taught me about life’s everyday awesome
What launching a fireball into the house taught me about nurturing imagination
What blue-blazing the Bruce Trail taught me about taking the road less traveled
What throwing sticks in a river taught me about being young at heart
What being a world crokinole championship contender taught me about backyard adventures
What diving off a cliff taught me about facing my fears
What blood and glue fumes taught me about putting myself out there
What a hay bale to the head taught me about work-life balance
What an angry old man taught me about seizing the day
What a fireworks fight and midnight hike taught me about cherishing memories
