The Sheep Thief: How Anyone, Anywhere, Can Make a Positive Change in Life

By Al Walker

Several hundred years ago in a quaint village in Italy, two young men were caught stealing sheep. They were immediately taken to trial before the town judge, found guilty and, there in front of their fellow villagers, were given their sentence. Al Walker utilizes the parable of The Sheep Thief to remind us that anyone, anywhere can make a positive change in life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Life Management Services, INC.
• Release date: Oct 18, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452484495

Book preview

THE SHEEP THIEF

How Anyone, Anywhere, Can Make a Positive Change in Life

by

Al Walker, CSP, CPAE

Several hundred years ago in a quaint village in Italy, two young men were caught stealing sheep. They were immediately taken to trial before the town judge, found guilty and, there in front of their fellow villagers, were given their sentence. It was a cruel, harsh and painful sentence that would mark them for life.

One of these men died a lonely, embarrassed and embittered old man who was far away from home, penniless and without any friends, while the other overcame his past to become the wealthiest, most successful man in the region. Everyone knew his name and honored him. He became the patriarch. There was not one human being who had not been touched by him in some way.

Al Walker utilizes the parable of The Sheep Thief and the character of Mr. Taylor, a successful corporate board member and mentor, to remind us that anyone, anywhere can make a positive change in life.

Smashwords Edition

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Published on Smashwords by

Tremendous Life Books

206 West Allen Street

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

The Sheep Thief

How Anyone, Anywhere, Can Make a Positive Change in Life

Copyright © 2010 by Al Walker

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal use only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

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What People Are Saying About

The Sheep Thief

Truly Tremendous, I loved it. Power, Love and Wisdom flood the reader’s mind in this tremendous story by Al Walker. —Charles Tremendous Jones, author

"When you are ready to make the move from mediocrity to a life of fulfillment and success, then you must read, apply and live The Sheep Thief today—and if you aren’t ready, this wonderful book by my friend Al Walker will get you ready." —Zig Ziglar, author

"If you know there is something more to this life and you just don’t know how to find it, The Sheep Thief is your guide to discovering the life you were meant to live." —Stephen Arterburn, author

This book will nurture your soul, nourish your mind and warm your heart. Read it for inspiration. Study it for education. Refer to it often for maximum application. —Nido Qubein, author, President, High Point University, Chairman, Great Harvest Bread Co.

Highly recommend reading for everyone! This book encourages and teaches proven steps to success—mentally, physically and spiritually. Written with heart, depth, humor and real life experiences! —Joanne Wallace, conference speaker & author

"The words in this fabulous book, The Sheep Thief, are a compilation of ideas most needed in our world today. It is a must-read!" —Bob and Jane Handly, authors, Beyond Fear and Getting Unstuck

"The Sheep Thief by Al Walker is a wonderfully uplifting message of hope, challenge and achievement that is timeless. Most of us can identify with the frustrations faced by Harvey and Jean and can travel with them on their journey. More than a feel-good experience, however, this book provides solid, proven principles and techniques that will help you move up the stairway to an exemplary life that provides satisfaction and success in more ways than you can imagine." —George Morrisey, speaker/consultant, Author, Morrisey on Planning three-book series

"The Sheep Thief is a hidden opportunity for anyone needing a turning point in his or her life. Al has brought the Master’s hand into this story." —Tom Winninger, author

You, too, can overcome bland ambitions as you experience the powerful ideas in this timely book by Al Walker. The story will draw you in. The message will draw you out to make new choices and confront your own possibilities! —Elizabeth Jeffries, CSP, CPAE, Author, The Heart of Leadership: How to Inspire, Encourage and Motivate People to Follow You

This powerful story provides inspiration and direction while being an intriguing story to read. Sort of like having a mentor coach on your bookshelf. Don’t miss it. —Floyd Wickman, CSP, CPAE, Author, Letters to Linda and coauthor of Mentoring

"The Sheep Thief is a book that will inspire you, encourage you and enlighten you! Al Walker has written a powerful book that will bless you and help you to achieve greater results in your personal and professional lives. I highly recommend you read this book, then reread it and you will be blessed!" —Willie Jolley, Author, It Only Takes a Minute to Change Your Life and A Setback Is a Setup for a Comeback!

Al Walker has created an unusually reliable format combining allegory, analogy and anecdote coupled with research and personal history—all of this makes this book exciting reading, potentially long remembered and life impacting. —Dave Yoho, author

Remarkable! Transformational! This book will lead you into a life-changing perspective on your purpose and your calling for the 21st century. —Glenna Salsbury, CSP, CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame, Author, The Art of the Fresh Start

Al Walker has combined his years of experience and wisdom to create a masterful new book. When you apply the principles contained in Mr. Taylor’s Tool Kit, you, too, will overcome your bland ambitions. —Stephen C. Tweed, CSP, Chairman & CEO, Lighthouse Learning Systems

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Quotable Quotes

In the long run, men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, they had better aim at something high. —Henry David Thoreau

Aim at the heavens and set standards and goals that in the beginning will seem beyond reach. Enjoy the challenges this brings and don’t look for perfection. One day you might get close to it. If on the other hand, you aim low, that is where you will always be. —Frank Fools Crow, 1890–1989, Ceremonial Chief of the Teton Sioux, Healer & Holy Man

We must build—with every thought, word and action, or we must destroy with every thought, word or action. Since we cannot live in neutral, there is no in-between. —Joe Batten, CPAE, 1926–2006, Author of 19 books on leadership, Member, Speakers Hall of Fame

It’s not that we want too much. It’s that we settle for too little. —Anonymous

…but for a line, be that sublime. Not failure, but low aim is crime. —Socrates

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Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments and Appreciation

Dedication

The Parable of the Sheep Thief

PART I—THE ENCOUNTER

I. The Final Straw

II. Confronting the Enemy: Sometimes Yourself

III. Meeting Seth Taylor

IV. Stairway to the Stars

V. Laying the Foundation: The Attitude Factor

VI. The First Steps: Faith—Believe the Dream

VII. The Steps Get Steeper

VIII. Finishing the Climb

IX. Beyond the Door

X. Summary of Steps

PART II—MR. TAYLOR’S LEADERSHIP TOOL KIT

XI. The Meeting

XII. 45 Team-Building Ideas

XIII. Seven Timeless Truths for the Leader of the Future

XIV. Harvey Cole Today

About Joe Batten

About Al Walker

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Foreword

"On the Plains of Hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions, who, at the Dawn of Victory, sat down to wait, and waiting they died."

—George W. Cecil

The people who consistently win in their life endeavors are not a part of the let’s wait mob. Winners attack... They charge... They do. They understand that the joys encountered along the road leading from cradle to grave are the result of LIVING, not merely existing.

The let’s wait folks were born into mediocrity and then had a relapse. They’re walking around looking for a place to plug in and hold on. They’re the people who go looking for a job, spot the name of some big corporation sitting on top of a tall building and think to themselves, Aha!!! The mother ship! It’s here they plug in and hold on—simply surviving.

The author of this inspiring book, Al Walker, and the man who encouraged Al to Walkerize it, are winners who never waited for things to happen. They’re warriors who attack life, love abundantly and have given truckloads of themselves, their time, their energy and their wisdom. As a result, they’ve accomplished much.

As you challenge yourself to explore the pages that follow, you’ll need a couple of really big buckets to catch all the goodies in store for you. And please note, I said, CHALLENGE YOURSELF. Take the time to complete the steps as an exercise in unlocking all your possibilities. Of course, you can just read and enjoy and learn. Please don’t rob yourself by just reading. Give yourself the gift Al wants so much for you to have. Please... Do the book, for the great aim of education is not knowledge but action. Over the years, I’ve cheated myself out of bigger wins, bigger celebrations and a bigger net worth by reading the best advice from top performers and then doing nothing with it. It’s simply easier to store words of great wisdom into the nice to know category than it is to do...to take action.

Doing! Acting! Having! Being! That’s what this book is all about. It’s about giving with no strings attached and, as a result, putting the Law of Multiplied Return to work for a more prosperous harvest. The Law is working for you right now. It’s delivering to you exactly what you’ve ordered. If you’re not really happy with what you have or with what seems to continue to come your way, take an honest and hard look at what you’re giving out. It is a fact of life, like it or not, that what we give out...what we plant, we ALWAYS GET BACK AND IN A MULTIPLIED MANNER.

Al has put together for you a huge truckload of gems...truths that when acted upon, when planted and nurtured in the very core of your being, will deliver a wonderfully prosperous harvest. Read the book. Do the book and enjoy the harvest...the harvest of a happier and more abundant life.

On the platform built for winners

Stand the champions who chose to do.

They opened the door to opportunity,

Met the challenge, sprouted wings and flew.

Bob Johnson

Sydney, Australia

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Acknowledgments and Appreciation

With deepest appreciation and thanks to Margaret Muir (1950–2003) for her editing skills and her willingness to retype this manuscript umpteen zillion times—OK, maybe a dozen or so—but it seemed like umpteen zillion. Regretfully, Moo, as she was affectionately known, was an integral part of Al Walker and Associates for over eighteen years and didn’t live to see this book published.

To all the folks who pored over the manuscript and gave me advice—all of which was used. They include Al’s wife Margaret, who is the world’s greatest English teacher; Jim Hicks, an old friend; Charlie Farrell and Pete Stursberg (1938–1999); Libby Bernardine, a teacher at the University of South Carolina and a wonderful editor; Rev. Marshall Edwards, Al’s former pastor; Bob Johnson, who wrote the foreword and is the individual who first shared the Sheep Thief story with Al way back in 1974, plus the friends who shared their ideas and their wisdom so it could be passed on to you.

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DEDICATION

Earby Albert Walker Jr.

To my father, Earby Albert Walker, Jr. (1924–1974), who was a saint and a survivor. But more important, he loved the Lord and led us in the way we should go. He never quit, and he never bailed out. He was an encourager who always expected the best—out of himself and everyone else. He loved to laugh, to tell or hear a good joke or story and to sing, which he did often. He passed all of those characteristics on to his children, one of whom is the author of this book and his oldest son, who to this day loves him dearly and is proud to