"I’ve found that most people with big incomes don’t understand the value of a few dollars to someone who has no money. But I do. I learned that lesson very early on." Tom DePetrillo started
with nothing, made a fortune, lost it, went personally bankrupt—and the next day, he started a new career. His life has been a roller-coaster ride, and now that he’s at the top, he has never
forgotten where he started and what a difference a little help can make when someone needs it. This is a book about the ups and downs of one man’s business career and the lessons he learned
along the way. Tom has seen both sides of the economic divide in this country. When he was young he was one of eleven children, and he dropped out of school to help his family make ends meet.
Today, after taking more than eighty companies public on Wall Street, he runs several very successful companies, and is an active contributor to Rhode Island and national progressive
politicians. Tom has been a lifelong learner, never comfortable taking the easy path. With government help and an eagerness to try something new, he rose quickly, first in a military career,
then in civil engineering, then in the financial world. His book focuses on the lessons he has learned throughout his business career. He offers surprising and valuable insights into a variety
of topics, such as bankruptcy, the “real” cost of prescription drugs, and what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. In this fascinating memoir/idea book, Tom addresses the current
financial and political scene in the United States, and offers solutions based on his common sense and exceptional business intelligence.