All posts by Todd Stuart Kaplan

Fit the Way You Live—Liz Claiborne- Business Innovator

In the early 1970s, women at work did not have a lot of options for clothing. This all changed when business innovator Liz Claiborne introduced stylish outfits at affordable prices to contemporary businesswomen. Liz Claiborne, a fashion pioneer and a design visionary, not only revolutionized the fashion industry but also filled a void in the fashion marketplace of the late 20th century with her unique approach to design and quality.
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Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong’s Adversity-Driven Vision

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, age 62, is considered as the wealthiest doctor in history.  He dedicated his career into developing new methods, medication, and treatment to battle health-related diseases, most especially diabetes and cancer.  Dr. Soon-Shiong is a visionary who only wanted to improve the healthcare system through advancement of science and technology.  As a surgeon, physician, and scientist, he values accountability in the medical field and continues to conduct various researches to develop new way of curing illnesses.  Moreover, he is an influential icon in the medical and business communities.
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Celine Dion: Adversity, Big Voice, Big Heart

Celine Dion was born into an impoverished but happy family on March 30, 1968. She was the youngest of 14 children and was raised in the small town of Charlemagne, Quebec in Canada. Her childhood was filled with music as she learned to sing with her older brothers and sisters, so she never lacked musicians to accompany her. While still enduring adversity in her early years, Dion already felt the influence of her family’s love for music.
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J.K. Rowling’s Magical Success despite Adversity

“There’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place,” says

J.K. Rowling, the author of the best-selling children’s fantasy novel, Harry Potter.

Joanne Rowling was born in England in 1965.  She grew up in Chepstow, Gwent with her family, who had average socio-economic means at that time.  Despite this, they made sure that Rowling got proper education.  She studied at Michael’s Primary School in Gloucestershire then moved to Chepstow at age nine.  In school, Rowling grew enthusiastic towards English and Languages subjects.
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Jackie Cochran’s Flying Over Adversity

Unlike many successful women in the world, Jackie Cochran’s life has always been a puzzle with many missing pieces. As early as six, she realized that she was an orphan, and no one in her foster family knew her exact birth date. Eventually she learned that her real name was Bessie Lee Pittman, but she chose to use the name Jacqueline instead. She picked her own surname, Cochran, from a phone book.
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Meet George Soros: The Legendary Master of Adversity

George Soros is a Hungarian-American self-made billionaire, successful investor, and global philanthropist. He has become a very attractive model for global hedge fund managers. His public image as a heroic loner against a hostile world in which he does great deals against adversity, is universally appealing.
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The Adversity Driven Transformation of Richard Taite

“I’m the worst CEO on the face of the Earth, for sure,” says Richard Taite, the founder and CEO of Cliffside Malibu Treatment Center.

Who would have imagined that the genius behind one of the world’s most successful addiction treatment centers was a former addict himself?  Through the Cliffside Malibu Treatment Center, Richard Taite has been providing quality and results-oriented services to people with a claimed addiction. Overcoming tremendous adversity this is the story of Richard Taite.
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John Paul DeJoria: Adversity vs. Shampoo and Tequila

John Paul DeJoria, a  70-year-old business tycoon, is one to prove that the American Dream is real. The self-made billionaire now has over $3 billion personal net worth placing him in Forbes 400.  He is well known as the co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and owner of Patron Spirits.

Humbled by his life on the streets, knocking on doors selling shampoo facing adversity every day, he now extends his success to the community by making sure that his companies take part in making the planet a better place to live. He believes that success unshared is failure. With his vision, passion, and perseverance, JP is here to change the world.
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Real Estate Mogul Jeff Sutton: Finding A Place in Adversity

Jeff Sutton, founder and president of Wharton Properties, is a real estate mogul owning over 130 properties in New York City. His persistence and creativity in business placed the 54-year old billionaire in Forbes 400, with his $3 billion net worth. His most notable acquisitions house equally notable fashion empires such as Armani, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Alexander McQueen, and Givenchy to name a few.
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